Starring: James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez and Brandon Scott
Directed By: Adam Wingard
Rated: R
Running Time: 89 minutes
Lionsgate

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 Stars

It’s been nearly two decades since a pair of aspiring filmmakers put together a cinematic game changer. “The Blair Witch Project,” a found footage film based on a made-up urban legend involving a supernatural witch in small town America, spurred late 90’s fandom and early Internet hysteria. Now the Blair Witch has entered the digital age. It’s no longer trapped in the Circuit City video camera age with a $22,000 budget. It now has drones, Bluetooth headset cameras, and $5 million to play with. And maybe that’s why it has inherently lost a lot of its horror charm and bite.

James (McCune) is the younger brother of Heather, who went missing back in “The Blair Witch Project” 20 years ago. James believes that a Youtube video of newly found footage may be the key to finding his long lost sister. So with the help of some friends, mainly documentarian and film school student Lisa (Hernandez), he travels to the Black Hills. Despite early eerie vibes, “Blair Witch” has is already having to retread familiar paths to establish its atmosphere.

Upon arrival in sleepy Burkittsville, James and his group meet Talia (Valorie Curry) and Lane (Wes Robinson). The two Burkittsville residents, whom straddle the line between white trash and goth metalheads (or are those the same thing?), are the ones who found and uploaded the Youtube footage. Their infatuation with the Blair Witch legend is a mixture of respectful fear and fanboy excitement. With Talia and Lane forcibly in tow, the group heads into the woods in the hopes of finding whatever bizarre phenomenon inhabits the creepy Maryland woods.

It’s difficult to sum up “Blair Witch” into a few simple words or a pithy comment. It flips on a dime midway through, going from the familiar slow burner that made the first one so memorable, to a nonstop jump scare haunted house. The first 30 minutes pays homage to the style of the original, leaving supernatural breadcrumbs for the cast to find. The tone pivot comes when the group has to stay a second night in the woods after predictably getting lost and divided.

Adam Wingard and crew, who’ve done previous other horror movies together (and very well I might add), show signs of adoration for the original. But in an attempt to make their own distinct vision, they may have trampled all over what made the original unique. The “found footage” has been edited from about a dozen different camera sources with some scenes clearly not being from any of the recording equipment on hand. They also expand upon the mythology, giving God-like powers to the witch. The over saturation of the witches new powers, gore, and predictable jump scares certainly cheapen the mood.

As for the jump scares, nearly every other one is unnecessary and come nearly every 30 seconds in the movie’s climax creating a blunt force experience that will either nauseate or thrill. While certainly stimulating to watch in theaters, the jump scare bombardment grows tiresome. At times I felt like I was watching a full screen version of “Five Nights at Freddy’s” on amphetamines. Outside of the repetitive first-person terror, “Blair Witch” finds inspirational moments. There are scenes that are cleverly claustrophobic and discomforting.

“Blair Witch” is a bold endeavor that may have been more respected if it wasn’t in the shadow of a 1999 movie that did so much with so little. “Blair Witch” is an expensive fanboy movie made by a genuine fan of the original. I have tip my hat to Wingard and crew for being ambitious with this sequel/reboot, and not being afraid of trying something new with old material. But I can’t help and think that “Blair Witch” should remain a cinematic relic.

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Actors: Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenberg, Daniel Radcliffe, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo
Directors: Jon M. Chu
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Run Time: 129 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Now You See Me” was a good film…but it was not a film that was asking for sequel in any way. The only thing that the unnecessary sequel does is enlarge its cast. This time only with Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers), Woody Harrelson (The Hunger Games franchise), Dave Franco (Nerve), Michael Caine (The Dark Knight) and Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption). We get Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter franchise), Lizzy Caplan (Cloverfield) and Jay Chou (The Green Hornet) added to the magic show. Unfortunately it doesn’t have much magic up it sleeves like the first film.

Official Premise: The Four Horsemen (Eisenberg, Harrelson, Franco, Caplan) return for a second mind-bending adventure, elevating the limits of stage illusion to new heights and taking them around the globe. One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public’s adulation with their Robin Hood-style magic spectacles, the illusionists resurface for a comeback performance in hopes of exposing the unethical practices of a tech magnate. The man behind their vanishing act is none other than Walter Mabry (Radcliffe), a tech prodigy who threatens the Horsemen into pulling off their most impossible heist yet. Their only hope is to perform one last unprecedented stunt to clear their names and reveal the mastermind behind it all.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack comes with a DVD anda also a Digital HD of the film. The 1080p transfer showcases the razzle dazzle of Las Vegas very well in its stylized feel. The Dolby Atmos track works great with the scale of the film and the presentation definitely delivers the magic unlike the film itself. In terms of special features, there is an audio commentary with the director as well as three behind-the-scenes featurettes, which dive into the making of the film and how the cast/crew learned the film’s magic tricks.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart and Laura Linney
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Rated: PG-13
Running time: 1 hr 35 mins
Warner Bros

Our Score: 5 out of 5 Stars

Before I saw this film, this is what I knew about Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger: he landed a plane on the Hudson River and then he went to the Super Bowl, heralded as a hero. If only life was that easy.

January 15, 2009. A normal day for all involved, unless you’re a passenger on US Airways Flight 1549. As the world knows now, during take-off the plane met up with a flock of Canadian geese, several of who were sucked into both engines, rendering the plane powerless. Despite initial attempts to return to the airport, pilot “Sully” Sullenberger (Hanks) decides to set the plane down in the middle of the Hudson River. Miraculously, all 155 people on board survive. Sully is labeled a hero but before he can get patted on the back he is informed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that he is being investigated for possible negligence. Computer simulations show that had he turned the plane around as intended, he could have landed safely at several nearby airports. Did he make the right decision?

Centuries from now, should movies still be being made, film historians will still be talking about Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood. Hanks has two Oscars for his acting and three other nominations while Eastwood has four Oscars – two for directing – and another seven nods. “Sully” is Eastwood and Hanks at the top of their game. Our generation’s Jimmy Stewart, Hanks has excelled in playing the “everyman” who is forced to face impossible odds. Here he is tasked with the emotional weight of the film. “I’ve flown millions of passengers for 40-years and I’m going to be judged by what I did in 208 seconds,” he laments. Sadly, he is right. The airline knows there is going to be lawsuits, and if someone can be blamed, the better off for them. Hanks gives Sully a quiet pride. Even when he’s sure he made the right decision he can’t help but question himself. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, as Sully goes from appearing on David Letterman to having vivid dreams about the plane crashing into the New York skyline.

Eastwood has always been a simple director, letting his camera almost eavesdrop on the action. Here he puts us squarely in the shoes of the title character, to the point where you’re quietly second-guessing yourself. As usual, he stocks his films with top acting talent, including Eckhart (in a sweet mustache) as co-pilot Jeff Skiles and Linney as Sully’s wife, Lorraine. A great group of supporting actors, including Mike O’Malley, Jamey Sheridan and Anna Gunn make up the NTSB group investigating the incident.

A quick note: the film is being released the same weekend America will remember the 15th Anniversary of the attacks of September 11th, 2001. The film depicts some troubling shots, via Sully’s dreams, of airplanes crashing into buildings. Though part of a dream, the images are haunting so keep that in mind when deciding to bring a young child along. That being said, if you want to introduce your little one to a true hero, introduce them to “Sully.”

Actors: Nicholas Hoult, Kristen Stewart, Bel Powley, Guy Pearce
Directors: Drake Doremus
Rated: PG-13
Studio: LIONSGATE
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Run Time: 93 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

When I started watching “Equals”, I got very excited because it has this really cool futuristic feel to it that I was digging. Unfortunately by the end it wasn’t able to hang on tightly to that vibe and ended up feeling very generic and forgettable. Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult star and deliver some pretty solid performances. I also really enjoyed Stewart in a film that no one saw a while back called “Camp X-Ray” also. The stylized word that was created here was a neat idea and I would have loved to see it fleshed out a bit more.

Official Premise: A seemingly utopian world, “The Collective” has ended crime and violence by genetically eliminating all human emotions. Despite this, Nia and Silas can’t help noticing a growing attraction between them, leading them to a forbidden relationship — at first tentative, but then exploding into a passionate romance. As suspicion begins to mount among their superiors, the couple will be forced to choose between going back to the safety of the lives they have always known, or risking it all to try and pull off a daring escape.

The Blu-ray combo pack also comes with a digital HD copy of the film. The 1080p transfer looks great with the utopian future that is displayed. The score is subtle yet carries the film well. The special features are a little light. There are three featurettes focusing on the behind-the-scenes, “Switched On”, “The Collective” and “Utopia” with cast/crew discussing the film. Lastly there is also an audio commentary with Director Drake Doremus, Cinematographer John Guleserian, and Editor Jonathan Alberts. There was some solid information about the film here and a few points that I actually wasn’t happy with the film was even addressed here.

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Rachel Weisz
Directed by: Derek Cianfrance
Rated: PG-13
Running time: 2 hrs 12 mins
Touchstone Pictures

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 Stars

The Oxford University Press Dictionary defines “Continuity” as: “the maintenance of continuous action and self-consistent detail in the various scenes of a movie or broadcast.”

Sadly, the director of “The Light Between Oceans” has never read the Oxford University Press Dictionary.

The year is 1918. Just returned from four years in “the BIG WAR,” Tom Sherbourne (Fassbender) is given a job maintaining and operating a light house off the coast of Australia. He is told the position will only last six-months, as the full-time operator is just recuperating from an illness. As he travels through the town, on way to the desolate island he will soon call home, he meets the beautiful Isabel (Vikander). The two are immediately smitten with each other. He takes her on a picnic and she asks if she can visit the island. He replies that the rules state only the lighthouse keeper and his wife are allowed. “So marry me,” she tells him.

Learning that his predecessor will NOT be coming back, Tom accepts a three year contract and immediately marries Isabel. They try to have children but Isabel proves unable to have children. One day, Isabel spots a boat floating off the coast, seemingly empty. Tom drags it to shore and finds out that it’s not empty. Inside is the dead body of a man and a still-breathing infant. Hmmmmmm.

Full of inconsistent time jumps and heavy handed foreshadowing, “The Light Between Oceans” starts off strong but peters out by the time the film ends…about 40 minutes too late. And the continuity is terrible. The way I saw it, the following happened in a 20 minute period:

Tom buries his miscarried child

Isabel spots a boat

Tom finds the child

And in the next ten minutes:

Tom notifies his employer that Isabel has given birth

People visit

Tom finds a rattle in the boat (BANG! – that’s the sound of foreshadowing hitting you over the head) and tucks it in his pocket

A stranger sees the rattle. Get the idea?

Things go from bad to worse when, on a visit to the mainland, Tom learns that there was a father and daughter who were lost at sea the day before he found the baby. Luckily Tom and Izzy have the baby christened at the same church the grieving widow/mother attends so Tom can stumble on the grave marker. Will Tom’s conscience allow him to continue the charade? What do you think?

Let me take a moment from discouraging you from seeing this film to tell you that, despite all of the script problems, both Fassbender and Vikander turn in fine performances. I read recently that the two are now a couple off-screen and the chemistry is very visible on-screen. Also fine are Weisz as the grieving widow and Bryan Brown, who plays her wealthy father.

OK, back to the things I hated. The film quick-jumps to 1950 quicker than Doc Brown’s DeLorean, wiping out almost three decades of plot, and providing more questions than answers. Speaking of questions, I have one here. IF you live on an island with ONLY your wife around to keep you company, why in God’s name would you EVER lock your front door. WHO are you keeping out? And, if as you’ve maintained, the dead father, who was German, may have been chased down by townsfolk still upset over the war and by his accent, make sure he doesn’t speak with an English accent in flashbacks. And WHY is this film over 2 hours long?

In looking back at my review of the director’s previous film, “The Place Beyond the Pines,” – obviously he likes to either be “between” or “beyond,” I found the following comment:

“Incredibly overlong with a plot twist you can spot from the back of the theatre, “The Place Beyond the Pines” wastes strong performances in a sea of cliché’s and coincidences.”

Sounds like some people can’t change!

Starring: Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy and Toby Jones
Directed By: Luke Scott
Rated: R
Running Time: 92 minutes
20th Century Fox

Our Score 1.5 out of 5 Stars

Sometimes when I watch something so promising, and filled with so much talent, I wonder if I genuinely missed something when I walk out not liking it. “Morgan” features veteran talents like Paul Giamatti, Ridley Scott as producer, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and a script that made 2014’s Blacklist (a list of the best unproduced scripts currently floating around Hollywood). So here I am a week removed from watching “Morgan” and I think to myself, I didn’t miss anything. It’s a bad movie.

Anya Taylor-Joy (someone who’s bound to get an Oscar nominating performance one of these days) is stuck as the science experiment gone wrong, Morgan. The five-year-old, by human years, is actually around 18-by-whatever-made-up-logic-this-movie-makes-years-old. She’s the end result of a human embryo breeding project. She’s birthed with some of the best genes out there as well as a couple of super human capabilities that are never really explained. After a month, Morgan is able to walk and talk. After a couple of years, she’s a self-sufficient preteen with a childlike wonder about the world. After five years, she’s capable of inflicting bodily harm on her creators and show signs of deep hatred. And after Morgan stabs a scientist in the eye for no apparent reason, it’s time to bring in the corporate business suits.

“Morgan” has the capability to deliver a message about cloning, the inability to understand raw human emotions, and eugenics, but instead focuses more on visual technique. “Morgan” ends up being all style with no substance. The groundwork is there as we watch sterile and emotionless scientists suddenly become parents, growing up and watching Morgan’s guileless nature. Then we watch as the parental instinct kicks in when the scientists try to understand and defend Morgan’s growing sociopathy. She may be a monster, but she’s their monster. Another missed theme is how corporate culture looks at the numbers more than the human impact, but I digress because this movie failed on all thematic levels.

But even as the movie slowly falls apart, “Morgan” still has one final chance to deliver upon any resemblance of meaning behind its script. The writers, producers, and director, fail to give anything outside slick visuals, bruising action sequences, and a disquieting environment for its characters. The third act of the movie turns out to be more of an experiment in forbearance as the twist of the movie slowly gets unraveled. Although I figured out the twist about 30 minutes in while another critic I spoke to after the movie figured it out five minutes in. I guess even M. Night Shyamalan could recognize “Morgan” has a bad twist.

It’s really unfortunate watching Taylor-Joy get generously applied with Dave Chappelle white face make-up and play in one of the more frustrating creature features in recent memory. Taylor-Joy popped up on the scene earlier this year in “The Witch” and has a lot of talent waiting to be displayed. She does a fine job relaying Morgan’s genuine wonder and empathy, while balancing Morgan’s uncharacteristic murder streak. Taylor-Joy does all this well, but it’s hard to piece together the mind of her character when the movie continuously jumps back and forth between Morgan’s personalities.

It doesn’t help that the movie states she’s only five, despite having the mind and body of a full blown teenager. Is she a test tube bred deadly assassin battling teenage hormones with the id of a child progressing too quickly into an adult world that she has no comprehension of? If so, why is this experiment worth anything to anyone, especially a company? Those are questions no one making this film ever thought to ask and inherently asking that question gives away the movie’s twist.

Just like its character, “Morgan” lacks any growth, meaning, or excitement. Whenever the movie gets close to developing a theme or message, it reverts back to finding meaning behind violence like a Kindergartener throwing a temper tantrum, frustrated that it couldn’t find a way to expel upon its interesting premise. If this is the final movie of the summer, the summer certainly goes out on an uncreative whimper.

Actors: Taylor Gray, Vanessa Marshall, Tiya Sircar, Jr. Freddi Prinze, Steve Blum
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: August 30, 2016
Run Time: 484 minutes

Season: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

When the first season of “Star Wars Rebels” started, my daughter and I were all in. We watched religiously and enjoyed the first season. Honestly, I did enjoy the second season but I wasn’t overall blown away by it and I don’t feel that IN WHOLE it superseded the first. The best part of the season was the return of Ahsoka Tano, Darth Maul and the introduction of animated Darth Vader. For me those three things saved the season. Otherwise, I honestly don’t even remember much else from it. Hopefully season 3 kicks off with a bang and delivers a better run to keep my interest in this show.

Official Premise: As Ezra Continues his journey to become a Jedi under Kanan’s guidance, the crew of the Ghost bands together with a secret rebel cell and ex-soldiers from the Clone Wars to join a fledgeling alliance to restore peace and freedom to the galaxy. But the dark side looms large as Darth Vader dispatches new Inquisitors, setting the stage for a climactic showdown in which terrible truths will be revealed and the lives of our heroes will be changed forever.

There is no shortage of great talent in this show. The series features the voices of Freddie Prinze Jr. (“I Know What You Did Last Summer”) as Kanan, Vanessa Marshall (TV’s “Young Justice”) as Hera, Steve Blum (“The Boxtrolls”) as Zeb, Tiya Sircar (“The Internship”) as Sabine, Taylor Gray (TV’s “Bucket and Skinner’s Epic Adventures”) as Ezra, Ashley Eckstein (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”) as Ahsoka Tano, Dee Bradley Baker (“Phineas and Ferb”) as Captain Rex and EVERY clones (that’s right EVERY CLONE), David Oyelowo (“The Butler”) as Agent Kallus and Sarah Michelle Gellar (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer”) as The Seventh Sister Inquisitor.

The 1080p transfers looks good with the animation and colors perfectly for the TV series. My main issue with the presentation is the audio tracks. I am very disappointed that Disney only is giving us DVD-quality Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks for these episodes. This really feels like a mistake and a real missed opportunity. The special features are decent and worth checking out if you enjoyed the season and looking for some fun extras. “From Apprentice to Adversary: Vader vs. Ahsoka” is an exclusive to Blu-ray extra with Executive Producer Dave Filoni reflecting on the climactic ending of the season with Ahsoka Tano and Darth Vader. “Connecting the Galaxy: Rebels Season Two” looks into easter eggs and other Star Wars connections from the show. Lastly “Rebel Recons” features 20 episode recons with behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with cast and crew, and more!

Actors: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o
Directors: Jon Favreau
Rated: PG
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: August 30, 2016
Run Time: 106 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I have to admit right off that I didn’t love this film. Before you jump, the visuals were amazing and at times it was almost difficult to see the line between real and CGI with the characters but I wasn’t grabbed in. I have the fonded appreciation for director Jon Favreau and his work. He updated this 50+ year old film with some outstanding technology but overall, the film feels too dark for me and doesn’t have that cheer of the original.
The voice cast is extremely strong here including Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Bill Murray, Christopher Walken, Scarlet Johansson, Lupita Nyong’o, Garry Shandling and Giancarlo Esposito. These are some A-list names here and they all do a great job especially with Murray and Walken singing there respective tunes. So once again, I didn’t love this film but I did like it. I just was hoping to leave with more of a smile.

Official Premise: Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”), based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, “The Jungle Book” is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera (voice of Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (voice of Bill Murray). Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (voice of Scarlett Johansson), a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (voice of Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire.

Despite my opinions on the film itself, the Blu-ray is nearly perfect. Since the visuals in the film are so outstanding it is only expected that the 1080p transfer would deliver it perfectly. From the CG characters to the landscapes there is so much detail through this film. From the water to the hair on the characters, it is all beautiful done and shows up amazing on Blu-ray. I would be curious to see how this looks on 3D Blu-ray. The same goes for the film’s DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 which delivers a wonderful experience with from the subtlest sounds to the massive battles. Kudos to John Debney’s score for delivering a very well-rounded score.

“The Jungle Book” doesn’t come jam-packed with extras but there is a solid making-of extra, two featurettes, and an audio commentary from director Favreau. Also a DVD copy of the film and a Digital HD code are included. The commentary track is very insightful. Favreau goes into depth on the production and delivers a highly recommended track, I appreciated the film a little more after listening to this track. “The Jungle Book Reimagined” runs just over 30 minutes and looks into the making-of the film from the visual effects to the voice casting etc. Lastly there are two quick featurettes included. The first is “I Am Mowgli” which focuses on casting Neel Sethi and the second is “King Louie’s Temple: Layer by Layer”, which break down the film’s key scene.

Starring: Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne and Angeline Ball
Directed by: Alan Parker
Number of discs: 1
Rating: R
Studio: RLJ Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 30, 2016
Run Time: 118 mins

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

Can it really be 25 years since that rowdy group of musicians from Dublin, Ireland that called themselves The Commitments first burst upon the scene? Sadly (for me anyway) yes it has.

The film tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte (Arkins), a young man who longs to be a successful music manager. Check that. Jimmy wants to be the next Brian Epstein. He’s had some hits and misses but he’s set his sights on putting together the greatest soul band ever created. He holds auditions at his home, asking each aspiring performer what their musical influences are. Rest assured, the ones that answer “Barry Manilow” or even Ireland’s own U2 do not get invited in. Eventually he puts together a band that was, to quote “Duck” Dunn in “The Blues Brothers,” “powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.”

Of course, as things begin to go well for the group they also go bad. Infighting, bruised egos and the fact they aren’t making money begins to get to everyone. Finally, they book a major gig and are told that Wilson Pickett, who is currently touring Ireland, will join them on stage. But can the group stay together for that crucial show?

Directed by the great Alan Parker, who surely knows his way around music having directed “Fame,” “Pink Floyd The Wall” and “Evita” among other films, “The Commitments” is full of young musicians with both talent and drive. The only familiar face in the cast is Colm Meaney, who plays Jimmy’s father, an Elvis man true and true. Music fans may also recognize Glen Hansard who, in 2008, co-wrote the Academy Award winning Best Song “Falling Slowly” from the film “ONCE.” In 2012 he co-wrote the words and music for the Broadway musical version of “ONCE,” which won the Tony Award that year for Best Musical. Ironically, Hansard was not nominated for his musical score. “The Commitments” earned an Oscar nomination for Best Editing and swept the BAFTA’s, winning four awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

The extras on the disc are also pretty impressive and include a commentary by director Parker and a look back with the cast. What amazed me the most was that Andrew Strong, who plays the groups lead singer, was only 16 years old when cast.

If it’s been 25 years since you saw “The Commitments,” I urge you to see it again. If you haven’t seen it yet….what are you waiting for?

Actors: Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, Pedro Pascal, Luis Guzmán, Bruno Bichir
Directors: Andrés Baiz, Fernando Coimbra, Guillermo Navarro, José Padilha
Number of discs: 3
Rating: TV-MA
Studio: LIONSGATE
DVD Release Date: August 23, 2016
Run Time: 352 minutes

Season: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have Netflix but I never checked out this Pablo Escobar drug cartel drama. I received this Blu-ray and figure out I give it a chance and I am glad I did. The show is extremely engaging and locks you in from the very first episode. Wagner Moura (“Elysium”) really nails the role of the legendary Escoba. As does the supporting cast, Boyd Holbrook (Gone Girl), Pedro Pascal (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), Luis Guzmán (TV’s “Code Black”), Bruno Bichir (TV’s “The Bridge”), and Ana de la Reguera (TV’s “Jane The Virgin”). I am now looking forward to the second season on Netflix.

Official Premise: Narcos: Season One, produced by Gaumont Television, stars Wagner Moura (Elysium) in a Golden Globe-nominated performance as the legendary Escobar, following him as he attempts to evade the two DEA agents that brought the famed Medellín Cartel to its knees. With electrifying performances and action sequences charged with heart-pounding suspense, this Golden Globe-nominated series follows the true-life story of the rise of international cocaine cartels — and the battle waged by law enforcement to stop them. At the center of the conflict are Pablo Escobar (Moura), the notorious Colombian drug kingpin, and the two DEA agents sent to take him down: Steve Murphy (Holbrook) and Javier Peña (Pascal).

“Narcos: Season One” packs an impressive Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p transfer in 1.78:1 showcases the episodes extremely well. From the tropical rain forests to the cocaine processing labs, the locations are beautifully showcased and look amazing. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 also delivers a nice punch for each episode and sounds great.  Pedro Bromfman’s score wasn’t my favorite of the year but is works great with the show and sounds amazing with its surround materials.

There is one audio commentary on each of the three discs. The first is on the episode “Descenso with Actor Wagner Moura and Executive Producer/Director Jose Padilha. The second is on “Explosivos” with Executive Producer Chris Brancato. The last one is  on “Despegue” with Executive Producer Eric Newman and Director Andi Baiz. There are a few interesting featurettes included also. The first is “Establishing the Route” which focuses on the start of this series. “The Colombian Connection” dicusses shooting in Colombia. “The Language Barrier” focuses on challenges with making a bilingual show. Lastly there are some Deleted Scenes included.

Actors: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Susan Sullivan, Molly Quinn, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever
Number of discs: 5
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
DVD Release Date: August 23, 2016
Run Time: 946 minutes

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

I have been a hardcore “Castle” fan since the very first episode. It is really hard for me to close the book on this series with “The Complete Eight and Final Season”. I feel like this show still had a lot of great life in it. I loved EVERY SINGLE episode and the chemistry between the cast was like no other show I have ever seen. I also fee like even though this season gives the show a fitting ending, I still can’t believe that it is over. I have been a huge Nathan Fillion for years before this show and I can’t wait to see what he is going to do next (other than his upcoming role on “Modern Family”). At least we have these DVD releases to revisit the show forever! (Even though I would have preferred Blu-ray).

Official Premise: Their fiery love affair has kept your pulse pounding week after week for the past eight seasons. Now, the heartfelt final chapter of Rick Castle and Kate Beckett comes to an end as one of the most beloved couples in television history match wits with their ultimate rival in a fight that will define their future. The season begins with a bang as a call from a mysterious stranger puts Beckett on the run and sets off an explosive chain of events. The action heats up when Castle’s daughter, Alexis, joins her father to solve the case of a lifetime. Fresh faces and unforgettable characters from the past join the precinct in a year full of devastating twists and turns. It all leads to the stunning series finale that will keep you on the edge of your seat and close the book on the incredible story of Castle and Beckett.

The DVD includes a collection of special features. There are audio commentaries included on a few of this seasons episodes as well as bloopers and deleted scenes included. “The Great Escape” is a really fun feature that puts the whole cast of the show locked in a room and sets a ticking clock. They have to hone their skills that they have learned from working on the eight seasons of the show to solve mystery and escape! So fun and a great way to see the cast work together on a case on last time! Let’s hope that ABC will eventually release these on Blu-ray or at least a really cool box set collector’s edition.

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Actors: Bruce Campbell, Dana DeLorenzo, Ray Santiago, Lucy Lawless, Jill Marie Jones
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Release Date: August 23, 2016

Season: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I am one of the biggest “Evil Dead” franchise” fans. I have met Bruce Campbell and the cast of the three films in the franchise numerous times. I think I did a double back flip when I saw that we were getting a continuation in the franchise with this new series for Starz. The season is jam packed with enough amazing fanboy head explosion moments to satisfy any hardcore fan. A few of the episodes wonder a bit but overall I see an insane amount of future opportunities in this series and I have a feeling it will stick around for a long time! I am just happy that Ashley J. Williams is back and kicking Deadite ass! Can’t wait for season 2 this October!

The first season of “Ash vs Evil Dead” consists of 10 half-hour episodes and consists as a follow-up to the classic horror film franchise “The Evil Dead” The series is executive produced by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Bruce Campbell, the original filmmakers of the franchise, and Craig DiGregorio (“Chuck”), who serves as executive producer and showrunner. Other than Bruce, who is literally gold with every word he speaks, the supporting cast is great as well with Xena herself, Lucy Lawless, plays a very important role. Also up-and-comers Dana DeLorenzo, Ray Santiago show that they can kick some ass as well and work well with Bruce.

Official Series Premise: The series follows Ash, the stock boy, aging lothario and chainsaw-handed monster hunter who has spent the last 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead. When a Deadite plague threatens to destroy all of mankind, Ash is finally forced to face his demons –personal and literal. Destiny, it turns out, has no plans to release the unlikely hero from its “Evil” grip. The cast is led by Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams, Lucy Lawless as Ruby a mysterious figure who believes Ash is the cause of the Evil outbreaks, Ray Santiago as Pablo Simon Bolivar, an idealistic immigrant who becomes Ash’s loyal sidekick, Dana DeLorenzo as Kelly Maxwell, a moody wild child trying to outrun her past and Jill Marie Jones as Amanda Fisher, a disgraced Michigan State Trooper set to find our anti-hero Ash and prove his responsibility in the grisly murder of her partner.

Starz is a great place for this show because they are able to show the gritty shit that other network stations would be afraid to. The Blu-ray includes impressive 1080p transfers. The show is shot digitally and even though it doesn’t have that gritty feel we all love from the franchise films, it looks amazing. Topped only by the outstanding Dolby TrueHD 7.1 presentation for each episodes, which kicks ass with the intense soundtrack and awesome surround chainsaw-welding effects. I should also mention that the slipcover for this release is a sweet lenticular cover!

The first Blu-ray includes audio commentaries on all episodes from cast and creators with some additional extras included on disc two. Sadly, there are no DVD or digital versions of the show are included. I would have expected at least digital since Anchor Bay does include for their releases like “The Walking Dead”. The commentaries are fun and you can tell that the cast really enjoyed working together for this series. Other than the commentaries there are only three other features. The first is “Ash Inside the World” which gives skim details on each episode with behind the scenes details. “How to Kill a Deadite” features Bruce Campbell talking about the title feature. Lastly there is a compilation of Bruce Campbell’s best moments from this season in “Best of Ash”. Honestly expect a little more from these extras.

Actors: Andy Powers, Peter Stormare, Laura Allen, Elizabeth Witmere
Directors: Jon Watts
Rated: R
Studio: Anchor Bay Studios
Release Date: August 23, 2016
Run Time: 100 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Who isn’t scared of clowns?! They just strike fear into the hearts of everyone. “Clown” had a lot of potential but doesn’t achieve it fully. The idea is there for this to be really creepy and scary but it ends up being neither. The story doesn’t really flesh out and walk around a bit.   The film stars Laura Allen (“The 4400″), Andy Powers (“ER”, “Oz”), Peter Stormare (“Fargo”) and produced by Master of Horror Eli Roth (“Hostel”, “Cabin Fever”). Unfortunately, Stormare (whom I LOVE) pops in here and there and doesn’t do much. I’ve seen this twice and it doesn’t get any better to be honest, probably recommend skipping this and re-watching “Stephen King’s IT”.

Official Premise: The story of a loving father who dons a clown outfit and makeup to perform at his son’s sixth birthday, only to later discover that the costume – red nose and wig included– will not come off and his own personality changing in a horrific fashion. To break the curse of the evil outfit, the father must make grim choices with his own family facing danger.

The Blu-ray comes with a digital HD copy, which was a bit of a surprise honestly for a film like this. The 1080p transfer isn’t terrible but also doesn’t feel amazing either. The film feels really low-budget and not well shot, so I am not shocked. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is decent as well. I could have seen this film rocking much more with a sweet 80’s synth score or something like that. It would have really made the mood much better. There is only one special feature included here (besides the digital HD copy) called “Making ‘Clown’ Featuring Producer Eli Roth” and the title sums up the 6 minutes extra talking about the process of this coming from fan-made trailer to feature film.

Starring: Jonah Hill, Miles Teller and Bradley Cooper
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 59 mins
Warner Bros

Our Score: 4 out of 5 Stars

Who wants a little excitement in their lives? In 2005 the answer to that question was Efraim Deveroli (Hill) and David Packouz (Teller), former high school pals who reunite while attending a friend’s funeral. Via voiceover we learn that our government spends an average of $17,500 per soldier when outfitting them for war. War is recession proof. There are a lot of crazy gun nuts out there, but none as crazy as the U.S. Government. Someone needs to provide them…why not Efraim and David? Sounds pretty exciting, doesn’t it?

Thanks to some great performances, “War Dogs” rises above similar themed films (for some reason, I kept thinking back to 1983’s “Deal of the Century” as well as 2005’s “Lord of War”). Teller, who is best described as his generation’s John Cusack, gives David a sense of morality. Tired of giving massages to rich people on South Beach, he jumps at the chance to go into business with Efraim. And by the time he finds out HOW the business works, he’s made enough money to convince him that the chances he takes are worth it. On the other side of the spectrum is Hill, who has gone from comedy fanboy to multi-Oscar nominated actor. His performance here is strong, going from humorous to dramatic and back without seemingly breaking a sweat.

The supporting characters, including Bradley Cooper as an infamous gun runner and Ana de Armas as David’s love interest, also make the film enjoyable. Based on a true story, the action keeps the film flowing smoothly without becoming preachy. As one of the last films of the summer season, “War Dogs” is definitely one to watch before you end your summer vacation.

Starring the Voices of: Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson and Ralph Fiennes
Directed By: Travis Knight
Rated: PG
Running Time: 101 minutes
Focus Features

Our Score: 4 out of 5 Stars

Anymore, I’m shocked when I walk out of a movie after seeing something original. I was almost certain that “Kubo and the Two Strings” was based on a book or short story. I was sure that a movie utilizing origami, ancient traditions, and the mysticism of the Eastern world, was someone else’s idea come to life. Nope. The ambitious nature of the film is all its own and it’s amazing to see the animation studio, Laika, put so much faith behind it.

To say that “Kubo” is a kid’s movie or fun for the whole family would be a disservice. It seems more interested in a mature audience that fancies itself as fans of anime, late 70’s kung fu, or people who watch “Adventure Time”. So if anything, you could say it’s a very mature kid’s movie. It doesn’t have predictable silliness, but seems to find itself bordering on family friendly entertainment early on when we meet our hero, Kubo (Parkinson). He’s forbidden from staying out past dark by his near comatose mother.

Kubo spends his days going into town to make money by plucking the two strings on his shamisen (or guitar). Through his musical talents, he’s able to wield magic that puppets different origami creatures, while spinning tales that are inspired by his father, whom he’s never met. He fascinated with the journey of great samurai warrior, and the beasts and monsters they fight. Inevitably after one of his shows, he stays out past dark, invoking his evil twin aunts (voiced by Rooney Mara), sending him on his own perilous journey.

Kubo joins forces with a talking monkey voiced by Charlize Theron and a beetle warrior voiced by Matthew McConaughey. It took me a while to get on the same page as “Kubo” and a lot of that may be because I wasn’t sure what to expect. The movie’s marketing campaign made it feel like I was in for a Japanese rehash of “James and the Giant Peach”, but there’s a lot more depth and heart to “Kubo” than any Roald Dahl classic.

Without revealing too much, the heart and soul of this movie is about the family unit, forgiveness, memory and the damage jealousy can bring upon the human soul. It has some great lessons for kids, but its more heart felt for older audiences who have aging patriarchs and matriarchs at home. “Kubo” is a clash of youth and age, and how families handle the generational divide within their own families. “Kubo” does suffer from an identity crisis, having to balance audience expectations and preventing its mature script from tripping into low-brow kid’s movie pitfalls. I’m sure “Kubo” will get better with age.

The digital stop-motion animation in “Kubo” is next level. A good chunk of scenes are on the same level as most stop-motion movies, but other scenes are breathtaking and groundbreaking. I’m no animator, but I’m sure most out there will have to give pause and wonder how “Kubo” accomplishes many of it’s visual feats. There’s so much for your eyes to feast on, at times the story becomes second nature to everything happening on screen, like a scene where a sailboat made up of Autumn leaves crashes through the waves of a lake during a robust lightning storm.

“Kubo” is clearly a passion project, with a dedicated team behind the camera. It hits deep within the heart for those looking for meaning, but lacks the right amount of force to really do some emotional damage once it’s driven into your soul. There’s a lot of themes, some blatant, some yet undiscovered on my first viewing. “Kubo” will surely be keeping Disney and Pixar on the edge of their seat come award season. Laika Studios is proving to be a worthy adversary and showing that stop-motion can be just as colorfully lively, emotionally heartbreaking and creatively inspiring, than a lost fish in the sea or what your pets do while you’re at work.