Blu-ray Review “Dragonball Z: Season Two”

Starring: Sean Schemmel, Stephanie Nadolny, Christopher Sabat, Daisuke Gōri, Mayumi Tanaka, Kenji Utsumi
Director: Mike McFarland
Number of discs: 4
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Funimation
Release Date: February 18, 2014
Run Time: 830 minutes

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

This is a very exciting Blu-ray release, actually, if you are a “Dragonball Z” fan. This is the first time ever that uncut Dragon Ball Z episodes are available on Blu-ray! This collection includes episodes 40-74 of this classic anime series fully remastered. This is a must own for any fan and real treat that these episodes are finally being a released. Dragonball Z: Season 3 Blu-ray is already slated to street on April 1, 2014, so like I said before I expect this series to be fully available by year end. Hopefully Funimation is planning a giant box set because that would be the ultimate release.

Official Premise: Having suffered heavy losses in the battle with the Saiyans, and with Goku still recovering from his injuries, the remaining Z-Fighters must embark on a perilous journey to Planet Namek in search of the Namekian Dragon Balls. Unbeknownst to them, however, a powerful new enemy has set his sights on the same prize—the ruthless tyrant Frieza!

These episodes are presented in 1080p high definition quality and 16:9 aspect ratio amd were restored using frame by frame, pan and scan technology. These episodes were given a lot of love from actual fans of the series and it shows in its release. There are three audio tracks included, which also have been re-mastered and have never sounded better. The English dub comes with an Dolby TrueHD 5.1 with the original Japanese music. The original English language broadcast version with the broadcast version music is presented with an Dolby TrueHD 2.0 track. Lastly the original Japanese track with the Japanese music, of course is delivered with a Dolby TrueHD Mono track.

This season stepped it up a bit from season one actually including some decent special features. “Inside Dragonball Z” is a two part interview series with Christopher R. Sabet and Sean Schemmel. There is a fun featurette called “Justin Cook Shares His Headshot Collection”. Then there are also the textless opening and closing songs, as well as trailers included. Lastly also like the first season, there is the ”Marathon Feature”. This allows you to view the episodes continuously without the credits each episode. This really adds a lot and makes it very easy to enjoy a great binge viewing experience of this amazing series.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, dragonball, review, season

Blu-ray Review “Rocky: Heavyweight Collection”

Actors: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Burt Young, Mr. T
Directors: Sylvester Stallone, John G. Avildsen
Number of discs: 6
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Release Date: February 11, 2014

Series: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

The “Rocky” franchise is really just great. Whenever you flip through the TV and come across any of the “Rocky” movies you know that it is quite impossible to turn it off or you hear Drago threatening “I must break you”. Rocky is a character that ever loves even as it has aged. This collection includes all six Rocky films, from the original “Rocky” (1976) to the latest “Rocky Balboa” (2006). So I am sure you are wondering how does this release differ from the 2009 release “Rocky: The Undisputed Collection”? Well this release an all-new 4K transfer of the original “Rocky” and then the previously released versions of “Rocky II-V” and “Rocky Balboa”. The original “Rocky” is now the spotlight of this release (as it should be) and makes this release a must own for all fans.

Official Premise: Go the distance with this Rocky Heavyweight collection, featuring all six knockout Rocky films including the first film with a stunning new master. Sylvester Stallone stars in the greatest boxing saga of all time and triumphs as one of the most inspirational characters in cinematic history. Witness every epic, action-packed fight and unforgettable moment as Rocky strives for greatness through sheer determination against impossible odds. This collection contains over three hours of bonus features including a new featurette “8mm Home Movies of Rocky” narrated by Director John Avildsen.

So the main reason to upgrade to this new collection would be for the 4K transfer of “Rocky” (1976). I personally think that this new restoration looks amazing. The 2006 previously released Blu-ray was quite the disappointment. In terms of “Rocky II-V”, the transfers are good but could have used a bit of a face-lift like the first film to make them perfect.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for I-V are impressive though and really no major complaints either. “Rocky Balboa” easily delivers the second best transfer since it is the latest film and packs an even better uncompressed PCM 5.1 audio track. They really went all out here and it shows in the film. The music in the film is so well presented and makes you literally get out of your chair and those fights punching along with Rocky.

Now if you are wondering what happened to the jam-packed seventh disc of extras from the “The Undisputed Collection”, which is missing from this release…well don’t worry. It has been added to the the original “Rocky” disc along with three commentaries restored from the “Rocky” DVD. There is only one new special feature included on this release. which is “8mm Home Movies of Rocky”. It is a bad-ass special features I might add and it is narrated by Director John G. Avildsen and Production Manager Lloyd Kaufman. So being a big fan of this franchise, this new purpose just makes you wonder how much the updated transfer of “Rocky” is worth to you. I wish MGM would have thrown in some HD Digital Ultraviolet copies of these films and that would have made this a no brainer!

The fest of the special features included are just as great. “In the Ring: Three-Part Making-of Documentary” is a great in-depth behind-the-scenes looks. There are a few Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes included focusing on the  Makeup, Music, Directing and Camera Work. There are also two Boxing Featurettes including Three Rounds with Legendary Trainer Lou Duva and The Opponents and The Ring of Truth. There are two tributes for Burgess Meredith and James Crabe. There is an interview with a Legend: Bert Sugar along with a Video Commentary with Sylvester Stallone. Lastly there is Sylvester Stallone appearance on “Dinah!” (1976) and Theatrical Trailers, TV Spots and More!

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, collection, heavyweight, review, rocky

Blu-ray Review “Appleseed XIII: Tartaros & Ouranos”

Starring: Luci Christian, David Matranga
Director: Takayuki Hamana
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Funimation
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 168 minutes

Films: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

If you are a fan of the series “Appleseed XIII”, then you might want to consider checking out “Appleseed XIII: Tartaros & Ouranos”…as long as you do not expect new content. This new release from Funimation is two-film shortened summarization of the 13-episode anime series. I have to admit, I was a little bit hesitant since I did like the “Appleseed XIII” quite a bit, but these two films do work very well. They are tighter and really pack a nice punch. What is nice about these, most importantly, is that I feel that you can own both of these, the movies and the series, since they are both different beasts. A no brainer purchase if you love great anime.

Official Premise: In the wake of destruction from a worldwide non-nuclear war, the city of Olympus has become the control center of the world. As humanity adopts biological enhancements in attempts to achieve perfection, a terrorist organization uprises to prevent what could be the eventual extinction of the human race. Two former LAPD SWAT members join a special mech-piloting, military force to take down the leader of the terrorist organization.

Funimation Entertainment are the best when it comes to their Blu-ray anime releases. They really give a lot of love to these and I respect that. This release comes stocked with a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack. The 1080p transfer is awesome and really works well with this sharp and snazzy CG animation. There are two DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks included for both English and original Japanese audio. In terms of special features, there is nothing too impressive here. There are original previews for both “Tartaros & Ouranos”. There is a textless closing song and trailers included.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: appleseed, bluray, ouranos, review, tartaros, xiii, ...

Blu-ray Review “Oldboy”

Starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Spike Lee
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 4, 2014
Run Time: 104 minutes

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

“Oldboy” is a remake of the Korean cult classic of the same name directed by Park Chan-wook, which was released in 2003. This version was directed by Spike Lee and stars Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen. It is hard to really fall in love with a movie personally when you read about how much the director hates the movie himself. Originally, Lee’s cut of this film was nearly three hours long and it was torn apart by the producers bringing it down to 104 minutes. I was a fan of the original Korean film, so I also had high expectations. This film isn’t terrible but it also doesn’t improve or surpass the original. Worth checking out for some fun shock and wow but I would prefer the original.

Official Premise: “Oldboy” is a provocative, visceral thriller that follows the story of an advertising executive (Brolin) who is abruptly kidnapped and held hostage for 20 years in solitary confinement. When he is inexplicably released, he embarks on an obsessive mission to discover who orchestrated his bizarre and torturous punishment only to find he is still trapped in a web of conspiracy and torment.

Sony released this film on Blu-ray including also a HD Digital Ultraviolet copy. I would have loved to seen them take a chance and release the director’s cut of this film also but maybe they are holding out for a double dip to make more money to recoup how bad this film did in theaters. The 1080p transfer works well with the look and feel of the film, same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. In terms of special features, there are three featurettes including “The Making of Oldboy”, “Transformation” and “Talking Heads”. There are some alternate and extended scenes. Lastly there is a Workout Video Promo, which is quite funny.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, oldboy, review

Blu-ray Review “Gravity”

Actors: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Directors: Alfonso Cuaron
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 91 minutes

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

I cannot recall an experience that I had in theaters like “Gravity” in a very long time. I was found myself emotionally effected throughout the film. I was blown away and even exhausted after viewing it. Sandra Bullock hasn’t been a favorite of mine but she was outstanding in this film. George Clooney is as charming as ever. Alfonoso Cuaron did such a beautiful job on this film. When you read into it and find out how much work was actually done to make this project come to life it is unbelievable. The visuals are out of this world…literally. If I had to describe this film in one word would be “Breathtaking”. No question, this was the best film of 2013.

Official Premise: Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney) in command. But on a seemingly routine mission, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski completely alone, tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the darkness. The deafening silence tells them they’ve lost any link to Earth and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left, and the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

For this release of “Gravity”, Warner packaged up a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + HD Digital Ultraviolet copy. The Blu-ray being reviewed here is not the 3D Blu-ray, which is ashame but “Gravity” was literally the best 3D film that I seen since “Avatar”…and I watch A LOT of 3D films. The 2D transfer is still outstanding and flawless just missing that extra “Wow” for me. The 1080p transfer is perfect and will stand up as one of the best of the year, I am definite. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is also absolutely amazing. It is not a 7.1 track, which maybe disappoint some but I was left very satisfied. This track especially complements Steve Price’s score. This score was one of the best scores that I have heard in recent years and it is represented very well. It also plays out like a third character in the film, which I loved.

The special features are absolutely amazing like the film, but I wish they wrapped it all up with a commentary track. “Gravity: Mission Control” is a very in-depth 107 minutes behind-the-scenes look into the prodcution. There are nine mini-featurettes included within this as well focusing on everything from cast to visual effects. “Shot Breakdown” is a nearly 40 minute look into five of the films most impressive FX shots. Amazing stuff here. “Aninigaag: A Short Film by Jonas Cuaron”, which is a short film tieing of the films most emotional scenes together. Lastly “Collison Point: The Race to Clean Up Space” is narrated by Ed Harris and takes about the real-life crisis happening now.

Own Gravity on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD 2/25

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, gravity, review

Blu-ray Review “The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale”

Actors: Elle Deets, Yuri Lowenthal
Directors: Richard Rich
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 83 minutes

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

“The Swan Princess” started back as a 1994 animated fantasy musical film based on the ballet “Swan Lake”. Fast forward to 2014 and we get “The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale”, which is the fifth film in the series and which also celebrates the 20th anniversary. The film is cute but the animation is low-grade and it couldn’t keep our attention for the short 80 minutes.

Richard Rich has been behind this series from the beginning and has directed and produced each and everyone of these sequels. He is also behind the sequels in the “Alpha and Omega” series. You have to give him props for keeping it going for five films now but I think it might be time to call it quits on this series. These stories are all stand-alone, so I am sure he can keep it going for twelve movies like “The Land Before Time” but this will probably be the last one I watch.

Official Premise: Shortly after the Royal Family adopts a young girl named Alise, she is taken away into the forest. Princess Odette, Prince Derek and their woodland friends, Jean-Bob the Frog and Speed the Turtle, must work together to find a way to bring her home to the castle.

Sony delivers this film in a two disc combo back with a Blu-ray + DVD and HD Digital Ultraviolet Copy. In terms of special features, there are two bonus Sing-A-Long videos for ““We Wanna Hear From You”” and ““Right Where I Belong””. Also included is a free, sparkly tiara for those little young princesses and a free Shutterfly Photo Book ($29.99 value) for the parents. Honestly, this is worth the purchase alone just for the photo book.

 

Related Content

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, family, princess, review, royal, swan, ...

Blu-ray Review “Killing Kennedy”

Starring: Rob Lowe, Will Rothhaar, Ginnifer Goodwin, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jack Noseworthy, Casey Siemaszko
Director: Nelson McCormick
Rated: TV-14
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 87 / 90 minutes

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

“Killing Kennedy” is based on the 2012 non-fiction book of the same title by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. The film premiered on National Geographic Channel on November 10, 2013. It stars Rob Lowe as President John F. Kennedy, Will Rothhaar as Lee Harvey Oswald, Ginnifer Goodwin as Jacqueline Kennedy, Michelle Trachtenberg as Marina Oswald and Will Rothhaar as Lee Harvey Oswald. Produced by the late Tony Scott (“Unstoppable”) and Ridley Scott (“Prometheus”). I enjoyed the film but I did feel like it had too much a TV movie quality about it. It did have great performances from everyone in the cast. I was interested to see what Lowe could do with JFK and he nailed it.

Official Premise: The film traces the chilling events leading up to the gunshot heard around the world: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas in 1963. As John F. Kennedy (Lowe) rises to become U.S. president, a former Marine grows disillusioned with America. But when their paths ultimately cross, the course of history is changed forever in a chilling aftermath.

When “Killing Kennedy” aired on National Geographic, it ran about 88 minutes without commercials. The made-for-TV thriller is presented here with an never-before-seen extended cut, which runs about three minutes extra. Fox delivered this Blu-ray with an HD Digital Ultraviolet copy as well.  The 1080p transfer is solid for a TV movie and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works well creating the thrilling drama. In terms of special features, there is “Killing Kennedy: An Interview with Author Bill O’Reilly”, which gives good insight into the story. There is also a featurette “The Kennedy Mystique”. Both of these are work checking out for history junkies, no question.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, kennedy, killing, review

“Rocky: Heavyweight Collection” Blu-ray Giveaway [ENDED]

Calling all Rocky fans!! Media Mikes would like to giveaway a Blu-ray of “Rocky: Heavyweight Collection”. If you would like to enter for your chance to win one of this great prize, please leave us a comment below or send us an email indicating your what is your favorite film in this series? This giveaway will remain open until February 28th at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to all fans of Media Mikes, worldwide!! One entry per person, per household. All other entries will be considered invalid. Media Mikes will randomly select winners. Winners will be alerted via email.

Go the distance with this Rocky Heavyweight collection, featuring all six knockout Rocky films including the first film with a stunning new master. Sylvester Stallone stars in the greatest boxing saga of all time and triumphs as one of the most inspirational characters in cinematic history. Witness every epic, action-packed fight and unforgettable moment as Rocky strives for greatness through sheer determination against impossible odds. This collection contains over three hours of bonus features including a new featurette “8mm Home Movies of Rocky” narrated by Director John Avildsen.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: bluray, collection, giveaway, heavyweight, rocky

Blu-ray Review “Nebraska”

Actors: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Stacy Keach, Bob Odenkirk, Missy Doty
Director: Alexander Payne
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 114 minutes

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

Alexander Payne’s films are usually quite unique and different than standard film. “Nebraska” looked different right from the start since it is filmed in black and white. Personally, I feel like it is a little too long running nearly two hours. I think this would have been much better running at 90 minutes. It does have some amazing performances from Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk. Everyone thinks of Will Forte as just a funnyman and he is quite funny in this but he also has a great dramatic side. This might not be for everyone but I enjoyed it’s subtle aspects.

Official Premise: From Academy Award winner Alexander Payne, the director of Sideways and The Descendants, comes the film that critics are calling “An American Masterpiece.” When a father (Bruce Dern) and his adult son (Will Forte) embark on a journey to claim a million-dollar prize, what begins as a fool’s errand becomes a search for the road to redemption. Discover why Nebraska is “one of those movies I’ll watch for the rest of my life.”

Paramount delivers this combo pack including a Blu-ray + DVD + HD Digital UltraViolet copy. The 1080p transfer is solid and works well with the black and white shot film. I thought that the choice to shoot this film this way really added a lot of character. The audio consists of an interesting choice with it’s DTS-HD Master Audio 3.0 track, this is a different choice but it works well. There is only one special feature included on this release but it does cover a decent amount of ground looking behind-the-scenes. “The Making of Nebraska” looks into the script, cast and characters, locations, shooting in black and white and more. Would have loved to see a commentary track for this film.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, nebraska, review

Blu-ray Review “The Americans: The Complete First Season”

Starring: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Maximiliano Hernandez, Noah Emmerich, Margo Martindale
Number of discs: 3
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 572 minutes

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

Last year, I received a lot of emails and press releases from FX for their new show “The Americans”. I didn’t really give it a second look. Then a buddy of mine that never recommends any TV or movies to me says that he was obsessed with this show and I thought “Wait a second, I might need to check this show out”. Well, I am glad I did because is thrilling, smart and comes packed with a fantastic cast. Now that I am hooked on this series, I will be anxiously waiting the second season premiere on February 26, 2014.

Official Premise: Secrets can be deadly in this suspenseful thriller about undercover Russian spies in 1980s Washington, D.C. Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) seem to be a typical suburban couple, but they’re actually lethal KGB agents plotting to bring down America. As the Cold War escalates, Philip and Elizabeth must take extreme measures to continue their mission and keep their true identities hidden. But when an FBI agent moves in across the street, they become ensnared in a pulse-pounding game of cat and mouse.

“The Americans” looks really sharp on Blu-ray. I love the cinematography in this show. It is show very well. The 1080p transfers really are awesome for these episodes which transform NYC into Washington D.C. Having worked in both of these locations, I loved trying to figure out where these episodes were shot. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks are also impressive as well. Nathan Barr’s score for this show is great. It is thrilling and adds great tension to the episodes.

There are great special features included for the Blu-ray release. There is an audio commentary track for the season finale, “The Colonel”, with Joseph Weisberg, Joel Fields and Noah Emmerich. I would have loved to see a few more tracks but this episode was great and we get some great info. There are three featurettes going behind-the-scenes into the show with “Executive Order 2579: Exposing the Americans”, “Perfecting the Art of Espionage” and “Ingenuity Over Technology”. There is also a Gag Reel and Deleted Scenes included for this season.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: americans, bluray, complete, review, season

Blu-ray Review “Chicago: Diamond Edition”

Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, Lucy Liu
Director: Rob Marshall
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 113 minutes

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

Rob Marshall’s award winner musical “Chicago” is a great musical and probably is responsible for bringing the musical back in so many words. The film has an all-star cast including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah and John C. Reilly. I do not really understand why this film is getting a new “Diamond Edition” Blu-ray right now but is definitely worth checking out. I have seen this show on Broadway and yet the film actually supersedes the play. A must own for any fan of the film.

Official Premise: At a time when crimes of passion result in celebrity headlines, nightclub sensation Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) and spotlight seeking Roxie Hart (Zellweger) both find themselves sharing space on Chicago’s famed Murderess Row. They also share Billy Flynn (Gere), the town’s slickest lawyer with a talent for turning notorious defendants into local legends. But in Chicago, there’s only room for one legend!

Lions Gate delivered this Diamond Edition with a brand new, fully restored transfer. They are releasing this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + HD Digital UltraViolet copy. I was blown away with this film when I first saw it and it looks stunning on Blu-ray. The Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio surround track sounds stunning. The songs have never sounded better and really benefit also from this new track. This new transfer and upgraded audio is a perfect reason to pick up this Blu-ray.

In terms of special features, there is some great content. “Chicago in the Spotlight” is a brand new retrospective documentary with cast and crew. I would have been happy with the new transfer and audio track but they even went one step further with this extra content. There is an interesting and informative audio commentary with director Rob Marshall and screenwriter Bill Condon. There is a deleted musical number “Class” performed by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Queen Latifah. Lastly there is featurette focusing on “From Stage to Screen: The History of Chicago”.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, chicago, diamond, edition, review

3D Blu-ray Review “Hellbenders 3D”

Starring: Clifton Collins, Jr., Clancy Brown, Andre Royo
Director: J.T. Petty
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: February 18, 2014
Run Time: 87 minutes

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

I can’t apologize I am a sucker for horror films. Make it 3D horror and you really have me locked in. I have been a fan of horror director JT Petty (“The Burrowers”) since his first film “Soft for Digging”, which I remember he personally sent me on a VHS tape in the last 90’s. Top it off with a great cast including Clifton Collins Jr. (“The Boondock Saints II”) and Clancy Brown (“SpongeBob SquarePants”). This film is over-the-top and crazy as hell. Great visuals and If you love unique horror films, I would definitely recommend checking this film out for a fun time.

Official Premise: There are demons so terrible that no mortal man of God could successfully drive them back to Hell. The only option is for the exorcist himself to invite possession and then commit suicide, dragging along the demon to damnation – so the Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints – or Hellbenders – was formed. A group of elite, highly-trained exorcists, they live in a constant state of debauchery so they will be ready to go to Hell at any moment. When an infernal Norse demon called Black Surtr escapes into New York City intent on cracking open the gates of Hell, the Hellbenders must use every ounce of their debauchery to battle the demon and save the planet from eternal damnation!

Lions Gate really gave this film the treatment. It delivers a combo pack with a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + HD Digital UltraViolet copy. The 1080p transfer is fantastic and really sharp. The film was shot in state of the art 3D and it really pops off the screen. I thought it was very well done and it really suits the film. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which works well the action and the fantastic horror score. There is some decent special features included. There is a great audio commentary with writer/director JT Petty. There are also two behind-the-scenes featurette, “God’s Dirty Work – The Making of Hellbenders” and “Fly on the Wall”

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: 3d, bluray, hellbenders, review

Blu-ray Review “Fantastic Mr. Fox (The Criterion Collection)”

Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe
Director: Wes Anderson
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Criterion Collection
Release Date: February 18, 2014
Run Time: 87 minutes

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

Even since I was a kid, I have been fascinated with the work of Roald Dahl. When I heard that Wes Anderson was going to give his unique approach to the “Fantastic Mr. Fox” story of with stop-motion puppets, I couldn’t have been more excited. The film is so much fun and speaks to both kids and adults. You can see how much work went into each second of the film and it is just amazing. It also includes an amazing voice cast with George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Willem Dafoe, Michael Gambon and Bill Murray. Every time I watch this film it only get better. Easily my favorites and finally it is given the Blu-ray treatment it deserves thanks to The Criterion Collection. This is a must own for any fan of this film!

Official Premise: “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is the story of a clever, quick, nimble, and exceptionally well-dressed wild animal. A compulsive chicken thief turned newspaper reporter, Mr. Fox settles down with his family at a new foxhole in a beautiful tree directly adjacent to three enormous poultry farms—owned by three ferociously vicious farmers: Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. Mr. Fox simply cannot resist.

When I see that a film is getting a The Criterion Collection release, you know that it is going to be taken care of. With “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, it actually did receive a solid Blu-ray release back in 2010, so I was very curious to see how they were going to one-up that release. Well, I was not let down at all with this new digital master, approved by director Wes Anderson. It has never looked better. The stop-motion animation really strives with the brilliant colors which are presented so beautifully. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio also with the fantastic score from Alexandre Desplat. It is well-balanced surround track and also a nice improvement from the previous release. Literally blown-away!

This Criterion Collection comes stocked with one Blu-ray and two DVDs for the film, with all content available in both formats. Now that is a real treat, so you have various options when wanting to watch this. Another great treat included is a a booklet featuring a new essay; a 2002 article on Dahl’s Gipsy House by Anderson; White Cape, a comic book used as a prop in the film; and drawings, original paintings, and other ephemera. I think companies have forgotten what it is like when you used to open a DVD or Blu-ray case and actually find a booklet or pamplet in there. Nowadays, it is bare-bones usually. Thankfully, Criterion holds that tradition and continues to deliver even outside of the film’s presentations.

If you own the 2010 Blu-ray from 20th Century Fox already, be advised that this new Criterion Collection comes stocked with great new extras not available on Blu-ray previously. Firstly, there is a very fun and interesting audio commentary with Wes Anderson. There are storyboard animatics for the entire film, this is a MUST watch! There is great footage of the actors voicing their characters, puppet construction, stop-motion setups, and the recording of the score. There are interviews with cast and crew. I am huge fan of stop-motion animation and I loved watching the puppet animation tests, it is really amazing (and very hard) work!

There is a fantastic photo gallery of puppets, props, and sets. There the Animated awards acceptance speeches. My favorite is an audio recording of author Roald Dahl reading the book on which the film is based. There is gallery of Dahl’s original manuscripts, this was really neat to get to dive into. There is also an interesting and in-depth discussion and analysis of the film. I think this film deserves a good discussion because even though it might be considered a kids film since it is animated, it really isn’t completely. Lastly there is the Stop-motion Sony robot commercial by Wes Anderson rounding out the extras.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, collection, criterion, fantastic, fox, review, ...

Blu-ray Review “Mr. Nobody”

Actors: Jared Leto, Sarah Polley, Diane Kruger
Directors: Jaco Van Dormael
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 157 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

When I first saw the trailer for “Mr. Nobody” on a Blu-ray for another film from Magnolia Home Entertainment. I thought how the hell haven’t I heard about this film. In fact, this film was made back in 2008 and was even released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in France on in 2010, through Pathé. This film is most likely getting the treatment in the U.S. due to Leto’s role in “Dallas Buyer’s Club”. The film is very interesting and quick visually impressive. If you are a looking for something different on a Friday night, I would definitely recommend checking this out. It is quite unique and keeps your interest through the whole film.

Official Premise: “Mr. Nobody” tells the life story of Nemo Nobody, a 118 year-old man who is the last mortal on Earth after the human race has achieved quasi-immortality. On his deathbed, Nemo shares his life story with a reporter and reviews the choices he made along the way. Yet even with his last breath, a pivotal decision awaits to conclude his destiny.

The 1080p transfer is quite impressive. The film has quite a bit of visual effects and they really looks stunning.  Also benefiting from this is the impressive cinematography. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is also works very well, especially with Pierre Van Dormael’s score. This Blu-ray is also a treat people it includes an Extended Director’s Cut of the film, which runs at a stunning 157 minutes. The theatrical version is also included on the disc, which runs 141 minutes, though in only presented in 720p. The special features are a let down since there is only a short EPK featurette, “AXS TV: A Look at Mr. Nobody” and a Theatrical Trailer.

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

Blu-ray Review “About Time”

Actors: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander
Directors: Richard Curtis
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios
DVD Release Date: February 4, 2014
Running Time: 123 minutes

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

“About Time” locked in my interest since it is from the director of “Love Actually”, Richard Curtis. This is in fact Ricahrd Curtis’ last film ever (which is a damn shame). The film has a stunning cast, who all give funny yet touching performances including Rachel McAdams (“The Notebook”), Bill Nighy (“Love Actually”) and Domhnall Gleeson (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 & Part 2“). Usually I am not a huge fan of romantic comedies but when I read this featured time travel, that was enough of a sell for me. “Love Actually” is one of my favorite films ever and Richard Curtis has done it again, he does not only entertain you with this film but also able to get a grown man to shed some tears. I cannot recommend this film anymore, no question it is one of the best films I have seen recently.

Official Premise: The night after another unsatisfactory New Year party, Tim’s (Domhnall Gleeson) father (Bill Nighy) tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. Tim can’t change history, but he can change what happens and has happened in his own life – so he decides to make his world a better place…by getting a girlfriend (Rachel McAdams). But as his unusual life progresses, Tim finds out that his unique gift can’t save him from the sorrows and ups and downs that affect all families, everywhere. From filmmaker Richard Curtis (Love Actually), About Time is a comedy about love and time travel, which discovers that, in the end, making the most of life may not need time travel at all.

Universal consistently delivers fantastic Blu-ray releases. They really have been a leader for this format and when I receive a Universal release, I am usually never let down. “About Time” comes stocked as a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD copy with UltraViolet. This film is a romantic comedy, so it doesn’t push the barriers too much but the 1080p transfer is quite impressive still. The shooting locations definitely do take advantage of this format though. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track works great with the film. I was a big fan of the score by Nick Laird-Clowes and I thought it sounded great.

There are some great special features for this release. “About Tim and Time Travel” looks into the mechanics of time travel and Tim’s ability. “The Look – Style and Locations” looks into the various iconic London locations. “The World of Richard Curtis” looks into the director’s look and feel of a film. Next up, there is a fantastic jam-packed audio commentary track with Director Richard Curtis and Domhnall Gleeson, Bill Nighy, Vanessa Kirby, Lydia Wilson and Tom Hollander. There are some deleted scenes with introductions by Director Richard Curtis, as well as blooper reel. The “Luckiest” Music looks at why Curtis picked Ben Folds’ “The Luckiest”. Lastly there is a music video for Ellie Goulding ‘s “How Long Will I Love You?”, which is such a beautiful song and adds so much to the film itself!

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, review, time
« sdf
Previous
Page 40 of 111
Next
Next Page »