Directed by: Mike Mitchell
Starring: Jason Lee, David Cross, Jenny Slate, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler,
Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate
Distributed by: Twentieth Century Fox
MPAA Rating: G
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Running Time: 87 minutes

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

So, how can the world benefit from a third “Alvin and the Chipmunks” movie? It really can’t, except maybe by keeping the kids busy for 90 minutes.  Well even though the film doesn’t change film cinema,  it was surprisingly not as bad as I thought it would be.  That being said, it far from spectacular also.  I really felt bad for Jason Lee and David Cross for having to act in this, more for the later since he has to where a chicken suit the whole movie.  I will hate myself for saving this but I thought the Chipmunks were really cute, especially the Chipettes.  The music in the film was fun and added a lot of the film.  With over $300 million in the bank worldwide, I do not think we have seen the end of this franchise either.

In the third entry, Alvin, Simon, Theodore, Dave (Jason Lee), and Chipettes Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor go on cruise on the way to the International Music Awards but wind up trapped on a tropical island. Split up from Dave, our fury friends meet an island castaway named Zoe (Jenny Slate), who is looking for a buried treasure. Time is running out though as their is a volcano on the island that is looking to explode. The film runs a short 88 minutes and definitely doesn’t over stay it welcome too much. Kids will love every single moment of this film though for sure.

The Blu-ray presentation is also impressive for this kids title. The video backs a very colorful and sharp 1080p transfer. I mean the film is shot in Hawaii, it is guaranteed to looks beautiful The audio track works perfectly with the music in the film, boasting a great DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.  Along with the Blu-ray, this release also comes with a DVD copy of the film.  It also comes with a digital copy as well but doesn’t take advantage of the recent trend of using digital streaming service, Ultraviolet.

The special features are aimed at kids mostly but still decent. The first feature is called “Munk Music & Dance Machine”, runs about 20 minutes and is sing-along to your favorite songs from the movie.  “Going Overboard with the Chipmunks” is a chat with the film’s producers on the production. “Munking Movies in Paradise” talks about shooting in Hawaii.  “Everybody Munk Now” is a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of the “salsa night” dance scene. “Alan Tudyk, Chipmunk Apprentice” is a feature on voicing Simon’s alter-ego “Simone” in the film.  If you want more music there are three music videos with optional sing-a-long mode. There are eight extended scenes, running about five minutes, nothing special.  Lastly there are two “Fox Movie Channel Presents” features presented only in standard definition, “Growing Up Alvin” and “In Character with Jason Lee”, not sure why these are not in HD but worth checking out.

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Directed by: Georges Méliès
MPAA Rating: G
Distributed by: Flicker Alley
Release Date: April 10, 2012
Running Time: 130 minutes

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

If you think “A Trip to the Moon” seems familiar and can’t put your finger on it, that is because it was featured in Martin Scorsese’s award winning movie, “Hugo”. “Hugo” featured Ben Kingsley playing Georges Méliès, the creator of this 1902 masterpiece “Le Voyage dans La Lune” aka “A Trip to the Moon”.  Thanks to Flicker Alley for releasing this full restored, hand-painted color version to high-def Blu-ray for the first time since it was made 110 years ago.  The Blu-ray comes packaged in a wonderful limited edition, SteelBook case.  It is also being released with its original 1902 colors and a new 2011 documentary called “The Extraordinary Voyage”.

“A Trip to the Moon” was sourced from a once thought lost version of the film and it is also presented with a soundtrack from the French band, AIR.  This restoration looks absolutely fantastic.  The film is only 15 minutes but it is worth watching over and over, I loved watching it in color and also black and white.  The amazing documentary also included on this release, “The Extraordinary Voyage”, runs just over an hour and covers the film’s preservation and history.  It also includes commentary and testimonials from Tom Hanks, Terry Gilliam and Michel Hazanavicus (Oscar winning star of “The Artist”).  The documentary spends a lot of time going through the restoration project of “A Trip to the Moon” and shows how much work really went into it.  It is really interesting watching them talk about the coloring process for the film and the frame by frame restoration. Let me tell you the Blu-ray presentation looks jut fantastic with its 1080p transfer and the audio is so impressive .

The special features on this limited edition release are extremely impressive.  It also contains the restored black and white version from the original 35mm prints and comes backed with three different audio tracks.  There is an orchestral score by Robert Israel with English narration written by Méliès. The second track is produced by Russell Merritt and includes a troupe of voice actors performed in the U.S. in 1903. The last track features beautiful piano music from Frederick Hodges. There is also a exclusive interview with Nicolas Godin and JB Dunckel from the band AIR.  There is also two bonus films from Méliès “The Eclipse” and “The Astronomer’s Dream”.  Lastly rounding out this amazing release is an beautiful 24-page booklet included in the package.

Directed by: Stephen Daldry
Starring: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, Viola Davis, Max von Sydow
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Running Time: 129 minutes

Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The events of 9/11 is a very strong subject matter for film. Being a New Yorker myself, it is a little hard to stomach it, even after over 10 years. This film does a great job of focusing on the events of 9/11, without being too much in your face. “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” packs a really strong performances from Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. Thomas Horn definitely has a bright future in his cards for sure. Max von Sydow ,who won an Oscar for his role, didn’t even speak a word in this film and was phenomenal. You will find yourself trying to hold back your emotions but it is simply not possible. I was really blown away by this film. It is simply fantastic and really delivers constantly throughout the entire film.

The story follows eleven year-old Oskar Schell (Horn), who tries to deal with the events of 9/11 and the lose of his father a year after the events of World Trade Center. He finds a key belonging to his father and sets off on a mission to solve the mystery of what lock the key will open. As Oskar begins to uncover links to the father, he meets The Renter aka Max von Sydow who helps him in his search through the five New York boroughs.

The Blu-ray presentation is very impressive with its 1080p transfer. It looks really sharp and really pulls you into New York during one of its hardest times. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track works so amazing with the films score and works so well with Max von Sydow scenes, even without dialogue. This release includes the Blu-ray, as well as a DVD copy of the fil. If you are a fan of digital copies, this release comes with my new favorite feature UltraViolet digital streaming copy.

The special features are impressive though they are missing an commentary tracks from cast/crew. there is a 20 minute behind the scenes feature called “Making Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” which follows cast/crew on the film’s production. “Finding Oskar” talks about the casting process for Thomas Horn. “Ten Years Later” focuses on a man named Daniel McGinley. He died in the towers during 9/11 but his legacy lives in this feature, very moving. The best feature on the Blu-ray is “Max von Sydow: Dialogues with The Renter”, which runs about 45 minutes. Especially since von Sydow’s performances is so amazing, this is great insight to his work on the film.

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Synopsis: Adapted from the acclaimed bestseller by Jonathan Safran Foer, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” is a story that unfolds from inside the young mind of Oskar Schell, an inventive eleven year-old New Yorker whose discovery of a key in his deceased father’s belongings sets him off on an urgent search across the city for the lock it will open. A year after his father died in the World Trade Center on what Oskar calls “The Worst Day,” he is determined to keep his vital connection to the man who playfully cajoled him into confronting his wildest fears. Now, as Oskar crosses the five New York boroughs in quest of the missing lock — encountering an eclectic assortment of people who are each survivors in their own way — he begins to uncover unseen links to the father he misses, to the mother who seems so far away from him and to the whole noisy, dangerous, discombobulating world around him.

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott Thomas
Directed by: Lasse’ Hallstrom
PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 47 mins
Lionsgate

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The news in England is pretty bleak. The headlines are full of stories about war and a bad economy. Enter Patricia Maxwell (Thomas), press secretary to the Prime Minister. She enlists her staff to search high and low for what she calls a “Good Story,” something that will take the peoples’ minds off of the negative. Unbeknownst to Maxwell, a very wealthy Yemeni Sheik (Amr Waked) with a love for fishing wants to bring the sport of salmon fishing to his country. A match made in publicity heaven.

Based on the novel by Paul Torday and adapted by Oscar winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (“The Full Monty,” “Slumdog Millionaire”), “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” is a well written, finely acted film that hopefully will not get lost in the upcoming “BIG MOVIE” release schedule. McGregor plays Dr. Alfred Jones, who works for the government’s conservation office. Blunt is Harriet, who is the Sheik’s representative on the project. At first Jones believes it all a joke, quoting a price of 50 million pounds as the cost of the project thinking he will call the Sheik’s bluff. But when the Sheik deposits the money in the bank he realizes the plan may work. An avid fisherman himself, Jones understands the peace and tranquility the Sheik is hoping to share with his people. A secondary story featuring Jones and his wife and Harriet and her recent boyfriend gives the film a romantic twist. Fate throws the two together alone in a strange country after Alfred’s wife heads to Geneva for a six week work project and Harriet’s beau, a soldier, is listed as missing in action. Only a minor subplot concerning the Sheik’s countrymen and their worries that he is becoming too “westernized” slows the film down. Both leads work well off of each other and it’s a treat to hear McGregor unleash his Scottish accent on screen.

The photography is beautiful, with the normally dull desert landscapes brought to life by cinematographer Terry Stacey (“American Splendor”). Equally solid is Lasse Hallstrom’s direction, keeping the film moving as gracefully as salmon swimming upstream.

Directed: Paul W.S. Anderson
Starring: Orlando Bloom, Logan Lerman, Milla Jovovich
Distributed by: Summit Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Running Time: 110 minutes

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

So this isn’t the first time we have seen an adaption of “The Three Musketeers”. This updated version is nothing revolutionary either but it is damn well entertaining. Plus we have never seen these swashbuckling musketeers kick butt in 3D. The 3D is very fun and recommended but the 2D version is actually equally as great. The film has some of the year’s best art direction and costume design. My main issue with these films have always been why are they called The Three Musketeers when there always are four? Nonetheless, this is a fun time overall and worth checking out for a good time and mindless fun.

This film is a stylized update to classic swashbuckling novel, “The Three Musketeers”. It follows the young hero D Artagnan (Logan Lerman) and his joining sides with the Three Musketeers. They take battle against Europe’s most elite warriors on a mission uncover a conspiracy that threatens to overthrow the king and push Europe into war.

The Blu-ray presentation is quite impressive. The video resolution looks sharp with its 1080p transfer. The audio was very impressive with the film’s action scenes and music boasting a great DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. This releases comes with the 3D Blu-ray and the 2D Blu-ray. All of the special features are found on the 2D-only release, There are no 3D or exclusive extras included in this release.

The special features are packed with great content. There is an interesting audio commentary from Director/Producer Paul W.S. Anderson and Producers Jeremy Bolt and Robert Kulzer. They discuss the films production in depth. “Access: Three Musketeers” is a picture-in-picture that provided great behind the scenes features you can watch during the film. This is my favorite feature on this release. “Paul W.S. Anderson’s Musketeers” is a short feature focusing on the cast and rebooting the story. “Orlando Bloom Takes on the Duke” is self-explained from the title. “17th Century Air Travel” talks about the film aerial ships. “Uncovering France in Germany” talks about shooting in Bavaria. There are about 15 minutes of deleted & Extended Scenes, mostly hit and miss. but worth checking out.

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Directed by: Arthur Hiller, Norman Abbott
Starring: John Astin, Marty Ingels, Lee Meriwether
Distributed by: Lightyear Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: April 10, 2012
Running Time: 609 minutes

Volume One: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 5 out of 5 stars

Prior to reviewing this DVD, I have to admit I was unaware of “I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster”. I was though quite aware of John Astin, Marty Ingels and Lee Meriwether. This DVD marks the 50th Anniversary of 1960s TV sitcom and it is also the first time that these episodes have been released on DVD. The release contains a three-disc set which contains over 10 hours of content. It features the first sixteen episodes of thirty-two from the show’s only season. It is very sad that this show only latest one season because it is a riot. It is simple and subtle but extremely funny. The show is created by Leonard Stern who is responsible for hit comedy shows like “The Honeymooners” and “Sergeant Bilko”. I have to certainly thank Glass Onyon PR for allowing us to find this wonderful gem of a show.  I look forward to sharing this series with my soon-to-be-born daughter. This DVD is highly recommended…simply wonderful.

“I’m Dickens… He’s Fenster” follows Harry (Astin) and Arch (Ingels) and their adventures being best friends and also working together as construction workers.  Ingels easily steals the show and is just such a pleasure to watch. The two are absolutely hilarious and are backed but some amazing guest stars including: Yvonne Craig (Batgirl from “Batman”), Harvey Korman (“The Carol Burnett Show”), Sally Kellerman (“M*A*S*H”), Peter Lupus (“Mission: Impossible”), Lee Meriwether (“The Time Tunnel”), Ellen Burstyn (“The Exorcist”), Edy Williams (“Beyond the Valley of the Dolls”), and Jim Nabors (“The Andy Griffith Show”). The series looks great on DVD and the episodes look sharp and really clear for a show that is 50 years old. It is also presented in full frame with 1.33:1 ratio and original mono audio track.

The special features on this DVD release are jam packed. There are all-new interviews including stars John Astin and Marty Ingels, Directors Arthur Hiller, Norman Abbott, and Creator/Producer Leonard Stern. If you are fan of audio commentaries there are bunch feature John Astin and Marty Ingels, Yvonne Craig, Lee Meriwether, Dave Ketchum, Chris Korman (son of Harvey Korman) and creator/producer Leonard Stern. There is a funny featurette called “I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster Get Physical”. There is a very sweet video tribute to the late Leonard Stern. There are three funny featurettes including “The Joke”, “Love Me, Love My Dog” and “How Not to Succeed in Business”. There are old commercials including Bumpers, ABC TV Network Promo and Cast Commercial. Lastly there is a ‘Thank You’ slide show video featuring the dozens of people who helped make the 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition a reality.

Scott Shuffitt is one of the minds behind Lebowski Fest, which is a traveling tribute gathering to celebrate “The Big Lebowski”.  The fest has been going strong for over 10 years and is only growing and getting more popular.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Scott during their recent visit to Orlando, FL to chat about the fest and what else we can expect for 2012.

Mike Gencarelli: After going over 10 years what do you do to keep the Lebowski Fest fresh every city/every year?
Scott Shuffitt: There are new challenges in each city and we are still learning and growing so that helps to keep it fresh. Of course new achievers are still discovering the fest. I ask the crowd at the House of Blues Movie Party how many where at the fest for the first time and it seemed to me that at least 40% were first timers.

MG: Tell us how long it takes for you guys to setup an event like this?
SS: What’s kind of hard to say but basically I start working on a fest about eight months or longer before. A lot of it depends on if is a return to the city or new to us.

MG: What is the craziest thing that has happened at Lebowksi Fest over the years?
SS: Our first event outside of Louisville was in Vegas and everyone was super pumped about it. There was a guy wearing a rug as a costume, he cut a hole in it and put it over his head. After the fest he laid it out in the parking lot and a bunch of dudes piss on it.. Kinda gross, def crazy. We’ve seen plenty more, probably none as gross though.

MG: Tell us your favorite line in the film if you had to choose one?
SS: I like “Darker than a black steers tookus on a moonless prairie night” a lot but there are plenty of others. I kind of like how when the Dude muddles his words like in the back of The Big L’s limo.. What in God’s name are you talking about?

MG: Why do you think fans resonant with this movie for through it’s cult status?
SS: At its core it is a great comedy, all the actors really nail the characters, and it is great visually. Add that to the fact that its kind of anti-establishment and that it isn’t really a film that has wide appeal and you can’t stop quoting it, I think that is what makes it a cult film. Seemed to work on me at least.

MG: You have expanded this fandom from the fest to a book, what’s the next goal for you?
SS: Not really sure, we would like to take the fest to some new cities, including Canada and maybe even some European stops, but that kind of depends on the Dudes budget, you know.

MG: What can we expect from the Lebowski Fest for the rest of 2012?
SS: More party!

Starring: The B-52’s
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
Run Time: 131 minutes (including extras)

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

I doubt I’ll ever forget watching Saturday Night Live with my dad the evening of January 26th, 1980. He and I were huge fans of the show and tuned in weekly to check out the latest hysterical skits performed by Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin and other classic-era cast members. But when host Teri Garr introduced musical guests the B-52’s, an interesting thing happened: my dad’s face became one that fully epitomized “WTF?” and mine expressed unbridled awe of the band’s whacked fashion and spasmodic party vibe. Yep…on that night, the generation gap was in full effect. The baton had been passed. Along with the tanning butter.

As the members of the B-52’s state in an interview that is included on their new DVD/Blu-ray “The B-52’s with the Wild Crowd! Live in Athens, GA”, that SNL gig was the career-changer that catapulted them from being a quirky band with something of a cult following to one that suddenly was moving truckloads of their self-titled debut album. The interview is a fascinating one that allows all four band members – Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson and Keith Strickland – to tell the story of how the four musicians got together and eventually became one of the most well-known – and arguably the best – party band that rock and roll has ever seen. Throughout the half-hour bonus feature, we’re treated to so many pictures from the B-52’s scrapbook that “interview” is something of a misnomer: it’s an exceptionally well-produced and edited short-form documentary that leaves very few stones unturned, including the life and death of original guitarist and band cornerstone, Ricky Wilson.

The main event of the Blu-ray, though, is the 34th anniversary concert filmed in their hometown of Athens, GA. As the disc’s case states, they have managed to assemble a wild crowd that is all costumed up and ready to party out of bounds. When the 52’s hit the stage, they launch into the energetic “Pump” from their 2008 release “Funplex”. It gets the party started quickly and proves that, even after more than 30 years of dancing their mess around, they still can create music that’s just as fun as that on their first LP, which hit stores in 1979. By the time the 90-minute show concludes, they have delivered 20 of their most popular songs (“Roam”, “Rock Lobster” and – of course – “Love Shack”) as well as fan-fave classics (“Planet Claire”, “Mesopotamia”, “52 Girls” and even “Strobe Light”). The tunes are still jumpin’ and are delivered with all of the energy and vitality of the original album tracks. On a sonic level, the Blu-ray is immaculate regardless of which of the three audio options is selected by the viewer: DTS HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital 5.1 or LPCM Stereo.  The 1080i high-definition video is crisp and clean throughout.

Where “Wild Crowd!” falls short, though, is that said wildness is…well…pretty much exclusive to the crowd.   Even though the B-52’s  still seem to enjoy what they do, the performers themselves are fairly static and don’t move around the stage much.  Throughout the entire show, Fred is in the dead center flanked by Kate and Cindy.  And that’s about it.  There’s some banter between songs, but it’s so generic that most of it could conceivably be used at any stop of any tour. Given that the show this Blu-ray documents is a momentous anniversary show – and that this is a band whose outlandish costumes and eccentric showmanship used to rival those of Devo and other avant garde weirdies – it’s a shame that the disc’s visual content winds up being its most uninteresting component.  The crowd does their cosmic thing and shakes their honey buns non-stop. The band should oblige their enthusiasm but unfortunately becomes a bit of a deadbeat club.

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After two days of packed panels and costumed fans, Kansas City’s Planet Comicon 2012 came to a close this past Sunday.

Not even unseasonably warm weather or the fact that the University of Kansas’ basketball team was playing for a spot in the Final Four (they made it) could keep fans away from the Overland Park Trade Center in Overland Park, Kansas, just outside of Kansas City.

Drawn to the show by such celebrity guests as Edward James Olmos, Billy Dee Williams and a trio of stars from “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” Planet Comicon 2012 may have been the best attended show in the history of the convention.

Buck Rogers himself, Gil Gerard, remarked to me, “this is the busiest Sunday I’ve ever seen at one of these events.” Gerard and fellow “Buck Rogers” actors Erin Gray and Felix Silla spent the weekend meeting and greeting their fans. Other guests included Robin Thorsen and Amy Okuda from “The Guild,” graphic artists like Bernie Wrightson and Blair Butler, star of G4’s “Attack of the Show.”

Directed by: Mick Jackson
Starring: Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston
Distributed by: Warner Bros Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Running Time: 129 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

I remember when this film came out, my parents had the cassette of the soundtrack playing on loop for like a whole year. That’s right BTW, I said cassette. The music in this film was so amazing. It also reminds me of how great the late Whitney Houston once was. Even though this is the first time it is released on Blu-ray, I feels like its a real cash-in on her death, especially with the lack of special features. The film does pack a nice Blu-ray presentation though, boasting a sharp 1080p transfer and the audio is notable with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The music really shines though this.

“The Bodyguard” stars Houston as a pop-music diva Kevin Costner as the uptight bodyguard who is assigned to protect her. At first they do not get a long but of course as you all know, they fall in love. Who doesn’t love the song “I Will Always Love You.”? The film definitely reeks of early 90’s cinema though and the romance is a little over-the-top. Though it is all saved by Costner and Houston’s wonderful performances.

The special features are very disappointing and are only presented in standard definition. The first is called “Memories of The Bodyguard”, which runs about 30 minutes and talks about the film’s production. There is also a music video from Whitney Houston for “I Will Always Love You”. Lastly there is also the theatrical trailer. All of these are just left over’s from the last DVD release. I wish they would have put a lot more love into this release.

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Synopsis: She’s safe now. Safe from hordes of screaming, grasping fans. Safe from demanding kooks who pop up unexpectedly. Safe from the unknown killer stalking her every move. She’s in the arms of The Bodyguard. Starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston and featuring songs from the #1 soundtrack album (including Houton’s hits “I Will Always Love You” and “I Have Nothing”), The Bodyguard has it all: Suspense. Thrills. Romance. Peril. Passion. And the shining brilliance of two great stars. In her spectacular film debut, Houston plays Rachel Marron, a music/movie superstar at her peak. Fans want to see her, hear her, touch her. But one wants to kill her – and that’s where security expert Frank Farmer(Costner) comes in. Farmer is a professional who never lets his guard down. Rachel’s glamorous life often puts her at risk. Each expects to be in charge. What they don’t expect is to fall in love

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Directed by: Mick Garris
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Annabeth Gish, Anika Noni Rose, Jason Priestly, Melissa George and William Schallert.
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Sony Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Running Time: 234 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Whenever a new Stephen King TV film comes up, they have been hit or miss. This four-hour adaption is definitely a hit and comes back with a great cast. The film packs all its horror in the first hour or so and then it becomes more of a supernatural murder mystery. I still enjoyed the evolution of the film and didn’t feel that it dragged at all throughout its long running time. I have actually read the novel by King years ago and I enjoy them both equally.

The film stars Pierce Brosnans as Mike Noonan, a novelist who suffers from writer’s block after the death of his wife, Jo (Annabeth Gish). Mike gets drawn to the couple’s lakeside retreat hoping to find answers but he is plagued by nightmares and ghostly visitations from Sara Tidwell (Anika Noni Rose). Sara is a blues singer who was murdered and her spirit is looking for help from Mike to solve her murder. While investigating these murders, Mike realizes that the small town has a few dark secrets of its own.

What I am most surprised about this release is that it wasn’t put out on Blu-ray. The film is available in HD but I do not know why they neglected to take advantage of the high-def release. The special features on the DVD are not impressive at all either. There are just two deleted scenes included with add nothing to the film.

Directed by: Deryck Broom
Starring: Ernest Borgnine, Leon Clingman, Georgina Cordova, Scott Reeves, Asunta D’urso Fleming
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Running Time: 87 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

I am not usually a big fan of strong faith themed films. But I am a sucker for 3D and talking CG animals. This film isn’t terrible but it isn’t very exciting either. It feels like one of those films that are sold at the supermarket register. The 3D effects are really good though and I did enjoy its presentation on Blu-ray as well. I thought the 3D was used well and fun for kids as well. I really couldn’t over the mix of modern day dialogue from animals in the time when Christ was alive and taking place in Jerusalem. If this film wasn’t so heavy on the faith, it might have been a lot better but with a title like “The Lion of Judah”, you have to expect that.

The film follows a lamb named Judah and his stable friends as they try to avoid being put up for sacrifice in Jerusalem the week before the crucifixion of Christ. Basically it is the story of Easter told from the perspective of a pig, a horse, a rat, a rooster, a cow and a donkey. The film also has a notable cast including Ernest Borgnine (“The Dirty Dozen”, “The Wild Bunch”), Georgina Cordova (Nickelodeon’s “Winx Club”) Scott Eastwood (“Invictus”, “Gran Torino”) and Michael Madsen (“Kill Bill”).

The Blu-ray presentation is impressive for a film I did not expect much from. The video looked sharp with its 1080p transfer, especially in 3D. The audio packed a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which worked well with the effects and the music. The only special feature included on this Blu-ray is a short featurette called “The Lion of Judah: Behind the Scenes”.

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Premise; Judah’s new friends, led by Slink the clever mouse (Ernest Borgnine) and Esmay the motherly cow (Sandy Patti) meet up with Jack (Scott Eastwood), a teenaged donkey with an attitude. Jack is less than happy to be part of the crew, but when the furry and feathered band of stable animals get separated and needs saving, it’s Jack who rushes to their rescue. Even the best efforts of Jack and the rest of the stable friends are not enough to save Judah. In this incredible tale of adventure and compassion, it takes the greatest hero of all, The King, to save Judah…and all the other animals, too!

Starring: Ron Ely, Manuel Padilla Jr.
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 1500 minutes

Season One: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

Warner Archive is responsible for bringing this classic 60’s TV series to DVD for the first time.  Season one is split into two parts.  The first part consists of a 4-disc collection and contains 15 episodes.  The secon part also consists of a 4-disc collection and contains the remaining 16 episodes in the first season.  Warner Bros did a great job of restoring this TV show and it is presented in full frame. For a show that has never been on DVD before and is nearing 40 years old, it looks really sharp.

I really enjoyed watching the first season of “Tarzan”.  It is a fun show that doesn’t expect too much.  It also includes some awesome guest stars as well such as Nichelle Nicholas from “Star Trek”, Woody Strode, Russ Tamblyn and even the former Tarzan Jock Mahoney.  If you are a fan of this series, you are going to really enjoy the 25 hours of vine swinging adventures of our animal loving friend. My only major complaint about watching this series has nothing to do with Warner’s release or restoration but the terrible stock footage used in some scenes.  I hope Warner Archive is planning on release further seasons of this as well.

You can purchase these DVDs at WarnerArchive.com – http://bit.ly/WAC_TarzanTV

Part One Synopsis:Premiering on NBC in 1966, Edgar Rice Burroughs’ immortal creation, Tarzan, took to the nation’s TV screens for the first time. Still in the capable hands of producer Sy Weintraub, the TV Tarzan (Ron Ely) continued the more recent (and more authentic) interpretation of Lord Greystoke as a sophisticated, articulate jungle adventurer as seen in the Tarzan films of Gordon Scott, Jock Mahoney and Mike Henry. Also carried over from the big screen was young actor Manuel Padilla (Tarzan and the Valley of Gold, Tarzan and the Great River), now playing the jungle lord’s kid sidekick alongside Cheetah, the simian one. The first half of his inaugural season finds Tarzan rescuing seeing-eye lions, endangered leopards, and pampered princes while battling man-eaters, despots and deadly arachnids in this 4-Disc, 15-Episode collection. Guest stars include former Tarzan Jock Mahoney, Star Trek’s Nichelle Nichols, Woody Strode, and Russ Tamblyn.

Part Two Synopsis:Ron Ely continues his memorable run as Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan in the second half of his first season. This 16-Episode, 4-Disc collection sees the Lord of the Jungle and his stalwart second bananas, Jai the jungle boy (Manuel Padilla) and Cheetah the chimp, facing off against some of their most formidable challenges alongside a bevy of powerhouse performer guest stars. Stage and screen legend Julie Harris makes her first appearance as the imperiled, imperious missionary Charity Jones and Maurice Evans makes his memorable debut as Sir Basil Bertram. And the action continues to heat up with volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, phantom dinosaurs and more fantastic jungle menaces. Adding their talents to the drama and the dangers are Susan Oliver, Chips Rafferty, Gia Scala, Sally Kellerman and Jack Elam.

Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Running Time: 102 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Warner Bros. is becoming know for releasing these amazing Anniversary Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-rays. They did it last year with both “Ben-Hur” and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”, both which were two of my favorite releases of the year. This 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Blu-ray release of “Casablanca” comes packaged in a large rectangle box and is jam packed with amazing collectibles. Inside the box, you get 3-disc Digipak with two Blu-rays and a standard DVD. There is a simply breathtaking 62-page hardcover book with rare production notes and really great behind-the-scenes photos and drawings. There are four drink coasters included but not just loose, they come in a sweet faux-leather collectable box. Lastly there is a 21 x 15-inch 1942 French theatrical mini movie poster. All that amazing stuff is just inside the box, we haven’t even talked about the more than thirteen hours of special features and the amazing Blu-ray transfer yet.

The video presentation of this 70 year old film looks beyond fantastic and really shines on Blu-ray. You can thank this stunning 1080p transfer to an all-new 4K scan and a very in-depth frame by frame restoration. The audio a decent DTS-HD Master Audio Mono 1.0 track. Even though it is a restored single-channel mix, I felt that the audio was great but just a little lacking with the dialogue. Overall still very impressive audio and visual, nonetheless.

The special features are split over two Blu-rays and the main downfall to this otherwise amazing release is that most are in standard definition. There are two commentaries, though none with principal cast or crew. The first with film critic Roger Ebert and the second with historian Rudy Behlmer. Both are still very interesting though and informative. The only HD feature on disc one is “Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic”, which runs about 35 minutes and is a newly produced documentary. Many notable talent speak about the film, its impact including like Steven Spielberg, William Friedkin and Rudy Behlmer. There is an introduction by Lauren Bacall speaking about Casablanca’s enduring appeal. “Warner Night at the Movies” runs just under an hour and dives into the 1940s experience of “Casablanca”. “Great Performances: Bacall on Bogart” runs just over 80 minutes and is a solid documentary on Bogart. “You Must Remember This: A Tribute to Casablanca” runs about 35 minutes and carries a bit of repeat from the last documentary on the film but still worth a watch. “As Time Goes By: The Children Remember” features Stephen Bogart and Pia Lindstrom as they discuss their parents and the effect the film has had on them. There is about 75 minutes of audio-only content including a 1943 “Lady Esther Screen Guild Theater Radio Broadcast”, a “VOX Pop Radio Broadcast” from 1947, a series of “Scoring Stage Sessions” featuring alternate versions of the a few songs. There is some additional footage included along with some deleted scenes, as well as outtakes, “Who Holds Tomorrow” (a “Casablanca” television remake), and “Carrotblanca,” a Looney Tunes parody of the film. Lastly on disc one there are the film’s original theatrical trailer and theatrical re-release trailer as well.

The second Blu-ray of special features contains less features but more content. “The Brothers Warner” is an hour and a half feature on Harry Warner and his brothers. It really goes behind the scenes about the brothers and about their process for creating films. It is also presented in high definition. The next feature is a real zinger racking in at almost five hours. “You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story” is a five-hour documentary from director Richard Schickel and narrator Clint Eastwood. It focuses on Warner Bros, obviously. It is split over a few chapters include “A Rising Power (1923-1937),” “War and Peace (1937-1949),” “Age of Anxiety (1950-1969),” “Starting Over (1970-1990)” and “A Living Tradition (1988-2008)”. Lastly there is a feature, which runs about an hour called “Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul” and looks into this legacy.

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Synopsis: Casablanca: easy to enter, but much harder to leave, especially if you’re wanted by the Nazis. Such a man is Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American who sticks his neck out for no one – especially Victor’s wife Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), the ex-lover who broke his heart. Ilsa offers herself in exchange for Laszlo’s transport out of the country and bitter Rick must decide what counts more – personal happiness or countless lives hanging in the balance. Winner of three Academy Awards including Best Picture, Casablanca marks its 70th anniversary as a beloved favorite with so many bonuses that no matter how often you’ve seen it, this beautiful 70th Anniversary (Limited and Numbered) Edition looks like yet another beginning of a beautiful friendship with an unforgettable classic.

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Created by: Matt Stone & Trey Parker
Distributed by: Paramount Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Running Time: 308 minutes

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

I remember watching the very first night that “South Park” premiered on Comedy Central. I wouldn’t say that I am huge fan of the show, since I stopped watching around 2000. Now I have seen a dew episodes here and there in the last 12 years but I would have never thought that this show would reach its 15th season. It is such an unbelievable success and they show is still relevant and funny. I do feel that it does a little over the top and too far on some occasions but that is the beauty of the show. Since reviewing this, I have found a few love in this show and I have started watching “South Park” again, which just returned for its 16th season this month.

This Blu-ray contains the complete fourteen episodes from this season and are completely uncensored as well, which is a plus. “HumancentiPad” is a take on The Human Centipede and features Kyle who is involved in the development a revolutionary product. “Funnybot” is where Jimmy hosts the Special Ed Department’s First Annual Comedy Awards. “Royal Pudding” focuses on Ike’s is obsessed with the Royal Wedding.In “T.M.I.”, Cartman goes into anger management therapy after their penis sizes are posted on the school bulletin board. In “Crack Baby Athletic Association”, Kyle gets involved with Cartman’s latest business venture. “City Sushi” features when Butters is diagnosed with multiple personality disorder. “You’re Getting Old” follows after Stan’s 10th birthday, his worldview starts to change and so do his friendships. In “Ass Burgers”, Cartman finds a unique way to cope with Asperger’s Syndrome. In “The Last of the Meheecans”, Cartman joins the U.S. Border Patrol. “Bass to Mouth” focuses a gossip site that leaks the kids’ most scandalous secrets. “Broadway Bro Down” follows Randy as he becomes Broadway’s biggest fan. “1%” features The 99% is ganging up on Eric Cartman. The boys try to discover the truth about the first Thanksgiving in “A History Channel Thanksgiving”. Kenny ends up in the foster care system after his parents are arrested in “The Poor Kid”

When it comes to special features this Blu-ray is not lacking in that department at all. It comes with an amazing documentary called “6 Days to Air: The Making of South Park”. It gives the first-ever look behind-the-scenes at South Park Studios and an in-depth looking to creating an episode. The next extra “6 Days to Air: Behind the Scenes of ‘City Sushi'” is similar to the first feature but focuses on the one specific episode. There are also about five minutes of deleted scenes from the season, nothing amazing but worth checking out. Lastly, the best feature is mini-commentaries by creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone on each episode. They each run about 5 minutes and are a lot of fun.

If that isn’t enough of a bonus each Blu-ray or DVD will come with a free download of the new “South Park: Tenorman’s Revenge” Xbox Live game. It’s first come, first serve for the first 5,000 to enter their code in order to get a download of the game, an exclusive “South Park” theme and a 48 hour trial of Xbox Live Gold Membership. The following 70,000 entries will get an exclusive “South Park” Xbox theme and a 48 hour trial of Xbox Live Gold Membership. So this is a really cool added bonus.