Blu-ray Review “Sherlock: Season Three”

Actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Rupert Graves, Una Stubbs, Mark Gatiss
Directors: Jeremy Lovering, Colm McCarthy, Nick Hurran
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 262 minutes

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

“Sherlock” has become quite the high profile show in the last year or so, most likely due to the blowing up of actor Benedict Cumberbatch. The combination of him with Martin Freeman (another phenomonal actor) is just so perfect. I know that these episodes are like little mini-movies but I would have loved to have more than just three episodes included this season. Hopefully BBC knows what it has on its hands now and before Cumberbatch gets too big, I hope they lock in another season quick.  The three episodes included are: “The Empty Hearse,” “The Sign of Three” and “His Last Vow.” If you enjoyed the first two seasons, this one builds on them and doesn’t disappoint.

Official Premise (Spoiler Alert if you haven’t seen Season 1 & 2): Two years after the devastating fallout of “The Reichenbach Fall,” Dr. John Watson has moved on with his life. New horizons, romance and a comforting domestic future beckon. But with London under threat of a huge terrorist attack, Sherlock Holmes is about to return with all the theatricality that comes so naturally. It’s what his best friend wanted more than anything, but for John Watson it might well be a case of “be careful what you wish for.” If Sherlock thinks everything will be just as he left it, though, he’s in for a very big surprise.

This Blu-ray arrives just two weeks after the conclusion of the series in the U.S. and as much as I wanted to have it immediately, I feel that BBC might have rushed a little too much to get this one out there. The episodes are only presented with an 1080i transfer. The transfers doesn’t look bad but its the point of the matter that bugs me. I know they can do better since shows like “Doctor Who” were upgraded to 1080p also. Same goes for the soundtrack, since here we only get a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. Now I’ve said this before but that isn’t Blu-ray quality for me. I was quite disappointed overall with the choices they went it.

I know that BBC hasn’t been including a Digital HD copy for shows like “Doctor Who” but they did with mini-series “Spies of Warsaw” and this show reminds me of that kind of show. I would have loved to see this available for Ultraviolet. In terms of special features, there are three featurettes included. The first is “The Fall”, which looks into this season’s events. Next up is “Fans, Villains & Speculation: The Legacy of Sherlock Holmes” looks into the popularity of the show and the character. Lastly “Shooting Sherlock” focusing on the production for this season.

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Blu-ray Review “Free Birds”

Starring: Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson and Amy Poehler
Director: Jimmy Hayward
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: February 4, 2014
Run Time: 91 minutes

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

“Free Birds” is not a bad movie, it is just not a great movie. The story is kinda blah and rather bland. The animation is solid and there are some good jokes but just nothing special. What the film does have is a solid voice cast including Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson and Amy Poehler. In fact, this film was released in theaters in 3D and that was actually the best aspect of the film…yet there is no 3D Blu-ray. Kids might enjoy. Parents will hate.

Official Premise: From the Academy Award-Winning producer of Shrek comes a hilarious animated adventure about two turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks who travel back in time in order to keep their species off the Thanksgiving menu. Featuring an all-star voice cast, including Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson and Amy Poehler, Free Birds is loaded with laughs and stuffed with fun for the whole family!

The 1080p transfer is sharp and like I said the animation is quite vibrant and crisp. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works well the film’s antics. The special features are decent. There consist of a few featurettes: Birds Flipping History, Animating Free Birds: The Main Course, Winging It: Animators in Action, Talking Turkey with Composer Dominic Lewis, Shake a Tail Feather and a theatrical trailer. The extras aren’t very kid friendly but do have some good behind-the-scenes content.

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Blu-ray Review “The Best Man Holiday”

Actors: Monica Calhoun, Morris Chestnut, Melissa De Sousa, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall
Directors: Malcolm D. Lee
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios
DVD Release Date: February 11, 2014
Running Time: 123 minutes

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

In 1999, I was working at a video store and I remember that the ensemble comedy “The Best Man” was almost impossible to keep on the shelves. This all-new sequel reunites the cast together again for a reunion packed with plenty of laughter, love, and surprises. The returning ensemble cast includes Morris Chestnut (“Identity Thief”), Terrence Howard (“Hustle & Flow”), Taye Diggs (“Baggage Claim”), Nia Long (“Soul Food”), Sanaa Lathan (“Contagion”), Regina Hall (“Scary Movie franchise”), Harold Perrineau (“Zero Dark Thirty”), Monica Calhoun (“Love & Basketball”) and Melissa De Sousa (“Miss Congeniality”). If you enjoyed the first film, you are going to love this film. I do know why they waited so long to come out with this but I am sure that they are not going to make that mistake again. I am sure that “The Best Man 3” is right around the corner.

Official Premise: Share the laughter, love and surprises as Harper (Taye Diggs), Lance (Morris Chestnut), Quentin (Terrence Howard), Jordan (Nia Long), Robyn (Sanaa Lathan), Mia (Monica Calhoun), Murch (Harold Perrineau), Candy (Regina Hall) and Shelby (Melissa De Sousa) all reunite for the first time in years. As they share their triumphs and tragedies, these college friends soon discover how easy it is to reignite long-forgotten rivalries and romances—all while new discoveries are made and secrets are revealed.

Universal delivers “The Best Man Holiday” as a Blu-ray Combo Pack including a Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD with UltraViolet. The 1080p transfer is very polished and really captures the holiday spirit…even in February. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works well with the films music, which sounds great. In terms of special features, there is an Alternate Ending, Gag Reel as well as some Deleted and Extended Scenes with Commentary by Writer/Director/Producer Malcolm D. Lee. There is also a audio commentary track with Malcolm D. Lee. “Smack Talk” looks at the filming of the girl fight scene. Lastly we have “Holiday Reunion: The Making of The Best Man Holiday” which goes behind-the-scenes with cast and crew.

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Blu-ray Review “The Jungle Book”

Starring: Phil Harris, Sebastian Cabot, Louis Prima, George Sanders, Bruce Reitherman, J. Pat O’Malley
Director: Wolfgang Reitherman
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 78 minutes

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

“The Jungle Book” is a Disney classic and packs some of the best and most fun jazzy, toe-tapping songs, including “I Wan’na Be Like You” and Academy Award-nominated classic “The Bare Necessities”. My 20-month old daughter has been watching the commercials of this Blu-ray and has already been dancing to the music. This is the first time that this film has ever been released on Blu-ray and also the first in almost seven years that it has been released from the Disney vault. “The Jungle Book” was Disney’s 19th animated masterpiece and also the last animated feature to have Walt Disney’s personal touch. Already watched this twice with my daughter, I have a feeling we are going to get a lot of use out of this.

Official Premise: Meet the most unforgettable characters and embark on a thrilling adventure with Mowgli as he journeys deep into the jungle and learns The Bare Necessities of life from happy-go-lucky Baloo the bear. Meet Bagheera, the wise old panther, and crazy King Louie, the orangutan. But watch out for the cunning tiger Shere Khan and Kaa, the ssssneakiest snake in the jungle! Explore your family’s wild side as you venture into The Jungle Book for extraordinary adventures and a heartwarming tale that celebrates the true meaning of friendship.

Disney released “The Jungle Book” under it’s Diamond Edition banner. It comes in a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy included. The 1080p transfer is absolutely fantastic. I remember watching this film on VHS as a kid and now as a adult, I was literally blown away by this presentation. My daughter was literally glued to the TV and just kept pointing at all the characters and naming them. There are two options for this film in terms of audio. There is a super impressive, brand new DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. It is fantastic and really works well with the music. It also comes with the original theatrical Dolby Digital Mono track as well for audio purists.

There is some great new special features created for this Blu-ray. There is a brief intro by composer Richard Sherman, which is option way to start the film. There is an 18-minute promo featurette for Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. There is an alternate ending included “Mowgli and The Hunter”, which is presented in storyboard format. There is also a fantastic 40-minute documentary “Growing up With Nine Old Men”, which includes a series of interviews looking into chief animators. The rest of the remaining extras have all been ported over from previous DVD editions.

There is a very interesting audio commentary track with the voice of Mowgli, Bruce Reitherman, Composer Richard Sherman and interview footage edited in from members of the original production team. There is also a five-part “Making of”, which runs just over 45 minutes. Rounding out the rest of the extras include four additional featurettes, a wildlife video for kids, seven deleted songs, sing-along lyrics and music video from Jonas Brothers. Of course, be sure to also pause the film when watching to take advantage of “Disney Intermission”, which is hosted by Baloo.

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Blu-ray Review “Night of the Demons”

Actors: Amelia Kinkade, Cathy Podewell, Allison Barron, Alvin Alexis, Linnea Quigley
Directors: Kevin Tenney
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Run Time: 90 minutes

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

When I was a kid, I used to rent from the video store called Royal Video (now long gone) in Long Island, NY. I remember they used to have a huge standee advertising this film and probably drew me into watching this film way too young. Amelia Kinkade was so great in the role of Angela. One of my favorite Screen Queens, Linnea Quigley, steals the show. This film is a perfect example of a great 1980’s splatter-fest. It has what every a guy would want in a horror movie. If you grew up with this film as I have, I highly recommend this. Hopefully Shout! is planning on releasing the two sequels on Blu-ray as well. They can keep the terrible remake though 😉

Official Premise: It’s Halloween night and Angela is throwing a party, but this is no ordinary spook bash. Everybody’s headed to Hull House, a deserted funeral home with a shocking secret in its past and something evil alive in its basement. Now the guests are becoming possessed, and this party’s treats include tongue-ripping, eyeball gouging, gratuitous nudity, bloody dismemberment and more. Welcome to the blowout where all Hell is breaking loose: You’re invited to Night Of The Demons.

This film flies onto Blu-ray with a fantastic Blu-ray transfer. I feel that the film has never looked better. I remember viewing this on VHS and if I only could have see it this way because it looks great. The DTS-HD Master Audio track also works so well with the film’s music and the scares as well. This Blu-ray/DVD combo pack comes with a great new cover art and also the classic poster artwork as well on the reserve side.

In terms of special features, there are a few great brand new extras created for this release. There is a new commentary track with Director Kevin Tenney and actors Cathy Podewell, Hal Havins, Billy Gallo and FX artist Steve Johnson. This one is a blast and great way to revisit this film. There is also another audio commentary track with Director Kevin Tenney, Executive Producer Walter Josten and Producer Jeff Geoffray. There are also new interviews with cast and crews including director Kevin Tenney, riter/producer Joe Augustyn and actress Linnea Quigley. Lastly there is a Promo Reel, trailers, TV spots and still galleries included.

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Blu-ray Review “All is Lost”

Actors: Robert Redford
Directors: J. C. Chandor
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 106 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

You have to give it to Robert Redford, the guy is 77 years old and he is still able to rock a role like “All is Lost”. The film was quite intense and was able to keep my full attention…for about half the film. I wasn’t able to take my eyes off the screen. I really cared for the character but this would have worked much better as a 90 minutes film. In terms of acting though, he gave what a hell of a performance and he does it basically without speaking. Very few actors are able to pull that off. So if you are looking for a film with great acting, I would recommend checking this out but personally it just didn’t do it for me.

Official Premise: Academy Award winner Robert Redford stars in “All is Lost”, an open-water thriller about one man’s battle for survival against the elements after his sailboat is destroyed at sea. Using only a sextant and nautical maps to chart his progress, he is forced to rely on ocean currents to carry him into a shipping lane in hopes of hailing a passing vessel. But with the sun unrelenting, sharks circling and his meager supplies dwindling, the ever-resourceful sailor soon finds himself staring his mortality in the face.

Lions Gate is releasing this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray and Digital HD Ultraviolet copy. The 1080p transfer is solid and really makes you feel like you are at sea with Mr. Redford. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works well to create the drama and almost succeeds in getting you sea sick. The special features are a score, no question. There is a solid audio commentary from Writer/Director/Producer J.C. Chandor and Producers Neal Dodson and Anna Gerb. There are  two featurettes “Big Film, Small Film” and “Preparing for The Storm”, which also includes focus on Storyboards, VFX Reel and Pre-Shooting. There are four vignettes looking at the The Story, The Filmmaker: JC Chandor, The Actor: Robert Redford and The Sound of All Is Lost. Lastly there is Time-lapse Footage for the film, which is pretty cool to check out.

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Blu-ray Review “Justice League: War”

Actors: Alan Tudyk, Michelle Monaghan, Shemar Moore, Sean Astin, Christopher Gorham
Directors: Jay Oliva
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Run Time: 79 minutes

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

“Justice League: War” is based on the 2012 graphic novel, “Justice League: Origin” and focuses on the world before the Justice League was created and gives us a new animated incarnation of DC Entertainment’s “The New 52”. The DCU movies are getting better and better with each new title. This one is edgy and really uses its PG-13 to the fullest. There is some decent kills, some of which are quite bloody. I just really enjoyed this origin story all around. I will be anxiously waiting for Spring’s “Son of Batman” up next.

The film packs a solid voice cast including Jason O’Mara as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Christopher Gorham as Barry Allen/The Flash, Justin Kirk as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Alan Tudyk as Clark Kent/Superman, Michelle Monaghan as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, Shemar Moore as Victor Stone/Cyborg, Sean Astin as Shazam, Bruce Thomas as Desaad and Steve Blum as Darkseid. I did not think that Alan Tudyk at first would make a great Superman…but he definitely nailed it.

Official Premise: When the powerful Darkseid and his massive, relentless forces invade Earth, a group of previously unaligned super heroes — misunderstood and, in some cases, hunted by the authorities — discover the only way to fend off the attack will be to work together as a cohesive unit. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Shazam and Cyborg combine their respective talents in an all-out battle to save the planet.

Warner Bros. yet again delivers a very impressive combo pack including Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD UltraViolet copy. The animation in the film is really sharp. I loved the character designs showing our superheros quite younger. The action is also represented well within the Blu-ray transfer. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is also rock solid and packs a real punch. The walls were definitely shaking in some of the epic battle scenes.

The special features are impressive like the film. There is “Deconstructing Justice League: War with Jay Oliva & Jim Lee”, which servers as a part commentary/part documentary going deep into the film. “Creating Heroes: The Life and Art of Jim Lee” is a documentary looking into the work of the great comic artist. “Justice League: War Act D” looks at the film from animatic to pencil tests. There are four episodes taken from the DC Comics Vault including Justice League Unlimited Season 3 “Destroyer”, Batman: The Brave and The Bold Season 2 “The Malicious Mr. Mind”, Young Justice Invasion: Destiny Calling Season 2 Part 1 “Happy New Year” and Season 2 Part 1 “Earthlings”. Lastly there is a sneak peek at “Son of Batman”, the next DC Animated Feature.

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Blu-ray Review “Puppet Master: The Blu-ray Collection – Volume 1”

Directors: David Schmoeller, David W. Allen, David DeCoteau
Number of discs: 3
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Full Moon Features
Release Date: November 20, 2012
Run Time: 264 minutes

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

“Puppet Master: The Blu-ray Collection – Volume 1” includes the following films “Puppet Master”, “Puppet Master II” and “Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge”. When you think of Full Moon Features, you thing of “Puppet Master”. They are the face for this company and in fact, they are the most successful independent direct-to-video horror franchise of all time! There has been a dozen films in this series and they may not all be perfect but they are certainly fun. This series has also seen some great talent come through including Paul Le Mat (“American Graffiti”, William Hickey (“The Nightmare Before Christmas), Irene Miracle (“Midnight Express” and Jimmie F. Skaggs (“Lethal Weapon”. A must own for any Full Moon fan. I just have one question since this came out in late 2012…where is Volume 2?

Series Official Premise: The secret of life has been discovered by master puppeteer Andre Toulon. But we quickly discover Toulon’s secret of death in the form of five killer puppets-each one uniquely qualified for murder and mayhem. Tunneler has a nasty habit of boring holes in people with his drill bit head. Ms. Leech regurgitates killer leeches that suck her victims dry. Pinhead strangles his enemies with his powerful vice-like hands. Blade has a gleaming hook for one hand and a razor-sharp knife for the other. And Jester, the ruthless brains of the bunch, is absolutely merciless. Together, they’re an army of skilled assassins, diabolically programmed to guard the deadly secrets of the Puppet Master throughout the decades.

The first 3 films, “Puppet Master”, “Puppet Master II” and “Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge”, have been fully remastered in HD and presented in 16:9. Each of them come stock with a 5.1 Surround Sound track as well. “Puppet Master” was surprisingly the worst of the bunch. But when you watch the comparison video below you realize how much work they actually did. Concerning “Puppet Master II” and “Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge”, they were both a vast improvement and looked pretty darn sharp in their high-def transfers. Full Moon actually went to work and deliver it’s fans some decent special features as well for these films. There are brand new introductions by Puppet Master creator Charles Band. There are also never-before-heard audio commentaries by Charles Band, writer C. Courtney Joyner (“Puppet Master III”), and director David DeCoteau (“Puppet Master III”). There are a few behind-the-scenes VideoZones episodes. There is a montage of “Puppet Master” kills. Lastly there is a rare “Puppet Master” promo and various Full Moon trailers included.

Check out below to see how the film was restored and a nice comparison:

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Blu-ray Review “Demonic Toys”

Starring: Tracy Scoggins, Daniel Cerny, Bentley Mitchum
Director: Peter Manoogian
MPAA Rated: R
Studio: Full Moon Features
Release Date: January 16, 2014
Run Time: 86 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

When I think of Full Moon, I think of cute yet very deadly creatures reigning terror. Whether it is puppets, gingerbread men or kids toys. “Demonic Toys” is a great entry in Full Moon’s films of the 90’s. Baby Oopsie Daisy, Jack Attack and Grizzly Teddy are a few of the character this film swamped. They have been reprised in various future films including spinoffs “Dollman vs. Demonic Toys”, “Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys” and sequel, “Demonic Toys 2”. This film is not perfect but it is a classic 90’s horror film and this is a must purchase for any Full Moon fan!

Official Premise: They’re cute and cuddly by day, lethal demons by night. Ruthless killing machines come alive for just one purpose…death. And for five adults in an abandoned warehouse, every child’s worst nightmare has become a deadly reality. While on a stakeout, Judith Gray (Tracy Scoggins), a beautiful, tough cop, is trapped inside a warehouse full of toys. But these are no ordinary playthings they have been awakened to murderous life by a strange child of darkness, “The Kid” (Daniel Cerny). Each toy feeds on blood: Jack Attack heads straight for the throat; Grizzly Teddy is not afraid to show its claws; and Baby Oopsie Daisy is truly to die for. Now it’s up to Gray and a passing delivery boy, Mark Wayne (Bentley Mitchum), to stop the deadly, DEMONIC TOYS!

I have to be honest, I wasn’t really expecting a crystal clear 1080p transfer for this title. What we got though was a bit of a let down personally. There was quite a bit noise and the transfer shows its true age. It is still a step up from DVD release but I think they could have done a little more in terms of cleaning this up. The same goes for the audio track, since there is only a Dolby Digital 2.0 track included for me that screams DVD not Blu-ray. The only special features included are an original VideoZone episode and a few rare trailers.

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Blu-ray Review “Dollman”

Actors: Tim Thomerson, Jackie Earle Haley, Kamala Lopez, Humberto Ortiz, Nicholas Guest
Director: Albert Pyun
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Full Moon Features
DVD Release Date: December 17, 2013
Run Time: 80 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I remember the first time that I saw “Dollman”, I rented it on VHS from a mom and pop store called Royal Video in Long Island, New York. The film introduced me to Tim Thomerson and due to that I also became a huge fan of “Trancers” series. The film does have the best script or effects but that matter…but it does have done cool kill scenes and overall is fun as hell. So this film has a special place with me and I am glad to see that Full Moon Features gave it new life on Blu-ray.

Official Premise: Brick Bardo (Tim Thomerson) is a traveler from outer space who is forced to land on Earth. Though regular sized on his home planet, he is doll-sized here on Earth, as are the enemy forces who have landed as well. While Brick enlists the help of an impoverished girl and her son, the bad guys enlist the help of a local gang. When word leaks out as to his location, all hell breaks loose. Brick is besieged by an onslaught of curious kids, angry gang members, and his own doll-sized enemies, and he must protect the family who has helped him and get off the planet alive.

The 1080p transfer for this title looks good, it is not perfect but definitely good. You have to imagine that this was made in the early 90’s on video and due to that it shows its age a little but I feel that it adds to the charm. The audio options for a bit of a let down in terms of HD option but there are both Dolby Digital 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1 track available. The score is still sharp but I would have loved to see HD options.

There are some decent special features included. First, there is the original VideoZone episode included. There is a video vidcast with Tim Thomerson and Charles Band from July 2013, instead though I would have loved to see Charles and Tim and do a new commentary track. There is 1988 promo for the lost “Pulse Pounders”. Lastly there are series trailers for “Trancers” and other Full Moon titles.

 

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Blu-ray Review “How I Live Now”

Actors: Saoirse Ronan, George MacKay
Directors: Kevin Macdonald
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 101 minutes

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

I found out about “How I Live Now” through the composer Jon Hopkins, who asked me to check out his score to the film. Let me tell you the score is outstanding but the film is definitely not. I think it is safe to say now that I am official not a fan of Saoirse Ronan. With this film, which was quite unwatchable topped with last year’s gem and official worst film of the year, “The Host”. I honestly expected more from co-writer Tony Grisoni (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) and Academy Award-winning director Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland). Skip the film, buy the soundtrack.

Official Premise: Set in the near-future UK, Saoirse Ronan plays Daisy, an American teenager sent to stay with relatives in the English countryside. Initially withdrawn and alienated, she begins to warm up to her charming surroundings, and strikes up a romance with the handsome Edmund (George MacKay). But on the fringes of their idyllic summer days are tense news reports of an escalating conflict in Europe. As the UK falls into a violent, chaotic military state, Daisy finds herself hiding and fighting to survive.

The Blu-ray presentation on this Blu-ray is quite beautiful. It really captures the locations quite well. I enjoyed it very much. The real winner of the release is the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which portrays the music and Jon Hopkins score so well. I love his score, it is soft and deep but also quite dark. In terms of special features, there is only a cheap EPK featurette, “AXS TV: A Look at How I Live Now” and trailer included.

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Blu-ray Review “Frankenstein Created Woman”

Starring: Peter Cushing, Susan Denberg, Thorley Walters, Duncan Lamont, Barry Warren
Director: Terence Fisher
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Millennium/Hammer
DVD Release Date: January 28, 2014
Run Time: 92 minutes

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

Personally, when I think about Peter Cushing, I think about him as Baron Frankenstein. He became well-known for playing that role through six films spanning from late 1950’s through the 1970’s under Hammer Studios. “Frankenstein Created Woman” is the fourth film in Hammer’s Frankenstein series. The film is such a classic and thanks to Millennium Films, the film is getting Blu-ray treatment for the first time ever. They have big proprietor of Hammer Films and I hope that this trend continues because it great to see classics like this get the spotlight again. A must have for any true horror fan!

Official Premise: A tormented girl (Susan Denberg) drowns herself after her lover is framed for her father s murder and guillotined. Baron Frankenstein (Peter Cushing), experimenting with the transfer of souls, places her lover s soul into her body, bringing Christina back to life. With no memories of her past life, she becomes driven by a ghostly revenge and carries out a violent retribution on those responsible for both deaths.

It is crazy to this that this film is nearly 50 years old…but it is true. Millennium delivered a solid 1080p transfer. It is clean and really sharp looking. I thought it really packed a visual punch. The same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which really captures the essence of what a Hammer film should sound like.  This Collector’s Edition Blu-ray also includes limited edition exclusive collectible cards. They are basically smaller reproduced lobby cards for the film and a must have for any collector.

In terms of special features, this release scores again. There is a fantastic audio commentary track with Derek Fowlds (“Johann”), Robert Morris (“Hans”) and Jonathan Rigby (Hammer Historian). There is also a brand new documentary called “Hammer Glamour”. This is a must watch for any Hammer fan. There are also two “World of Hammer” episodes included. The first is “The Curse of Frankenstein” and “Hammer Stars: Peter Cushing”. Great extras. Lastly, there is an Animated Stills Gallery and trailer included.

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Blu-ray Review “Escape Plan”

Actors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Jim Caviezil
Directors: Mickael Hafstrom
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Summit Inc/Lionsgate
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Run Time: 115 minutes

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

“Escape Plan” is an action fans dream come true bringing legends Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger together in one film. I know they were in “The Expendables” films together but that felt more like a cameo. “Escape Plan” is pure escapism. It is quite intense and definitely action-packed thriller. It also features an impressive supporting cast including Jim Caviezel (TV’s “Person of Interest”), Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (“Fire with Fire”), Sam Neill (“Jurassic Park”), Vinnie Jones (“X-Men: The Last Stand”) and Vincent D’Onofrio (TV’s “Law and Order: Criminal Intent”). Recommended for sure to all 80’s action fan boys. These action stars are in their 60’s but they still kick-ass.

Official Premise: One of the world’s foremost authorities on structural security agrees to take on one last job: breaking out of an ultra-secret, high-tech facility called “The Tomb.” Deceived and wrongly imprisoned, Ray Breslin (Stallone) must recruit fellow inmate Emil Rottmayer (Schwarzenegger) to help devise a daring, nearly impossible plan to escape from the most protected and fortified prison ever built.

“Escape Plan” is quite the beast of a film. It cost $70 million and it looks quite awesome.  It arrives on Blu-ray as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD and Digital HD UltraViolet. The 1080p transfer really looks great and the high-tech prison is very polished looking. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works great with the non-stop action and even work up my daughter upstairs (sorry sweetie). When it comes to these action films you cannot help it but amp it up to 11 and test to see what these audio tracks can do.

In terms of special features, the film packs some decent extras. There is an audio commentary with Director Mikael Hafstrom and Co-Writer Miles Chapman. A little technical but still informative. There are three featurettes are included. “Executing the Plan: The Making of Escape Plan” goes behind-the-scenes in the production. “Maximum Security: The Real-Life Tomb” looks into how they built this prison. “Clash of the Titans” looks into bring our two leads together. Lastly there are a few Deleted Scenes included.

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

Blu-ray Review “The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box”

Actors: Michael Sheen, Sam Neill, Lena Headey, Aneurin Barnard, Ioan Gruffud
Director: Jonathan Newman
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Image Entertainment
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 98 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

Right off the bat, I was sold on “The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box” due to this amazing cast including Michael Sheen (Showtime’s “Masters of Sex”, “TRON Legacy”), Lena Headey (HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” “300”), Sam Neill (“Jurassic Park”), Ioan Gruffudd (“Fantastic Four), Aneurin Barnard (Starz’s “The White Queen”, “Ironclad”). There is a lot of great talent here. This fantasy/action/adventure film is quite epic and really fun. “The Adventurer” is a visual film and also packs a decent size budget, which really adds to the scale. I hope they are planning on making this a franchise because there is great position there.

Official Premise: Ancient mysteries. Powerful evil. And a fearless hero’s quest through a fantastical realm of steam-powered wonders and sinister magic… In “The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box”, seventeen-year-old Mariah Mundi’s life is turned upside down when his parents vanish and his younger brother is kidnapped. Following a trail of clues to the darkly majestic Prince Regent Hotel, Mariah discovers a hidden realm of child-stealing monsters, deadly secrets and a long-lost artifact that grants limitless wealth – but also devastating supernatural power. With the fate of his world, and his family at stake, Mariah will risk everything to unravel the Curse of the Midas Box!

Image Entertainment delivered this film with a solid Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p transfer is sharp and looks great with the visual aspect of the film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track holds steady with the action and has some great wall-shaking  moments. There is only one special feature included on this Blu-ray. It is a decent behind-the-scenes look with “The Making of The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box”.  I would have loved to see a commentary track from this amazing cast as well.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: adventurer, bluray, box, curse, midas, review, ...

Blu-ray Review “Machete Kills”

Starring: Danny Trejo, Alexa Vega, Mel Gibson, Amber Heard, Sofía Vergara, Charlie Sheen
Directors: Robert Rodriguez
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Running Time: 109 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

When I saw the faux trailer for Robert Rodriguez’s Machete in “Grindhouse”, I thought that would make an awesome and fun as hell movie. Well that came true with “Machete” was released in 2010. It was  good but not perfect. “Machete Kills” is a sharp follow up. It is a little more out-there, so to say, but I actually enjoyed it more than the first. The gore is amped up and the comedy is more slapstick. If you are looking for a good laugh and a wild ride then I would definitely recommend checking out “Machete Kills”. I really hope that Rodriguez some how gets to make “Machete Kills Again … IN SPACE!“, because I will be first in line.

Danny Trejo is not only bad-ass, he is beyond bad-ass. The guy is nearly 70 years old and yet he rocks this character like a pro! “Machete Kills” also packs a ridicoulosy insane support cast including Michelle Rodriguez, Mel Gibson, Sofía Vergara, Amber Heard, Charlie Sheen (using his real name of “Carlos Estévez”), Cuba Gooding, Jr., Lady Gaga, Antonio Banderas, Jessica Alba, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexa Vega and Tom Savini. Some of them play out like cameos but still really fun.

Official Premise: Danny Trejo returns as legendary ex-Federale Machete Cortez in this action- packed thrill ride from innovative director Robert Rodriguez. In his latest mission, Machete is recruited by the U.S. President (Charlie Sheen/Carlos Estevez) to stop a crazed global terrorist (Mel Gibson) from starting a nuclear war. With a bounty on his head, Machete breaks all the rules as he faces death at every turn from an all-star cast of deadly assassins.

Universal’s combo pack release is quite amazing containing a Blu-ray and DVD discs along with a Digital HD UltraViolet copy. The 1080p is quite awesome. The film started as a faux Grindhouse trailer. This film is much more polished but still keeps that Grindhouse feeling. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is equally awesome and really impresses ranging from the non-stop action, gunfire and explosions. In terms of special features though, there is not much here. “Making Machete Kills” is a decent 20 minutes behind-the-scenes look into the production. The only other extras are an additional 20 minutes of Deleted and Extended Scenes but they are nothing special. I would have loved for a crazy commentary track for sure on this crazy film.

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