Chris Metzler is the co-director/writer of the documentary “Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone”. The film chronicles the 30 year career of the band Fishbone a band considered to be one of the biggest bands to come out of early 80’s punk/ska movement. Media Mikes recently had the chance to speak with Chris about working on the film.

Adam Lawton: What prompted you to make a documentary about the band Fishbone?
Chris Metzler: Generally I don’t like music documentaries as they are a hard thing to get right. A lot of times they are made only for fans of the band or for promotional purposes. The thing I really liked about Fishbone was if we were able to do it right we might be able to break the mold of music documentaries. Fishbone makes really good music and they helped change the musical landscape in California. In reality this is a story of family and through a moment of serendipity these 6 guys met each other during a desegregation experience in Los Angeles. They all fell in love with punk rock and carved their own path. The guys as outsiders really attracted me to the project.

AL: Were there any difficulties in dealing with the variety of personalities the members have?
CM: The thing that was surprising with the film is that even though we did have some obstacles we had to get over everyone was really easy to work with. Working with the guys in the band and those who we interviewed outside of the band was essentially the easiest part about making the film. Everyone was very thoughtful and reflective. The biggest challenge in making the film I think was it being a very independent, do it yourself effort. My co-director Lev Andersen and our DP editor Jeff were like a 3 man band trying to take down 30 years of history. It was tough when we had to hit the road as one of us had to be on the bus and there was only one bunk space. The other two guys would have to follow behind in a van we rented. We were driving 500 miles a day and while trying to shoot the rock star life. There are a lot of endless hours and monotony. We drank a lot of Red Bull to keep up.

AL: Can you tell us how Lawrence Fishburne became involved with the project?
CM: We really lucked out there as Lawrence had been a fan of the band and is friends with the guys. Their friendship actually started in the early 80’s when Lawrence was a bouncer at some of the punk rock clubs the band played at. Lawrence really admired the band and their friendship has continued on since then. He was really excited to be a part of the film. The only thing he gave us a problem with is he was hoping to be interviewed for the film. Sadly we couldn’t have him be the narrator while being interviewed at the same time. Lawrence was very generous.

AL: What was the idea behind using a variety of art and animation in the film?
CM: The band has been around for 30 years. They have broken the mold on so many different genres and scenes. We thought using a variety of eclectic art would allow the viewer to not only see the events historically but throw them into the moment as well. We really wanted do what we could to put the viewer in that moment. With cartoons we could characterize the people which helped establish their personalities early on in the film.

AL: Will there be any deleted scenes or bonus material on the DVD release?
CM: Absolutely! The DVD will feature 100+ minutes of bonus features. That will include deleted scenes, interview outtakes, archival footage and some clips with Angelo’s character Doctor Mad Vibes. There also will be live footage of Fishbone playing CBGB’s the last week it was open. We really jam packed that portion of the DVD.

AL: Was it hard finding a lot of the older memorabilia and footage to include in the film?
CM: The band its self didn’t really have much as they tend to live their life in the present. A lot of the things we were able to find came to us by calling out to the larger community of fans. We were very patient as things trickled in. After being out on the road and telling people we were working on a documentary about the band we got some amazing leads. It took a lot of time and we were still finding things a couple weeks prior to releasing the movie. There are still some great things that are popping up that we wished we had gotten sooner.

AL: What other projects do you have in the works?
CM: Right now we are in the final stages of getting the DVD out there. There is a shorter version of the film airing on PBS and the full version is available on iIunes. The DVD will come out Feb. 21^st. The band is on tour right now and they are also working on a new album. We are going to let the film live out there in the world at let people discover it. We have a few ideas for our next project as I am always out looking for cool ideas. I haven’t quite decided which one we are going to plunge into just yet.

Directed by: Drake Doremus
Starring: Felicity Jones, Anton Yelchin
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Running Time: 90 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

“Like Crazy” starts off very well and draws you into the story and its characters but then leaves you very disappointed. I would have love to see more a better conclusion with this film. I am not sure if it just lost direction or focus. The romance is strong in the beginning but then looses its spark quickly. The acting though is superb and includes great performances from Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin.

The film follows the first real love between a British college student (Felicity Jones) and her American classmate (Anton Yelchin). During a short period the couple falls deep in love and are inseparable. When she violates her visa in order to stay a few more weeks before returning home, the real challenges are presented to the couple. They are unable to reunite due to issues with her re-entering the US due to visa issues. From there the couple needs to find how strong there relationship is and what they need to do to stay together.

The only special feature included on the DVD is a commentary track by director Drake Doremus, editor Jonathan Alberts and cinematographer John Guleserian. Worth a listen if you enjoyed the film otherwise passable. the Blu-ray contains a bunch more special features including deleted and alternate scenes both with pptional commentary.

Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Ben Kingsley, Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Sacha Baron Cohen, Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour, Ray Winstone, Emily Mortimer, Jude Law, Christopher Lee
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Release date: February 28, 2012
Running time: 128 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Hugo” is a very enchanting tale with amazing storytelling.  It is really rare that you watch a film and it takes you on a two hour journey.  At the 2012 Oscars, “Hugo” was awarded five Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. I felt that it also deserved the Best Director and Best Picture awards as well. I feel that Scorsese did an amazing job with this picture. This film gets better and better which each viewing and looks spectacular on Blu-ray.

The film follows Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) who lives in a Paris train station. He lives to maintains its clocks and roams within in the walls and above the trains platforms. He has no family since his father’s death and his uncle, station’s timekeeper, who took his in and then vanished. Hugo has only one thing left from his father, a mechanical person, who was created to write independently but needs a special key to do so. Hugo wants to find that key in hope to find a message from his late father. He meets Isabelle (Chloë Grace Moretz) and the two embark on an unexpected journey.

The Blu-ray presentation is just absolutely flawless. The 1080p video conversion is absolutely perfect. The colors are extremely sharp and showcases this film’s amazing cinematography perfectly. The audio boasts a fantastic DTS-HD MA 7.1 track. It also works very well with Howard Shore’s score, which is so perfectly intertwined within the film. Also included in the Blu-ray combo pack is with a DVD copy of the film. They also include an Ultraviolet copy of the film, which is a great feature. The film works well in 2D but I feel that it loses a lot of the atmosphere created from the 3D version. I definitely prefer the 3D version over the 2D version.

The special features are great but are lacking a commentary track from Martin Scorsese and cast. The first feature is called “Shoot the Moon (The Making of Hugo)”, it runs about twenty minutes and includes great both cast and crew discussing the film and its production. “The Cinemagician, Georges Méliès” focuses on the filmmaker and his role in this film. “The Mechanical Man at the Heart of Hugo” is an informative feature that focuses on the history of automaton and its use in the film. “Big Effects, Small Scale” it is a brief look at the film’s effects, I would have loved for this to be a lot longer since the effects are critical in this film. Lastly there is a short piece about the Station Inspector, called “Sacha Baron Cohen: Role of a Lifetime”, short but sweet. Overall great features for a great film.

Directed by: Chris Miller
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris, Zeus Mendoza, Constance Marie, Guillermo del Toro, Bob Joles
Distributed by:Paramount Pictures
Release date: February 24, 2012
Running time: 90 minutes

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

When this film was released in the theaters, I had no interest in seeing it. I saw all of the “Shrek” films and I thought that each one was worse than the last. I have always thought that Puss in Boots was one of my favorite characters and it is great to see him get his solo story. Well when I watch this film on Blu-ray, I really enjoyed it. I thought it was so well-done, it was very sharp and funny. I thought the trailers for “Puss in Boots” didn’t capture any of the film charm. I really think this stands alone from the “Shrek” franchise and really entertains. I would love to see more installments from this series.

The story serves as an origin story for Puss in Boots. Puss (voiced by Antonio Banderas) works with his old schoolmate Humpty Dumpty (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) and female feline Kitty Softpaws (voiced by Salma Hayek) as they chase down criminals Jack and Jill (voiced by Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris). They are in search of magic beans which will create a beanstalk to the clouds.  Up the beanstalk, there is a castle which contains the legendary golden goose who lays golden eggs.

The Blu-ray presentation is absolutely spectacular. The 1080p Blu-ray transfer is superb and looks so sharp and colorful. The film’s sound is also extremely notable boasting a fantastic Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless track. It works so well with the films action and music. The Blu-ray combo pack also comes packed with a DVD copy of the film and also a digital copy. It is not an Ultraviolet digital copy but still enjoyable to take the film on the road with you. I enjoyed the 2D version of this film but I still prefer the 3D much more, if you have the preference.

The special features on the disc are very impressive just like the film. Firstly it includes an all new adventure short called “Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos”. This runs about thirteen minutes, it is very fun and worth checking out. There are a few Blu-ray exclusive features, the first is called “A DreamWorks Fairy Tale”, an interactive feature to create your own rhymes. The second is called “Puss’ Paw Pouncing Challenge”, which is a fun game using the remote for the kids. “The Animators’ Corner”, which is a picture-in-picture feature with director Chris Miller and producers Joe Aguilar and Latifa Ouaou. It contains comparisons from storyboards and animation tests and an interesting look at the film’s production. It is a must-watch if you enjoyed the film. Lastly there is a trivia track which provides cool facts and information throughout the movie.

Some of the additional features included are “Purr-Fect Pairing: The Voices Behind the Legend”, which is a look into the voice work from Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, and Billy Bob Thornton. There are a three test deleted scenes including “Humpty Plots with Jack & Jill”, “Humpty Repays His Accomplices” and “Puss in Boots Fights the Giant”. “Kitten to Cat” is a feature with focus on the development of Puss in Boots’ character. “Glitter Box Dance Off!” focuses on the dance choreography from the film. “Klepto Kitty” follows Dusty, a real-life cat burglar. “Kitty Keyboard” includes feline versions of “3 Blind Mice”, “Humpty Dumpty”, “Jack and Jill”, and “Little Boy Blue”. “Fairytale Pop-Up Book” includes the ability to view your favorite scenes and lines from the film’s characters. “Kitty Strikes Again” is a fun ‘find the differences’ game for the kids. Lastly there is “World of DreamWorks Animation”, which includes trailer and music from other Dreamworks films.

Directed by: Martin Guigui
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Tony Oller, Aimee Teegarden, Devon Werkheisser, Brett Cullen
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 28, 2012
Running Time: 96 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

The only real draw to this film is Dennis Quaid playing one sick son-bitch. It is a role that he does not usually play and he does it really good in this film. Besides that this has nothing going for it. The suspense in the film is so tame that it comes off as non-existent. Although only run just over 90 minutes, the film drags quite a bit and its climax is a big let down as well. I would watch it if you are curious to see Quaid’s baddie turn otherwise I would avoid this film for sure.

This teen thriller follows a group of high school kids who believe that their local mortician is actually a vicious serial killer. Dennis Quaid plays Mr. Ely, the well-respected mortician.  The teens investigate his house his they believe it is haunted but they find out that the truth is much more evil than they expect. When the kids try and contact the police, they find out that no one will listen to them and side with Mr. Ely.  It is up to them to prove the truth before it is too late.

The Blu-ray presentation is ok but not great. The film is very dark and the video does an ok job of making it look decent. The sound is also decent but nothing special, especially since there was no “jump” moments, which is a major fault. The special features are also horrendous, only including one very short extra. The behind-the-scenes featurette runs just over two minutes and is a few short clips from the production. Also there is a trailer included, which gives away the whole movie.

Directed by: Ernesto Di­az Espinoza
Starring: Marko Zaror, Alejandro Castillo
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Running Time: 88 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

“Mandrill” is a Spanish James Bond-esque movie. I did not expect that when I watched this but it was exactly what you got. The film is also a real ode to the 70’s grindhouse style action films. Mandrill is one bad-ass mother…shut your mouth. He packs some awesome martial arts moves and is not afraid to show off his skills. It is a mix of assassin film mixed with a revenge twist. The storyline is very campy and over-the-top but that is expected, though the action really takes the lead in this film.

The film follows Antonio “Mandrill” Espinoza who is a hired assassin with a deadly vengeance on the burner from when his parents were brutally murdered during his childhood. When Mandrill gets a job that would avenge his parents death, he looks at it as his final job. Although he gets a lot more than he bargains for when he falls for the target’s daughter.

The Blu-ray presentation is excellent boasting a sharp high-def video and impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track. The video although shot in HD has a real grindhouse gritty feel on purpose. The fight scenes specifically both looked and sounded amazing. The extras though on the release was very disappointing. There is a brief less than three minute behind the scenes featurette. “Anatomy of a Fight Scene” lasted less than eight minutes and focused a a few of the film’s fight scenes and lastly there are some trailers included. They are all presented in standard definition and were way too short.

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Starring: Assorted Navy Seals, Alex Veadov and Nestor Serrano
Directed by: Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 51 mins
Relativity Media

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have a confession to make here. During my entire time in the U.S. Army I feared for my life for exactly 5 hours. I was very fortunate to serve in a time where the world was relatively peaceful. Thirty years later, sadly, things have changed.

Made with the cooperation of the Department of Defense, and purporting to feature real active duty Navy Seals in its cast, “Act Of Valor” gives an unprecedented look into the lives, both in uniform and out, of the bravest of the brave. The story concerns a terrorist plot to smuggle undetectable suicide vests into America. Assigned to foil the plot is a tight knit group of men and women just like you or I. If you passed them on the street or saw them in the grocery store with their families you wouldn’t blink twice. But unlike you or I, when the time comes to go to work they do it with the knowledge that they may never see those families again. They’ve made the ultimate sacrifice so, if necessary, they can make the ultimate sacrifice.

The story is pretty standard as military films go. Bad guy wants to hurt us. We do our best to stop him. But here the camera takes you into the middle of the battles. Almost silent in their movements, the Seals move with the efficiency of a well oiled machine. Yes, the film is action packed…if you’ve ever played “Call of Duty” you’ve seen it…but somehow seeing these Seals react to each situation is sobering. The exhilaration of playing a game is gone and you’re hit with the fact that war has consequences.

On October 6, 1981 Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated. My unit in Germany was put on alert and at 1030 in the morning we headed out to what I was sure was certain war. Five hours later they told us to come home. The scariest five hours of my life. “Act of Valor” is a film dedicated to those who face their fears twenty four hours a day.

Starring: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
Directed by: David Wain
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 51 mins
Universal

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

It was truly an offshoot of the 1960s. They were called communes – small tribes made up of many different people who grew their own food and lived by their own food. Each commune had a leader, someone who would guide the others both literally and spiritually. Like the communes, their leaders were often very different. Sometimes you got Michael Metellica. Sometimes you got Charles Manson.

George (Rudd) and Linda (Aniston) are a young married couple that just bought their first New York City property, a tiny studio apartment (or “micro-loft” if you believe the real estate agent). Linda is still in that stage of life where she hasn’t really nailed down a career path. She’s currently promoting a documentary film she made about penguins…and the many ways they die. George is unhappy at work. When fate intervenes in their lives they find themselves on the road, where a stop at a roadside bed and breakfast changes they’re lives.

Sometimes outrageously funny and other times dead on arrival, “Wanderlust” isn’t sure what it wants to be. Is it a commentary on today…a terrible economy and people going back to working the land to survive? Is it a discussion on how we all have to be responsible for our own decisions? Or is it a hilarious fish out of water comedy? If you find out, let me know.

It’s not like the cast isn’t trying. Rudd has always excelled at playing the sometimes sarcastic every man. Theroux, who has played everyone from John Hancock to Jesus Christ is surprisingly funny as Seth, a combination of Jim Jones and Tripper Harrison (Bill Murray’s camp counselor in “Meatballs”). His constant rants about the evils of technology (fax machines ) seem to indicate he hasn’t been out in the world since the 1980s. The supporting cast is led by Alan Alda, Malin Akerman and Kathryn Hahn, who portray various residents. If there’s a false note in the cast it’s Aniston, who seems to always end up playing the same kind of character when she stars in a movie. Give me the character actress Aniston from “Rock Star,” “Office Space” or “Horrible Bosses” anytime over another cookie cut role.

The comedy is raunchy at times and, in keeping with what seems to be the new trend in adult comedies, there are plenty of shots of penises included.

Directors: Michael Feifer
Actors: Val Kilmer, Shawn Roberts, Matt Dallas, Daniel Booko, Scott Whyte, Trace Adkins
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 6, 2012
Running Time: 93 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

When it comes to Westerns, the topic of Wyatt Earp is one of the most well-known. Although, this one lacks the real Western feel. If you are watching this primarily due tot the draw of Val Kilmer and Trace Adkins, like me, you will be disappointed as they have extremely small roles. Val Kilmer plays old and fat Wyatt Earp, with one of the worst fake mustaches in movie history. He tells the story, which leads to the flashback where the film takes place. Trace Adkins was in it so briefly I blinked almost missed him. Maybe it was a bad idea for me to watch this film the same day as the Clint Eastwood classic “Unforgiven”, only made it look that much worse.

The film is based off the true story recounted from legendary lawman, Earp, as he tells how he formed the best group of men to avenge the vicious murder of his love, Dora. The “best of the west” group was formed of Bat Masterson, Charlie Bassett, Bill Tilghman and Doc Holliday. The group heads after the Kenedy brothers, who are protected by their powerful father and are untouchable by the law. Of course they find out how far Earp and his posse will go to get revenge.

If you are looking special features, this will only disappoint you more. Since there is only one mega brief behind the scenes extra. “Riding Along with Wyatt Earp” runs a mere three minutes and includes on behind the scenes look and interviews with cast/crew. Overall it is too short and leaves you unsatisfied just like the film does.

Directed by: Sean Becker
Starring: Felicia Day, Jeff Lewis, Amy Okuda, Sandeep Parikh, Robin Thorsen
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Distributed by: New Video
DVD Release Date: March 13, 2012
Running Time: 95 minutes

Season 5: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

Season 5 is the most ambitious yet for this fantastic web series and this DVD includes all 12 episodes uncut. The scale has been expanded well beyond the past seasons. The plot features the group going on a road trip to attend a video game convention, MegaGame-O-RamaCon. Even though they are at a gaming convention there is little video game playing and more focus is giving to individual characters and their plots. I really enjoyed the direction that this show is going in and with the up-scaled plot makes the show feel well beyond just a web series.

Felicia Day, who again wrote and starred in this season, mentioned that this season was her dream route to take the show to a new level. I think that the writing is much better and the performances from the cast are so sharp this season. There is also many more cameos this season including Maurissa Tancharoen Whedon, Doug Jones, Nathan Fillion, Erin Gray, Brent Spiner and of course Wil Wheaton. Like I mentioned each character has it own stories, Codex (Day) focuses on saving their game from being sold to a corporation.  Vork (Lewis) and Bladezz (Caso) decide to get a booth and take advantage of the Cheesybeard Pirate fame. Clara (Torsen) joins up with a Steampunk group. Tink (Okuda) get a real back story involving her family. Last but not least, Zaboo (Parikh) starts a seat-saving clan during convention. Each story was really sharp and was fine-tuned to each actor skills perfectly.

The special features are excellent as always for this series. Since this show is available online, these extras are the main draw. There are a bunch of cast interviews, talking about their experience with this season. The music is cheesy but the interviews are good. There is three featurettes included, the first is called “Double Trouble”, which tells about Leslie Crystal road from extra to co-star. The next is called “How to Build a Con” and really shows how much work goes into this show. The last is called “Steampunk Verite” and tells about the Steampunk booth was created. Like past DVD releases there are also two audio commentaries, one with the cast and one with creator Felicia Day, director Sean Becker and producer Kim Evey. Both are great and a lot of fun. There is a four minute gag reel, which is a riot. Lastly there is a video of the first episodes table read, which is cool to see but is shot from a terrible angle. Overall, another impressive DVD release! Look forward to season 6!

Directed by: Suzan Beraza
Starring: Jeb Berrier
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Distributed by: New Video
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Running Time: 78 minutes

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

Well, when you think about watching a documentary on plastic it might not sound that exciting but this one delivers. It is funny but also very informative. This film features in-depth interviews with activists and City Council members but also more importantly just regular people. He makes some really good points that reducing the use of plastic your everyday lives in order to improve the environment. Just a note, the film doesn’t need to show the birth scene of his child, it was completely unnecessary and rather graphic. I do appreciate his journey though and how it develops and changes over the course of time. Jeb Berrier is just a normal guy and his main plan is to show that anyone can make a difference.

Some really interesting facts include the following: “The average American uses about 500 plastic bags each year and “Two million plastic bottles are consumed in the U.S. every five minutes”. There are also a few disturbing ones like “14 million pounds of trash end up in the ocean each year” and “An estimated 100,00 marine mammals and sea birds die each year from becoming entangled in or ingesting plastic debris”.

The special features are decent but are a little short overall. There is an extended scene with Jeb in the Netherland, short and runs about 2 minutes. There are the pros and cons presents for Bioplastic, also about two minutes. Also included are a bunch of extended interviews with Dr. Shanna Shaw, who talks about the chemical effects of plastic overuse, Sylvia Earle who talks about life before plastic, Wallace J. Nichols who talks about the environmental movement and lastly Dr. Richard Thompson who explains plastic and POPs.

Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: February 21, 2012
Run Time: 131 minutes

2012 Release: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Unforgiven” celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with a newly restored Blu-ray, releases in the Digibook format, which is one of my favorites. I feel that the Blu-ray Book, not only looks cooler than a boring case but also includes some really great information. The commemorative book contains 54 pages of great behind the scene images, script and rare photos. I recently reviewed Eastwood’s “J. Edgar” and I made a comment that I am not the biggest fan of his work, though this film an exception. It is a must purchase for fans of this movie, especially if you don’t own it.

Clint Eastwood delivers a great performance. He won an Oscar for his amazing job directing this Western, it is his best effort to date easily. I also really enjoy Gene Hackman’s role as he is one kick-ass baddie, he also won an Oscar for his role. Morgan Freeman always did a fantastic job as the loyal Ned. The Blu-ray video was definitely an improvement over 2006’s release with a cleaner 2.39:1 original transfer. The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio surround track was also impressive especially during the shoot-out scenes.

The special features includes on the release are decent but nothing new from 2006’s Blu-ray release. There is a commentary track from Eastwood’s biographer Richard Schickel, disappointing that Eastwood himself is not on this track though. There are four behind the scenes documentaries covering the making of the film. The first is called “All on Accounta Pullin’ a Trigger”, which features 2002 interviews with Eastwood, Freeman and Hackman. The second is called “Eastwood & Co.: Making Unforgiven”. “Eastwood…A Star” is the next feature is focuses on the film’s actor turned director, my least feature by far. Lastly and also my favorite is “Eastwood on Eastwood” a 108-minute documentary produced and directed by Schickel. Next up where is a classic episode “Duel at Sundown” of the Western show “Maverick” (not HD) and also a trailer is included. Decent features if you don’t own this movie already but nothing special to make you run out to buy if not.

“Unforgiven’ comes to Blu-ray for the first time on February 21!  Celebrate the 20^th Anniversary with this new release.  Buy it on Blu-ray™ Book or Download to Own http://bit.ly/zmaba6
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Directed by Nick Everhart
Starring: Elizabeth Masucci and Tyler Hollinger
Aweso Entertainment
Running Time: 5 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Immediately when I heard about this film, I pictured Will Ferrell winding the jack-in-the-box in the movie “Elf”. It is a scene that always makes me laugh but also jump. There is just something about a jack-in-the-box that leaves you on edge. This short is suspenseful and also a lot of fun. They should most definitely enter this into some horror festivals because it deserves some major attention.

It is only 5 minutes long but is extremely clever and really makes every minute count. It is gory, yet not cheesy at all.  The score is really great and sets up a few decent jumps. This film was shot in only one day plus another week for post production. The budget was just $2000, which nothing but the production does not look or feel cheap. Each shot feels is very polished and well directed. Even though it was shot in one day, I have a feeling that a lot of planning when into pre-production.

The films stars Tyler Hollinger and Elizabeth Masucci, who have both worked with writer/director Nick Everhart before in the recent “Dororthy and The Witches of Oz”, read our review here. I have watched many, many bad horror films and I this is a setup above the rest.  I was satisfied yet wishing for more. Who knows maybe one day, this could make a interesting feature. Weirder movies have been made…ever see “The Gingerdead Man”, one of my favorites by the way.

Watch the short below, come on…what’s five minutes of your time? You watch all those stupid videos on YouTube, this is much better.  Spread the word!

Starring: Paulie Rojas, Billy Boyd and Christopher Lloyd
Directed by: Leigh Scott
Rated: PG
Running time: 1 hour 50 mins
Palace/Imaginarium Films

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When you hear the word “OZ” you’re immediately taken back to a magical time in your life. For kids of my generation, the film was a CBS television mainstay. Once a year you plopped down on the living room floor and took that trip over the rainbow. In recent years, the film has been re-released to theatres, giving fans both young and old a chance to see it on the big screen. One of my favorite movie moments EVER was when I did a theatre promotion and had several actual Munchkins in attendance. I was shocked when they told me that they had never seen the film on the big screen before. Imagine my delight as I sat in the same row with them and watched them watch themselves! It was magic. And the magic continues with a new film that explores the world of OZ and gives the tale a whole new spin!

The film opens in the Emerald City. A battle royale is about to take place between the factions of witches, good and bad. The baddies are searching for a magic key that will unlock a book and allow them to run OZ as they wish. Things seem to be going well for the bad witches. Until Dorothy Gale and her house drop in!

Dorothy Gale (Rojas) is a Kansas-born author living in New York City. Her claim to fame is a series of children’s books detailing a young girl’s adventures in the land of OZ. Together with her illustrator, Allen (Ari Zagaris) and agent, Bryan (Barry J. Ratcliffe), she is hoping to seal a movie deal for her stories. But she’s having problems with the proposed star, Ilsa (Sasha Jackson). Despite the fact that Dorothy is an eleven year old girl, Ilsa wants to play her sexed up and wearing leather pants. The deal is being brokered by Billie Westbrook (Eliza Swenson), who has much more invested in the deal then she lets on. After the death of her Uncle Henry (Lance Henriksen), Dorothy discovers that her stories are actually repressed memories…that the books she writes are about her!

It’s obvious that the filmmakers had as much fun making the film as the audience will watching it. Director/writer Scott has not only made a familiar story seem new but has paid homage to the lesser known OZ works of L. Frank Baum. Not only are the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Toto referenced but lesser known characters like Princess Langwidere (played by “Ferris Buellers” Mia Sara), Tik-Tok and Jack Pumpkinhead. The cast is strong, with Rojas very believable as a young woman who, like eleven year old Dorothy, must face her fears. Other familiar faces include Boyd, Ethan Embry and Sean Astin (they play a pair of diminutive jokers named Frick and Frack) and, of course, Christopher Lloyd, playing the wizard by way of Willy Wonka. It’s especially fun to watch the interaction between former Hobbits Boyd and Astin as they bicker about. The special effects are quite well done and mostly CGI. Even though the film is rated PG there are some scary parts that might frighten some little ones. And the score is marvelous. That it was written by actress Eliza Swenson (see above) came as a complete surprise. The film rises and falls with the score and the music sets the tone of the film brilliantly.

“Dorothy and the Witches of Oz” is currently playing in Phoenix and opens on February 24 in Kansas City and Louisville with more cities being added weekly.

Directed by: Emilio Estevez
Starring: Martin Sheen, Deborah Kara Unger, James Nesbitt, Yorick van Wageningen, Emilio Estevez
Distributed by: Arc Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running time: 121 minutes

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

When I originally heard of this film, I thought Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, how can they go wrong? I was very impressed. Emilio Estevez really knows what he is doing behind the camera in his fifth directorial attempt. Martin Sheen is just fantastic in the role and really gives it his all. The story is slow moving but aims with a purpose and delivers full on. Also notable performance is Yorick van Wageningen, who would be known better as the Lisbeth’s abusive guardian in US “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”. If only they could have made those painful spots for AMC theaters better, maybe more people would have seen this film. It is a very emotional journey with great direction and even better acting.

The film follows Thomas Avery on his journey to France, following the death of his son who died while walking the Camino de Santiago. His son was exploring Europe and attempting to complete a walk called the “Way of St. James”, which is a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. When Thomas goes to retrieve his son’s body, he decided to complete the walk in tribute to his son. Along the way he meets a few friends, who assist him in his grieving process during his journey.

The Blu-ray presentation is decent, though nothing special. The video should have taken advantage of the beautiful locations in Europe but since the film was shot on 16mm film, it is good not underwhelming. Although, Estevez has said that was the focus since though the film is a character piece. The sound is impressive boasting a nice DTS-HD MA 5.1 track and works with Tyler Bates’ amazing score.

The special features included on the release are very impressive for an independent feature. If you enjoyed the film, there an interesting commentary from Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez and producer David Alexanian. The primary focus is on the location shoot and its challenges. There are three featurettes are short but worth checking out. The first is called “Camino Americana: Taking The Way on the Road”, which focuses on the the cross-country bus tour to promote the movie. “Pilgrimage: Behind the Camera” it is a quick behind-the-scenes look from the film. “Father and Son: Uncovering the Characters” is an interview with father and son Sheen and Estevez talking about the film. Lastly the last feature is called “Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son—A Dual Memoir by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez”, which promotes an upcoming book by Sheen and Estevez.