Blu-ray Review “Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection”

Starring: James Stewart, John Forsythe, Bruce Dern, Tippi Hedren, Karen Black, Priscilla Lane
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Format: Limited Edition
Number of discs: 15
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Run Time: 1759 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Man, when Universal says it is going to celebrate its 100th anniversary, they aren’t messing around. Earlier this month they released the stunning “Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection”. and now this release even tops that. This ultimate box set is jam-packed with 15 classic Hitchcock films including 13 that have never been released on Blu-Ray. “Psycho”‘ and “North by Northwest” are the only films in this set that have released previously. The 15 films are included in this “Masterpiece Collection” that span over three decades from 1942-1976 including “Psycho”, “The Birds”, “Vertigo”, “Rear Window”, “North by Northwest”, “The Man Who Knew Too Much”, “Marnie”, “Saboteur”, “Shadow of a Doubt”, “Rope”, “The Trouble with Harry”, “Torn Curtain”, “Topaz”, “Frenzy” and “Family Plot”.

These films feature some of the best talent and performances that Hollywood has to offer, including James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, Julie Andrews, Paul Newman, Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Tippi Hedren, Eva Marie Saint, Kim Novak, John Forsythe, Bruce Dern, Karen Black, Priscilla Lane and even Sean Connery. If 15 amazing Hitchcock films in high definition isn’t enough this release also includes over 15 hours of bonus features including a newly produced documentary for “The Birds”. If you could want any more Hitchcock (if that is possible), Warner Home Entertainment has recently released both “Strangers on a Train” and “Dial M for Murder 3D” to Blu-ray. This “Masterpiece Collection” is only set to be available for a limited time only for if you are a fan of Hitchcock, then I would highly recommend not missing this release.

Everyone knows that the legendary Alfred Hitchcock is the “Master of Suspense”.  He has directed some of cinema’s most thrilling and recognizable classics. This release is definitely the definitive collection and it showcases Alfred Hitchcock’s true cinematic talent.  The packaging for this release is similar to “Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection”. The 15 discs are packaged inside a really high-quality and sharp flipbook packaging with some amazing glossy images.  It also includes an exclusive 58-page collector’s book, called “The Master of Suspense”, which includes original artwork, trivia, and information about the films.  Besides “Psycho” and “North by Northwest”, which has been treated well on Blu-ray, each film has been digitally restored from high resolution film elements in order to guarantee the ultimate Hitchcock experience.

Here are the premises for the 15 films included: “Saboteur (1942)”: This riveting wartime thriller stars Robert Cummings as a factory worker who is falsely accused of sabotage and sets off on a desperate, action-packed cross-country chase to clear his name. “Shadow of a Doubt (1943)”: This thriller about a young woman (Teresa Wright) who comes to suspect that the uncle (Joseph Cotton) she idolizes may in fact be a murderer was considered Alfred Hitchcock’s personal favorite. “Rope (1948)”: Two friends strangle a classmate and then hold a party for their victim’s family and friends while their former teacher (James Stewart) becomes increasingly suspicious that his students have turned his intellectual theories into brutal reality. “Rear Window (1954)”: James Stewart and Grace Kelly star in this voyeuristic masterpiece about a photographer who becomes obsessed with watching his neighbors and discovers a possible murder. “The Trouble with Harry (1955)”: While no one really minds that Harry is dead, everyone has a different idea about what should be done with his body in this quirky mystery starring Shirley MacLaine and John Forsythe. “The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)”: James Stewart and Doris Day star as a vacationing American couple who accidentally become involved in an international assassination plot and must take matters into their own hands after their son is kidnapped. “Vertigo (1958)”: James Stewart and Kim Novak star in this dizzying web of mistaken identity, passion and murder involving an acrophobic detective and the mysterious blonde he rescues from the San Francisco Bay.

“North by Northwest (1959)”: Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint star in this edge-of-your-seat thriller about an adman who gets plunged into a realm of spy and counterspy and is abducted, framed for murder, chased and crop-dusted. “Psycho (1960)”: Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh star in this shocking classic about an unsuspecting visitor to the Bates Motel who falls prey to one of cinema’s most notorious psychopaths, Norman Bates. “The Birds (1963)”: ‘Tippi’ Hedren and Rod Taylor star in this horrific tale of nature gone berserk when thousands of birds flock into a seaside town and terrorize the residents in a series of deadly attacks. “Marnie (1964)”: ‘Tippi’ Hedren stars as Marnie, a compulsive liar and thief, who winds up marrying the very man (Sean Connery) she attempts to rob in this psychological thriller that races to an inescapable conclusion. “Torn Curtain (1966)”: Paul Newman and Julie Andrews star in this action-packed thriller about a world-famous scientist who goes undercover to get top-secret information and ends up running for his life from enemy agents. “Topaz (1969)”: John Forsythe stars as an American CIA agent who hires a French operative to travel to Cuba and investigate rumors of Russian missiles and a spy codenamed “Topaz”. “Frenzy (1972)”: In this morbid blend of horror and wit, the “Necktie Murderer” has the London Police on red alert and an innocent man (Jon Finch) is on a desperate quest to find the real criminal and clear his own name. “Family Plot (1976)”: Chaos ensues in this suspense-comedy when a phony psychic and her not-so-bright boyfriend cross paths with a slick diamond merchant and his beautiful girlfriend.

On the packaging Universal is pushing the fact that this release included PERFECT video and PERFECT sound and, hot damn, that is not a lie. I would literally call these perfect transfers. Here is the listings of the audio tracks available for each film. “Saboteur”, “Shadow of a Doubt”, “Rope”, “Rear Window”, “The Trouble with Harry”, “The Man Who Knew Too Much”, “Marnie”, “Torn Curtain”, “Topaz”, “Frenzy” and “Family Plot” all include a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono tracks. They all sound amazing on Blu-ray and work perfectly for each film. “Vertigo”, “Psycho” and “The Birds” include both a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, as well as a DTS Master-Audio 2.0 Mono. Lastly “North by Northwest” includes the movie impressive with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround track, as well as a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track.

If the amazing collection of 15 years isn’t good enough each film is packed with some really ace special features. “Saboteur (1942)” includes three featurettes including “Saboteur: A Closer Look”, “Storyboards: The Statue of Liberty Sequence” and “Alfred Hitchcock’s Sketches”. There are also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included. “Shadow of a Doubt (1943)” includes two featurettes including “Beyond Doubt: The Making of Hitchcock’s Favorite Film” and “Production Drawings by Art Director Robert Boyle”. There are also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included. “Rope (1948)” includes a featurette called “Rope Unleashed”, as well as Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer. “Rear Window (1954)” comes chock-full of goodies. First there is a commentary track with John Fawell, author of “Hitchcock’s Rear Window: The Well-Made Film”. There are a bunch of great featurettes including “Rear Window Ethics: An Original Documentary”, “A Conversation with Screenwriter John Michael Hayes”, “Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of The Master”, “Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Hitchcock”, “Hitchcock-Truffaut Interview Excerpts” and “Masters of Cinema”. There is also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included, as well as a re-release Trailer Narrated by James Stewart. “The Trouble with Harry (1955)” comes with one feature titled “The Trouble with Harry Isn’t Over”. There are also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included. “The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)” includes a behind-the-scenes look into “The Making of The Man Who Knew Too Much”. There is also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included.

The next four films comes with the most impressive extras.  “Vertigo (1958)” comes with two audio commentary tracks with Associate Producer Herbert Coleman, Restoration Team Robert A. Harris and James C. Katz + more and there is also one with director William Friedkin. There are four featurettes including “Obsessed with Vertigo: New Life for Hitchcock’s Masterpiece” and “Partners in Crime: Hitchcock’s Collaborators”, “The Vertigo Archives” and “100 Years of Universal: The Lew Wasserman Era”.  As well as Hitchcock / Truffaut Interview Excerpts and the Foreign Censorship Ending.  Lastly this wraps up with the Theatrical and Restoration Theatrical Trailer. “North by Northwest (1959)” includes a commentary track from screenwriter Ernest Lehman.  As well as four featurettes including “The Master’s Touch: Hitchcock’s Signature Style”, “Cary Grant: A Class Apart”, “North by Northwest: One for the Ages” and “Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North by Northwest”.  I also am a huge fan of the isolated music-only audio track included.  Lastly, there is a stills gallery and theatrical trailers and a TV spot included. “Psycho (1960)” starts off with a commentary track from Stephen Rebello, author of “Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho”. There are a bunch of amazing featurettes including “The Making of Psycho”, “Psycho Sound”, “In The Master’s Shadow: Hitchcock’s Legacy” and “The Psycho Archives”. There is also “Hitchcock-Truffaut Interview Excerpts” and “Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho” included.  Fans of “The Shower Scene” will be happy to find it here with and without Music and also in storyboards by Saul Bass. Lastly there are Posters and Psycho Ads, Lobby Cards, Behind-the-Scenes Photographs, Production Photographs and Theatrical and Re-release Trailers included.

“The Birds (1963)” is the only film wiht a newly produced extra, “The Birds: Hitchcock’s Monster Movie”. It also includes a rare Deleted Scene and Original Ending.  There is a featurette called “All About The Birds”. There is vintage “Tippi Hedren’s Screen Test” footage, as well as Hitchcock-Truffaut Interview Excerpts. There are two Universal International Newsreels included “The Birds Is Coming” and “Suspense Story: National Press Club Hears Hitchcock”. There are Storyboards, as well as Production Photographs and the theatrical trailer included. Lastly there is “100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics and The Lot”, which are also available on the “Universal Classic Monsters” release. “Marnie (1964)” comes with two featurettes “The Trouble with Marnie” and “The Marnie Archives” and wraps up with the Theatrical Trailer. “Torn Curtain (1966)” has two featurettes “Torn Curtain Rising” and “Scenes Scored by Bernard Herrmann”. There is also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included. “Topaz (1969)” includes Alternate Endings, as well as a featurettes “Topaz: An Appreciation by Film Historian and Critic Leonard Maltin” and “Storyboards: The Mendozas”. There is also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included. “Frenzy (1972)” includes one feature “The Story of Frenzy” and there is also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included. The last film “Family Plot (1976)” includes two features “Plotting Family Plot” and “Storyboards: The Chase Scene”. There is also Storyboards, Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included.

If you are a Hitchcock fan, I know this release might be a little pricey but it is honestly worth every penny.  The films look not only impressive but like I said perfect.  You may find that the UK also has this release available for cheaper (when converted) but be warned since the UK box does not contain “North By Northwest.” So depends how much that film is worth to you, especially since it has been previously released. I just wait till my daughter (not 5 months old) will get to experience these films with me.  I am going to look forward to spending a lot of time introducing her to the masterpieces of Alfred Hitchcock.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Prep & Landing / Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice: Totally Tinsel Collection”

Actors: Dave Foley, Derek Richardson, Sarah Chalke, Rob Riggle
Directors: Kevin Deters, Stevie Wermers
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Run Time: 46 minutes

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

Since their debut in 2009, Wayne and Lanny have become my favorite Christmas elves. The “Prep & Landing” series is something I look forward to ever year. It is always so clever and smart. Also they are Executive Produced by John Lasseter, so you know it is going to be sharp. This Blu-ray release includes the original “Prep & Landing” and also “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice”. Both of these specials are two of my must-watch each Christmas season. If you are a fan of these specials, then you are going to be excited nonetheless to enjoy them on this high-def Blu-ray. Also keep an eye out since there is another holiday special being planned, though date not disclosed at the time of writing. Fingers crossed for Holidays 2012.

“Prep & Landing” – On Christmas Eve, a high-tech team of elves from an elite unit known as ‘Prep & Landing’ ensures homes around the world are prepared for Santa’s visit. But when two hilarious little elves face unexpected challenges and are pushed to their limits, it’ll take a great big effort to save the season. Enjoy a heartwarming holiday classic sure to make everyone’s Christmas list!

“Prep & Landing: Naughty Vs. Nice” – The outrageous yuletide adventures of Christmas elves Lanny and Wayne continue in this totally tinsel adventure that reminds us there’s room for everyone on the ‘nice’ list. Santa’s stealthiest little elves must race to recover classified North Pole technology, which has fallen into the hands of a computer-hacking naughty kid, in order to stop Christmas from descending into chaos. Bring the family together for a comical adventure that puts the Ho, Ho, Ho in your holidays!

This release comes in a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack. The animation is very polished and looks sharp on its 1080p transfer. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also works well with Michael Giacchino score. The special features are also very impressive for this release. There are two bonus “Stocking Stuffer” shorts “Operation: Secret Santa” and “Tiny’s Big Adventure”. There is a fun behind-the-scenes feature with Grace Potter performing in-studio on “Behind the Jingle”. “Kringle Academy” is a cute feature on how to become one of the few, the proud, the merry. Lastly “North Pole News & Commercials” are fun little extras that kiddies will surely enjoy.

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DVD Review “The Flintstones: Prime-Time Specials Collection – Volume 1”

Directed by: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera
Voices of: Alan Reed, Jean Vander Pyl, Mel Blanc, Bea Benaderet, Gerry Johnson, Don Messick, John Stephenson
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 99 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“The Flintstones” are a timeless cartoon that can never be replaced. Warner Archive is releasing a pair of classic Flintstones specials on DVD for the first time. “The Flintstones Prime-Time Specials Collection – Volume 1” includes the special “The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone” and “The Flintstones Little Big League”. These classic Hanna-Barbera specials are perfect for cartoon fans of all ages. I would think that this being being released now to steal some spotlight from Halloween. If you are a fan of the series (I mean who isn’t) then this is a great addition to your collection.

“The Flintstones Meet Rockula” originally aired during Halloween of 1979 and “The Flintstones Little Big League” originally aired April of 1978. These are classics have been LONG out of print before Warner Archive released these as part of their Hanna–Barbera Classics Collection. These episodes are newly remastered and looks sharp for specials that are well over 30 years old. They are presented in 4 X 3 FULL FRAME with their original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. Being a fan of this show since I was a kid, this release is a real treat to get to own these fantastic specials.  Time for Volume 2! Bring it on!

Synopsis: Following a spate of Saturday morning spin-offs, America’s favorite Stone Age family returned to network prime-time with a full slate of hysterical pre-historical specials – no quitting time for Fred! In The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone, the Flintstones and the Rubbles travel to fear-fraught Rockysylvania thanks to a big game show win. Fred and Barney soon stumble upon – and awaken – the legendary Frankenstone Monster, who promptly revives his vampiric master, Rockula. When Rockula falls head over batwings for Wilma, will Fred end up having an undead-old time? Flintstones Little Big League sees Fred and Barney facing off as opposing Little League coaches while Bamm-Bamm and Pebbles duel across the diamond. Swept up by competitiveness and paternal pride, their friendship ends up in the dug-out doghouse. Meanwhile, a cop, a judge and Mr. Slate are all putting pressure on Fred to win at all costs – what’s a cavedad to do?

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Blu-ray Review “The Prophecy: The Complete Collection – 5 Film Set”

Directed by: Greg Spence, Gregory Widen, Patrick Lussier, Joel Soisson
Starring: Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, Viggo Mortensen, Virginia Madsen Elias Koteas, Vincent Spano, Russell Wong
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 6th 2012
Running Time: 428 minutes

The Prophecy: 4 out of 5 stars
The Prophecy II: 3.5 out of 5 stars
The Prophecy 3: The Ascent: 3.5 out of 5 stars
The Prophecy IV: Uprising: 3 out of 5 stars
The Prophecy V: Forsaken: 3 out of 5 stars

Finally! Echo Bridge has released all 5 “The Prophecy” films in one Blu-ray release. They have previous been split up in all shorts of different sets. But now we get “The Prophecy / Prophecy II / The Prophecy 3: The Ascent / The Prophecy IV: Uprising / The Prophecy V: Forsaken” all together in one release…and it is great! There is no upgrades from previous release, so if you have them then stick with those.  But if you’ve been holding out, then this is your time! I have been a fan of these films (yes, even the sequels) and I am happy to get a chance to have them all in collection.

“The Prophecy” follows an L.A. homicide detective, who while fighting to stop the forces of evil, finds an unlikely ally in an elementary school teacher. Together they race against time and terror to save the world as we know it. The Prophecy: God’s Army” brings the returns of Christopher Walken as the menacing angel Gabriel. The only hope for survival in the battle of good and evil lands in the unborn child of an innocent woman (Jennifer Beals)…unless Gabriel catches her first. “The Prophecy 3: The Ascent” concludes the Gabriel trilogy, as fearsome armies of rebel angels wage war in heaven and on Earth, Pyriel, the brutal Angel of Genocide, rises to power and intends to destroy mankind. The only one on Earth with the ability to stop the bloodshed is Danyael, who was born of an angel and a woman.

Next we come to the sequels without Christopher Walken: “The Prophecy: Uprising” jump starts the series again, when an ancient religious manuscript lands in the hands of an unsuspecting young woman, she is suddenly thrust into the center of an epic battle between ruthless fallen angels. “The Prophecy: Forsaken” follows the fighting for control of the Lexicon – an ancient religious text that reveals the arrival of the Antichrist – a group of fallen angels will stop at nothing to capture it and the young woman who possesses it.

The Blu-ray presentation on all these films are similar to the previous releases from Echo Bridge, that which are quite impressive. All five of these films are presented with 1080p high definition transfer except “The Prophecy 3: The Ascent” which is only 1080i, not sure why this could be fixed. The audio tracks are split up with all different results.   presented with a Dolby Digital have a sharp 5.1 DTS track.   “The Prophecy 3: The Ascent” comes with a 5.1 track and lastly “The Prophecy II” only comes with a 2.0 Stereo track. There are no special features included on these very full release. If you are a fan of the series and looking to own the complete series, then this is a cheap and quick way to get these films on Blu-ray.

 

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DVD Review “Frank Capra: The Early Collection”

Director: Frank Capra
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Number of Discs: 5
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: September 27, 2012
Running Time: 450 Minutes

Our Score: 4 out 5 of stars

Frank Capra is one of Hollywood’s most beloved directors, though many of his earlier films have never been made available on DVD….until now. This release features five key films which showcase his career before he became the legendary director we all knew him as. “The Frank Capra: The Early Collection” is available exclusively through TCM’s online store as part of the TCM Vault Collection. The five films includings includes re-mastered editions of “Rain or Shine” (1930), and four early collaborations with his legendary leading lady Barbara Stanwyck: “Ladies of Leisure” (1930), “The Miracle Woman” (1931), “Forbidden” (1932) and “The Bitter Tea of General Yen” (1933). If you are a fan of Capra’s work, I would HIGHLY recommend this release.

The following are the five films included in Frank Capra: The Early Collection:
“Ladies of Leisure” (1930) – This drama marked Frank Capra’s first collaboration with Barbara Stanwyck. The film tells of a Depression-era romance between a working-class model and a high-society artist, played by Ralph Graves. The film is based on the 1924 play Ladies of the Evening, written by Milton Herbert Gropper.

“Rain or Shine” (1930) – This rollicking comedy-drama follows the ups and downs of a struggling traveling circus. Joe Cook, Louise Fazenda, Joan Peers and William Collier Jr. star in this film, a non-musical version of a Broadway musical of the same name. {Note: The International version of the film is included here}

“The Miracle Woman” (1931) – In this dramatic exposé of religious charlatans, Barbara Stanwyck stars as a female preacher modeled on Aimee Semple McPherson. David Manners co-stars as the blind man who falls in love with her.

“Forbidden (1932)” – This charming, romantic drama depicts the intense relationship between librarian Barbara Stanwyck and a wealthy married man, played by Adolphe Menjou. Ralph Bellamy and Dorothy Peterson co-star.

“The Bitter Tea of General Yen” (1933) – This once-controversial drama depicts an affair between the fiancée of an American missionary, played by Barbara Stanwyck, and a Chinese warlord, played by Nils Asther. Toshia Mori shines as General Yen’s concubine, Mah-Li. The film, which was the first ever to play Radio City Music Hall, also features a memorable dream sequence in which Yen seduces the young missionary. The interracial aspect of the story led the film to be banned in many areas where miscegenation laws were in place.

These films are presented for the first time on DVD and have been restored and remastered. Each film looks equally fantastic, especially for their age.  This release has a lot of love behind it.  It also comes with a nice presentation flip-found case. There are also some decent special features including introductions from Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard on “The Bitter Tea of General Yen”. Ron also intros on “The Miracle Woman” and Michel Gondry intros on “Rain or Shine”.  There is an audio commentary track from Jeanine Basinger on “Forbidden” and Jeremy Arnold on “Ladies of Leisure”.  Each disc also comes with a “Digital Image Gallery” including Scene Stills, Movie Posters, Publicity Stills, Behind the Scenes Photos and Lobby Cards.  There is a “Screen Snapshots” featurette included as well.  Lastly there is a “Frank Capra Biography” on “Ladies of Leisure” and “TCMDb Articles” on each disc as well.

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Blu-ray Review “The Santa Clause: The 3-Movie Collection”

Actors: Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, David Krumholtz, Eric Lloyd
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Disney / Buena Vista
Release Date: October 16, 2012
Running Time: 293 minutes

The Santa Clause: 5 out of 5 stars
The Santa Clause 2: 3.5 out of 5 stars
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause: 3.5 out 5 stars

When it comes to Christmas, there is no better film to watch than “The Santa Clause”.  Tim Allen is nothing short of brilliant in the role and it is easily one of my favorite holiday films ever. This 3-movie collection includes all the films in this series, “The Santa Clause”, “The Santa Clause 2” and “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause”.  This is the first time that “The Santa Clause” and “The Santa Clause 2” (also celebrating its 10th Anniversary) have ever been released on Blu-ray and Disney has done them up right.

It is really hard to compare to the first film since it is such a classic.  But the sequels are still fun, silly and successfully do their job of delivering some Christmas cheer. The name Scott Calvin and Santa Clause will forever be associated with the holiday season. Let’s also not forgot “Topo Gigio”. Anyone who is tired of seeing these films in fake HD on ABC Family, can now enjoy them for the first time in full HD (except “Santa Clause 3”, which was released back in 2007). This is a real treat for anyone looking to get some holiday cheer.

Official Synopsis: Christmas gets a little nuttier when Scott Calvin (Allen) unknowingly inherits the role of the legendary St. Nick. His ordinary life snowballs into a hysterical series of outrageous events as he fills out his Santa suit, meets the future Mrs. Claus (Elizabeth Mitchell, Lost), and faces his ultimate test against the mischievous Jack Frost (Martin Short, Three Amigos!).

Let’s talk about the packaging now for Disney’s three-disc box set.  They are basically three individual releases, which are housed with a nice slipcase.  All three films looks great in their 1080p transfers and are presented in their 1.85:1 original aspect ratio with 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio tracks. “The Santa Clause” shows its age a little but still looks very sharp for its first time in HD.

Since each film has its own disc, each film comes with its own set for special features.  If you are looking massive extras in the first film, you will not find them here.  But “The Santa Clause” includes two great featurettes, including “So You Wanna Be An Elf?” and “Making Santa Snacks With Wolfgang”. Lastly there is also a short film “The Night Before Christmas”. I was hoping for a little more love hear but who knows 2014 is the film’s 20th anniversary, so maybe they will do it up again.

“The Santa Clause 2” packs a bit of goodies than the first film on Blu-ray.  First up, we have a decent commentary track from the director Michael Lembeck.  There are three behind-the-scenes featurettes included are “Inside The North Pole With Curtis”, “Director’s Tour Of Elfsberg” and “True Confessions of The Legendary Figures”. All of them dive into the production, with some good cast/crew interviews.  Lastly there are seven deleted scenes and a gag reel included.

The most special features comes from the latest in the series, “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause”.  There is another commentary track from director Michael Lembeck.  There are three behind-the-scenes featurettes including “Creating Movie Magic: Visual Effects Secrets”, “Jack Frost & Mrs. Claus: A Very Different Look”, “The New Comedians: On The Set with Tim and Marty”.  There is a great karoke sing-along called “Christmas Carol-oke: Sing Your Favorite Songs of The Season”.  “Deck The Halls: Virtual Holiday Decorator” is a fun interactive feature. There is an alternate opening and gag real including, as well as the music video for “Greatest Time Of Year” by Aly & AJ.

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DVD Review “Care Bears: The Original Series Collection”

Created by: Linda Denham, Elena Kucharik
Starring: Billie Mae Richards, Jim Henshaw, Dan Hennessey, Chris Wiggins, Melleny Brown, Luba Goy, Eva Almos, John Stocker, Tara Strong
Number of discs: 6
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: October 9, 2012
Run Time: 923 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

It is hard to believe that The Care Bears are approaching 30 years already.  I remember watching them on television every day when I was a kid. Now with a child of my own, I am looking forward to her growing up watching this series as well. The message that this show represented was sharing and caring and those are two great qualities to have.  Let’s just say that some television shows today for kids aren’t that classy.  Thanks to Lionsgate for releasing this limited edition 30-year anniversary collectors’ set. This 6-DVD set features 64 classic episodes and a full-length movie, “Care Bears: The Nutcracker”.

Synopsis: Originally created by American Greetings, the lovable bears of Care-a-lot – Cheer Bear, Share Bear, Harmony Bear and all their buddies – with unique belly badges and a caring mission – have been delighting fans for 30 years! Whether it’s learning the value of friendship, helping someone in need or using their special powers to brighten up the day, the adorable Care Bears are always ready for caring, sharing and giving goodness!

All of your favorite Bears are included in this collection including Cheer Bear, Share Bear, Tenderheart Bear and all of the Care Bear Cousins. Though 30 years old, the Care Bears are not going anywhere soon.  They have resurfaced in the last 10 years and have been more popular than ever appearing in various new series and films including this year’s “Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot”.  The original 80’s episodes are still very colorful and eye-catching though and still fun to watch.  The DVD has the episodes presented in 4×3 Full Screen (1.33:1) and with an audio track of 2.0 Dolby Digital.  A must for all kids that grew up in the 80’s and are still young at heart…or have kids now.

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Blu-ray Review “Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection”

Directors: James Whale, Arthur Lubin, George Melford, Karl Freund, George Waggner, Jack Arnold
Starring: Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., Edward Van Sloan, Dwight Frye, Claude Rains, Colin Clive
Number of discs: 8
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 644 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

When it comes the the Classic Monsters, there is hands down nothing better in horror.  It’s all starts from these films.  This Essential Collection includes eight of Universal’s most popular monster films, including “Dracula” (1931), “Frankenstein” (1931), “The Wolf Man” (1932), “The Mummy” (1932),  “The Invisible Man” (1933), “Bride of Frankenstein” (1935), “The Phantom of the Opera” (1943) and “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954).  These films have been digitally restored and released on Blu-Ray for the first time ever in this release. These are some of the most iconic films in history with creatures that are simply timeless.  Of course Universal timed this release perfectly to compliment Halloween.  And what better way to get in the mood for the holiday than enjoying these great films in beautiful in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever.

This wonderful release not only comes packed with goodies but also looked fantastic.  It is very sleek and sharp.  The inner case holding the discs comes on nice stock and with beautiful art displaying for each film.  Also included in the case is a collectible 48-page book, perfectly titled “The Original House of Horrors: Universal and a Monster Legacy”. This book features some really amazing behind-the-scenes photographs, original and foreign posters, trivia facts and much more.  This year is the celebration of Universal’s 100th Anniversary and they just went all out on this release. Each classic monster film is also accompanied with a massive amount of bonus features. Also a major draw for myself included is the rarely seen “Drácula”  [Spanish-language version], now also in high-def.  But the disc that I rushed to put in first and watch has to be the 3D Blu-ray presentation of “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954).  This is the first time that this film has been released in 3D, since it’s original theatrical release.  Wow, let me tell you I think this was worth the purchase alone.

When I put in the disc for “Dracula”, I have to admit I was rubbing my eyes since I was just blown away by its restoration.  This film is 81 years old…81 years! The film look glorious on Blu-ray, I have seen films together that don’t even come close to this scale of greatness.  The same is the case for the rest of the films as well, I seriously couldn’t find anything wrong with this restoration.  Each film is presented in its 1080p transfer in full frame 1.33:1 aspect ratio.  Each film also comes with a perfect DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track.  I couldn’t have wished for a more perfect audio presentation for these films.  Universal has really put a lot of love into these since I believe that they are fans of these classics themselves and are doing it as fans.  Trust me, they could have just plopped these films onto Blu-ray and you know that we still would have bought it, no questions.  But with this release, you know you are really getting both quality and quantity.  All fans of these classic films, should be left with their most open and their tongue rolling out at the screen.

Now let’s get to the massive amount of special features.  Which are presented in a variety of formats including 1080i/p and 480i/p.  They are also mostly include a Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track, “Dracula” and “Creature” also include a DTS-HD Master Audio track for the extras. The extras on “Dracula” are easily the spotlight (if you don’t count “Creature” in 3D as an extra).  “Dracula: The Restoration” is a new featurette available for the first time and it is amazing to watch how this film was done. The 1931 Spanish version of “Dracula” comes with an introduction by Lupita Tovar Kohner.  There are also three other featurettes covering this production and legacy including “The Road to Dracula”, “Lugosi: The Dark Prince” and “Dracula Archives”. I really enjoyed watching the film with the “Monster Tracks: Interactive Pop-Up Facts About the Making of Dracula”.  There is an extra focusing on the brilliant Score by Philip Glass performed by the Kronos Quartet. If you are of a fan of commentary tracks, this contains two completely different angles.  The first is with Film Historian David J. Skal and the second is with Steve Haberman, Screenwriter of Dracula: Dead and Loving It.  Lastly we get a trailer gallery, which closes the extras for “Dracula”.

Next up is “Frankenstein” and it also delivers some really great features. First off we have “100 Years Of Universal: Restoring the Classics”, focusing on the companies plan to restore and release numerous films this year.  There are also a bunch of great featurettes including “The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster”, “Karloff: The Gentle Monster”, a look into the world of “Universal Horror” and lastly “Frankenstein Archives”. Like “Dracula” there is also a great “Monster Tracks: Interactive Pop-Up Facts About The Making of Frankenstein”. Boo!: A Short Film, which is comedy directed and written by Albert DeMond. It contains clips of famous horror films including The Cat Creeps (1930), Frankenstein (1931) and Nosferatu (1922). There are two very interesting and details audio commentaries with Film Historian Rudy Behlmer and Historian Sir Christopher Frayling. Lastly we get a trailer gallery.

The Mummy” follows the similar path of the others as well. First off we have “100 Years of Universal: The Carl Laemmle Era”, which I highly recommend. There are also a bunch of great featurettes including “Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed”, “He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce”, “Unraveling the Legacy of The Mummy” and lastly “The Mummy Archives”. These featurettes were among some of my favorites. “The Mummy” also includes two of the best audio commentaries with Rick Baker, Scott Essman, Steve Haberman, Bob Burns and Brent Armstrong and also Film Historian Paul M. Jensen. Lastly we get a trailer gallery.

The Invisible Man” includes the only two featurettes. The first one is the only one specifically aimed at the production, “Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed”.  There is also “100 Years of Universal: Unforgettable Characters”.  There are Production Photographs, which are a must to view.  There is also only one audio commentary with Film Historian Rudy Behlmer.  Overall this film included the least features but still some good content.  “Bride of Frankenstein”  includes two featurettes including “She’s Alive! Creating The Bride of Frankenstein” and “The Bride of Frankenstein Archive”.  It also included a duplicate from the “Frankenstein” extras “100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics”.  There is also a commentary track with Scott MacQueen and a trailer gallery.

Are you tired yet of special features? Besides we are just getting started, with next up “The Wolf Man”. First off we have “100 Years of Universal: The Lot”, this shows the lots in the good ‘ole days.  There are also a bunch of great featurettes including “Monster by Moonlight”, “The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth”, “Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr.”, “He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce” and lastly “The Wold Man Archives”. These are some really quality featurettes and left me howling (What…too much?). “The Wolf Man” also includes an audio commentary track Film Historian Tom Weaver. Lastly we again end with a trailer gallery.

“Phantom of the Opera” has always been a favorite creature of mine.  I have always loved the makeup in this film.  There is one featurette for this film “The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked”, which is good enough for me.  There is also some Production Photographs, liked “The Invisible Man” and a repeat for “100 Years of Universal: The Lot” from “The Wolf Man”. There is also a commentary track with Film Historian Scott MacQueen and a theatrical trailer included. Last up but not least is “Creature from the Black Lagoon”.  This includes both the 2D and 3D versions of the film There is also one featurette “Back to The Black Lagoon” and a repeat from the previous two “100 Years of Universal: The Lot”.  There are also Production Photographs, an audio commentary track with Film Historian Tom Weaver and Trailer Gallery included.

There is not much more that you can ask for…except maybe to release now a Blu-ray restored collection of all of these films classic sequels. Some greats are “Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man” (1943), “House of Frankenstein (1944)”, “The Mummy’s Tomb” (1942), “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944), “The Invisible Man Returns” (1940), “The Invisible Man’s Revenge” (1944)”, “Revenge of the Creature” (1955) and yes even “The Creature Walks Among Us” (1956). I also just realized that “The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)” is missing, so maybe a second Essential Collection might should in the cards! Fingers crossed.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Lone Wolf and Cub: Complete 6-Film Collection”

Director(s): Kenji Misumi, Buichi Saito, Yoshiyuki Kuroda
Actors: Tomisaburo Wakayama, Akihiro Tomikawa
Distributed by: AnimEigo
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Running Time: 507 minutes

Films: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Animeigo delivers once again in 2012. They are releasing “Lone Wolf and Cub: Complete 6-Film Collection” in its original unedited, uncut presentation, which have also been remastered on HD from new prints. To top things off they are in their original Japanese language with English subtitles. Included in the set will be 1972′s “Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance”, 1972′s “Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx”, 1972′s “Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades”, 1972′s “Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril”, 1973′s “Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons” and 1974′s “Lone Wolf and Cub: White Heaven in Hell”.

Earlier this year, Animeigo released “Shogun Assassin – 5 Film Collector’s Edition” which included the “Shogun Assassin”, “Shogun Assassin 2: Lightning Swords of Death”, “Shogun Assassin 3: Slashing Blades of Carnage”, “Shogun Assassin 4: Five Fistfuls Of Gold” and “Shogun Assassin 5: Cold Road to Hell”. They were cut together from The “Lone Wolf and Cub” series and presented only in English dub. The “Lone Wolf and Cub” release is a much better way to view these film, no question.

These films show their age a little bit in their high-def transfers but I feel that any noise on these films just add texture to the films themselves. Since they have been completely reconstructed from new prints, overall the 1080p 2.35:1 transfer looks sharp. The audio included is the original Japanese LPCM mono tracks, which is actually a great thing and work very well with these. The special features are…well…there really isn’t any. There are some production notes and trailers but that is all. Lastly, the case presentation is also not as nice as the release for “Shogun Assassin – 5 Film Collector’s Edition”. But nonetheless, hardcore fans of the “Baby Cart” series are going to need to get this release.

Here are the official premises for each of the six-films:
“Sword of Vengeance”: Betrayed by the fiendish Yagyu, Ogami Itto and his son begin their bloody journey towards revenge. Their first commission: to save the life of a Daimyo and kill the traitors and ronin that plot his death.

“Baby Cart at the River Styx”: The Evil Yagyu Retsudo sets a band of deadly female Ninja on Ogami’s trail. Meanwhile, Ogami must kill a traitor who seeks to sell a Clan’s secrets to the Shogun — a traitor guarded by three men known as “The Gods of Death!”

“Baby Cart to Hades”: After undergoing torture to demonstrate his honor and buy the freedom of a girl about to be forced into a life of prostitution, Ogami is hired by his very-impressed torturers to kill a corrupt governor. The governor figures out he’s the target when Ogami turns down the governor’s own commission, and the body-count soon starts rising to monumental proportions!

“Baby Cart in Peril”: Ogami is hired to kill a tattooed female assassin, but the job is not as straightforward as it seems. Meanwhile, Gunbei Yagyu, disgraced by Ogami in a duel before the Shogun, happens upon Ogami’s son Daigoro, and sees his chance for revenge. In the end, Ogami will have to defeat a horde of Yagyu warriors before he can face his arch enemy, Retsudo Yagyu!

“Baby Cart in the Land of Demons”: 5 warriors challenge Ogami to duels. Each has 1/5th of his usual fee, and 1/5 of the information he needs to complete his new assignment. Ogami has to be skillful enough to not only kill them, but kill them in such a way as to allow them to tell him what he needs to know, or he’s not the man for the job. His mission is to kill a mad Daimyo before he destroys his clan — a Daimyo guarded by a legion sworn to give their lives in his defense, even though they’ve just hired Ogami to kill their master!

“White Heaven in Hell”: The final film, and the final confrontation between Ogami and Retsudo. With most of his family already dead at Ogami’s hands, Retsudo launches one last plot to destroy him, and when that fails, unleashes the fury of every remaining member of the Yagyu Clan. Outnumbered 5000 to 1, Ogami might be in a little over his head (and thus, lose it!) this time!

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Blu-ray Review “Shark Divers: Documentary Collection”

MPAA Rating: PG
Distributed by: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Running Time: 193 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

I am a sucker plain-and-simple any kind of shark documentary. “Shark Divers” delivers some decent entertainment for any shark lovers. If you are looking for some hardcore documentary, this may not be for you. But it is a fun mix and facts with entertainment factor. Mill Creek’s delivers overall a nice collection of documentaries including the following: “The Shark Divers”, “Shark Business”, “Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants” and “Giants of San Benedicto”.These are film taking advantage of the high-def underwater photography and are developed by Danny Mauro.  He has worked on over 100 programs about the marine environment, including “The Blue Realm”. So you know that these docs have a lot of love going into them.

“The Shark Divers” – Sharks are BIG business in adrenaline eco-tourism. And some thrill seekers deliberately pursue close encounters with deadly sharks – without the protection of a cage. The bigger and more dangerous the shark, the better. But have we taken this risky sport too far? “Shark Business” – Shark Business unravels some of the mysteries surrounding sharks with controversial behaviorist Dr. Erich Ritter. You’ll witness divers testing the limits of shark-human interaction outside of cages with dangerous sharks such as lemon, bull and even Great White sharks!

“Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants” – Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants introduces us to this amazing creature through scientists who are racing against time to save the species. Utilizing space-age technology from NASA and the Hubble Telescope, researchers are able to identify, catalogue and track individual sharks.

“Giants of San Benedicto” – You’ll travel to the remote Socorro Islands off Mexico’s Pacific coast and see breath-taking encounters with enormous manta rays. You’re sure to love these majestic giants as you see how they invite human contact, and encourage certain divers to ride them. The film crew also travels to the Bahamas to visit “Bubbles”, a fifteen foot Manta in the world’s largest aquarium, and witness her release back into the ocean.

The Blu-ray release itself looks nice but not stunning within its high definition transfer. Despite the fact that it was shot underwater, it still looks presentable for the format, thought not going to blow anyone away.  The audio track  included is DTS-HD MA 2.0 is like the video transfer…acceptable.  The narration sounds decent and works well with the music in the docs. If you are looking for any additional special features, besides the four documentaries, you will be disappointed.  I wouldn’t though have expected much more besides the films themselves.

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Blu-ray Review “Harry Potter Wizard’s Collection”

Directors: Chris Columbus, David Yates, Mike Newell, Alfonso Cuarón, David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman
Number of discs: 31
Running Time: 1180 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG / PG-13
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Release Date: September 7, 2012

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

If you could have ever wanted an ultimate set for the “Harry Potter” film franchise…it has arrived! “The Harry Potter Wizard’s Collection” is a beautiful 31-disc extravaganza that includes all eight films. In addition to the theatrical release of every film, the collection also includes the extended versions of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets; and the 3D versions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows –- Parts 1 and 2. Also there is an Ultraviolet digital streaming copy of each film as well. There is a ridiculous amount of special features totaling more than thirty-seven hours, which more than ten hours of it is new-to-disc bonus content and five hours of never-before-seen material. Fans are going to have a field day with this. I will get more into the special features below but just looking at this wonderful box. This is such a creative way to look slick but pack of hell of a lot of content. Overall it is relatively small (12¾” x 10½” x 11¼”), but it is a very neat series of swing-out and slide-out drawers and cubby holes that hold all of the set’s discs and collectibles. Now for all the goodies that are included in this release, included is a 48-page hardcover book “Harry Potter Catalogue of Artefacts”, a 32-page “Harry Potter Label Collection” booklet, an envelope containing five wonderfully detailed black-and-white Stuart Craig drawings which are printed on heavy-stock cards, concept art color paintings also on heavy-stock cards, a Holocrux locket replica, a weathered blueprint poster of the Hogwarts castle, a large 24″ x 36″ cloth map of the Hogwarts grounds (pictured below) and, of course, a numbered certificate of authenticity. Sounds good? Well don’t just run out just yet since this releases does not come cheap.  The average price for this release is well over $300 bucks.  So unless you are the biggest of “Harry Potter” fans or unless you don’t own any of these film’s on Blu-ray then I would suggest this release highly.

Since we all have seen these movies before and watched the available special features, this review will focus on the content that has not be available before (and because those are the only ones Warner Bros sent us to review 😉 ) which lies on discs 25, 29 and 31.  Disc 25 is “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Bonus Disc”, it includes over 2 hours of features including the all new! “Creating the World of Harry Potter, Pt. 7: Story”.  This feature runs 47 minute and is the seventh documentary released as part of each film’s Ultimate Edition Blu-ray releases.  This is centered around series author J.K. Rowling and saga screenwriter Steve Kloves, who really just dive into every aspect of the series from book to film, all of the challenges in between and a reflection on the results.  Next up is “The Deathly Hallows, Part 1: Behind the Magic” runs about 45 minutes and has previously aired on TV but never released.  It basically is a pre-release EPK focusing on what we can expect from the upcoming 7th film. “Harry Potter on the Road” follow a production crew all over the UK stopping at various location shoots from the series.  This could have been a 10 hours feature in its own but runs a short 20 minutes. “The Deathly Hallows, Part 1: Behind the Story Featurettes” is an 80 minutes feature that is split into fourteen mini featurettes focusing on the film’s production and nine of these are new to the film.  There is eight deleted scenes included from “Deathly Hallows, Part 1”, decent scenes but well cut. “The Deathly Hallows, Part 2 Sneak Peek” is a short taste of what we were waiting for in part 2 and final “Harry Potter” film. “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Promotional Tour” features Radcliffe and his castmates, J.K. Rowling and other VIPs as they give us a then sneak peek of the new theme park at the Universal Orlando Resort. “Behind the Soundtrack” chats about Alexandre Desplat’s score but doesn’t spend enough time on it. Lastly there is a teaser and a theatrical trailer for The Deathly Hallows, Part 1.

Disc 29 is the “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Bonus Disc”, it included over 4 hours of features including the all new! “Creating the World of Harry Potter, Pt. 8: Growing Up” and an all new! extended “A Conversation with JK Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe” with 15 minutes of new footage. “Creating the World of Harry Potter, Part 8: Growing Up” runs slightly longer than the 7th part and puts a conclusion to the whimsical ten-year journey that was the Harry Potter film saga. “A Conversation with Rowling and Radcliffe” is an extended version from 53 to 63-minutes of this conversation from the creator and Potter himself, one of the best features on this release and a must watch for all fans. “The Deathly Hallows, Part 2: Behind the Magic” like with Part 1 as well, is another pre-theatrical release TV special. “The Deathly Hallows, Part 2: Behind the Story” includes seven featurettes, which includes six new to the Wizard’s Collection.  “The Deathly Hallows, Part 2: The Quest” continues with more featurettes, in fact, sixteen more though shorter featurettes. A little bit of repeat but die-hard will eat it up. There are eight deleted scenes, nothing that will knock you out of your chair but decent. “Hogwart’s Last Stand: Extended Version” is an truly awesome  dissection of the films’ final showdown, which runs about 30 minutes. “The Women of Harry Potter” is an in-depth look at the strong women throughout the series books and the films. Next up, you can go behind-the-scenes of the UK attraction in “Warner Bros. Studio Tour London”. Rowling gives an in inside preview into her new website, “Pottermore”. Lastly’ there is the teaser and theatrical trailers for Part 2. The last disc and most awaiting is disc 31, which is the exclusive Wizard’s Collection Bonus Disc.  It is includes about four hours of all new features starting with: “When Harry Left Hogwarts – Extended Version”, which runs just shy of 90 minutes.  It is quite the emotional ride through the final days of filming. “The 50 Greatest Harry Potter Moments – Definitive Version” runs just over an hour and covers everything from”The Sorcerer’s Stone” to “The Deathly Hallows, Part 2”. “Designing the World of Harry Potter” features production designer Stuart Craig and his team as they show what it took to make the world of Harry Potter come to life. There is a two parter called “Secrets Revealed!” The first looks at the secrets of Quidditch and the second discusses Hagrid, both amazing. Lastly rounding out this amazing disc is “The Harry Potters You Never Met”, which gives some spotlight to Harry’s many stunt doubles.

Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/HPWCSEP7
Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/harrypottermovie
For Additional Film Clips: http://www.youtube.com/harrypotter
For More Information: http://www.harrypotterwizardscollection.com/

Here is a detailed breakdown on what is on each disc:

Disc 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Theatrical Version + Extended Version + Extra Content (Blu-ray)
Disc 2: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Theatrical Version (DVD)
Disc 3: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Creating The World: The Magic Begins (Blu-ray)
Disc 4: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Disc 2 from the Special Edition (DVD)
Disc 5: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Theatrical Version + Extended Version + Extra Content (Blu-ray)
Disc 6: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Theatrical Version (DVD)
Disc 7: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Creating the World: Characters (Blu-ray)
Disc 8: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Disc 2 from the Special Edition (DVD)
Disc 9: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Theatrical Version (Blu-ray)
Disc 10: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Theatrical Version (DVD)
Disc 11: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Creating the World: Creatures (Blu-ray)
Disc 12: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Disc 2 from the Special Edition (DVD)
Disc 13: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Theatrical Version (Blu-ray)
Disc 14: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Theatrical Version (DVD)
Disc 15: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Creating the World: Sound & Music (Blu-ray)
Disc 16: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Disc 2 from the Special Edition (DVD)
Disc 17: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Theatrical Version + Extra Content (Blu-ray)
Disc 18: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Theatrical Version (DVD)
Disc 19: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Creating the World: Evolution (Blu-ray)
Disc 20: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Theatrical Version + Extra Content (Blu-ray)
Disc 21: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Theatrical Version (DVD)
Disc 22: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Creating the World: Magical Effects + Extra Content (Blu-ray)
Disc 23: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Theatrical Version + Extra Content (Blu-ray)
Disc 24: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Theatrical Version (DVD)
Disc 25: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Creating the World: Story + Extra Content (Blu-ray)
Disc 26: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (Blu-ray 3D)
Disc 27: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Theatrical Version + Extra Content (Blu-ray)
Disc 28: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Theatrical Version (DVD)
Disc 29: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Creating the World: Growing Up + Extra Content (Blu-ray)
Disc 30: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (Blu-ray 3D)
Disc 31: Wizard’s Collection Exclusive Bonus Disc (Blu-ray)

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Blu-ray Review “Persona 4: The Animation, Collection 1”

Directed by: Seiji Kishi
Distributed by: Sentai Filmworks
Rated: Unrated
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Run Time: 300 minutes

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

After spending countless hours playing my PlayStation 2 copy of “Persona 4”. I knew that I was dying for more “Persona”. When I heard there was an Anime of the show being released in the US and dubbed, I was all over that. This show is everything I could have wanted and more it really captures the essence of the franchise. All I can ask is…where is part 2? You got that Sentai?

When Yu Narukami moves to the country town and looking for the peace and quiet change that is not available from being in the big city. When he start’s realizing that his uncle’s job as a police detective begins to spill over into his own life. He is finding that the murders that are occurring across town are somehow linked to Yu’s own experiences. Together with a new group of friends, Yu must plunge into a bizarre alternate reality where he gains unique abilities that will either help him solve the riddle of the mystery killer, or lead him to his doom.

The Blu-ray presentation is top-notch. The animation looks beautiful and crisp with its 1080p transfers. The audio track is also decent even though it is only DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. It still manages to deliver the goods. The main issue with the audio is that there is no original Japanese language track (not the fault of Sentai though), which is sure to upset many fans (not me though).

The special features included on this set are slim but worth checking out for sure. I should first point out that the Japanese edition of this collection included commentaries that are not found on this release. There is an episode 1 director’s cut and on-air versions included. There are also clean opening and closing animation sequences. Lastly, there are trailers for other great Sentai titles.

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Blu-ray Review “Shark Week: 25th Anniversary Collection”

Distributed by: Discovery Channel
Release Date: July 31, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Episodes: 4
Running Time 212 min

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

When it comes to Discover Channel’s “Shark Week”, I am one of its biggest fans. I count down the days to next year following each completion. I was expecting a lot from the 25th Anniversary Collection and was let down a little. I prefer last years Blu-ray release much more titled, “Shark Week: Jaws of Steel Collection”, which included eight episodes instead of only four. I simply expected much more from the 25th Anniversary release. Overall though who don’t own the prior “Shark Week” Blu-ray releases, should consider picking this up, especially for its low-cost.

This 25th Anniversary Collection features the the following Shark Week episodes “Great White Shark: Uncaged”, “Blood In The Water”, “Ultimate Air Jaws” and “Mythbusters: Shark Special”. I am a big fan of all of these, especially “Blood In The Water” except the “Mythbusters” episode. I have never enjoyed the “Mythbusters” show at all even when it crossed over into “Shark Week”. Lastly where’s is my favorite special “Shark Hunter: Chasing the Great White” focusing on the late great Frank Mundus??

Now the Blu-ray release itself is impressive. The 1080p transfers on each episode is sharp and looks great. It is also presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.78:1.  The audio track is also impressive for this Blu-ray. There are no special features included but I guess what can one expect behind bonus episodes. I wish they would have given this release a bit more umph and delivered a real 25th collection with multi-disc and numerous more episodes/

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DVD Review “Crime Does Not Pay: The Complete Shorts Collection”

Directors: Zion Myers, Jules White
Number of discs: 6
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Release Date: July 6, 2012
Running Time: 1010 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

This release from Warner Archive comes with over 50 shorts running over 1000 minutes for the original MGM “Crime Does Not Pay” series. It is really a wonderful set and something that could have only been made by MGM in its heyday. The complete collection includes shorts from 1935-1947.  They are very unique and represent a very specific time in film history and in MGM’s history.  It also short showcases within in short with various different situations proving that in fact “Crime Does Not Pay”!

These B&W shorts looks fantastic on DVD, especially for their age.  Warner  Archive did a fantastic job of restoring and releasing this shorts to the public finally.  They are presented in full screen with an aspect ratio of 1.37:1. There is one bonus short included within the 50 called “Eyes of the Navy”. It is from 1940 and though not a “Crime Does Not Pay” short, it was released by MGM in theaters as part of the series.  Overall if you are a fan of classic shorts from Hollywood’s early days, this is something that you would not want to miss for sure.

The 50 shorts included are: Buried Loot Alibi Racket Desert Death Thrill for Thelma, A Hit and Run Driver Perfect Setup, The Fool Proof Public Pays Torture Money It May Happen to You Soak the Poor Give Till It Hurts Behind the Criminal What Price Safety Miracle Money Come Across Criminal is Born, A They’re Always Caught Think It Over Wrong Way Out, The Money to Loan While America Sleeps Help Wanted Think First Drunk Driving Pound Foolish Know Your Money Jackpot Women in Hiding Buyer Beware Soak the Old You, the People Respect the Law Forbidden Passage Coffins on Wheels Sucker List Don’t Talk For the Common Defense Keep ‘Em Sailing Plan for Destruction Patrolling the Ether Easy Life Dark Shadows Fall Guy, The Last Installment, The Phantoms, Inc. Gun in His Hand, A Purity Squad Luckiest Guy in the World, The EC: Eyes of the Navy.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: collection, complete, crime, dvd, pay, review, ...

Win one of 4 “Star Wars” Series 8 Collection MIMOBOT® USB Flash Drives [ENDED]

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CHECK BACK EACH WEEK FOR NEW GIVEAWAYS!

Mimoco Unveils the STAR WARS™ MIMOBOT® Series 8 Collection of USB Flash Drives From Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Mimoco, makers of the MIMOBOT® line of designer USB flash drives and MIMOMICRO™ card readers, is announcing the release of Star Wars MIMOBOT Series 8 featuring iconic characters from Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The eighth series in the Star Wars MIMOBOT collection includes Jabba the Hutt, Slave Leia, Jedi Luke, Admiral Ackbar, and Biker Scout – a joint 2012 San Diego Comic-Con and Star Wars Celebration VI exclusive – all sporting classic stylized MIMOBOT designs.

Media Mikes would like to giveaway one of each of these amazing “Star Wars” Series 8 Collection MIMOBOT® USB Flash Drives. If you would like to win one of these great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email and let us know your favorite character from “Star Wars” universe. This giveaway will be open until Friday July 27th at Noon, Eastern Time and is only open to residents of the United States. Only one entry per person, per household; all other entries will be considered invalid. Once the giveaway ends, Media Mikes will randomly pick out four winners and alert the winners via email.

Jabba the Hutt MIMOBOT has grown fat and powerful on your data. This gangster from a galaxy far, far away doesn’t forgive debts easily. Satiate the mighty and powerful Jabba the Hutt MIMOBOT’s appetite by storing up to 64GBs of your pics, documents, and favorite Max Rebo Band jams on him!

From her first appearance chained to Jabba’s throne in Return of the Jedi, Slave Leia took her fate into her own hands and helped change the course of the galaxy, and did it all while looking good. She was the perfect balance of form and function, just like your Slave Leia MIMOBOT. With her sexy design and up to 64GBs of capacity, she’s the perfect flash drive for storing and transporting all your digital data.

When last we saw Luke Skywalker at the end of The Empire Strikes Back, he was wearing comfy, loose fitting robes, and testing out his new mechanical hand. The Luke we encounter in Return of the Jedi is dressed all in black and means business. This is confident Luke. Powerful Luke. Jedi Luke. And Jedi Luke MIMOBOT is no different. Secure in his Jedi powers, he’s also confident that no one, not Jabba, Vader, nor the Emperor himself can sway him to the dark side and endanger your most valued digital data. This Jedi Knight may be dressed in black, but he’s all light.

One of Star Wars fans’ favorite characters, Admiral Ackbar didn’t need much screen time to make an impression. He hates the Empire and he hates being surprised by operational shield generators! Ackbar is a Mon Calamari, a squid-like species equally at home on land, in the water, and in space. Admiral Ackbar MIMOBOT is equally at home on your desk, in your pocket, or plugged into your computer. Command the fleet of all your most important data and files with your Admiral Ackbar MIMOBOT. With a flash drive design this cool, you can’t resist, can you? You might even say, it’s a trap…!

Native Ewoks scatter in the underbrush when Biker Scouts zip by on their speeder bikes, but just wait until some ‘rebel scum’ show up to take down that shield generator. That’s when we see exactly what Biker Scouts are made of. Appearing on Return of the Jedi’s forest moon of Endor, Biker Scout MIMOBOT will make his appearance as a joint San Diego Comic-Con and Star Wars Celebration VI exclusive. With a numbered release of only 1,000 units and a memory capacity of up to 64GBs, the limited edition Biker Scout MIMOBOT is the perfect designer USB flash drive for the die-hard Star Wars fan with data on the go.

Available in 8GB to 64GB capacities, the Star Wars MIMOBOT Series 8 collection lets you store and transport all your digital music, pics, documents, and more. And with exclusive preloaded digital extras like Mimory™ & mimoDesk™ suites of Star Wars-themed icons, avatars, screensavers, wallpapers, and the mimoByte™ sound software that plays authentic Star Wars audio clips when MIMOBOT is inserted or ejected from your computer, you get a whole lot of function with a whole lot of form.

The Star Wars MIMOBOT Series 8 USB flash drive collection is now available at www.mimoco.com, and in select retail shops worldwide. The joint San Diego Comic-Con and Star Wars Celebration VI exclusive, Biker Scout MIMOBOT, will first be available at Comic-Con International in San Diego, CA on July 11-15 and at Star Wars Celebration VI in Orlando, FL on August 23-26.

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Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: 4, 8, collection, drives, flash, mimobot, ...
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