Directed by : Bill Condon
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributed by: Summit
Run Time: 117 minutes

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

“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” is the second to last film in the series.  Some people will be rejoiced to have it end and some will be mortified when it is over.  This film is honestly hard to get through, but luckily the last 15 minutes are very cool.  I have a feeling that “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” might be pretty bad ass, now that all the romance is done.  I think that they could have kept “Breaking Dawn” as one movie but I am sure it is mostly for the fans..and to make more money.  This Blu-ray release is going to be a hit for Valentine’s Day, since it is getting released perfectly in time for its fans to enjoy Bella & Edward’s wedding and honeymoon during the holiday.  Die-hard fans will obviously eat up the romance but the casual fans might want to wait till “Part 2” comes around.

If you follow “The Twilight Saga”, this is the movie that you are really waiting for the marriage of Bella and Edward and of course Bella possibly turning into a vampire.  Basically the whole film is just one long honeymoon scene followed by Bella’s pregnancy.  The birth of their child might not be as simple as it sounds as it will break the treaty with the werewolves. The Cullen’s with the help of Jacob will need to protect Bella from the werewolf pack.  But will Bella even survive this supernatural pregnancy? But of course if you read the book you know the answer to this. Also be sure to stick around through the credits to see a sneak peak in the Volturi’s role for “Part 2”.

The Blu-ray presentation is fantastic overall with its video which looks sharp especially during the battle scene at the end. The sound is honestly the best part though of the film boasting its superb 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track, very impressive.  The bonus features are packed and will definitely satisfy the most hard core fans.  Firstly you are able to jump immediately to your favorite scenes.  There is the Bella and Edward’s Wedding Video, which is for major fans only.  There is a great audio commentary with director Bill Condon, he really seems to be an actor’s directory and really enjoys the filming experience.  There is a super in depth 6-part “Making Of” series which takes you individually into every aspect of the film from each character to the film’s production.  It is very interesting even for non-fans.

On 2/1/12, The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History celebrated the grand opening of the new Warner Bros. Theater in Washington, D.C., with a ribbon cutting and presentation of the Smithsonian Bicentennial Medal to Clint Eastwood for his contribution to the American experience through film. The medal recognizes Eastwood’s six decades of captivating national and international audiences through his work as an award-winning actor and director.

Accompanying the opening of the theater, a new display of objects will be on view showcasing the unique brand of Hollywood storytelling and accessibility that has helped to define American culture to global audiences. The inaugural display includes costumes worn by Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman and Eastwood along with Harry Potter’s robe. Visitors will also see objects representing Warner Bros. studio history such as Jack Warner’s silver telephone and Bugs Bunny animation drawings.

Alex Russell is one of the stars of the recently released found footage superhero movie, “Chronicle”.  Alex plays the role of Matt Garetty in the film.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Alex about working on the film and his character.

Mike Gencarelli: What did you think about the script for “Chronicle”, when you first read it?
Alex Russell: Well when the script for “Chronicle” was sent to me, I didn’t even have an appointment scheduled.  It was just a read for interest.  I read about 20-25 pages…lost my mind, called my agent and said “Please please please, you gotta get me into this”.  Then I hung up read the rest of the script and called up again to make sure I stressed I had to get in for it.  It was an incredible script.  It was so tight and slick but at the same time it was so seamless and naturalistic in the dialogue.  The story was unlike anything I have ever read. I never read anything like this before. It was just so original.

MG: What drew you to the character of Matt Garetty?
AR: Well the boring answer is, what drives any of the three stars to their roles?…would be that it is teenage guys with telekinesis, which is incredible.  What makes it extra alluring and attractive is that it is this wonderful wish fulfillment.  You get to play someone with superpowers, something you wanted to do since you were 6 years old.  Teamed with these incredible powers are these characters that are layered with complex beautiful relationships.  It is everything that you can ask for an artist to sink your teeth into.

MG: What was your biggest challenge working on the film?
AR: The biggest aspect is that it is a found footage film and shooting in that genre means that the camera is always on you. You would have a scene that is 90 seconds long and you have to hit all of the beats from beginning of the scene till the end. You have to also make it feel naturalistic and hit the marks.  It is very difficult to have that kind of consistency in acting. It is like theater, there is no cuts to hide behind.  When you team that with special effects, wire works or having to fly off in the middle of your scene, it is a difficult combination.  So that was the most challenging for me keeping to keep those things together.

MG: Tell us about the flying scenes in the film?
AR: I thought they did such an amazing job.  The special effects are amazing. with the flying like every other special effect in the film, the motto from the crew was to be practical first and CG later. We had incredible wire work.  I was going to work in downtown Cape Town and getting hoisted up 10 stories…I get this incredible view then they call “Action” and I get dropped 4 stories in a few seconds.  That kind of thing was exhilarating for me as an actor but it is also that much less you have to act since it is already there for you.

MG: How was it working with Dane DeHaan and Michael B. Jordan?
AR: Man, those guys are legends.  They are just great.  They were wonderful to work with and wonderful to play with.  We had so much fun shooting in Cape Town.  We had a blast but when it was time to work, all of us worked.  Everyone involved in this production worked the hardest and worked 6 days a week. Everyone was on the same page and had the same goal.

MG: What else do you have planned for 2012?
AR: I got some things on the boil that I am pretty excited about.  I don’t want mention them because they are being locked in.  I am an actor though man, I can always do with more work.  I see this year panning out pretty great for me and I am ready to work hard.

MG:

Directed by Whitney Smith
Starring Halston, Patricia Altschul and Phillip Bloch
Tribeca Films
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 89 minutes

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

‘In Search of Halston’ turns out to be an apt subtitle for Whitney Smith’s muddled documentary following the rise and fall of iconic American  designer Halston. There is an exciting life story here to be sure but it is unfortunately bogged down by a filmmaker intent on romanticizing the excesses of the nineteen seventies and clumsily inserting himself into the proceedings to no meaningful end.

Halston, (born in Iowa, Roy Halston Frowick) came to fame in 1961 when he designed Jackie O’s famous pillbox hat for JFK’s inauguration. Moving onto women’s wear, he dressed such icons as Elizabeth Taylor and Liza Minelli, who won her Academy Award for Caberet in a Halston gown. Eventually Halston successfully branched out into all sorts of markets from carpeting to perfumes. However the licensing of his name to ‘down market’ corporations such as JC Penney and Playtex contributed to his professional downfall in the eighties, while excesses of the era lead to his untimely death from AIDs-related cancer in 1990.

Where Smith comes into this is irrelevant really and yet the director sets up the film with an interview from his own mother to assure the audience that Smith really liked seventies fashion because he was so fond of Smokey and the Bandit. This has zero to do with Halston and everything to do with Smith rolling up to an interview at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a vintage Pontiac Trans Am (this car gets entirely too much screen time), aviators, and a tacky porn ‘stache. Dressed like this, Smith appears in every single featured interview.

The interviewees themselves are an impressive lineup, among them Liza Minelli, Angelica Huston and Vogue’s André Leon Talley, but the director frames their exchanges awkwardly. Why include Talley rightly scolding Smith for his cell phone going off during their talk? Or designer Ralph Pucci demanding Excedrin? Why include Billy Joel at all when seemingly his only relation to Halston is one lyric in “Big Shot”? Questions like these distract from the genuinely interesting anecdotes that do come forward when the subjects are left to speak for themselves. Likewise the footage of Halston’s work show just how timeless and elegant his designs were. They would still be stunning on today’s catwalks, a point which Smith doesn’t particularly explore while loitering around Bryant Park’s Fashion Week because that’s where “dudes like [him] go to check out models.”

Perhaps most frustrating of all is the lack of the designer himself. For all the stories his colleagues provide, we barely get a glimpse at the real Halston. In video clips he appears in archival television footage to disperse maxims such as “You’re only as good as the people you dress.” We don’t go beneath the surface of his glamorous lifestyle and in fact Smith veers into an entire portion of the film devoted to just how wild it got in Studio 54. If Smith had just listened to Liza Minelli’s advice to “find out the solid stuff, f*ck the gossip”, we may have had a more interesting film.”

Sammy Boyarsky appears in the new film “Rampart” staring Woody Harrelson. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Sammy about her role in the film as well as her voice over work.

Adam Lawton: What made you want to start acting at such a young age?
Sammy Boyarsky: Around the time I was 9 I was being bullied at school so I wanted to find something that would help boost my self confidence. I went to a few acting classes originally just for fun but I ended up realizing acting was something that I wanted to do professionally. I felt I really belong in acting.

AL: What did you initially think of the classes?
SB: I thought it was kind of crazy at first. I couldn’t believe people could put on a face that wasn’t their own. After awhile I realized just how much fun it was and how creative you could be.

AL: Can you tell us how you got involved with the film “Rampart”?
SB: My manager called me with this roll and I went into the first audition after breaking down the script with my coach. From there I was immediately sent to a director’s call back where I met Oren Moverman. A few weeks later I heard I had gotten the part. After I got off the phone I started screaming and fell on the floor crying.

AL: Can you tell us about your role in the film?
SB: I play Margaret Brown. Her father is a rogue cop in the rampart police division in 1999. Margaret is the youngest daughter and the only one who still has faith in her father. Over the course of the film Margaret starts to learn that her father is not really the man she thinks he is.

AL: What was it like working such a great cast?
SB: Everyone was really great to me. We had a lot of fun especially during the family scenes. We were allowed to improv and just talk during those takes. I learned a lot from working with everyone in this film.

AL: Do you have any great behind the scenes stories from the shoot?
SB: There was one scene that didn’t make it into the movie that we were able to do in one take. Afterwards Woody came up to me with flowers and complimented me on being able to do what I just did. That is something I will never forget. When I first met Woody I knew he and I were going to be great friends.

AL: Can you tell us about your voice work on “Diablo III”?
SB: My dad actually works for the company as he is game designer and helps with the voice work. I really like doing an English accent and I had heard they were in need of a kid with such an accent. I love voice acting as it’s the same thing as acting however you can go in you pajamas if you want to. (Laughs)

AL: What other plans do you have for 2012?
SB: Well I am turning 14 and I plan to have fun during my last year in middle school. I also will be auditioning throughout the year.

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds and Janet McTeer
Directed by: James Watkins
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 35 mins
CBS Films

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

England in the 1900s. Three little girls are playing in the attic. They are suddenly joined by a ghostly vision. Without hesitation, the three children climb up onto the windowsill and jump to their deaths.

Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe) is a young attorney whose about to lose his job. A single father (his wife having died giving birth – which really seemed to happen a lot back then if you believe Hollywood), he is sent to settle the accounts of a recently deceased client. Seeing some quality time with his son may be available, he arranges for the boy and his nanny to join him later in the week. Perhaps this will improve his son’s image of him, as he is currently drawing pictures of his father with big frowns on his face. Upon his arrival, he is given a lift to town by the very wealthy Mr. Daily (Hinds). We know he’s wealthy because he owns the only automobile in town. Upon his arrival at the local Inn Kipps is told that the room he had reserved is no longer available. Despite the innkeeper’s protests, he is allowed to stay the night. In the attic. BOO!

Heavy on the atmosphere but also on the “scares” horror fans have learned to rely on (loud music, hand on the shoulder, the occasional bird that shows up out of nowhere), “The Woman in Black” is still a satisfying re-make of the well received 1989 film of the same name. Co-produced by Hammer Films, the film is a throwback to that studio’s heyday, when horror greats like Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee wandered through the fog in search of things. Radcliffe does the wandering here, roaming from room to room in the deceased client’s oversize house. “Don’t go chasing shadows,” he’s told. But if he didn’t, there wouldn’t be a movie. He learns that many years ago a young boy drowned in the marshlands after a wagon accident. Despondent, his mother went slowly crazy, blaming others for his death. Kipps finds some of her old letters, many of them including the words “you could have saved him!” He also finds himself blamed when other children in the town begin to die horribly. As he learns more about the past he realizes he must do something before his own son arrives.

In only the second film he’s starred in that didn’t have the words Harry or Potter in the title, Radcliffe gives a strong performance. He has grown into a good looking young man and should be able to prove to those that only think of him as the Boy Wizard that there is much more talent to be revealed. Hinds is fine as pretty much the only townsperson who believes Albert has seen…things. The direction is solid with the only drawback being the constant relying on the things that go bump in the night to make us jump. And for you fans of trivia, the role of Albert in the original film was played by actor Adrian Rawlins, who played Radcliffe’s father, James, in the “Harry Potter” films.

Directed by: Roland Emmerich
Starring: Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson, David Thewlis, Xavier Samuel, Sebastian Armesto, Rafe Spall, Edward Hogg, Jamie Campbell Bower
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 130 Minutes

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

This film has had a lot of critique about the its story being hard to follow. I have to agree it is very confusing skipping between past and present but I was able to keep up with the story and really enjoy it. The performances in the film are absolutely fantastic Rhys Ifans, Sebastian Armesto and Vanessa Redgrave really deliver! Rafe Spall, who portrays William Shakespeare, plays the role as an absolute dunce but that is on purpose…so he does it well. The Blu-ray presentation is absolutely flawless. The sound is also very sharp intertwining the score throughout the film. The visual effects in the film are very notable as this film uses new VFX CG technology in order to beautifully recreate old London, circa 1550-1604. If you are able to catch on with the confusing story, this is packed with wonderful visuals and acting that makes it worth checking out.

“Anonymous” speculates about the of many century old question asking if Shakespeare actually wrote the plays that he is credited for. The film focuses on Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans) who secretly writes plays as an outlet for his expression. When he meets the playwright Ben Jonson (Sebastian Armesto), he convinces his to pose the plays as his own in order to get them to be performed. The plays are posed as being written by Anonymous. During the climax of an applause and the request for the author, an illiterate actor named William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall) claims the credit. Of course from this point on there is plenty of mass corruption and deceit that unravels.

The special features are great and worth taking a look at. The commentary track from director Roland Emmerich and writer John Orloff is a great companion to the film. There are three deleted scenes and two extended scenes included, also worth checking out. Since I spoke a lot about the visual effects in the film, I am happy that there is a very detailed look into them in the feature “More Than Special Effects”, which runs almost 15 minutes long. “Who is the Real William Shakespeare?” runs about 10 minutes discusses the evidence provided in the film about Shakespeare. Lastly, there is a featuring about the film’s casting called “Speak the Speech…”, which runs about just over 15 minutes and is very detailed.

Director: Xiaosong Gao
Starring: Chun Wu, Geng Han, Barbie Hsu
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: New Video
Run Time: 97 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

The box art for this film claims to have its action scenes choreographed by Sammo Hung (“IP Man 2”) and to me, that sets my expectations high. I am not sure that Sammo actually did work on this film because the fight scenes were lame and do not entertain at all. I found to film to be slow moving, very incohesive and basically a love story with a very few action sequences that take place during an opera. Sound entertaining to you?…doubtful.

The film deals with issues of honor, love and revenge set in Shanghai in the 1920’s. We follow two brothers who set out to seek revenge for their master’s honor. After years spent in martial arts training, the two brothers establish themselves in the Shanghai opera scene in order to get vengeance. They meet a beautiful actress and the three of them get tangled in a complex web of love, lust, deceit and betrayal.

Overall Wu Chun known for “14 Blades” and Han Geng known for the recent “Beginning of the Great Revival” don’t really feel like action heroes. They don’t seem to be like guys who can kick some ass, especially when they are performing in operas. Lastly, the film contains no special features besides the Mandarin Chinese audio track. Skip this film and checking the “IP Man” series if you haven’t already.

Directed by: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Starring: Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Bill Thompson, Bill Baucom, Peggy Lee
Distributed by: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: G
Running time: 75 minutes

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

Almost 60 years after its release “Lady and the Tramp” looks better than ever. Although it is honestly not a surprise since Disney seems to out due itself with each new restored film that they release on Blu-ray. Disney’s frame-by-frame restoration pays off as this Blu-ray is absolutely perfect. The Blu-ray presentation is so crystal clear throughout. The colors are so sharp and vibrant throughout the animation. The sound is also superb boasting Disney’s usual DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1. Another added bonus of this release is the fact that Disney even included a 3.0 audio track of the film’s restored original audio. This is an obvious must for Disney fans.

The story of “Lady and the Tramp” still feels relevant to today’s audience both old and new. This film really captures you in its romance and makes you lean closer to your husband/wife. I mean that spaghetti and meatball scene renders you utterly mushy. When you start the film, you also have the option to watch with an introduction by Diane Disney Miller (Walt Disney’s daughter), who talks about her father and his love of “Lady and the Tramp”.

Like Disney’s past releases, there is definitely no shortage of special features. “Inside Walt’s Story Meetings” is an audio commentary track with a dramatic recreation with voice actors of Walt Disney’s story meetings. Must listen for animation fans. If you use the Disney’s Second Screen app on your iPad or PC, you will be able to sync the film to create a real interactive experience. “Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad” is a short feature which features Miller remembering her father. It is a great insight into Walt Disney from a different perspective. There are almost 20 minutes of deleted scenes, though told via storyboards. There is also a never recorded song called “I’m Free as the Breeze” which was written in 1946 by Ray Gilbert and composed by Eliot Daniel. It was cut because Lady was decided not to sing in the film.

If all that isn’t enough there are all of the classic DVD features from past releases, although only in SD, rounding up another three hours of extras. Included is a seven-part featurette called “Lady’s Pedigree: The Making of Lady and the Tramp”, which runs about an hour. “Finding Lady: The Art of the Storyboard,” and “Original 1943 Storyboard Version of the Film” focus on the storyboard process of the film.  “The Siamese Cat Song: Finding a Voice for the Cats” and “PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs” are fun and aimed for kids.  One of my favorite songs from a Disney movie, “Bella Notte” has a music video included.  There are three theatrical trailers and four clips from “Excerpts from Disneyland TV Shows” and two more deleted scenes.  Overall, Disney does not disappoint again!

Directed by: Andrew Niccol
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Justin Timberlake, Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde
Alex Pettyfer, Vincent Kartheiser
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running time: 109 minutes

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

Andrew Niccol seems to have a thing for futuristic themes like in his 1997 film “Gattaca” and then again in 2002 with “S1m0ne”. This film is set in the year 2161 and packs a great cast including Amanda Seyfried and Justin Timberlake. When you factor that in this film should be kick ass…except it stalls after it takes off. The whole science fiction factor of the film, which was the main draw from me, gets old and overused very fast. Instead of focusing on the that the film focuses on a love story. The cast is great but feels restricted by this boring and confused film. Kudos to Cillian Murphy for a great performance but I am sorry…does he really look 25?!

Taking place in the future, genetic alteration has stopped humanity from aging past 25 in order to control population. Once someone turns 25, you die unless you earn time by working but if your clock, implanted in your arm, reaches zero you die instantly. Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) doesn’t have it easy, just turning 28 years old has been struggling to stay alive. This is until his given over 100 years by a rich man who is tired of living. He meets Sylvia (Amanda Seyfried), a rich girl who is looking for life on the edge and the two head out to change the world.

Props needs to go to the Blu-ray though for packing some great video and sound. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 rocks it, especially in the action scenes. The special features though are also lacking like the film and there are only two extras included. The first feature called “The Minutes” and it is a faux-documentary which gives back story for how scientists discovered immortality. There are also 10 short deleted/extended scenes, which don’t add too much but does include a subplot with Will’s father. Lastly, if you like trailers though Fox has included almost 15 minutes of them but I just skip to the main menu usually.

Director: David Frankel
Starring: Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG / Unrated
Run Time: 100 minutes

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

When you have three comedy geniuses like Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson…you get high expectations. This film let’s down on all accounts. The story is lame and honestly boring. I do not actually think there were any jokes in the film. It plays more like a romance between the men and the birds. I also do not understand the point of releasing the film “unrated” when the original film was rated PG. I think it is just a way to cash in at the fact that this was a major flop.

The film is based off a novel written by Mark Obmascik. It follows three bird lovers who secretly compete against one another in order to spot the most birds to obtain the prestigious “Big Year” award. That is really it. No real surprises in the film at all and in fact the payoff is lacking as well. The film has a little heart in it but not enough to make you actually care for these characters. The best part of the film lies in its co-stars like John Cleese, Tim Blake Nelson, Anjelica Huston, Dianne Wiest, Brian Dennehy and Rashida Jones. That is sad with all the amazing talent in the main cast.

This release includes not only a Blu-ray but also a DVD and Digital Copy of the film as well. The theatrical cut and an extended version is also included on each of them. The video on the Blu-ray sharp but the film really doesn’t push it either. There is a great 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track included, which is impressive. The special features are decent and pick up some slack from the film. There is an interesting behind-the-scenes featurette called “The Big Migration”, which is worth checking out. There is also a gag reel, which catches some of the funny missed in the film. Lastly for deleted scenes fans, there is no shortage in this department. There are 14 deleted scenes included, worth a watch but the film honestly felt long enough in the theatrical cut.

Directed by: Jeff Nichols
Starring: Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 121 minutes

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

In the most cases, movie posters really influence whether or not you will see a movie. This one definitely packs a really cool poster and drew me to want to watch this film.  It is also backed with some amazing tension and amazing performances. Michael Shannon really knows how to take his character and hide deep in it in order to deliver some great drama. Jessica Chastain also delivers another emotional performance after her role in “The Help”.

The film takes place in a small town in Ohio. It follows Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon) who has apocalyptic visions in his dreams. He starts planning to create a tornado shelter in his backyard. With history of mental illness in his family, his wife Samantha (Jessica Chastain) is having trouble believing him. Is the apocalypse really coming or is Curtis family history catching up with him.

The Blu-ray presentation looks and sounds great, especially during the dream sequences. The special features included on this film complements the great film. There is a very interesting commentary with director Jeff Nichols and Michael Shannon. There is a great behind the scenes included as well as a featurette called “Better Safe Than Sorry”. Lastly, there is a brief Q&A with Michael Shannon & Shea Whigham, which is worth checking out.\

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Directed by: Todd Strauss-Schulson
Starring: John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris, Thomas Lennon, Danny Trejo
Distributed by: Warner Bros Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R (Theatrical) / Unrated (Extended)
Running time: 90 minutes (Theatrical) / 96 minutes (Extended)

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

Traveling back to 2004 with “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”, who knew that today we would have a third film about these guys. Not to mention a Christmas movie…not to mention again that it would be in 3D. I think that this film is easily the best installment in the series. The Blu-ray video looks so fantastic and vibrant with the color especially the claymation scene. The sound is another issue if you are watching the theatrical cut either 3D or 2D it is amazing. The extended cut is missing the amazing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 for a decent but lacking Dolby Digital track. Let’s talk about the 3D Blu-ray as it seriously makes the whole movie. The 3D adds so much to the film and really allows the film to additionally laugh at itself within the third dimension. You can still watch this film in 2D, but it does loose some of the fun factor and over-the-top cheese that this film delivers.

If you are looking to watch the extended cut in 3D, look again as it is only available in 2D. That is a little disappointing, but the extended cut is really nothing special. There are some gross gags added to the cut but the film works well without it. Next up, I am a HUGE fan of the UltraViolet Digital Copy and I recommend everyone to start using this great service. Other special features includes a bunch of EPK shorts hosted by Thomas Lennon called “Through the Haze with Tom Lennon”. They are hilarious and definitely worth checking out as Lennon was a great asset to the film. There is a look into the claymation sequence and includes picture-in-picture with its animated storyboard reel and the final scene. Lastly there are about four minutes of deleted scenes…funny but not hilarious.

When Kumar accidentally burns down Harold’s father-in-law’s prized tree on Christmas Eve, the two embark on another ill-advised journey to New York City to replace it.

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Directed by: Bruce Robinson
Starring: Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Rispoli, Amber Heard, Richard Jenkins, Giovanni Ribisi
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Run Time: 119 minutes

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

Johnny Depp + Hunter S. Thomspon novel = match made in heaven. After Depp’s performance in 98’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, there has been talks about this novel being made into a feature. It has a LONG road and even though it finally was released, it misses a certain HST feel to the movie. You can’t compare this film at all to “Fear and Loathing”, they are unrelated and two different novels. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed it thoroughly enjoy this one as well and Depp acting definitely delivers another great ode to HST. Depp even pulled director Bruce Robinson (Withnail and I) out of retirement, since 1992, to sharply direct this adaptation. Funny, suave and free-spirited, this film can be enjoyed if you just sit back and let the rum flow.

Johnny Depp plays Paul Kemp, a journalist working for a newspaper in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He arrives in PR in order to escape his past life in New York and hopes to be able to write the truth for The San Juan Star. During Kemp’s work and investigations he befriends co-worker, Bob Sala (Michael Rispoli) and both of them consistently get into a lot of trouble. Kemp next meets Hal Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart), who tries to get him involved in a corporate scheme to take over the island. Besides Kemp getting in too deep, he also becomes obsessed Sanderson’s girl Chenault (Amber Heard) and then things go all wrong for the journalist.

Sony’s Blu-ray presents the video in 1.85:1 aspect ratio with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. The video is sharp and in some scenes really captures the beauty of Puerto Rico. The audio track also impressive especially during the music sequences in the film. There are only two special features and no commentary track but overall they are still good. “A Voice Made of Ink and Rage: Inside The Rum Diary” is a basic featurette about the film. It covers cast/crew interviews, costuming, location challenges, and on the spirit of Hunter S. Thompson on set. Lastly there is a VERY in-depth feature called “The Rum Diary Back-Story”, which runs about 45 minutes. It features interviews from Depp, HST himself and make others influences from the book. There is also a reading excerpt from the book and a looks into the writer’s career. It is a fantastic look into film’s path to the screen by Wayne Ewing.

Directors: Peter Winther
Starring: Felica Day, Adam Rayner, Doug Jones, Marcia Battise
Rated: Unrated
Distributed by: New Video
Running Time: 90 minutes

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

This six-part web series is based on the BioWare video game series of the same name. The series is created by Felicia Day, who is known best for her work on “The Guild” and “Dr. Horrible’s Sing A-long Blog”. When it comes to web series, when you have her included it is instant magic. If you are fan of this video game series, you will definitely enjoy getting to see this universe coming alive. You can tell that Felicia Day is a fan of this series herself and does not want to let the fans down. The show is definitely low-budget and it shows a little in it’s production but overall it kicks some major ass.

The series follows Tallis (Day), an Elvish assasin, who gets sent on a mission to capture a Qunari mage named Saarebas (Jones) who is wreaking havoc. along the way she meets up with Cairn (Rayner) and Nyree (Battise) to assist her. Even though this is a web series, like I said it has this way bigger feeling. As the six parts only total about an hour, I was left happy but wanting more…sequel in the cards?! Felicia Day is funny, strong and sexy as Tallis. Props also need to go to Doug Jones who always plays a awesome bad guy, just wish he was in it more.

The special features are really the main reason you are buying this DVD, since the episodes are available online. The extras as up to about 45 minutes and are very entertaining. To start there is a great commentary from the series’ director and producer.  There a a bunch of features including “Bringing the Game to Life”, “Costumes”, “Characters” and “Stunts”, which all focus on various aspects of the series’ production. They are very in depth and give great insight. There are a funny blooper reel included, it is a must watch. Also there are trailers for “Dragon Age II and Origins” games and also DLC. All in all, these extras are definitely worth taking the plunge for this DVD purchase.