Blu-ray Review “Train to Busan”

Starring: Yoo Gong, Ma Dong-Suk, Yu-mi Jeong, Woo-sik Choi, Sohee, Soo-an Kim
Director: Sang-ho Yeon
Distributed by: Well Go USA
Running Time: 118 min
Release Date: Jan 17, 2017

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

I came across the film, “Train to Busan”, purely by accident and I am really glad I did. This is literally one of the best zombie films I have seen in a long time! It is action packed and really well done. It does run a little long and could have been cut down a bit for pacing but otherwise, I thought this film was a wild ride. If you are looking for something to fill your “Walking Dead” void while it is on hiatus, definitely check this film out!

Official Premise: A mysterious viral outbreak pushes Korea into a state of emergency. The government declares martial law just as divorced Seok-woo and his daughter catch the KTX bullet train from Seoul to Busan to see her mother. But someone on the journey has been recently infected sending the hurtling carriages into complete chaos. As the living dead transform the voyage into a nightmare excursion, father and daughter and a small group of uninfected passengers must fight for survival. Get on board to stay alive!

Well Go USA is behind this release, so this Blu-ray does not come as a combo pack or include a digital HD copy. I would love to see this company get behind digital format and include it with their Blu-rays. It will be available on Ultraviolet, I am sure when it is released so why not throw in a code as an incentive. The 1080p transfer works for the scope of the film, which at times get very epic. The DTS-HD Master Audio track also works well with the action. the track is Korean with English subtitles. There are only two special features included, which are two generic “Behind the Scenes” looks into the production as well as “That’s A Wrap”.

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Blu-ray Review “31”

Actors: Malcolm McDowell, Elizabeth Daily, Meg Foster, Sheri Moon Zombie, Daniel Roebuck, Judy Geeson
Director: Rob Zombie
Rated: R
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: December 20, 2016
Run Time: 103 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of stars

I have been following this project from very closely from before it was even filmed and even got daily updates from Rob Zombie himself during production. I had REALLY high expectations for this film but was honestly let down quite a bit. I am a huge fan of Rob Zombie’s previous films “House of 1000 Corpses”, “The Devil’s Rejects” and even “The Lords of Salem”. This film just felt kinda bland and didn’t really draw me in. I got the whole plot idea and it is cool but it felt like it needed something more, like a hook to snag you. If you enjoy Zombie’s previous work you may did this but other than that audience, I do not see this crossing over or pulling in a cult following anytime soon.

Official Premise: From the visionary mind of the man who brought us House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects and Halloween comes the horrific story of five carnival workers who are kidnapped the night before Halloween and held hostage in a large compound. At the mercy of their captors, they are forced to play a twisted game or life or death called 31. For the next 12 hours they must fight for their lives against an endless parade of homicidal maniacs.

Lionsgate Films delivered this film to Blu-ray as a combo pack with a Digital HD copy. The 1080p transfer presented with an aspect ratio of 2.40:1. I love the way that Rob Zombie shoots his films, he has a very unique perspective in his films and I really enjoy it. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track worked well but honestly, I wasn’t a huge fan of the score and music used in this film as I have been in the past especially speaking of “The Devil’s Rejects”. In terms of special features, there are only two extras but they are spot on and worth checking out. Rob Zombie gives a great audio commentary track. “In Hell Everyone Loves Popcorn: The Making of 31” is an insane two plus hour in depth set of featurettes that follows the entire production, so if you enjoyed the film this is a must watch.

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Blu-ray Review “Blair Witch”

Actors: James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez, Brandon Scott, Valorie Curry, Corbin Reid
Directors: Adam Wingard
Rated: R
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Run Time: 89 minutes

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

“Blair Witch” was previously known as “The Woods”. This movie was a big surprised when it was revealed as the long awaited third “Blair Witch” film. Right away the haters came out for this film without even seeing it and trashed it, which is not fair because this film is an awesome and honestly quite terrifying follow up to the original film. I loved everything about it. I would have liked some more questions answered but I am sure it was saved for another film. Unfortunately, due to the power of trolls and the internet, I doubt that will be happening now. Either way, if you feel like being open minded this is a rad flick and had me biting my nails and sitting on the edge of my chair.

Official Premise: A group of college students venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to uncover the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of their friend’s sister, who many believe is connected to the legend of the Blair Witch. At first the group is hopeful, especially when a pair of locals offer to act as guides through the dark and winding woods, but as the endless night wears on, the group is visited by a menacing presence. Slowly, they begin to realize the legend is all too real and more sinister than they could have imagined.

Lionsgate Film is delivering this film in a combo pack including a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD copy. The films 1080p transfer is solid enough but remember it is hand shot by the actors not winning any cinematography awards. The sound though is a huge winner delivering an epic Dolby Atmos (which at base is Dolby TrueHD 7.1), which creeped the hell of out me. Especially since this film relies on subtle sounds to scare you. Very effective track!

The special features are jam-packed! There is a fantastic audio commentary track with horror duo Director Adam Wingard and Writer Simon Barrett. Love this one. “Never Ending Night: The Making of Blair Witch” is an epic 6-part documentary that is a must watch for anyone who enjoyed the film! There is focus on the story origin, the cast, shooting style, editing as well as music and sound design. Lastly there is a featurette “House of Horrors: Exploring the Set”, which gives some cool insight into how they came up the house.

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Blu-ray Review “American Honey”

Starring: Sasha Lane, Shia LaBeouf, Arielle Holmes, Riley Keough, Will Patton
Director: Andrea Arnold
Rated: R
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: December 27, 2016
Run Time: 162 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars

I heard a little bit of hype around this film and then poof! Nothing. This film disappeared from everywhere, showing up on Blu-ray this month out of the blue. Honestly, Shia LaBeouf was such a promising actor and seemingly threw it all away. I was willing to check out this flick and give him another chance. I have to admit performance wise, this is not a bad one for him and I hope he gets back into the spotlight. Sasha Lane, though, is one to keep an eye out. I have a feeling that we will be hearing a lot more from her in the future. Unfortunately, the film itself is just barely watchable due to lack of cohesive story and ridiculously long running time.

Official Premise: An astonishing portrait of youth on the American fringe, American Honey is told through the eyes of a vivacious teenage rebel who joins a group of fellow misfits hustling and partying their way across the country. Bursting with electric, primal energy, American Honey is an immersive, exhilarating odyssey of heartbreaking beauty — a generation-defining film that celebrates the defiant resilience of youth in pursuit of the American Dream.

Liongate Films delivered this film on Blu-ray as a combo pack with a Digital HD copy. The 1080p transfer is presented with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. This film was definitely shot with a big ole ode to the videophiles out there. It is extremely arty and specifically shot. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is interesting and doesn’t disappoint but didn’t really grab me either. If the film wasn’t worse enough, the special features on this Blu-ray are even more disappointing. “Sasha Lane and Riley Keough on American Honey” is the only extra which includes interviews with the actresses.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”

Actors: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Ella Purnell, Judi Dench, Allison Janney
Director: Tim Burton
Rated: PG-13
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: December 13, 2016
Run Time: 127 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I am a huge life long fan of director Tim Burton…but I have to admit his last one or two films have not done it for me. “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” feels like a cheap family friendly version of “X-Men: First Class” and plays way to long. I found myself not caring about the characters at all. I hated the villains Samuel L. Jackson was a joke and was completely wrong for the role. I found myself consistently bored watching this and couldn’t wait for it to be over. So not Burton’s finest for sure but I am still sticking around for what he has planned next.

Official Premise: When Jake discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies. Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is releasing this film as sa combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD copy. The 1080p transfer presented with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 looks sharp here. I first saw this film in 3D and it had no reason to be in 3D at all and was a complete waste, so the standard Blu-ray is much better way to view. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track is really nice but I still wasn’t in love with the score as a I have been with previous Burton films.

The special features are not loaded solid but they are decent and worth checking out. “The Peculiar Story” is a solid featurette with interviews with Ransom Riggs, who discusses the film. “The Peculiars” runs over an hour long and is packed with interviews and information on the film. “Hollows and Ex-Hollows” showcases the baddies inthe film. “Map of Days” focuses on the time loop aspect of the film. Lastly there is a music video for “Wish That You Were Here” from Florence + The Machine and a photo gallery included.

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Blu-ray Review “Morgan”

Starring: Rose Leslie, Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy, Paul Giamatti, Boyd Holbrook, Toby Jones
Director: Luke Scott
Rated: R
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: December 13, 2016
Run Time: 92 minutes

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

“Morgan” is a film that probably seemed better on paper. It has a talented cast for sure but is just poorly executed. This film marks, Ridley Scott’s son Luke’s, first time directing. Kate Mara, and Paul Giamatti feel lost here honestly. The story is rather bland and not as interesting as it would be. Plus it seems to steal too much from films like “Ex Machina” and “Species”.

Official Premise: Inside a remote, top-secret lab, a group of scientists are working on an experiment that is leading the way for the next steps in human evolution. But when the experiment’s subject – a genetically designed “human” (Anya Taylor-Joy) – triggers a terrifying event, those involved must decide if the promise of infinite potential outweighs the incalculable danger.

Fox is delivering this as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD included. Slipcover as well, housing the set. The 1080p transfer in 2.39:1 looks solid and works with the sci-fi aspect. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 does the job for sure and sounds great doing it. The special features are light but the short film “Loom” is honestly awesome and wish it would have transferred better to feature.

The first extra included is “Modified Organism: The Science Behind Morgan”, which runs about 20 minutes and dives into the scientific side of the films concepts. There are a few deleted scenes included with optional commentary by Luke Scott, who also gives in a gives us an audio commentary track. The short film “Loom”, like I mentioned about is a kick-ass intro to this. Lastly there is a gallery and trailers included.

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GHOST IN THE SHELL Limited Steelbook Packaging with Exclusive Mondo artwork coming to Blu-ray + Digital HD March 14, 2017

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – (December 13, 2016) The groundbreaking anime film Ghost in the Shellarrives on Blu-ray™ + Digital HD with limited-edition Mondo key art in collectible Steelbook packaging from Anchor Bay Entertainment on March 14, 2017. The groundbreaking anime celebrated the 25thanniversary of the original Manga in 2014. Directed by legendary anime director Mamoru Oshii, Ghost in the Shell questions human existence in the fast-paced world of the information age, this award-winning, cyber-tech thriller has established itself as one of the leading Japanese animation films of all time.

A female cybernetic government agent, Major Motoko Kusanagi, and the Internal Bureau of Investigations are hot on the trail of “The Puppet Master,” a mysterious and threatening computer virus capable of infiltrating human hosts. Together, with her fellow agents from Section 9, they embark on a high-tech race against time to capture the omnipresent entity.  Ghost in the Shell took the world by storm in the mid-90’s, exhibiting a new dimension of anime with unprecedented, mesmerizing cinematic expression. Seamlessly merging traditional animation with the latest computer graphic imagery, this stunning sci-fi spectacle challenged the boundaries of mainstream animation with detailed artistic expression and a uniquely intelligent story line. Veteran director Mamoru Oshii skillfully creates the ultimate anime experience in this futuristic masterpiece based on the groundbreaking comic book by Masamune Shirow.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Season 1 and Season 2 previously only available on DVD will be arriving on Blu-ray™ for the first time on February 21, 2017. Ghost in the Shell  will be available on Blu-ray™  from Anchor Bay Entertainment on March 14, 2017 for the suggested retail price of $34.99.

To learn more about the film, please visit www.anchorbayentertainment.com.

ABOUT ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT
Anchor Bay Entertainment, a Lionsgate company, is a leading independent home entertainment company that acquires and releases a wide array of theatrical and home entertainment content, including STARZ Original series, children’s programming, fitness (Anchor Bay Fitness), sports and specialty films on Blu-ray™ and DVD formats. The company has long-term distribution agreements in place for select programming with The Weinstein Company, AMC Networks and RADiUS, among others.

GHOST IN THE SHELL Blu-ray™ + Digital HD
Street Date: March 14, 2017
Pre-book: February 8, 2017
Catalog #: BD64909
UPC: 013132649092
Run Time: 82 Minutes
Rating: Not Rated
SRP: $34.99
Format: English: Dolby 5.1 DTS-HD
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1:78:1g
Audio: Subtitles: English, Japanese

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Blu-ray Review “End of a Gun”

Actors: Steven Seagal, Florin Piersic Jr., Jacob Grodnik, Jonathan Rosenthal, Radu Andrei Micu
Directors: Keoni Waxman
Rated: R
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: December 13, 2016
Run Time: 93 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 0 out of 5 stars

“End of a Gun” is the latest direct-to-Blu-ray dump from Steven Seagal. I can’t believe how many cheap action movies, this guy puts out every year. I swear that this is the 4th or 5th one just in 2016. Not sure how he does it but the guy keeps busy. Not the worst little action film. Low budget, nothing special but I do have a soft spot for Mr. Seagal. Keep them coming man!

Official Premise: An ex-DEA agent’s life takes an unexpected turn when he comes to the rescue of a seductive woman and finds himself entangled in a bloody game of cat and mouse with a maniacal drug lord after going on the run with her…and $2 million worth of drug money.

Lionsgate is releasing this Blu-ray with a Digital HD copy included of the film. And if you are looking for any other special features, there are none. Nothing at all, which is not surprising due to the quality of the film itself. Seems like a “we don’t care just throw Seagal on the cover and it will sell” attitude here.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Jason Bourne”

Actors: Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel, Julia Stiles
Directors: Paul Greengrass
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 6, 2016
Run Time: 123 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

My issue with the “Bourne” franchise is that ALL the films just feel exactly the same. I can’t tell you a difference between any of the films. Universal realized they failed without Damon with “The Bourne Legacy”, so they brought him back but its just not enough to make this film memorable. Now that I have seen it and let it settle I still can’t tell you the difference between the other three films (with Damon). Either way, it made money, so I am sure… coming soon: Bourne 6.

Official Premise: Matt Damon returns to his most iconic role in Jason Bourne. Paul Greengrass, the director of The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, once again joins Damon for the next chapter of Universal Pictures’ Bourne franchise, which finds the CIA’s most lethal operative drawn out of the shadows.

“Jason Bourne” Blu-ray comes equipped with a DVD and also a UV/iTunes digital copy. The 1080p transfer looks great, no complaints really at all. Dark scenes are also shot well. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 sounds amazing with the action packed score and sequences. So U/V doesn’t let down. The special features though are not as impressive.

There are really one three (multi-part) featurettes included on this Blu-ray. The first “Bringing Back Bourne” features cast/crew discussing on bringing back Damon and Greengrass to the series. There is a three part feature “Bourne to Fight”, which focuses on the action/choreography. Last extra is a two parter “Las Vegas Showdown” focusing on showing in the sin city….and that’s all folks.

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Blu-ray Review “Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Second Season”

Actors: Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam Carey
Number of discs: 5
Rated: Not Rated
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: December 13, 2016
Run Time: 648 minutes

Season: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Man I tried, I tried! I really hated the first season of “Fear the Walking Dead”. It just felt so unnecessary and I did not like anyone from the cast at all as characters and actors. I said I wasn’t going to watch the second season of this show at all…but I gave in. The second season is a little bit better mostly because it expands from the original 6 episode order but I still found myself cursing the cast and just not enjoying the series at all. If you are obsessed with all things “The Walking Dead”, I am sure you will enjoy but I will pass on this series.

Official Premise: Last season, ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ explored a blended family who watched a burning, dead city as they traversed a devastated Los Angeles. In Season 2, the group aboard the Abigail is unaware of the true breadth and depth of the apocalypse that surrounds them; they assume there is still a chance that some city, state, or nation might be unaffected some place that the Infection has not reached. But as Operation Cobalt goes into full effect, the military bombs the Southland to cleanse it of the Infected, driving the Dead toward the sea. As Madison, Travis, Daniel, and their grieving families head for ports unknown, they will discover that the water may be no safer than land.

“Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Second Season” Blu-ray comes with a Digital HD of the season as well. The special features are decent and worth visiting IF and only if you like the show. There are a bunch of audio commentaries included with cast/crew. watched through the commercials included are the “Flight 462” webisodes. There is the Q&A with Cast and Creative Team from Paley Fest LA 2016. Lastly there are two featurettes going behind-the-scenes “Inside Fear the Walking Dead” and “The Making of Fear the Walking Dead”. Some decent content there but this show still doesn’t do it for me.

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Blu-ray Review “Don’t Breathe”

Actors: Dylan Minnette, Jane Levy, Stephen Lang, Daniel Zovatto
Directors: Fede Alvarez
Rated: R
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 29, 2016

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

I had really solid expectations for the film “Don’t Breathe”. The director Fede Alvarez blew me away with his remake of “Evil Dead” and because a director to watch out for. This film is definitely creative and shows off his style but overall, I got bored really quick with this one. The pay off/twist for me didn’t wow me either. I thought it was very stretched out and after a while I found mind wandering waiting for something new to happen. Stephen Lang was definitely a force to be reckoned with and shows off his amazing acting chops again but he wasn’t enough to save this movie for me.

Official Premise: “Don’t Breathe” follows a group of thieves who break into a blind man’s home thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime. When the blind man reveals a dark side, the trio quickly discovers they were dead wrong. Stars Jane Levy (Evil Dead), Dylan Minnette (Goosebumps), Daniel Zovatto (It Follows) and Stephen Lang (Avatar).

The Blu-ray of Don’t Breathe comes with a solid 1080p which works well since most of the film is quite dark. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track works with the suspense scenes. The special features are decent, especially the audio commentary with Director Fede Alvarez, Co-Writer Rodo Sayagues and Actor Stephen Lang. I enjoy this actually cause it has great insight. They had some deleted scenes includes along with the director’s commentary, which I feel like some of these could have worked well in the film. Lastly there are five short featurettes looking at the behind-the-scenes with cast/crew.

 

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Blu-ray 3D/4K Ultra HD Review “The Secret Life of Pets”

Actors: Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate, Ellie Kemper
Directors: Chris Renaud
Rated: PG
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 6, 2016
Run Time: 91 minutes

Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 5 out of 5 stars
3D: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

From the moment I saw the first teaser for “The Secret Life of Pets“, I knew that Illumination Entertainment had another hit on there hands. The characters are amazing and the film is filled with laughs from beginning to end. It has jokes for kids and parents as well. In fact, my family (no lie) quote this film AT LEAST once a day since the first time that we have seen it. It packs a really solid voice cast including Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart and many others. I hope that they have some sort of plans to follow up with this series because they really have a winner here! Can’t wait to see what Illumination, home of the Minions, does next!

Official Premise: Comedy superstars Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, and Kevin Hart make their animated feature-film debut that finally answers the question: what do your pets do when you’re not home? When their owners leave for the day, pets from the building gossip with their friends, satisfy their sweet tooths, and throw outrageous parties. But when a pampered terrier (C.K.) and his unruly new “roommate” from the pound (Stonestreet) get lost in the urban jungle of New York City, they must put aside their differences to survive the epic journey back home.

Universal released this film in in various formats i.e. Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and 4K Ultra HD. The animation and colors are so vivid and vibrant and this film looks extraordinary with it’s 4K transfer. I was blown away with this presentation. The 3D presentation on this film was also top notch. As we are whizzing through the streets of New York as well as close up encounters with fellow characters like Viper, the effects are spot on! If you can watch this film in either of those formats, I highly recommend it for sure! The audio tracks also are epic with a revolutionary Dolby Atmos track as well as wall shaking Dolby TrueHD 7.1. Universal delivered for sure with A/V presentation here for sure!

The special features are all short and sweet and worth checking out if you enjoyed this flick. Kids can enjoy as well. There are three mini-movies included. One we saw before the film in theaters “Minion Mowers”, which is hysterical. There are also two new ones set within the world of “The Secret Life of Pets”. First is NormanTV, which features the gerbil from the film crawling through the buildings vents. The last one is an animated musical tale of the hot dog brand that Max and Duke end up at. These are a great addition to the film itself and are also available if the film is redeem digitally as well, so that’s a nice bonus.

Next up, we have “The Humans That Brought You Pets” which feature interviews with Producers Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, Directors Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud, and Writer Brian Lynch. “Animals Can Talk: Meet the Actors” are speed chats with the cast talking about their roles. “All About the Pets” features cast joking on set with animal trainer Molly O’Neill. “Hairstylist to the Dogs” features Duke’s voice actor Eric Stonestreet talking grooming with Stylist Jess Rona. “How to Make an Animated film” and “Anatomy of a Scene” go behind-the-scenes. Lastly there is a nice collection of “The Best of Snowball” and some sing-alongs and trailers.

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Blu-ray Review “The BFG”

Actors: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall
Directors: Steven Spielberg
Rated: PG
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: November 29, 2016
Run Time: 118 minutes

Film: 1 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

Urgh, “The BFG”. I have been dreading watching this film since I saw the especially awful trailers. Before any of that I was quite excited I figured that Spielberg could have some fun with adapting Roald Dahl’s The BFG but it was just a failure from then on out. The visual effects are good but I really just was bored with it at the same time. I feel like so much more could have been done with this except it was just bland and full of missed opportunities. Filled with not funny fart jokes throughout (and trust me I usually fall hard for a good fart joke) but this was a complete failure in my book.

Official Premise: “The BFG” unites the talents of three of the world’s greatest storytellers – Roald Dahl, Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg – to bring to life the classic tale of a courageous little girl named Sophie (newcomer Ruby Barnhill) and a gentle and charming Big Friendly Giant (Oscar-winner Mark Rylance) who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country.

“The BFG” is a big flop of visual effects. They are transferred well though on Blu-ray. The 1080p transfer does give the visual effects some justice, even though boring. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 works well with the films score and action sequences. The special features are rather bland like the film. There is only one that stands out amongst the rest. “Bringing The BFG to Life” runs just under 30 minutes and feature cast/crew discussing all aspects of the feature behind-the-scenes.

“The Big Friendly Giant and Me” is a super short animated version of the film in a nut shell. “Gobblefunk: The Wonderful Words of the BFG” goes into the giant’s very strange language and use of words created by Dahl. “Giants 101” is a casting feature for the nine giants in the film. Lastly “Melissa Mathieson: A Tribute” is a feature in memory of the late screenwriter. There is a DVD included along with the Blu-ray as well as a Disney digital copy to round out this release.

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Blu-ray Review “The Hollars”

Actors: Anna Kendrick, John Krasinski, Richard Jenkins, Margo Martindale, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Directors: John Krasinski
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 6, 2016
Run Time: 88 minutes

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

I literally had no idea what “The Hollars” was before watching it. It was a movie that got rather swept under the carpet, but it deserves some praise for sure. I would go as far as even saying that I loved this flick. The acting from Anna Kendrick, John Krasinski, Richard Jenkins and especially Margo Martindale was literally award worthy. I found myself sniffing out of control. The drama was very real and it just really won me over. This is usually not a film that I would ever watch but with the talent attached to it, I was intrigued to give it a try…and I was not let down. PLEASE watch this movie just make sure to have some tissues handy.

Official Premise: A struggling NYC artist, John Hollar (John Krasinski), is forced to return to the small, middle-American town he left behind after learning about his mother’s illness. Back in the house he grew up in, John is immediately swept up in the problems of his dysfunctional family, high school rival and an over-eager ex-girlfriend as he faces impending fatherhood with his NYC girlfriend (Academy Award Nominee Anna Kendrick, 2009, Best Supporting Actress, Up in the Air). John Krasinski’s second feature as a director is a poignant look at the bonds of family and friendship.

There are some decent special features included. I particularly loved the audio commentary track that features both John Krasinski and Margo Martindale. Simply love both of them! There are two features included. The first is “The Family Trust: Inside The Hollars” and second is “Persistent Vision: Margo Martindale”, both features cast/crew talking behind-the-scenes about the project. Lastly there is the LA Film Festival Q&A featuring Anna Kendrick, John Krasinski and Margo Martindale.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, hollars, review

Blu-ray Review “War Dogs”

Actors: Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas
Directors: Todd Phillips
Studio: Warner Brothers
DVD Release Date: November 22, 2016
Run Time: 120 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

This film had such potential going in. The director of “The Hangover” mixed with great talent of Jonah Hill and Miles Teller, but it didn’t really all come together well. I enjoyed it but I don’t see myself remembering this film after a few months. I do love Jonah Hill and Miles Teller together though, they seem to work very well. Worth a rent if your bored and can’t find anything else to watch just for the cast.

Official Premise: With the war in Iraq raging on, Efraim Diveroli offers childhood friend David Packouz a chance to make big bucks by becoming an international arms dealer. Together, they exploit a government initiative that allows businesses to bid on U.S. military contracts. Starting small allows the duo to rake in money and live the high life. They soon find themselves in over their heads after landing a $300 million deal to supply Afghan forces, a deal that puts them in business with some very shady people.

The Blu-ray also includes a digital HD copy of the film. The special features are much more of a disappointment than the film. There are three short featurettes. The film “General Phillips: Boots on the Ground” is an extended EPK with cast/director. “Access Granted” includes interviews with actual people that the film was based on. Lastly “Pentagon Pie” is a super short animated look at the film…but with singing rats…a little lost with this one.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, dogs, review, war
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