Starring: Styx
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
Run Time: 131 minutes

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

The boys of “Styx” still got it. They still know how to put on an entertaining show and they definitely can still sing and rock out! They might throw in a little extra cheese now and then but that should be expected. This concert was filmed on November 9th, 2010 at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis, TN. The whole theme of this show is Styx performing their classic albums “The Grand Illusion” and “Pieces Of Eight” in their entirety for the first time, back to back.

These albums were the pinnacle point in the bands career that brought them to global success. Of course, included in these albums are some great classic songs like “Come Sail Away” and ‘Renegade”. What I also thought was cool was that they are also performing some songs for the first time live. So it is cool to see how they put that together and nail each song. Each member of the band gets a chance to showcase their still existent skills at this concert also and it is very impressive how great they still sound today! Just loose the red hair please, Lawrence Gowan.

The Blu-ray looks decent even though it is only presented in 1080i definition. The concert itself though is very colorful and exciting. It is really a very impressive event that they put together. The sound is also superb and really pushes the limits. Of course great sound should be expected from a concert Blu-ray. There is only one special feature included but it is one really good one. It is called “Putting On The Show” and it is an in-depth look on what it takes to setup for such an epic concert.

TRACK LISTING: 1) Intro/1978 2) The Grand Illusion 3) Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) 4) Superstars 5) Keyboard Interlude 6) Come Sail Away 7) Miss America 8) Man In The Wilderness 9) Castle Walls 10) The Grand Finale 11) Great White Hope 12) I m O.K. 13) Sing For The Day 14) The Message 15) Lords Of The Ring 16) Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) 17) Queen Of Spades 18) Renegade 19) Keyboard Interlude 20) Pieces Of Eight 21) Aku-Aku

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Starring: Owl City (Adam Young et al)
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
Release Date: February 7, 2012
Run Time: 110 minutes

Our Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

“Owl City: Live from Los Angeles” is like finding the golden ticket in a Willy Wonka bar. With a single plop of a disc and a click of a play button, we get transported to a land in which each sugary song gets devoured by all of the assembled ‘tweeny masses that have gathered in the City of Angels to see the Owlies. Adam Young, the 20-something geeky goliath behind Owl City, clearly loves holding the keys to the chocolate factory and is all smiles while delivering his candy-coated concoctions all of which have been baked using one musical recipe: take one batch of simplistic lyrics flavored with overly-enunciated nasally vocals, knead in a repetitive keyboard sample sequence and baste with standard electronica big beats. Initially, it’s a pretty tasty snack but, after a couple of helpings, you start wishing that you had opted for the Whitman’s sampler.

As easy as it is to immediately like Young’s genuine enthusiasm for what he’s doing and his “aww…shucks” emo-impishness when he’s bantering with his audience, the music that results doesn’t show any real tonal variety. It’s all sing-songy la-la-la type of stuff that would work well in a live-action Care Bears movie (trust me…one will happen). He’s also got a long way to go before his lyrics become compelling in any way. They’re always so cheery and peppy, it makes you wonder if the worst day in his life was when a toy failed to make its way into his McDonald’s Happy Meal. And it’s pretty easy to guess that when he introduces a song by saying “here’s one about angels”, the one he’s probably going to launch into is called…you guessed it…”Angels”.

For the one-trick pony that is Owl City, the number of musicians in the band is staggeringly large. In addition to Young, who serves as the group’s guitarist, keyboardist and lead vocalist, there are at least five other people onstage playing a wide array of instruments such as violin, cello and xylophone. At one point, there’s even a second drummer. Why such an arsenal is needed to produce music so banal is unclear as the whole show basically plays as one song in eternal-loop. The only exception to this is when Shawn Chrystopher video-screens in his guest rap during “Alligator Sky”. Even though Chrystopher’s not going to go down in hip-hop history as a flashy grandmaster, the addition of his vocal makes you fully aware of the monotony that you’ve had to endure up to that point.

“Live from Los Angeles” is the first live concert DVD/Blu-ray release from Owl City.  One could guess given their immense popularity that it’ll move truckloads when it is released.  However, it’s possible that very few members of their fan base will actually plunk down the dollars to buy it as many of the frequent audience shots show so many of the gathered Youngins capturing the Owls with their iPhones rather than actually watching the live show. For those that do make the purchase, though, the disc has enough sonic clarity to most likely satisfy any Owlhead audiophiles. And while the Blu-ray’s 1080i presentation does show some artifacting during full-stage shots when the backstage hands have pumped up the smoke machines, close-ups of the band are consistently sharp and clear. Bonus interview segments with Young can be sandwiched in between live tracks or played as one contiguous extended interview.

So, if you’re one who frequents the sparkly Pleasantville that is Owl City, “Live from Los Angeles” will probably be worth the trip. As for me, I prefer to drive through musical landscapes which occasionally have seedy urban boroughs that make me check to see if my doors are locked.

Director: Robert Weide
Starring: Woody Allen, Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Penelope Cruz, Larry David, Mia Farrow, Diane Keaton, John Cusack
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Distributed by: New Video
Run Time: 195 minutes

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

This film is really an absolute complete look into the career of Woody Allen. It starts during his teenage years writing jokes for comics and local papers to working for Sid Caesar to doing standup comedian to his writer-director career. In that last career he has averaged one film each year for more than 40 years. If you are fan of Woody Allen this is a great tribute to his amazing career and if you don’t know Allen this is a great place to start.

In this very extensive look his films we get everything covered from his early films “Take the Money and Run” and “Bananas” to the favorites like “Annie Hall” and “Manhattan” to his latest critical and commercial successful films like “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and “Midnight in Paris”. “Midnight” was easily my favorite film of 2011 and re-sparked my interest in his films. I thought I knew quite a lot of his films but I felt myself learning so much about Woody Allen and his work from watching this.

Besides Woody Allen himself, I would like to list just some of his people who contribute new interviews for this documentary: Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Penelope Cruz, John Cusack, Larry David, Mariel Hemingway, Scarlett Johansson, Julie Kavner, Diane Keaton, Martin Landau, Louise Lasser, Sean Penn, Tony Roberts, Chris Rock, Mira Sorvino, Naomi Watts, Dianne Wiest, and Owen Wilson and many others. They all provide great back story into their experience of working with Woody.

The special features on this film are really great and plentiful. If the 3.5 hour film is not long enough for you, there are more extended deleted scenes and interviews. Woody Allen goes around Brooklyn reminiscing more about his neighbors, dating and the local movie theater; Mariel Hemingway talks about Allen’s meeting her family and the story behind Allen’s 1966 debut in The New Yorker are all among the scenes included. Lastly, there is a fast and fun Q&A between Allen and director Robert Weide.

Directed by: Kevin Tostado
Narrated by: Zachary Levi
MPAA Rating: G
Distributed by: New Video
Running Time: 88 minutes

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

Who doesn’t love “Monopoly”? Everyone has played this game at least once in their lives. This movie is a great showcase of the game and its biggest fans behind it. This game has been around for the last 75 years and I am sure that it will continue to be successful for many more years. If you are ever wondering what is the back story to how this game came to where it is today, this is the movie for you.

The film is told in two parts. One part focuses on the history of the game and how it started and spread like a virus worldwide during the depression. The second part focuses on the competitive nature of the game. It takes us through stories during the 2009 Las Vegas and World Championships of Monopoly. I never even knew that these events took place, prior to watching this. We get to meet the people that compete for these events and some of them are laughable for there devotion to the game but some are normal people like lawyers and teachers.

The special features on the disc are very impressive for a documentary. There is a thorough commentary from director Kevin Tostado. They have completed match from the 2009 World Championship final game. I enjoyed most the featurette “The Methods, Math & Myths of Monopoly”, which into mythology behind the game. In case you didn’t realize, Zachary Levi (“Tangled”, “Chuck”) narrated this film and they have a great outtake reel of this work on the film. There are a few extended scenes included but I felt the film was already paced well. Lastly there is a fun (but challenging) interactive Monopoly quiz included.

Will Keenan is the star of the new horror/comedy “Chop”, in which he delivered a great performance. He is also starring in a new film called “The Ghastly Love of Johnny X”. He started his film career with Troma film’s like “Tromeo and Juliet” and “Terror Firmer”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Will on his various recent and upcoming projects.

Mike Gencarelli: I thought you channeled your inner Bruce Campell in “Chop”, how did you prepare for the role?
Will Keenan: The Bruce Campbell will stop after “Johnny X”. First it was Richard Grieco, after that it was Tim Curry, then Robert Downey, and now Bruce Campbell? Why can’t I just be me, ppl? What/Who’s next? Kidding aside, I’ve only recently starting watching a lot of movies and I haven’t seen most of the films that people often cite when discussing my performances. Some day a star may be told he channeled his inner Will Keenan. When that happens, I suspect they’ll mean the way he “made odd look cool” (a quote from a fan).

MG: How was it reuniting with Trent Haaga on this project?
WK: Trent and I have a love/hate relationship. I love him and he hates me. But I gave him his first job in movies and since I’m a genius performer he weighed the pros and cons carefully for his directorial debut. (It was his wife Lynh who actually proposed I play the lead in Chop. And they’re still happily married, so, go figs.) Trent hasn’t gone so far as to block me on twitter (Will’s twitter: http://twitter.com/nuclearmango) but we just may be the new, funnier version of the relationship that director Werner Herzog had with star Klaus Kinksi.

MG: What was the most challenging aspect of working on “Chop”?
WK: The schmacting. Making it crazy-funny but with real feeling. The hardest part was memorizing (and Will Keenan-ifying) my lines of dialogue the night before the shoot days. I had just finished shooting another film, Politics of Love, on which I was a producer as well as performer (under the pseudonym Trillionaire) when we started shooting Chop so there wasn’t any rehearsal time before the shoot. Directly after Chop I starred in The Ghastly Love of Johnny X. I wasn’t able to work on the Johnny X role at all, but for that particular character it was probably a good thing.

MG: Why did you take the credit of Billy Bakshi on “Chop”
WK: It’s been reported that I announced on Facebook my official retirement from acting (Will’s fb: http://www.facebook.com/WilliamSeesKeenan) but alleged I continued performing in films under pseudonyms, and I won’t deny that. I think Trent believes I was credited as Billy Bakshi in his directorial debut Chop because I thought it may turn out bad and wouldn’t want my name on it. I have other reasons which I won’t go into because although I star in films and am considered famous, I highly value my eccentric privacy. When I look back, though, it might give me pleasure to see my filmography with a few movies under fake names. I’m that prolific.

MG: We recently interviewed Mallika Sherawat, you produced “Hisss” and co-starred in “Poiltics of Love”, tell us how that came about?
WK: After the economy crashed in the U.S., I decided that to finance films I had to believe that “International” was the new “Independent” and working with stars in foreign based film industries was the new “foreign presales”. I worked with Mallika and other Indian (Bollywood and Tollywood) stars, producers, directors and composers for the past handful of years and have had incredible experiences. Because the finance was from India I was able to hire a lot of Americans which I called “reverse-outsourcing”. It made me feel very patriotic.

MG: You started off with Troma on “Tromeo and Juliet” and “Terror Firmer”, any memorable experience from those films?
WK: Whereas on most films the craziest drama happens behind the scenes/off-camera, it actually works the opposite with Troma. Those guys have put the most insane things in their movies under the guise of comedy. Starring as Tromeo I was able to perform Shakespeare on film (I studied at NYU, after all;) and for Terror Firmer I was the star and a producer who gave cinema its first hermaphrodite serial killer.

MG: Tell us about your upcoming film “The Ghastly Love of Johnny X”?
WK: Johnny X is a very fun film (PG) and I predict now I’ll be named as the star of the very last wide-screen feature film musical shot on black and white film stock. I also starred in the first fully digital feature film (Love God ’97). So, my career bookends modern American film history.

Tell us about the upcoming musical “Glease”?
WK: “Glease” is an online musical series I produced for Maker Studios for a new network I developed with them called PoliPop which launches March 2nd. Glease is the first time online stars Obama Girl and Alphacat (Obama on YouTube) appear together. And I get hit by a car at the end of it (my 23rd time getting hit by a car on camera. Will’s stunts: http://www.youtube.com/hoverground). Everyone is saying Glease is going to make viral video history but I’m just very happy with the way it turned out. It’s really gorgeous and a whole lot of fun.

Starring: The Richard Thompson Band
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Run Time: 148 minutes (including extras)

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Richard Thompson’s fourth foray into the live concert home video arena is one that truly shines and serves as a testament to his distinctive guitar-playing virtuosity, astute songwriting talents and dynamic bass-laden vocals. Lauded by critics worldwide, Thompson’s 40-year career includes being a member of the iconic pioneering folk-rock group Fairport Convention, milestone albums recorded while married to wife Linda, and over 12 solo albums in his back catalog. Filmed in January 2011 at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow, “Live at Celtic Connections” captures Thompson and his band mates in peak form.

The 2+ hour concert splits itself into two halves.  The first features 11 of the 13 tracks from his most recent CD release, “Dream Attic”. The second half is a romp through his – as the ever self-effacing Thompson states at the show’s beginning – “greatest hits…with a small ‘h’.” The group demonstrates within the first two songs that they can run the gamut between straight-up rockers (“The Money Shuffle”) and hushed somber ballads (“Among the Gorse, Among the Grey”). This alternating upbeat/downbeat pattern persists throughout the “Dream Attic” portion of the show. Very few bands could pull this off but Thompson’s intricate fretwork (which once placed him at #19 in Rolling Stone’s ‘Top 100 Guitarists of All-Time’ list) and his collection of consummate musical companions do it with seamless fluidity. And Thompson’s innate ability to pen lucid and razor-sharp lyrics are consistently balanced by his in-between song stage banter in which his distinctly British sophistication and wit comes to the forefront. He’s a genuinely smart and likeable chap – one you could probably down a few pints with whilst discussing the pentameter of Renaissance-era motets. He’d probably even insist on paying the tab, too.

While “Celtic Connections” thoroughly documents Thompson’s capability as a Fender Strat-wielding electric guitar wizard that can shred a solo in a way that would cause musicians a third of his age to concede defeat, it really fails to showcase his talents as an acoustic guitarist. We only see Thompson playing his Lowden a few times during the entire 20-song performance and they’re essentially numbers in which he’s a backing player. Adding the epic “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” to the set list would have been most welcome.

Luckily, the two bonus tracks included as the sole extras on the disc, “Uninhabited Man” and “Johnny’s Far Away”, do just that and, as in much of the Celtic Connections concert, demonstrate his ability as a solo acoustic artist to effortlessly move from melancholy to merriment – all within the span of two songs. It’s such a satisfying sampler that it makes one hope that Eagle Vision will add the full 2011 Cambridge Folk Festival concert into their DVD/Blu-ray pipeline.

As one would expect from the 1080i Blu-ray edition of “Celtic Connections”, the picture quality is consistently top-notch and allows us to see all of RT’s string bends and other nimble finger work with startling clarity. The camera work captures all of the band members creating their magic, but the editing of the concert almost exclusively employs sharp cuts from one vantage point to another. This works for the giddier songs but the slower ballads and dirges would have been better served with the occasional dissolve.

Not enough can be said about the sound quality of the Blu-ray. Three options are available to the viewer: DTS-HD surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital stereo. In all cases, the uncompressed audio is superbly mixed and allows RT’s silver strings to resonate with maximum clarity without impeding upon the strength of the low-end bass tracks. This is a demonstration-quality disc and it raises the aural standard for all concert Blu-rays.

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Starring: Glenn Close, Janet McTeer and Brendan Gleeson
Directed by: Rodrigo Garcia
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 53 mins
LD Entertainment

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

In the dining room of a 19th Century Dublin Hotel, the head waiter is seating guests. As he walks past a table a woman remarks to her husband, “he’s such a kind little man.” If only she knew the truth.

A pet project of Glenn Close, who starred in the play almost 30 years ago (Close also co-wrote and co-produced the film), “Albert Nobbs” is the story of a woman who has spent the last 30 years disguised as a man in order to survive. When Albert (Close) meets Hubert Page (McTeer, eerily resembling a very tall k.d. lang), a house painter hired to touch up the hotel, he discovers a kinship he never thought could exist. Albert has been saving his money, longing to one day open a tobacco shop and no longer pretend to be someone he isn’t.

Earlier this week both Close and McTeer were nominated for Academy Awards, and deservedly so. Both women immerse themselves in their roles and create an illusion that makes the film flow easily. Not once do you think, “oh, look, Glenn Close is playing a guy.” When you look at the screen you see Albert Nobbs. The supporting cast also helps keep the illusion going, including Mia Wasikowska as one of the hotel maids, Gleeson as the resident doctor and Aaron Johnson (who was incredible as the young John Lennon in “Nowhere Boy” and also starred as the title character in “Kick Ass”) as the hotels newest employee.

The direction is solid, with the camera capturing old Ireland beautifully. The production design gives the film an authentic look. And kudos to the make up department, also Oscar nominated, for transforming Close and McTeer. I’m a little baffled by the films “R” rating. Except for a quick shot of bare breasts and a humorously implied indication of oral sex there was nothing questionable on screen in my opinion.

Starring: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks and Jamie Bell
Directed by: Asger Leth
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 42 mins
Summit Entertainment

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

Life isn’t going well for Nick Cassidy (Worthington). A former cop currently serving 25 years in prison for theft, Nick must deal with the constant beatings his fellow inmates dish out and the fact that his father is dying. Nick claims he’s innocent, of course. And if can find a way out he’d be happy to prove it. If only…

Formulaic to the point of boredom, “Man on a Ledge” is a ho-hum case of “Crime Caper 101” with a few decent set pieces to keep your attention. The blame here clearly rests on the shoulders of screenwriter Pablo Fenjves, whose previous claim to fame was having the misfortune of living next door to Nicole Brown Simpson the night O.J. came to call. After a string of television projects this is Fenjves’ first feature film and the script is cobbled together from the best (and worst) parts of every heist film ever made. Let me run down the checklist:

1. Fake security guards by putting a still photo in front of a video camera. Check.
2. People who have no business being able to hack computers and repel down walls but manage to do it effortlessly. Check.
3. Really hot chick who can do all of the above but for some reason buys her clothes two sizes too small. Check.
4. Same girl removes said clothes in the middle of the film to reveal even smaller undergarments. Check.

And the list goes on.

The cast tries hard to convince you they care. Worthington is likable as Nick. As the police expert that is called in to talk to Nick once he becomes the title character, Banks is sharp. She’s carrying some emotional baggage from a previous case and Banks wrestles with that baggage well. Ed Harris shows up to chew some scenery as “the bad guy,” obviously having fun with the role. Jamie Bell as Nick’s brother, Joey and Genesis Rodriguez as his girl, Angie, have some chemistry and some cute back and forth banter. Which reminds me:

5. Cute back and forth banter between boyfriend/girlfriend crooks. Check.

The only casting miscue arrives on screen when Kyra Sedgwick, her southern accent as thick as molasses, announces herself as television reporter Rosie Morales! This is director Leth’s first feature and he shows some talent behind the camera. Hopefully he’ll try something more original for his sophomore effort.

Starring: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney and Dallas Roberts
Directed by: Joe Carnahan
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 57 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Way up in the Alaskan frontier, a group of men work on an oil pipeline. Unseen by all is Ottway (Neeson), whose only job is to look through a rifle scope and shoot ANYTHING that threatens the workers. Longing for his wife, Ottway and a group of men board a plane for Anchorage. When the plane crashes, stranding all who survived, the frozen north becomes the least of the problems for Ottway and his companions.

Directed with the eye of a master, “The Grey” tells the story of what happens when the hunter becomes the hunted. Brimming with suspense and more than a couple heart-racing scenes, “The Grey” is this 2012’s annual, beginning of the year, Liam Neeson movie. Luckily, like “Taken” and “Unknown” before it, the film is well worth seeing.

Anchored by one of Neesons strongest performances ever, “The Grey” delivers two tones…dark, when the men are struggling through thigh-high snow, and darker, when they huddle together near a slight fire, ever wary of the pack of wolves that has followed them since the plane crash, slowly winnowing the group down as, one by one, the men prove no match for their furry adversaries. As their journey to find civilization drags on, Ottway ensures that Hendrick (Roberts) collect the wallet of each man who succumbs, be it to the wolves or the cold. As the film progresses the knapsack full of wallets continues to swell.

Director Carnahan, whose previous films include “Narc” and the updated version of “The A-team,” continues to add on to his growing resume’ of action and adventure. Each scene is shot with an eye that belays Carnahan’s relative youth behind the camera. The excitement is heightened by the nastiest set of wolves you’ll ever seen, courtesy of maestro’s Greg Nicotero, Howard Berger and the crew at KNB EFX Studio. Come for the wolves, stay for Neeson. His performance is so strong that director Carnahan has already hinted the film will be re-released in October 2012 to gain the Irish actor award consideration.

Directed by: Robert Vince
Starring: Richard Riehle, Edward Herrmann, Mason Cook, Adam Alexi-Malle, Mo Gallini, Christopher Maleki, Ranya Jaber, Anna Primiani
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: G
Running time: 92 minutes

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

This series is a spin-off of the “Air Bud” franchise and this is actually the sixth installment in the “Air Buddies” series. Honestly I have enjoyed the “Buddies” films especially the holiday themed ones. This one is packed with great comedy, action and even special effects. The CG effects used in the film are really great included fire breathing snakes, sand storms and vicious sphinx cats.  It is “Indiana Jones” for kids…and with dogs. Parents grab your kids and plan to actually enjoy this film, since  they obviously are going to love it.

In this action-packed sequel, the buddies set off Egypt this time for this amazing adventure. They are on a mission to find a legendary treasure called  the Cat’s Eye jewel which is from the lost treasure of Cleocatra! The buddies face a devious cat who plans to possess the mystical jewel to get rid of all dogs! With help from their new friend Cammy, a baby camel and a monkey named Babi they buddies needs to race time and save the day.

The special features are a little light but decent especially since this is a kids movie. Could have been cool to have some interactive games included for the kiddies. The first feature is called “DIGS: B-Dawg Edition” and has B-Dawg giving a tour of his home, cute for kids. Lastly there is a music video for the song “Roam”, it is a remake of The B-52s song performed by Caroline Sunshine, Kenton Duty and Adam Irigoyen from the cast of the Disney Channel hit series “Shake it Up.” Overall fun features to a fun film.

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Directed by: Dennis Lee
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Julia Roberts, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hayden Panettiere, Ioan Gruffudd, Cayden Boyd
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 98 minutes

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

“Fireflies in the Garden” is the type of film that really proves that an amazing impressive cast does not mean an amazing movie. The cast includes the amazing talents of Ryan Reynolds, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Julia Roberts, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hayden Panettiere. Willem Dafoe easily gives the best performance out of the group by a long shot. This film has been in on the shelf for many years since it was filmed back in 2008, it is no surprise why either. In fact the film was completely re-cut recently prior to this release and I am scared to see what it was like prior to the that.

The film centers around an accident with Charles (Dafoe) and his wife Lisa (Roberts) as they are heading to a family reunion. From there I was completely lost with the film switching between past and present through flashbacks. When the family gets together during the funeral there lives become intertwined. Charles and his son Michael (Reynolds) try to work their difficult relationship…also told through flashbacks.

I did really enjoy the score of the film from Jane Antonia Cornish. It helps push this film a long during its short 89 minute running time that feels more like over 2 hours. The special features are almost non-existent. There is only a brief behind the scenes called “A Flash of Life: The Making of Fireflies in the Garden”. Watch it for the cast and Dafoe’s performance but otherwise it is worth taking a pass on.

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Directed b: Roland Joffé
Starring: Charlie Cox, Wes Bentley, Dougray Scott, Unax Ugalde, Olga Kurylenko
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Run Time: 122 minutes

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

Just to clear the air, this film has nothing to do with dragons at all. It actually has to do with the Spanish Civil War and a Catholic priest who recent was canonized a saint. The story is very religious packed and is a based on true events of Josemaría Escrivá. The acting is decent but the war scenes are really the only saving factor in the whole film. The Blu-ray video and sound during the war scenes look and sound amazing especially when you have bullets flying by in surround sound. Though, if you are looking for a movie about the Spanish Civil War save yourself the preachy efforts of this film and check out Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth”.

The film follows journalist Robert Torres (Dougray Scott) who is writing a book about Josemaría Escrivá and his possible canonization. Robert seeks the help his father, Manulo (Wes Bentley). Don’t even get me started on how laughable Bentley looks in his “old” makeup. The movie is told in flashback through Manulo’s memories of the Spanish Civil War and his involvement with Josemaría. As details get reveals about his fathers past, he learns that there was much more dark secrets than he expected.

The special features on the film are weak also like the film. The first feature is called “Facing Your Dragons: Inspiring Testimony from Wes Bentley”. It is just Wes Bentley talking about working on the film. Lastly there is 30 minutes of deleted scenes which is really cool, if firstly, you enjoyed the film and secondly, if the scenes were actually worth watching…which they are not. I also want to add that they are not even in HD and are presented in 480i.

Pollyanna McIntosh is the star of Lucky McKee’s new film “The Woman” based on a Jack Ketchum novel.  This is her second time working on a novel turned film from Jack Ketchum after 2009’s “Offspring”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Pollyanna about her role and what we can expect from 2012.

Mike Gencarelli: What was it like revisiting your role of the woman in “The Woman”?
Pollyanna McIntosh: There was some trepidation because I wanted to make sure that I was going to be able to do justice to the script. It is such a supercalifragilistic version of the woman. It’s her in the most extreme circumstances that they could come up with. I started reading the script and it scared the shit out of me. Having spoken to Lucky (McKee) about the tricky parts, we realized we were both very much on the same page. It’s such a meaty role but what was most important to me was ensuring the right message was put across. I am very serious about that. I could really tell that we were going to work very well together as we both had the same ideas about what is important. After that I got really excited.

MG: What do you think was the most difficult part of working on this role?
PM: It was such a joy. I think the challenge was leaving everybody at the end of the movie. The rest of it was an absolute thrill. Meeting Angela (Bettis) and Sean (Bridgers) was like jelly beans in a jar. We were always joking around which was an extra plus. It was definitely harder leaving than the filming itself.

MG: How do you prepare for a role like this?
PM: I had to squash my mode of operating in our “modern” society basically. I went to the woods for a while and stayed on my own. I think that was the first time in my life I have ever been completely alone. That’s quite mental to think about. I didn’t go bananas as I really enjoyed it. I also did research on big cats, wolves and apes. I watched some documentaries about feral children as well as “First Blood”. (Laughs) I was absolutely appalled when I had to get that from the video store. But it was fantastic! I worked out a lot as well. It was a lot of fun working out specifically to create the kind of body I felt she would have. That was, once I got over the embarrassment of being in a Hollywood gym and having people in makeup and pink spandex watching you crawl around on the floor, leapfrog and hang off the bars like an ape!

MG: Did you have any trouble winding down from some of the intense scenes?
PM: I buggered off on a 10 day road trip after the shoot. I did 10 states in 10 days. I just packed up my kit bag and got back into civilization pretty fast. I had a lot of alone time while driving which allowed me to decompress too. I would recommend doing that to any actress after an intense shoot. It is sort of a weird thing to be dumped back into everyday life.

MG: What do you find most intriguing about working with Jack Ketchum?
PM: It’s really interesting to see how Lucky and Jack collaborated on this. It really is a true team as they managed to write the screenplay and the book together from different States. To get inside a feral woman’s brain the way Ketchum did in “Offspring” is incredible. Lucky and Jack both have a great love for the underdog and I think that is something that is clear in the writing but it’s not sentimentalized. I would have never read a Ketchum book if it hadn’t been put in front of me by Andrew van den Houten. I’m very grateful.

MG: What do you have planned for 2012?
PM: I just finished a film written and directed by Brian McGuire that I am very proud of called “Prevertere”. Brian is a nut job as he will write something in 10 days then shoot it in another10 days and have it edited in 8 days. He is mental and I love him. I am about to shoot a film called “Filth” which is an Irvine Welsh adaptation starring James McAvoy. We start shooting that in about a week in Scotland. I will be around my countrymen. I ‘m really looking forward to that. I’ll eat a creme egg (British chocolate) and visit the site of the Battle of Banockburn.

Created by: Jon Glaser
Starring: Jon Glaser, Jacob Kogan, Nadia Dajani, Eugene Mirman, Kevin Dorff, Zoe Lister-Jones, Mather Zickel
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Episodes: 19
Rated: Not Rated
Running Time: 347 minutes

Season 1 & 2: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Jon Glaser, creator/writer/star of “Delocated” has created one hell of funny gem with this show.  The show focuses around a family that is in the Witness Protection Program that gets their own reality show.  It is not just that though…they have to wear ski masks and voice changes patches to hide their identity .   It only gets funny from there as they are being tracked down by the Russian mob, who also end of getting a reality show.  The show is packed with great co-stars and delivers many laughs in each episode.  With season three right around the corner, this is a great chance to catch up on seasons 1 and 2 of the series.

In season 1, each episode clocked in at 11 minutes each but in season two it was upgraded to 22 minutes.  I feel that the show definitely was improved during season two with the extended length.  Episodes from Season 1: Pilot, “Bar Mitzvah”, “Good Buds”, “Rage Cage”, “The Soother”, “Member’s Only”, and “Sick Of It”; Season 2: “Decoys”, “Conversion”, “Dog Mayor”, “Mixer”, “Jon He Does It”, “Mole”, “Kim’s Krafts”, “‘Fidence”, “Tap”, “RV B&B”, “David’s Girlfriend” and “Coma”. Season two definitely has the best co-stars like Mather Zickel as Jon’s bodyguard Federal Agent, Eugene Mirman as the Russian hit man Yvgeny Mirminsky and Jerry Minor playing the show’s executive producer Mighty Joe Jon: The Black Blond. Yes, BTW that is what he is called the whole season. Just don’t grow too attached to each character since they are not afraid of killing anyone off and replace them instantly. Which only adds to the laughs!

The special features include two commentary tracks from Glaser on the first disc.  The second disc includes about ten minutes of deleted scenes and about 25 minutes of outtakes.  I am a big fan of outtakes and this one definitely takes the cake.  It sure does look like filming was a ton of fun.  There are two flip books included with include some great behind the scenes and  production stills.  There is also Glaser’s demo that he used to pitch the show to the studio.  It was cool to get to check that out especially since the show’s format was slightly different. Overall if you enjoyed the show, you should race over to the special features for more of the same greatness from the show.

Created by: Joe Ruby and Ken Spears
Directed by: Victor Cook
Voices of: Frank Welker, Matthew Lillard, Grey DeLisle, Mindy Cohn, Gary Cole, Patrick Warburton, Lewis Black
Studio: Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Episodes: 14
Running Time: 311 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Finally WB’s listens to its fans and gives us more episodes. The last “Scooby Doo” DVD release only included 4 episodes, this one includes a packed 14 episodes spread over two discs and completes the first season of this great series revival. Of course these episodes include great notable voice work from Patrick Warburton as Sheriff Bronson Stone, Gary Cole as Mayor Fredrick Jones Sr., Vivica A. Fox as Angel Dynamite, Udo Kier as Professor Pericles and Linda Cardellini, who played Velma in the two live action theatrical films, as Hot Dog Water. I mean I could go on for paragraphs listing the amazing talent in this series. Overall fans of old “Scooby Doo” give this a shot and it is definitely a no-brainer for kids.

The remaining episodes in season one continues to follow the mystery of The Crystal Cove Curse. They even go into Fred and Velma getting married, which is really cool to see that dynamic in the series. During their mysteries, they have come across secrets about the original Mystery Incorporated group. They need to solve their mystery fast before they face the same fate. These episodes also make great homage and reference to the following: H.P. Lovecraft., Jonah Hex, Jonny Quest and Vincent Price. They also include great cameos from Hanna-Barbara characters like Jabberjaw and The Flintstones.  All-in-all great episodes to close a great season! Can’t wait to see what they have in store for season two.

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated: Crystal Cove Curse available on DVD 1/14 at http://bit.ly/AbtsdB!

The adventures of a talking dog and his four human pals as they try to unravel the strange and haunted history of their hometown. The tone is comedic, but it will never lose the edge that our heroes are in some frightening situations. The stakes are real. Now you can see the second 14 episodes of Season 1 together in this set.

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