Blu-ray Review “Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings”

Starring: Andrew Robinson, Ami Dolenz, Soleil Moon Frye, J. Trevor Edmond, Hill Harper, Alexander Polinsky
Director: Jeff Burr
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: November 18, 2014
Run Time: 86 minutes

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

With what the legendary Stan Winston created with “Pumpkinhead”, that gold is continued with “Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings”. This film is a great follow up to the original. It also has a great cast including Amy Dolenz (“Witchboard 2”, “Ticks”), Andrew Robinson (“Hellraiser”), Soleil Moon Frye (‘Punky Brewster”), Hill Harper (“CSI: NY”), J. Trevor Edmond (“Lord of Illusions”), Linnea Quigley (“Return of the Living Dead”) and Kane Hodder (“Hatchet”). Scream Factory also released the first “Pumpkinhead” on Blu-ray a few months ago. Let’s hope they stop at this sequel and leave the next two sequels in obvilion where they belong. This film has non-stop gore and great practical effects. A most for any horror fan.

Official Premise: When five teenagers unwittingly resurrect a demon, nobody is safe from the hideous creature’s gruesome rampage. But this monster is different – inside it dwells the soul of a boy murdered years ago. Can the evil beast be destroyed…without killing the innocent boy trapped within?

Scream Factory delivered “Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings” with a solid 1080p transfer. The film looks great and shines with the films creature effects. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 also delivers with the action and epic score. The special features are good but nothing amazing. There is featurette called “Re-Creating The Beast”, which features new interviews with special effects artists Greg Nicotero, Gino Crognale and actor Mark McCraken (Pumpkinhead). There is also “Making Movies”, which is an interview with director Jeff Burr. The special features were all suppose to include a new audio Commentary with director Jeff Burr and some Behind-the-scenes footage but that is nowhere to be found.

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Blu-ray Review “Mercenaries”

Starring: Zoë Bell, Vivica A. Fox, Kristanna Loken, Brigitte Nielsen, Cynthia Rothrock, Nicole Bilderback, Tim Abell
Director: Christopher Ray
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Asylum
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Run Time: 90 minutes

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

Just from a look at the box, you can safely assume that “Mercenaries” is a low-budget (very low) female -lead rip-off of the testosterone filed “The Expendables” series. Well you are definitely right…but here is the thing, I really don’t care. Even though it has a terrible script and D-list cast…this is a fun flick. It knows it shouldn’t be taken seriously and you shouldn’t either. Good for a few laughs.

The cast includes Zoë Bell, Vivica A. Fox, Brigitte Nielsen and Kristanna Loken and I have to admit, they are quite bad-ass together. Like I said the acting is ahhhh, so-so and I am not 100% convinced that Brigitte Nielsen belong with this cast of all women but good for that I expected. I heard rumors of Zoë Bell getting involved with “The Expendabellas” but after this I am sure that is out of the question.

Not that the plot matters at all for a film like this but in case you are curious…here it is the official premise: “When a visiting dignitary is captured and imprisoned while touring a war zone, a team of elite female commandos is assembled to infiltrate the women’s prison and rescue her.” Sounds epic right? Well, don’t forget this is low budget, so it’s not as cool as it sounds but still fun.

The 1080p transfer looks decent expect for the cheesy visual effects that don’t do it justice. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 delivers with the action though and the fun score. The special features are typical for an Asylum release. There is a short behind the scenes, making of and a gag reel included.

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Blu-ray Review “Shock Waves”

Actors: Peter Cushing, Brooke Adams, John Carradine
Directors: Ken Wiederhorn
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Blue Underground
Release Date: November 25, 2014
Run Time: 85 minutes

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

I remember the first time that I saw the VHS box to “Shock Waves” at the loyal mom and pop video store. I mean what young boy can put down a box with the words Nazi zombies?! This cult classic is is making’s its Blu-ray debut thanks to Blue Underground. This film still holds up and is quite fun. The film stars Peter Cushing (The Curse of Frankenstein), Brooke Adams (The Dead Zone) and John Carradine (The Howling). The zombies aren’t very zombified according to today’s standards. I loved the idea of people randomly just jumping out of the water, still effective. Worth checking out, but be wary of the lacking audio/video presentation.

Official Premise: In the dark days of World War II, the Nazi High Command ordered its scientists to create a top secret race of indestructible zombie storm troopers – un-living, unfeeling, unstoppable monstrosities that killed with their bare hands. They were known as The Death Corps. No member of this horrific SS unit was ever captured by Allied Forces – and, somewhere off the coast of Florida they have survived…

Blue Underground claims that this is fulled remastered and restored from original elements but this film looks pretty sad with its 1080p transfer. There is a whole lot of consistent noise in the background throughout. The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono is pretty harsh as well. The dialogue seems a muted but the score is still great and sounds decent, courtesy of composer Richard Einhorn

The special features are a nice bonus though. There is an audio commentary with Co-Writer/Director Ken Wiederhorn, Make-Up Designer Alan Ormsby and Filmmaker Fred Olen Ray. There is a new interview with Producer/Cinematographer Reuben Trane called “Nazi Zombies On A Budget”. “Notes For The Undead” is an interview with Composer Richard Einhorn. “Sole Survivor” is an interview with Star Brooke Adams. “From Flipper to Shock Waves” is an interview with Star Luke Halpin. Lastly there is an trailer, TV/radio spots and a poster/stills gallery included, closing out the extras.

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Blu-ray Review “Pee-wee’s Playhouse: The Complete Series”

Starring: Paul Reubens, Lynne Marie Stewart, William Marshall, S. Epatha Merkerson, Laurence Fishburne, Phil Hartman
Number of discs: 8
Studio: Shout! Factory
Rated TV-PG
Running Time: 1103 minutes

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

If you grew up in the 80’s then you properly watched “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” as a kid. This show is the simple definition of ADD. Watching this show today literally gives me a headache but this show has never lost it’s charm. This Complete Series Blu-ray release includes all 45 wacky episodes, plus Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special, that have been completely remastered the original film elements. This is the first time that this series has even been released in high definition and it is one hell of a release, thanks to Shout! Factory.

If you are looking to meet back up with Pee-wee Herman and his pals: Jambi the Genie, Miss Yvonne, Cowboy Curtis, Reba the Mail Lady, Captain Carl, Magic Screen, Conky, Globey, Chairry, Pterri, Randy and many more, I would highly recommend picking up this amazing series. This show isn’t just a cult classic though, it was the winner of an amazing 22 Emmy® Awards during it’s run. I am excited to be able to share this show with my two year old daughter, who has really been enjoying it so far. She calls it the “weird man show”, which she is totally correct in saying. We also already have her yelling “Mecka-lecka hi… Mecka-hiney ho!”

Shout! Factory delivered an amazing release here. Even the case is hard stock and had some amazing new cover art. The reverse side of the art also includes a complete episode list including each episodes “Word of the Day”. The  high definition transfers are presented in 1.35:1 and looks amazing. Shout! has said that it was taken from original film elements and that the restoration process was supervised by Paul Reubens himself. The colors are amazing and look extremely vibrant. Same goes for the series’ uncompressed LPCM 2.0 audio track, which works well with the zany madness and Mark Mothersbaugh.

In terms of special features, this release still impresses. There are over four hours of brand-new interviews with the cast and crew, plus never-seen, behind-the-scenes footage with ten featurettes, including: “Building the Playhouse”, which goes into the show production design. “Opening the Playhouse” looks into the title sequence. “Writing for the Playhouse” looks into the scripts and also the music with composer Mark Mothersbaugh. “The Look of the Playhouse” shows the construction of the Playhouse.

“Music of the Playhouse” is a full focus on Mothersbaugh’s tunes. “The Cast of the Playhouse” is a near 50 minutes feature jam-packed with great interviews. “The Puppets of the Playhouse” is a 30 minute look into the shows puppet work. “Animating the Playhouse” looks into the various aspect of animation. “Fans and Memorabilia of the Playhouse” shows the fans obsession with the show of the year. Lastly there is a behind-the-scenes look at the “A Very Merry Christmas Special”. I would have also loved some commentary tracks but there are so many interviews thrown in here, it makes up for the loss. A must own for any Pee-wee fan!

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3D Blu-ray Review “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D: Extended Edition”

Actors: Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans
Director: Peter Jackson
Number of discs: 5
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: NEW LINE HOME VIDEO
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Run Time: 186 minutes

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

If you are a fan of Peter Jackson, then it is no surprise that he is a big fan of releasing extended cuts of his films. “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”. The new Extended Cut includes 25 minutes of additional content that extends individual scenes making this a must see for fans of the film. Sone extras scenes include much more of Mirkwood, as well as more of Dol Guldur and Thranduil and of course, more Stephen Fry, who is just simply awesome…amongst much more. This film is no question of my favorite films of last year and only gets better with each viewing. This 5-disc 3D Extended Edition also includes more than nine hours of new bonus features. This should at least hold you off until “The Battle of Five Armies” hits theaters this December!

Official Premise: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, on an epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. Having survived the beginning of their unexpected journey, the Company travels East, encountering along the way skin-changer Beorn and a swarm of giant Spiders in the treacherous forest of Mirkwood. After escaping capture by the dangerous Wood-elves, the Dwarves journey to Lake-town, and finally to the Lonely Mountain itself, where they must face the greatest danger of all–a creature more terrifying than any other; one which will test not only the depth of their courage but the limits of their friendship and the wisdom of the journey itself–The Dragon Smaug.

Warner Bros is bringing this film home with a combo pack including a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + UltraViolet Digital HD copy. Like the previous Blu-ray release for “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”, the Extended Edition is no different. I enoyed the 3D in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” but this film really shines with the added effect. The scale of the film is so large and Smaug is just a cinematic marvel. If you watch this film, especially the Extended Edition, I would absolutely recommend doing it in 3D. The 1080p transfer is simply outstanding, as is the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track. Easily, this is one of the best Blu-ray presentations that I have seen all year.

The Extended Edition extras include a new audio commentary track with Director/writer/producer Peter Jackson and writer/co-producer Philippa Boyens discussing the new cut etc. “New Zealand: Home of Middle-Earth, Part 2” features Jackson and his team traveling through the film’s locations. “The Appendices Part 9 & 10” is the next two installments in Jackson’s sprawling “Appendices” documentary showcase this massive production. Combine these extras with the special features that were included in the first release of “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” on Blu-ray and we finally got a winning package here.

The other extras include: “Peter Jackson Invites You to the Set” is a two part look into the behind-the-scenes on this production. There are four Production Videos featurettes including “Introduction to Pick-Ups Shooting,” “Recap of Pick-Ups, Part 1,” “Recap of Pick-Ups, Part 2″ and “Music Scoring.” “Live Event: In the Cutting Room” is a recording of the March 2013 worldwide live event where Jackson answered fans questions and gave a tour of his production facilities. “New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth, Part 2″ gives a follow up look into the locations. Lastly there are Trailers & Previews and Music Video for “I See Fire” by Ed Sheeran.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, the newest epic in The Hobbit trilogy arrives on Blu-ray 3D™ and Blu-ray™ November 4th from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The Extended Edition features a 25-minute longer cut and more than nine hours of new special features.

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Blu-ray Review “Planes: Fire & Rescue”

Starring: Dane Cook, Julie Bowen, Ed Harris, Curtis Armstrong, John Michael Higgins, Hal Holbrook
Director: Roberts Gannaway
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Run Time: 83 minutes

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

When I saw “Disney’s Planes”, I enjoyed the film but it was hardy very memorable and not a favorite for sure. I really wasn’t running into the very quickly released sequel with any high expectations at all. I was surprised though that the sequel is quite better than the first film. It is action packed and very funny. If you enjoy the world of “Cars”, I mean what little boy doesn’t this should certainly keep them entertained and glued to the screen and parents can get a few laughs and enjoy as well. This film is another one that Disney has neglected to release on 3D Blu-ray after it’s 3D successful theatrical release. This would really look much cooler at home with that added dimension.

Official Premise: Bring home the thrill of a lifetime with Disney’s “Planes: Fire & Rescue”. This heart-pumping comedy-adventure features a dynamic crew of elite aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from raging wildfires. When world-famous air racer Dusty learns that he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of aerial firefighting. Dusty joins forces with a team of veteran firefighters; together, they battle a massive fire, and Dusty learns what it takes to be a true hero.

This sequel includes a solid voice cast including Dane Cook (“Planes”) as Dusty, Julie Bowen (“Modern Family”) as Dipper, Ed Harris (“Gravity”) as Blade Ranger, Captain Dale Dye (“Saving Private Ryan”) as Cabbie, Cedric the Entertainer (“Ice Age”) as Leadbottom, Erik Estrada (“CHiPs”) as Nick “Loopin” Lopez, Brad Garrett (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) as Chug, Teri Hatcher (“Desperate Housewives”) as Dottie, John Michael Higgins (“Pitch Perfect”) as Cad, Hal Holbrook (“Into the Wild”) as Mayday, Stacy Keach (“Planes”) as Skipper, Regina King (“Ray”) as Dynamite, Anne Meara (“Night at the Museum) as Winnie, Jerry Stiller (“The King of Queens”) as Harvey and Wes Studi (“Avatar”) as Windlifter…whew…deep breath!

Disney is releasing this film as a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD including Disney Movies Anywhere. I have been enjoying the Disney Movies Anywhere site but they need to get their asses in gear and get on board with Android systems. The 1080p transfer is very impressive. The colors are amazing and the animation is very crisp and sharp. Like I said, this would have been a lot better in 3D but we got to work with what we got. The The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 also sores high and really works great with the film and the films solid animated action throughout.

The special features are also a score for this release. There is a new exclusive animated short “Vitaminamulch: Air Spectacular”. as well as other shorts “Dipper” and “Smokejumpers”. There is a fun mockumentary called “Welcome to Piston Peak!” looking at the Piston Peak National Park and its aerial firefighting team. There is a funny “CHoPs” TV Promo. “Air Attack: Firefighters From The Sky” is a fun and entertaining behind-the-scene look at the real life inspiration for the film with Director Roberts Gannaway and Producer Ferrell Barron talking about the making of. There is a music video for Spencer Lee’s “Still I Fly”. Lastly, there are two deleted scenes included with filmmaker introductions.

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Blu-ray Review “Maleficent”

Starring: Angelina Jolie, Juno Temple, Elle Fanning, Miranda Richardson, Sam Riley, Sharlto Copley
Director: Robert Stromberg
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Run Time: 96 minutes

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

I went into “Maleficent” prepared to be wowed by the visual appearance and I got much more than I expect. The film plays out what a live-action fairy tale is really like. I loved this film. This was a role that was meant for Angelina Jolie. She nails it so well, even from the most subtle lip moments, she is outstanding. The story is also not what you would expect from the tale of “Sleeping Beauty”, this is not just a retelling of the classic story. I love the path that they decided to take with this and it is just a ton of fun to watch! I want sequel Disney!! Bring it on! I am just very disappointed in Disney though that they are skipping the 3D Blu-ray for this film. I loved the 3D in this film it added so much to the film. The film made over $750 million worldwide Disney, why you being cheap on us U.S. fans!?

Official Premise: Maleficent tells the untold story of one of Disney’s most iconic villains. A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent (Jolie) has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal; an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading king’s successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom, and perhaps to Maleficent’s true happiness as well.

Disney is releasing this film as a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD including Disney Movies Anywhere. I have been enjoying the Disney Movies Anywhere site but they need to get their asses in gear and get on board with Android systems. The 1080p transfer is still outstanding even though I would have preferred this film in 3D. The colors are vibrant and the design of the feel just looks so freaking slick and sharp. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 is a thing of beauty as well. The score for this film was unbelievable and really acted like a character in the film. It has that fairy tale feel that really adds a lot to the film.

The special features are another score for this release. There are five featurettes taking us behind the scenes on this beautiful film. “From Fairy Tale to Feature Film” takes us through how they re-imagined “Maleficent” for a new generation. “Building An Epic Battle” focuses on the fight between Maleficent and King Henry’s Forces, which was quite epic. “Classic Couture” looks into the wonderful head piece and other accessories in the film. “Maleficent Revealed” dives into the special effects. “Aurora: Becoming A Beauty” features Elle Fanning talking about the role. There are also a bunch of deleted scenes included.

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Blu-ray Review “Step Up All In”

Starring: Ryan Guzman, Briana Evigan, Misha Gabriel, Stephen “Twitch” Boss, Izabella Miko, Alyson Stoner, Adam Sevani
Director: Trish Sie
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: November 25, 2014
Run Time: 112 minutes

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

You would think that by the fifth film in the “Step Up” franchise that it would be losing some steam but that is hardly the case with “Step Up All In”. That may be the cast in terms of box office, but this film is jam-packed with high energy and outstanding dancing. Plus we get the setting moved to Las Vegas, which is always an amazing place to visit and showcase. I honestly hope there are more of these since they are a blast to watch. Plot aside, cause we all know this is about the dancing, you watch it and tell me that you aren’t considering busting a move!

Official Premise: One of the most popular dance franchises in film history takes competition to astonishing new heights in “Step Up All In”. Miami street dancer Sean Asa (Ryan Guzman) moves to Hollywood with visions of fame and fortune, only to discover the almost insurmountable odds of making it in the professional dance world. But when the new dance crew he forms with the beautiful and headstrong Andie West (Briana Evigan) reaches the final rounds of a high-stakes reality TV competition in glittering Las Vegas, he has a shot at finally making his dreams come true – if he can set aside old loyalties and long-time rivalries and just do what he loves most: dance.

The cast of this series really includes the best of from the entire franchise to date. It is the all-star “Step Up” Alyson Stoner returns from the first and third films. Briana Evigan makes her come back after stealing the show in the second film. Series regulars Adam Sevani, Mari Koda and Chris Scott are back as well. Luis Rosado was in the second and third film is back. Stephen “tWitch” Boss and Chadd Smith from the third and fourth are back. Lastly Ryan Guzman and Misha Gabriel return from the fourth installment.

I am really disappointed that Lionsgate is neglecting to release this film with a 3D Blu-ray since it was released in theaters in 3D. These films look outstanding in 3D and it is a shame that since this film did poorly in theaters that they are slacking on the home release. The 1080p transfer still look good and really captures the beauty of Vegas. The Dolby Atmos track is absolutely outstanding. This is a wonderful track for this film since it is really jam-packed with great music. There is also an equally impressive Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track.

The special features are also a win for this release. There is an audio commentary track with Director Trish Sie and Actress Briana Evigan. There is a collection of Ryan’s Favorite dance scenes with optional commentary included. There is a collection of Blu-ray exclusive featurettes including “All in with the Crew”; “Dance Breakdown: Final Stage”; “Clap, Stomp, Slide: The Sounds of Battle” and “The Vortex Dance Index”. Lastly there are some Deleted Scenes including.

 

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Blu-ray Review “The Sopranos: The Complete Series”

Number of discs: 28
Starring: James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico, Dominic Chianese
Creator: David Chase
Studio: HBO Studios
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Rated TV-MA
Running Time: 4680 minutes

Series: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Every once in a while, a show comes along that changed television. “The Sopranos” was one of those shows. It built HBO to what it is today. The series is respected as one of the greatest television series of all time…and I easily agree. I remember dating back to 1999 watching the very first episode and being completely hooked from the start. During that time, I was hooked on mobster films like “Casino” and “Goodfellas” (in fact this series shares 27 actors with the 1990 Martin Scorsese gangster film), so this show was an epic TV version of those films. The cast is just simply outstanding including  James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico and numerous others. I miss this show and I miss James Gandolfini but at least now we have the complete series available in one collection on Blu-ray.

Official Premise: For six seasons, fans have devotedly watched Tony Sopranos deal with the difficulties of balancing his home life with the criminal organization he leads. Audiences everywhere tuned in to see the mob, the food, the family, and Catch up on, or re-watch your favorite episodes of the Sopranos with The Sopranos: The Complete Series DVD Set. For six seasons, fans devotedly watched Tony Soprano deal with the difficulties of balancing his home life with the criminal organization he leads for a very good reason: groundbreaking dramatic storylines. Audiences everywhere tuned in to see the mob, the food, the family, and who was next to get whacked. Celebrate the show that Vanity Fair called, “the greatest show in TV history”. Between 1999 and 2007, The Sopranos was honored with no less than 21 Emmy Awards and 111 Emmy nominations!

This 28-disc Blu-ray release features all 6 seasons from this series, adding up to 86 episodes. The seasons break down as follows: Discs 1-4: The Complete First Season, Discs 5-8: The Complete Second Season, Discs 9-12: The Complete Third Season, Discs 13-16: The Complete Fourth Season, Discs 17-20: The Complete Fifth Season, Discs 21-24: Season Six, Part 1, Discs 25-27: Season Six, Part 2 and Discs 8: Exclusive Bonus Features. HBO is releasing this Complete Series was a combo pack with a Blu-ray + Digital HD copy included. The 1080p transfers are good from season one to great by the end of the sixth season. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is a bit more balanced and sounds great throughout the entire series.

The special features are great even though alot of the content is ported over the previous DVD releases. There are 25 audio commentaries, which sounds amazing but some of good and some are not. I picked a few hear and there on some of my favorites and I realized that very quickly. Other than that there are a bunch of rather short featurettes spread across each of the 27 discs. Some of the highlight extras ported over is a nearly 80 minute interview with creator David Chase by Peter Bogdonavich, which discusses the series in-depth. There is also a decent featurette focusing around “The Music of The Sopranos” with David Chase, Steven Van Zandt and Dominic Chianese.

The main draw for the special features is easily the 28th disc, which offers all new high definition bonus content, including a 46-minute retrospective, two round table discussions between David Chase and members of his cast and crew, a 2-part interview with Chase, and deleted scenes for all 6 seasons of the series. This Blu-ray exclusive content runs about three hours and is worth the purchase of the release itself. “Defining a Television Landmark” is a 45 minute look into the effect this series had a television. “Supper with The Sopranos” is a 75 minute dinner conversation with David Chase and various guests. This is easily the best special feature on the entire release. Lastly there are over 20 minutes of lost scenes from each season.

 

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Blu-ray Review “UHF: 25th Anniversary Edition”

Actors: Weird Al Yankovic, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Richards
Directors: Jay Levey
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: November 11, 2014
Run Time: 93 minutes

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

Weird Al Yankovic is so hot right now after topping the charts with his newest album (for the first time ever). It is also the 25th anniversary of his cult classic film “UHF”. The film stars Weird Al Yankovic along with Michael Richards (“Seinfeld”), Kevin McCarthy (“Invasion of the Body Snatchers”), Fran Drescher (“The Nanny”), Gedde Watanabe (“Sixteen Candles”), Victoria Jackson (“Saturday Night Live”) and more! It has been many years since I have seen this film and it still holds up today and is extremely funny. If you are looking for some laughs and some great special features, be sure to pick this up!

Official Premise: A lot of TV stations have forgotten what ’quality’means. But not Channel 62. They NEVER knew what it meant. In the cult classic UHF, Weird Al Yankovic is George Newman, a daydreamer who becomes the manager of a small TV station that’s losing money as quickly as it’s losing viewers. Before long he’s programming shows like ’Stanley Spadowski’s Clubhouse, ’ ’Wheel Of Fish’ and ’Raul’s Wild Kingdom. ’ But can Channel 62’s new popularity save it from sinister forces? To find out… don’t touch that dial!

This 25th Anniversary Edition of “UHF” makes its Blu-ray debut, thanks to Shout! Factory. The 1080p transfer looks good and relatively clean. I was not a huge fan of the audio track though since it is not even a full HD track. It is basically a DVD English Stereo track. It is not terrible but I would have expected more.  There are a great deal of special features included. There is the Retrospective Panel from the San Diego Comic-Con 2014, which literally just happened a mere few months ago. There is an audio commentary track, deleted scenes, some behind-the-scenes footage, a music video, production stills and some Easter eggs included.

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Blu-ray Review “Deliver Us From Evil”

Starring: Eric Bana, Édgar Ramírez, Olivia Munn, Sean Harris, Joel McHale, Chris Coy
Director: Scott Derrickson
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Run Time: 118 minutes

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

“Deliver Us From Evil” drew my attention since it is from the director of “Sinister” and “Exorcism of Emily Rose”, which are both great films. The film is claimed to be “Inspired by the Actual Accounts of an NYPD Sergeant”. The film stars Eric Bana (“Hulk”), Édgar Ramírez (“Zero Dark Thirty”) and supporting including Olivia Munn (“Magic Mike”) and Joel McHale (“Community”). Deliver Us From Evil” is aimed to be a mix between “The Exorcist” and “Seven” but it really comes off more as a thriller. There are a few decent scares/jumps but it really suffers from using too many horror clichés.

Official Premise: A New York police officer Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) begins investigating a series of bizarre and disturbing inexplicable crimes. When he uncovers that the crimes are of super-natural origins, he must join forces with an unconventional priest (Edgar Ramírez), schooled in the rituals of exorcism, to combat the frightening and demonic possessions that are taking over and terrorizing their city. Filled with action and thrilling suspense, the film is inspired by the book, which details Sarchie’s bone-chilling real-life cases.

Sony is releasing the film as a combo pack including a Blu-ray + Digital HD copy. The 1080p transfer captures the tone and atmosphere set well by the film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works great with Christopher Young’s terrifying score. The special features are pretty impressive. There is an commentary track from the director. ““Illuminating Evil: Making Deliver Us From Evil” is a fairly in-depth behind-the-scenes look into the production with writer/director Scott Derrickson’.

The following are Blu-ray ™exclusive bonus features. “Deliver Us From Demons” is a featurette on creating the film’s demonic presence. “The Two Sergeants” is a behind-the-scenes look into Ralph Sarchie and the actor playing “Ralph Sarchie,” Eric Bana. Lastly “The Demon Detective” is an intimate interview with Ralph Sarchie on his experiences and actual inspired events that the film is based on.

 

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

Blu-ray Review “The Blob (1988)”

Starring: Kevin Dillon, Shawnee Smith, Donovan Leitch, Jeffrey DeMunn, Candy Clark, Joe Seneca
Director: Chuck Russell
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Twilight Time
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Run Time: 95 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

If you call yourself a horror fan, then you should be a fan of 1988’s “The Blob”. The film was directed by Chuck Russell (“The Mask”) and written by Frank Darabont (“The Shawshank Redemption”). This is a remake of the original 50’s Steve McQueen horror classic. Twilight Time is behind the release and it is great to see this film get a proper Blu-ray release. I remember the first time I picked this film up on VHS at my local mom and pop store and how it always freaked me out and still does today. It holds up very well. A must own if you can find it, horror fans!

This Blu-ray release is an Screen Archives Entertainment Exclusive and is a Limited Edition release with only 5000 copies produced. Normally Screen Archives’ releases are limited to 3000 but this one had quite the demand and I believe is already completely sold out. The 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 is good, especially with the practical effects which are solid impressive even though there is some grain throughout. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 with works well with all the ooey gooey sounds effects.

The special features are not as impressive as I would have hoped but not bare bones either, so thats a plus. There is an interesting audio commentary with Director Chuck Russell and Horror Authority Ryan Turek. There is a near 20 minute featurette called “Friday Night Flights at the Cinefamily”, which includes a Q&A with Chuck Russell. Lastly there is are two trailers and an isolated score track included

 

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Blu-ray Revie “My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks”

Starring: Tara Strong, Ashleigh Ball, Andrea Libman, Tabitha St. Germain
Directors: Jayson Thiessen, Ishi Rudell
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Run Time: 72 minutes

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

“My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks” is a sequel to 2013’s “My Little Pony Equestria Girls”. This is the second brand new full-length film from the very popular “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” series. I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting to like this but I have a two year old daughter and she is going absolutely crazy for it. She absolutely loves the music in this film and she dances and sings along. Since receiving this, we have probably watched this film at least one per day and it definitely grows on you. The music is easily the best part of this film, no question. If you love the “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” series, then I highly recommend this!

Official Premise: In My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks, Canterlot High (CHS) is hosting a musical showcase, and Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy are going to be performing with their new band, The Rainbooms. But when The Dazzlings, a new girl group, arrive at CHS and convince everyone to turn the friendly showcase into a Battle of the Bands, tensions mount between the competing musical acts. A now-reformed Sunset Shimmer realizes that The Dazzlings may not be ordinary girls and are after something far more sinister than just being named Best Band at Canterlot High. The Rainbooms call on Princess Twilight to restore harmony to their world to help them perform a musical counter-spell so that they can win a battle that now determines the fate of the entire school.

Shout Factory is releasing this film as a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo. I personally think that the digital copy is useless Shout has yet to get on board with Ultraviolet Digital HD service. They still use the download this to your device and that is very outdated. The 1080p transfer is gorgeous. The film is extremely colorful, as you can imagine if you follow the series. The DTS-HD Master Audio track works perfect with the fun characters and the fantastic tunes. The special features are pretty great as well with an audio commentary track, 8 Prequel Shorts and 3 Sing-Alongs included. The sing-alongs are a great way to re-enjoy each song.

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3D Blu-ray Review “Dragonfly Squadron”

Starring: John Hodiak, Barbara Britton, Chuck Connors, Bruce Bennett, Fess Parker
Director: Lesley Selander
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Olive Films
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Run Time: 83 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
3D: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars

When it comes to 50’s 3D films, I am always curious to see them. “Dragonfly Squadron” was actually never released in 3D ever in theaters. The film was completed in late ’53 and released early ’54 after the decline of the format, so it ended up only being released in 2D.  So this Blu-ray makes the first time that this film is ever available in stereoscopic 3-D, as originally intended, due to the wonderful work done by the 3-D Film Archive team. You have to give props to Olive Films for taking on this huge task. If you are a fan of this film, this is a must own.

Official Premise: In 1950, as the Korean peninsula is drawn closer to war, a stern Air Force Major (John Hodiak), is assigned to train a squadron of South Korean pilots, making them combat-ready in half the usual time. At the air base at Kongju, Brady comes face to face with a former flame (Barbara Britton), the wife of an army medical officer (Bruce Bennett). When enemy forces invade, most of the American personnel are evacuated, but Brady remains behind with the barely-trained South Korean troops, and bravely diverts the Russian-backed North Korean army.

The Blu-ray contains both the 3D and 2D versions on a single disc. The 1080p transfers, presented in 1.66:1, certainly look their age and not presented fullish polished and crystal clear, especially during the stock footage scenes. There is grain throughout but overall, it doesn’t overpower the viewing experience. The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono also isn’t perfect but it also sounds quite impressive with sound effects like the soaring plane and bombs exploding. The only special feature here included is a theatrical trailer. I would have loved to see featurettes on the film’s restoration. This is a real missed opportunity.

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Blu-ray Review “Being Again”

Starring: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, Catherine Keener, James Corden, Mos Def
Director: John Carney
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Run Time: 104 minutes

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

I remember exactly where I was the first time that I saw “Once”. When I saw it it was still a film that no one heard of…and then it went to win an Academy Award for Best Song. “Being Again” attracted me because is the the latest film from writer-director John Carney, who also did “Once”. I love any film that includes music in it, especially good music…and especially music sang by actual actors. Wasn’t a huge Keira Knightley fan prior to this but she really won me over here. She had a fantastic voice and these songs work great for her. The film has a lot of heart and really draws you into the story. I really respect what John Carney does within in his films and his vision and respect for the music. Fantastic music, fantastic cast! Highly recommended.

Official Premise: Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) are songwriting partners who go to New York City when Dave lands a deal with a major record label. But the excitement of Dave’s new-found fame affects the couple in unexpected ways, leaving Gretta unsure of her future – until Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a scruffy record label executive with a few problems of his own, stumbles across her performance on an East Village stage. Dan is immediately captivated by Gretta’s raw talent and unique sound, leading to a life-changing collaboration, set to the soundtrack of a summer in New York City.

Anchor Bay is releasing this film as a combo pack. There is a Blu-ray + Digital Copy included. The 1080p transfer captures the beauty of NYC perfectly, especially when they go on the tour mission to record the album. Really beautiful locations throughout this film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works perfectly with the film’s music. There is a great balance of the dialogue and songs. The special features are a let down though. There is a short featurette “The Making of Begin Again” and some music videos Including Adam Levine’s “Lost Stars”.

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