Brian Krause is known best for his role in the TV series “Charmed”. He also recently starring in the Roger Corman produced creature feature “Camel Spiders”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Brian about the film and what we had planned next.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with “Camel Spiders”?
Brian Krause: I am friends with Matt Borlenghi, who was already cast in the film. He told me the project was going forward and they were looking for a guy for this role. They threw my name in a hat and I was fortunate enough to be picked up. Jim Wynorski thought I was decent enough [laughs].

MG: With the film being presented by Roger Corman did you have the chance to meet him?
BK: Unfortunately, No I did not. We were out in the middle of nowhere during shooting.

MG: Can you tell us about the production of the film?
BK: We shot non-stop for 12 days. Everything was fast and furious. We tried to shoot as much as we could in a short amount of time. We had a minimal crew so everyone had to be ready. It was very windy and cold in the high desert. It was tough.

MG: What did you like most about working on this type of “creature feature” film?
BK: It’s fun! Everything is done with a wink and it’s not super serious. All the actors are having fun with each other. It was great seeing a guy like Jim Wynorski get things done. Jim and Roger have a working formula that is just impressive. It’s an honor to be a part of that.

MG: Do you have any specific highlights from the production?
BK: I became good friends with Kurt Yaeger who plays Joe in the film. He is an incredible guy that is a former BMX X-Games star. Kurt is just killing it! To see his motivation and how he has become an actor is impressive. It was a great experience.

MG: Can you tell us about your return role in “TBK: The Toolbox Murders 2”
BK: I have worked with Dean Jones a couple times now. He penned the script and directed the film. He has made a different version of the film that is like a prequel. I know he has finished the film but it is tied up in editing.

Tell us about your upcoming online series “The Unknown”?
I just finished that the other day. It is being put out by Crackle. This will be a direct, original content television show and is being produced by Sony. It is in the vein of “Twilight Zone”. I play one of the main characters in the first 6 episodes, which were directed by Martha Coolidge. These episodes have a high production value and I think the same audience will love to check these out on Crackle.com. The stories are so good that they could make their way on to network television.

MG: Any other projects you can tell us about?
BK:I just did a film called “Gabe the Cupid Dog” which is an ABC type family film. I also am working on a couple of my own projects and trying to raise funding for those.

MG: Will those include you directing?
BK: Yes. I directed the teaser which is being used to help raise funds. If I can keep myself on as director once all the funds are raised that will be great. If I have to bring someone else in that would help us raise the money I would definitely relinquish that spot.

Directed by: Reinhard Klooss, Holger Tappe
Starring: James Corden, Stephen Fry, Dawn French, Joanna Lumley, Jim Broadbent and Vanessa Redgrave.
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Arc Entertainment
Release Date: Exclusively at Walmart, April 3, 2012, Street on June 5th, 2012
Running time: 93 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

If you feel like you have never heard of this film, don’t worry you haven’t. “Animals United” is Germany’s first RealD 3D Animated Feature Film. Although this English language version does not come with the 3D. I think that this is a very poor decision because I have seen an high def 3D version of this film and it works much better. I feel like it is a mix between “Madagascar” and “Ice Age”, except doesn’t really come close to their charm. Of course let’s not forget this film is aimed at kids and as long as it comes packed with action and talking animals they will be happy.

The film is based on the 1949 book with the same title by Erich Kästner and takes place in the African savannah where all of the animals are looking for water. Billy the Meerkat and his best friend, Socrates the Lion set out in search of water. They get help from their friends Angie the Elephant and Giselle the Giraffe and set out on an incredible journey. Along their way they meet a motley group of animals that are new to Africa like a rooster, polar bear, kangaroo, koala, Tasmanian devil and two turtles. They all team up to find what happened to the water and to get it back.

The US release voice cast is impressive. James Corden (“The Three Musketeers”) plays Billy the Meerkat, the amazing Stephen Fry (“Alice in Wonderland”) voices Socrates the Lion, Jim Broadbent (“Harry Potter” series) plays Winston the Tortoise , Vanessa Redgrave (“Letters to Juliet”) plays Winnie the Tortoise and lastly Andy Serkis (“Lord of the Rings” series) voices Charles the Rooster. Also if you are looking for special features, guess again, this is a complete bare-bones release.

Directed by: Leigh Scott
Starring: Paulie Rojas, Billy Boyd, Sean Astin, Ethan Embry, Mia Sara
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed: Image Entertainment
Release Date: April 10, 2012
Running Time: 164 minutes

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

Alright so “The Wizard of Oz” has been remade many many times from adaptions with Michael Jackson to even cartoon characters, Tom and Jerry. This is a fun, colorful adaption that delivers the action and the laughs. It is an all-around good time and packs some great visual effects for a low-budget film. The casting for this film overall is very fun and impressive. It even brings together two “The Lord of the Rings” alums back together, Billy Boyd and Sean Astin. Ethan Embry plays Frack to Astin’s Frick and delivers some good laughs. We even get an appearance from genre favorites Lance Henriksen and Jeffrey Combs. Lastly Christopher Lloyd has a small role and strongly channels his inner Willy Wonka as the Wizard of Oz.

This adaption though brings Dorothy (Paulie Rojas) into present day New York. She is simple girl from Kansas who gets an offer from a big agency to write children’s books based on the magic world of Oz. Shortly after, Dorothy realizes that maybe these stories from her grandfather are in fact based on reality. The two worlds start blending and the characters from Oz start crossing over into modern day New York City. It is up to Dorothy and her friends to stop the Wicked Witch of the West and her plans for global domination.

The Blu-ray presentation like the film is also surprisingly good. The video works well with the CG effects and its 1080p transfer. The audio sounds great with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, especially with the special effects and action scenes. The special features on the disc are short and consisting of one extra. There is a behind-the-scenes featurette, which gives you a look into the film’s production from writer/director Leigh Scott. Worth checking out if you liked the film. Lastly there is a trailer included. Very lacking in the “special” features.

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Created by: Doug Wildey
Directed by: Mike Milo
Starring: J. D. Roth, Michael Benyaer, Jesse Douglas, George Segal, Robert Patrick, Frank Welker, Quinton Flynn, Rob Paulsen, Jennifer Hale, John de Lancie
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Running Time: 286 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

If you are a boy and love cartoons, who doesn’t love Jonny Quest, seriously. It has adventure, action and plenty of thrill, especially for a cartoon. This series is revival of the 1960s Hanna-Barbera Jonny Quest franchise. It aired from 96-97, with only a mere 52 episodes produced. It does not pack the same thrill though that the original series had. This reinvention is more the “high-tech” upgrade of the series.  Fans of the original Hanna-Barbera (like myself) might want to remember this franchise more like the original series, though this is not terrible overall.

This series still contains adventures with Jonny Quest, Hadji Singh, and Jessie Bannon as they follow Dr. Benton Quest and bodyguard Race Bannon to investigate strange phenomena, legends, and mysteries. This is where it differs a little bit, some of the action in this series takes place in the virtual realm of QuestWorld, which is 3D cyberspace land. So the series, takes a leap into CG but falls a little short. The late 90’s were a time in animation, where CGI was trying to make it’s presence known but was still a little premature.

In this volume two of episodes, it contains the next 13 episodes completing the first season…finally. Warner released the first thirteen episodes in volume 1 all the way back in February 2009. So fans had to hold their breath for a long time for this one. Luckily, Warner Archive Collection is great with releasing archive cartoon series but I am not sure how long fans are going to have to wait before the second season of 26 episodes is released.

The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest: Season 1, Volume 2 is now available from Warner Archive at http://bit.ly/GXOb0F

Synopsis: Team Quest is Back! In this pulse-pounding second volume, The Real Adventures reinvention of the classic animated adventure series Jonny Quest continues. Jonny, scientist father Benton Quest, bodyguard Race Bannon, paranormal pal Hadji and Race’s daughter Jessie, unravel mysteries and uncover strange phenomena while criss-crossing the globe. The scientific secrets of the dazzling virtual reality domain known as Questworld (rendered in CG sequences that broke ground for the era’s TV animation) receive the full Team Quest treatment as well in this 2-Disc Collection of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, Season One’s second 13-Episodes. Strap in for suspense and thrills! Special Feature: “Journey into Questworld.”

Directed by: Robin Hardy
Starring: Brittania Nicol, Henry Garrett, Christopher Lee, Graham McTavish
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Running Time: 96 minutes

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

Alright so let’s place this film where it belongs. It is not a sequel to the 2006 remake of “The Wicker Man” with Nicholas Cage. This is a direct follow-up to the 1973 cult classic, though it is more of a re-imagining.  It is even directed by the same person, Robin Hardy, who did the original. When it comes to classic film like “The Wicker Man”, it is hard to try and improve on it. I did enjoy this film overall just was missing the spark that the original laid out. Also it claims to have a special appearance from original “Wicker” star Christopher Lee, but don’t blink or you will miss it.

This film follows two young missionaries (Brittania Nicol, Henry Garrett), who head to Scotland to spread the good word.  They end up in the small town of Tressock, where the locals seems to have their own secrets.  The couple agrees to become the local Queen of the May and Laddie for the annual town festival. Of course they have no idea of what they are getting into and their stay in Tressock might have just been made permanent.

The Blu-ray presentation does not disappoint though. The video looks sharp and clear into 1080p transfer. The audio is also spot-on and delivers an impressive Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track, which pops with the film’s music and effects. The special features are short and sweet overall. There is a brief behind-the-scenes featurette called “The Making of The Wicker Tree”. There are a few deleted scenes, nothing that would have saved the film. Lastly there is the theatrical trailer, though do not think this film has much of a theatrical release.

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Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Ralph Bakshi this afternoon and he was nice enough to leak us a very exclusive tip. According to Bakshi, there is a script in the works currently for a sequel to his 1977 film “Wizards”.

Here is a quote from Bakshi in our upcoming interview:
“Right now, the head of Dark Horse Comics, Mike Richardson, is writing a script for “Wizards 2″. He and his partner are writing the script and he is very interested in making the movie.  I feel that Dark Horse is really the right team in order to get this project done.”

Bakshi addressed his intentions once the script is done:
“I will definitely read it once it is completed but I doubt I will direct, probably executive produce. I would also contribute storyboards and sketches for the film if needed. In order for it to work though, I feel that it has to also be political important with what is going on today.”

Stay tuned to Media Mikes for more breaking news on “Wizards 2”. We are also trying to get a quote from Dark Horse Entertainment’s Mike Richardson and we suggest to you to reach out to Dark Horse as well at dhcomics@darkhorse.com and let them know you want “Wizards 2”.  Our full interview with Bakshi will go live next week.

Directed by: Martin Kemp
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Smithsonian Channel
Distributed: Inception Media Group
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Running Time: 92 minutes

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

When it comes to educational shows dealing with giant prehistoric dinosaurs, count me in immediately. Smithsonian Channel is shaping itself up to produce specials that rival Discovery Channel and “Titanoboa: Monster Snake” is the latest of those.  This special showcases the recently discovered 45+ foot snake that is longer than a bus, eats crocodiles and makes the anaconda looks small.  We can an inside look, traveling back to a time and get a scientific proven look into this enormous serpent. I really enjoyed this special and I thought it was very interesting and well produced.

The show offers some very impressive CG reproductions of this predator from recent scientific discoveries.  It also showcases CG locations, which existed in the Cerrejon Mine in Colombia during that period.  This follows the “a once-in-a-lifetime discovery”, sited by one of the scientists, of this colossal snake which was related to boa constrictors family, which once ruled in the mysterious era after the mass extinction of the dinosaur 60 million years ago.

The video on the Blu-ray is not out of this world since most of it is up-converted from standard definition except for parts that were CG. It is also presented in an 1.78:1 widescreen presentation Overall though Inception Media’s 1080i transfer looks decent and sharp. The audio digital 5.1 track sounds really decent with the score and the sound effects on the disc. Unfortunately there is no special features on this disc at all, which is disappointing. If you have the chance to watch on Smithsonian Channel, catch it there if not this Blu-ray is the best second option.

Paul Bunnell is the writer and director of the new film “The Ghastly Love of Johnny X”. The film is tribute to the 50’s B&W sci-fi genre. It recently premiered at the Cinequest Film Festival. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Paul about his film and it’s road to the big screen.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about the origin behind “The Ghastly Love of Johnny X”.
Paul Bunnell: “Johnny X” came about after a few failed attempts to get other projects off the ground. Time had been ticking away and I felt too much of it had been wasted since the completion of my previous film, “That Little Monster”. I wanted to make a movie that would be completely original and fun — a movie with all the things I love: drive-in theaters, diners, movie palaces. It was kind of like my life all rolled into one movie. It’s who I am.

MG: How did you manage to pay homage to the 50’s B&W sci-fi genre without spoofing it entirely?
PB: By simply being sincere and true to the things that I love and what the characters in the movie love. It’s their world. They (the characters) aren’t making fun of the things in their universe. I had the actors play every line of dialogue with the utmost sincerity. That’s the key. Believability.

MG: How were the songs in the film created and were they difficult to shoot?
PB: The songs began as an afterthought to the story. I wasn’t always happy with parts of the script. I felt it either needed to be trimmed or rewritten. I decided to try out one song, which Scott Martin wrote. I loved it so much that I started combing through the script to find other places to switch out dialogue with a musical telling of the story. This became the rule: the songs had to move the story forward or they would not be in the film. Period. The only time where a song does not move the story forward is when Mickey O’Flynn (Creed Bratton) sings, but he is performing the song in concert. The songs in Johnny X were not any more difficult to shoot than the rest of the movie. One thing was certain, the crew seemed to be having fun whenever we had a song to shoot. So if anything, they were a breeze.

MG: How did you get Will Keenan, Kevin McCarthy and Reggie Bannister involved?
PB: Will Keenan was suggested to me by filmmaker Ramzi Abed. I saw Will’s reel on YouTube and decided to get in touch with him for an interview. I was not familiar with his work prior to meeting him but I brushed up before we met and screened a few of his “classics” like “Tromeo and Juliet”. He was an interesting fellow and had the exact look I wanted for the role, so I gave him the job. Kevin McCarthy was a guest at Cinecon, a classic film festival I attend every year with my wife. I introduced myself to Kevin and told him about my new project. After several phone calls and meetings he finally decided to take a chance on Johnny X and said he would do it because he “didn’t want to disappoint my wife.” As for Reggie Bannister, he appeared in my 1994 film, “That Little Monster”. I wanted to continue the tradition and offered him the role of the dead rock star, Mickey O’Flynn (that Creed Bratton plays). But he didn’t want to do that. He really liked the King Clayton character, so I gave him that role and boy is he great!

MG: You wore a lot of hats in this film, what was the most difficult task?
PB: Wondering if I was ever going to find the money to finish the movie. Six years of wondering! The planets aligned and a very good friend stepped forward and gave me the money. “Miracle” is not a word I use lightly, but in this case I think it applies.

MG: What is the release schedule for this film?
PB: For now, The Ghastly Love of Johnny X is having its world premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, California on March 3rd, 2012. There are two other screenings at Cinequest on March 6th & 10th. For tickets go to: http://www.cinequest.org/event_view.php?eid=1623

MG: I am sure people would love a soundtrack released, any plans?
PB: As a matter of fact, yes! “Kritzerland” is releasing it on their independent label in a few months. Stay tuned for more news.

MG: What do you have planned next?
PB: A little sleep and then on to the next project! It’s kind of top secret at the moment but if you’re a fan of fantasy and Victor Hugo, I think you will enjoy it.

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Directed by: Gaby Dellal
Starring: Thomas Deckker, Jeremy Piven, Elizabeth McGovern, Mira Sorvino
Distributed by: Magnolia Pictures
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Running Time: 93 minutes

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

In the past year alone, Magnolia Pictures has released some of my recent favorite films. “Angels Crest” is a movie that would normally fly by the waist side and I wouldn’t see. Since it was being released by Magnolia it caught my attention. I am very happy that it did because the film is an emotional train-wreak that won’t allow you to look away. The film is packed with such amazing and powerful performances.

Thomas Deckker, known for his film roles in films like “Freddy vs. Jason” and TV series “The Sarah Conner Chronicles”, really gets a chance to show his drama chops. The film is so emotionally charged that he is able to give his best performance to date. Jeffrey Piven also gives a notable performance as well. What I also liked about this film is the fact that it isn’t a dragging drama. 93 minutes and out the door, the film does not waste time from the moment it starts.

The film follows the disappearance and death of 3 year-old Nate Denton. While going to build a snowman in the hills, the boy wanders away from his father’s truck and disappears. Dealing with his death, Ethan (Thomas Dekker) ends up putting the small foothills community of Angel’s Crest in an up roar. The town blames Ethan for the death and he struggles to accept this accusation. A local prosecutor (Jeremy Piven) with a haunted past of this own goes after Ethan in order to bring justice for the town.

The Blu-ray looks stunning with its 1080p transfer shot in the beautiful snowy mountains of Calgary, Canada. The landscapes are gorgeous and looks really sharp. The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track also works well with the films heart pounding score. The special features on the disc are decent overall. There are a few deleted scenes with optional commentary from director Gaby Dellal. There are cast interviews, which does provide some great insight into the film’s story and production. Like all Magnolia release, there is an HDNet’s A Look at Angels Crest, which is a basic featurette. Lastly there is the theatrical trailer included.

Directed by: Lee Hirsch
Distributed by: The Weinstein Company
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running time: 90 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Bully is an eye opening and heartfelt doc from Lee Hirsch taking an extremely close look at the victims of bullying in America’s schools. Through the eyes of a select few subjects, Hirsch exposes larger problems in the handling of a growing epidemic.

Bullying is not a new problem in American schools and perhaps, as this film shows, that is at the heart of the ambivalence with which it can often be dealt. If something is viewed as a rite of passage, there is a heavy level of acceptance associated with it that must be overcome. Hirsch has chosen his subjects to show the diverse range the impact of bullying can have. From two sets of parents whose boys committed suicide, to a girl in juvenile detention for wielding–but not firing– a gun at her tormentors. Ultimately, the film is a call to action for students and teachers to find the tools and support needed to cope with and prevent abuse.

At the heart of the film and given the most screen time as far as I could tell was Alex, a sweet, if awkward, 12 year old from Iowa. He’s been branded “fish face” by his bullies and is additionally physically tormented on a daily basis. Disturbingly Alex doesn’t raise a fuss about it because he’s accepted it as the other boys “messing around.” Despite this, the filmmakers deem some of the physical abuse Alex endures on the bus–sometimes he’s jabbed with pencils– to be too dangerous to ignore and bring the footage Alex’s parents.

When I was in elementary school the bus was rowdy to a point. If it reached critical volume, our iron lady driver hollered us into quiet submission. The bus was definitely ruled over by a supervising adult. So why does a film director need to intervene? Hirsch literally captures physical abuse of Alex in the same frame as a young driver nonchalantly glancing into her rear view mirror. When shown the footage, a principal assures his infuriated parents that when she rode that bus route the children were “as good as gold.” Of course they were. This is just one of several moments Hirsch captures of school staff being shockingly out of touch. When seeing this film in theaters, expect your audience to get vocal, mine certainly did.

If there’s one mystery to this film, it might be Hirsch’s choice to omit exploring the bullies themselves. Especially bullies who are so bold as to continue to lash out despite the presumed knowledge that they’re being filmed (only one boy’s face is blurred out in the footage of Alex being threatened). Also surprising is lack of a look at cyber bullying which has really expanded the borders of torment from the school yards right into targets’ homes in recent years.

Finally, adding to the outrage the film can often inspire is the recent controversy that has sprung up around the MPAA’s ruling to brand this movie with an R-rating for language. Children swear. They do it to emulate their friends, their role models, and yes, the characters in films they’re technically not supposed to even have access to (but who are we kidding?). The subjects who swear in “Bully” are none of these things, so that the MPAA is in effect stopping this doc from reaching its intended audience for probably less than $2 worth in the swear jar is ridiculous. Kudos for the Weinstein company going ahead unrated and hopefully theater chains will let students see it. If not, one can only hope teachers will have the good sense to bring the DVDs into their classrooms regardless.

Directed by: Tarsem Singh
Starring: Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane, Sean Bean
Distributed by: Relativity Media
MPAA Rating: PG
Running time: 106 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Director Tarsem Singh has made a family film that is just charming. Which is fitting for a retelling of Snow White. Children will love it and adults will definitely enjoy it if a slightly offbeat, if not ground breaking, storybook tale is what they’re up for.

Julia Roberts playing the evil queen sets up the story, narrating a beautifully animated opening sequence where we learn her step daughter Snow White’s (Lily Collins) father was lost in the dark forrest and now she must raise the princess, who she keeps locked away in the castle under the pretense that she’s too naive or crazy to be out in the world. Let alone to rule the kingdom that’s rightfully hers.

At eighteen years old, Snow decides to test her stepmother’s image of her and ventures outside the castle to learn the toll the wicked Queen’s vanity is taking on her subjects. And luckily she also bumps into a charming Prince.

Roberts mostly steals the show in her villainous role with the writers lending a motivation to her quest for youth and beauty in the form of Armie Hammer’s rich and handsome Prince Alcott, whom she aims to wed despite his affection for Snow. Never before had I seen Roberts’ trademark booming laughter used for evil purposes, but she should do it more often. Adding to her impact are the gasp inducing gowns she wears by the late designer Eiko Ishioka (Bram Stoker’s Dracula).

New-comer Lily Collins definitely looks the part of Snow White, though she’s given less to work with than her co-stars. After Roberts, Hammer in particular gives a wonderfully committed performance to his princely role which calls for him to be charming but also very silly at times which many young actors might not have been able to do with the same degree of sincerely that he brings here.

After the Queen tries and fails to have Snow White killed by her servant (Nathan Lane), the young princess of course is left in the care of a troop of seven dwarves. Here they’re bandits instead of miners, but going with the Disney method, the dwarves are mostly identified by a simple character trait (Grub eats, Chuckles…chuckles, etc). Again, this all works, even if it’s not very original.

If there’s an overall flaw with Snow’s story it’s that Collins isn’t exactly fit to sell the transition she’s meant to make from meek palace dweller to strong bandit-trained fighter. Nor are the stakes very high. A tiny village serves as the whole kingdom the princess is meant to be fighting for. Though perhaps I’ll be grateful for this when Snow White and the Huntsman releases its armies on audiences this summer. We’ll see.

Still the gentle humor, dazzling costumes and sweet nature of this film are enough to recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well crafted fairy tale.

Starring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes
Directed by: Jonathan Liebesman
PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 39 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The answer is YES. “Wrath of the Titans” is 100 times better then 2010’s “Clash of the Titans.” But wait, there’s more…

The film picks up many years after the first film ended. Perseus (Worthington), the son of Zeus (Neeson), recently widowed and raising young son Helius (John Bell), is living the quiet life of a fisherman. One night he is visited by his pop who tells him that because so many people have stopped praying to the Gods they are getting weak. If they get any weaker the world as the people know it will be destroyed. The source of that destruction is blamed on the common folk and their lack of prayer. Only after investigating does Zeus find that his brother, Hades (Fiennes), still bitter from the whole “sent to the underworld” thing, has teamed with nephew Ares (Edgar Ramirez) to release Kronus, the king of the underworld and father of Zeus, from where he has been seemingly forever. Kronus’ goal is to retrieve the lightning bolt of Zeus, the triton of Poseidon and the helm of Hades, which when assembled together will allow Kronus to defeat the Titans. Chaos ensues.

Featuring strong performances by Neeson and Fiennes, “Wrath of the Titans” features some brilliant effects (the fire and ash monster that is Kronus) and, though still converted, much better 3D then the last film. Which I’m sure will make Warner Brothers happy after the backlash the studio took from fans due to the horrible 3D conversion they shelled out good money for. The story is pretty much your standard mythological tale…monster threatens town/village/city/world and is eventually defeated by unassuming hero. Of course, the hero here is part man/part God, so he has a slight edge. The story has a more humorous tone as well, when Perseus encounters a trio of Cyclops. And, despite what I’m sure was against Worthington’s wishes (he spoke out very negatively about an appearance in the first film), Bubo the owl makes another appearance here.

I’d also urge you to get in your seats early as preceding the film is an incredible trailer for Peter Jackson’s upcoming “The Hobbit.” Worth an extra rating star all by itself!

Directed by: Josh Becker
Starring: Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi, Timothy Quill, Scott Spiegel, Brian Schulz
Distributed by: Synapse Films
MPAA Rated: Unrated
Release Date: April 10, 2012
Running Time: 83 minutes

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

Synapse Films is the team behind this fantastic release of this cult classic on Blu-ray.  The release features an all-new High-Definition 2K Digital Restoration from the original negative.  It looks very impressive for a low-budget film from 1985.  This film also some packed with the “Evil Dead” group and stars Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi, Scott Spiegel, and Timothy Quill.  The film is very gory and is really no-holds barred.  It really kick-ass some ass and asks questions later.  We all need to commend Synapse for really this 80’s gems and restoring them in HD.  This release will easily satisfy fans of the cult classic.  Did I mention that Sam Raimi plays one of the craziest son bitches? It’s a no brainer.

The film follows a group of friend who return home after Vietnam but are not met with a happy welcome.  During the war, Marine Sergeant Jack Stryker takes  two bullets in the leg but is rescued by a friend.  When he comes home to his girlfriend, she is abducted by a crazy cult led by it’s vicious leader, Stryker.  Jack recruits the help of his three of his old marine friends and they seek out to get revenge on this group of crazies.

The film special features are very impressive as which has become expected from Synapse Films. There are two audio commentary tracks from director Josh Becker, Bruce Campbell and star Brian Schulz.  The coolest feature on the release is the Original Super 8mm short film, Stryker’s War Short Film, starring Bruce Campbell.  It is worth the purchase alone.  There is a great featurette called “Made in Michigan: The Making of Thou Shalt Not Kill… Except”. There is an all-new video interview with Bruce Campbell, always amazing.  I can watch him read a store receipt.  There is one deleted scene with optional director’s commentary and also an alternate title sequence.  Also included is the original theatrical trailer.  To top off a great release like most Synapse films, there is reversible cover artwork included as well.

Directed by: James Mangold
Starring: Meg Ryan, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber
Studio: Lions Gate
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: April 10, 2012
Running Time: 123 minutes

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

Lionsgate Home Entertainment will release the director’s cut of Kate & Leopold to Blu-ray for the first time this April. I am not the biggest fan of Meg Ryan, especially since she started to look like The Joker. This film was probably one of her last decent roles. Hugh Jackman channels is 19th Century duke and does a decent job. The romance between the two is not bad, though the film itself runs a little long hitting just over two hours. The director’s cut includes some extra scenes that provide some more plot into the characters and story. Overall though it doesn’t make the film any better or worse.

This romantic comedy stars Hugh Jackman as Leopold, a 19th Century duke who accidentally travels through time and ends up in modern-day New York City. While getting used to the new place he meets a career woman Kate (Meg Ryan) and he plans to change her ways and aim to court her. The Blu-ray presentation looks great with its 1080p video resolution and packs an impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.

The main downfall of this release is that the theatrical version is not included, so if you prefer that one you are out of luck. The special features are decent overall though. They include an audio commentary track with director James Mangold. There are a few deleted scenes with optional commentary, nothing special but worth a look. There are two decent featurettes. The first is focusing on the Costuming and the second is a look into the production called “On the Set”. Lastly, there is a short photo gallery included.

Directed by: Don Roos
Starring: Ben Affleck, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natasha Henstridge
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributed by: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Release Date: April 10, 2012
Running Time: 106 minutes

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

Lionsgate Home Entertainment is bringing the romance flick to Blu-ray for the first time this April. Whenever I think of this film, I think about Ben Affleck in “Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back” being called “Bounce-Boy” for starring in this. It is still a decent romance as Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow really work well as a couple. The Blu-ray presentation is also very impressive. It boasts a sharp 1080p video resolution. There is also a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, it works well but doesn’t get too pushed with this romantic drama.

“Bounce” follows Ben Affleck as Buddy Amaral, a slick advertising executive and recovering alcoholic who falls in love with single mother Abby Janello (Gwyneth Paltrow). As the couple grow closer, Abby finds out that Buddy holds a secret that could destroy their relationship.

The Blu-ray special features are decent for this release but don’t including anything new. They include an audio commentary track with director Don Roos. I rather liked the scene-specific commentary with Roos, Affleck, and Paltrow as well. If you want more “Bounce”, there are in luck since there are a few deleted scenes with optional commentary, worth checking out for sure. I always enjoy a good gag reel as well. There is a music video included for “Need To Be Next To You”. Lastly there are two decent featurettes. The first is called “All About Bounce” and the second is called “Ben and Gwyneth Go Behind-the Scenes”.