Blu-ray Review “The Dick Van Dyke Show: The Complete Fifth Season”

Actors: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Carl Reiner
Directors: Jerry Paris
Number of discs: 3
Rated: Unrated
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 775 minutes

Season: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

Well this is it kids, the final season of one of my favorite shows that has ever graced television. Even though it is has been off the air for almost 50 years, I am going to miss this show. Thankfully Image Entertainment has delivered each wonderful season on Blu-ray. I have absolutely loved reviewing these releases over the last few months. I am looking forward to though to revisiting this series quite often with my wife and daughter, especially as she grows. It is one of those shows that never gets old and better each time you watch. The characters in this show are just so much fun and you really get to see them grow along with the show through its five seasons. Do not miss this release!

Official Premise: Don’t miss the fun in this final season of the multiple Emmy Award-winning DICK VAN DYKE SHOW. Generation after generation of TV viewers have fallen in love with this timeless classic! For laugh after laugh, join one of TV’s best-loved couples, Dick Van Dyke as Rob Petrie and Mary Tyler Moore as his wife Laura, along with Rob’s temperamental boss, Carl Reiner as Alan Brady, and his kooky co-workers, Morey Amsterdam as Buddy Sorrell and Rose Marie as Sally Rogers. Now see all 31 season episodes (airing 1965-1966), exquisitely remastered in their original full-length versions. Catch such classics as Laura blurting out Alan Brady’s big secret on national TV in Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth; mild-mannered Mel Cooley finally standing up to the boss in The Bottom of Mel Cooley’s Heart; and Alan Brady attempting to turn the Petries’ anniversary party into a self-serving documentary in A Day in the Life of Alan Brady.

Like the past four seasons before, Image has continued to deliver wonderful quality releases for this amazing show. These episodes have been released on Blu-ray with all-new scans from the camera negatives. The 1080p transfer looks, honestly not short of stunning for a show of it’s age. Each episode come with an original DTS-HD MA 1.0 audio track, which works for the show and its comedy. The episodes were mostly taped with a studio audience and the laughing is balanced well with the snappy jokes and sharp dialogue. You will not be let down with this amazing audio and video presentations.

There are some new Blu-ray exclusive special features included on this release. There is “TV Academy Tribute to Carl” with Garry Shandling. After that there are a few promos collection including “My Blonde-Haired Brunette” and a two packages with some great memories shared with the fans past and present. The rest of the season features are roll-overs from past DVD releases but are still fantastic. There are commentary tracks from Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke on episode 128 (Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth) and Episode 158 (The Gunslinger). Also Rose Marie, Larry Matthew and Bill Idelson lend their commentary to Episode 148 (Dear Sally Rogers). There are “Episode Photos” throughout all three discs for episodes 18 out of the 31 episodes.

Other extras include featurettes on disc 1: “Remembering 4½ and The Alan Brady Show Goes to Jail” and “Remembering Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth (episode 128)”, which look back at those episodes and their characters. Also there is the Emmy Awards® (1965-1966) Outstanding Comedy Series. Disc 2 also contains a look into the Emmy Awards® (1965-1966) Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series. It has two more recent features including “Comic Relief (1992)” and “TV Land Awards (2003)”. There are some Nick at Nite Promos. Lastly there are “Remembering Richard Deacon (episode 146)” and “Remembering Sally (episode 148)”.

Wrapping up the extras for not only the fifth season but the series in general are on a packed third disc. First we get three featurettes “Remembering Buddy’s Bar Mitzvah (episode 149)” and “Remembering The Gunslinger (episode 158)”. There is another feature called “Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman: If Men Could Cry”. Lastly there is a “TV Land Promo for The Dick Van Dyke Show”, a Theatrical Trailer for The Art of Love and a preview for “The New Dick Van Dyke Show”.

 

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Blu-ray Review “The Dick Van Dyke Show: The Complete Fourth Season”

Actors: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Carl Reiner
Directors: Jerry Paris
Number of discs: 3
Rated: Unrated
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Run Time: 800 minutes

Season: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

Season four of “The Dick Van Dyke” show continues to deliver with the laughter and great jokes.  It is one of my favorite seasons, as it introduced a new twist to the show having Alan Brady finally stepping out from being an off-screen character and getting a face. He was played by none other than the show’s own creator Carl Reiner. Reiner really makes this character one of my favorites from the show and adds a whole new dynamic for the series. If you are fan of this show Image delivers again with another successfully season release. I am sad to think that this series will be completed when season five is released in August 2013. Hopefully they have the rights to the “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” next. 😉

Official Premise: Join one of TV’s funniest couples as they tackle life in the suburbs and work in the big city. Dick Van Dyke is hilarious as Rob Petrie, the wacky comedy writer, and Mary Tyler Moore is the sexiest, nuttiest wife in New Rochelle. Add to that magic combination the talents of Carl Reiner, Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie and Richard Deacon, and you’ve got one of the most popular sitcoms ever – the winner of 15 Emmy Awards! Now you can enjoy the complete fourth season (airing 1964-1965), all 32 episodes in their entirety! Be there as Laura gets her toe caught in a bath spout in the unforgettable Never Bathe on a Saturday, a sleep-deprived Rob tries to stay awake during his job interview with Alan Brady in 100 Terrible Hours and Don Rickles is a klutzy thief who tries to rob the Petries in a stalled elevator in 4 1/2, then enlists them to entertain in The Alan Brady Show Goes to Jail.

With each passing season, I never cease to be impressed with that love that Image has given this show. These episodes have been released on Blu-ray with all-new scans from the camera negatives. The 1080p transfer looks, honestly not short of stunning for a show of it’s age. Each episode come with an original DTS-HD MA 1.0 audio track, which works for the show and its comedy. The episodes were mostly taped with a studio audience and the laughing is balanced well with the snappy jokes and sharp dialogue. You will not be let down with this amazing audio and video presentations.

There are some new Blu-ray exclusive special features. There is “Mary on The Danny Thomas Show” in which she tells the story of how she came to be cast as Laura Petrie. There are three separate “TV Academy Tribute to Carl Reiner” included as well. The first is from Dick Van Dyke, who tells him stories about their collaboration. The next one is from Ray Romano and Brad Garrett and the last one is from Rose Marie, Larry Matthews and Bill Persky, which is my personal favorite of the three. Rose Marie just cracks me up!

The rest of the season features are roll-overs from past DVD releases but are still fantastic. There are commentary tracks from Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke on episodes 121 (Never Bathe on Saturday) and episode 124 (Baby Fat). Also on episode 124, there is a track from Garry Marshall. All great commentary tracks for sure, a lot of fun! These guys really loved what they did and it sure does show! There are “Episode Photos” throughout all three discs for episodes 30 out of the 32 episodes, amazing!

Other extras include featurettes on disc 1: “Remembering Don Rickles” (episode 102) and “Remembering the Pink Pills” (episode 106), which look back at those episodes and their characters. Also there is a clip from the Animated Program “The Alan Brady Show” (episode 103). Disc 2 contains more featurettes on including “DVD Exclusive Awards: The Dick Van Dyke Show: Season One (Best Overall DVD, TV Program)”, “Diagnosis Murder: Dr. Mark Sloan Meets Rob Petrie” and “Dick Sings the Theme Song at the Hollywood Bowl (2001)”.

The third disc actually has the most extras listed for the season. First we get three featurettes “Remembering Never Bathe on Saturday” (episode 121), “Remembering Baby Fat” (episode 124) and “Remembering the Motorcyle” (episode 125) look back at these amazing episodes. There is a look back at the show in “The Dick Van Dyke Show Remembered”. Lastly there is a piece from “Emmy Awards® (1964-1965) Outstanding Program Achievement in Entertainment” and some extras “Nick at Nite Promos” included.

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CD Review: Otis Redding “The Complete Stax/Volt Singles Collection”

Otis Redding
“The Complete Stax/Volt Singles Collection”
Shout Factory
Discs: 3
Tracks: 70

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

On July 23rd Shout Factory will be paying tribute to “The King of Soul” Otis Redding with a 3 disc, 70 track box set that compiles all of his single releases from the Stax/Volt era. Some of the songs included on this set have never been available on CD until now. Packed with such classics as “(Sittin’ On)The Dock of the Bay”, “Try A Little Tenderness” and “Respect” “The Complete Stax/Volt Singles Collection” has it all.

Not being the biggest fan of repackaged/rereleased material I was a little hesitant prior to listening to the three discs that make of the collection. However upon first listen I was blow away by the overall mix of the tracks. Sure they don’t sound as great as the original 7” recordings but it is damn close. Each track is left to breath in its original mono mix which further compliments Redding’s powerful voice. Not only does this collection sound great but the packaging is equally as good. The three discs set comes packed in a box similar to what DJ’s of the 50’s and 60’s would receive their 7” singles in. Along with vintage styled box comes a multi page booklet containing pictures of each original 45. A touch which makes this collection just a bit more special

The collection is being released in two versions. The standard version will be available starting July 23rd and contains the standard 3 disc collection however if you go to www.shoutfactory.com and order not only do you get the set on June 25th (a month early) but you also receive an exclusive 7” vinyl radio promo copy of “I’ve Got Dreams To Remember/Nobody’s Fault But Mine”.

Track Listing: Disc 1
1.)     These Arms of Mine
2.)     Hey Hey Baby
3.)     That’s What My Heart Needs
4.)     Mary’s Little Lamb
5.)     Pain Is My Heart
6.)     Something Is Worrying Me
7.)     Come To Me
8.)     Don’t Leave Me This Way
9.)     Security
10.)   I Want To Thank You
11.)   Chained and Bound
12.)   Your One and Only Man
13.)   That’s How Strong My Love Is
14.)   Mr. Pitiful
15.)   I’ve been Loving You Too long (To Stop Now)
16.)   I’m Depending On You
17.)   Respect
18.)   Ole Man Trouble
19.)   I Can’t Turn You Loose
20.)   Just One More Day
21.)   Satisfaction
22.)   Any Ole Way
23.)   My Lover’s Prayer
24.)   Don’t Mess With Cupid

Track Listing: Disc 2
1.)     Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)
2.)      Good To Me
3.)      Try A Little Tenderness
4.)      I’m Sick Y’All
5.)      I Love You More Than Words Can Say
6.)      Let Me Come On Home
7.)      Tramp
8.)      Tell It Like It Is
9.)      Shake
10.)   You Don’t Miss Your Water
11.)   Glory Of Love
12.)   I’m Coming Home
13.)   Knock On Wood
14.)   Let Me Be Good To You
15.)   (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay
16.)   Sweet Lorene
17.)   Lovey Dovey
18.)   New Year’s Resolution
19.)   The Happy Song (Dum-Dum)
20.)   Open The Door
21.)   Amen
22.)   Hard To Handle
23.)   I’ve Got Dreams To Remember
24.)   Nobody’s Fault But Mine

Track Listing: Disc 3
1.)     White Christmas
2.)      Merry Christmas, Baby
3.)      Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag
4.)      Direct Me
5.)      A Lover’s Question
6.)      You Made A Man Out Of Me
7.)      When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
8.)      OOH Carla, OOH Otis
9.)      Love Man
10.)   Can’t Turn You Loose
11.)   Free Me
12.)   (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher & Higher
13.)   Look At The Girl
14.)   That’s A Good Idea
15.)   Demonstration
16.)   Johnny’s Heartbreak
17.)   Give Away None Of My Love
18.)   Snatch A Little Piece
19.)   I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
20.)   Try A Little Tenderness
21.)   My Girl
22.)   Good To Me

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Blu-ray Review “Wilfred: The Complete Season 2”

Starring: Elijah Wood, Jason Gann
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: June 18, 2013
Run Time: 286 minutes

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

After I was exposed to the first season of this show, which I watched straight through in one day, I was super excited for the second season. I have to admit though, I was a little let down. When I interviewed Jason Gann (read here), he said the second season was a different, a little darker but I feel it lost a little bit from the first season. Don’t get me wrong it is still pretty funny and completely out-there.  I have a feeling after interviewing Elijah Wood (read here) for season three that it is coming back with a vengeance.  If you haven’t seen this show, I would recommend checking out the first season before you just into this one but it is still worth checking out.

Official Premise: Elijah Wood and Jason Gann return for another fearlessly funny season of Wilfred…the story of a dog and his man. Following the first season’s cliff-hanger finale, Season Two finds Ryan making a fresh start with a real job and a new girlfriend. But with Wilfred’s help, Ryan discovers he still has a lot to learn about life, including ‘squishy’ viral videos and the ongoing cuteness war between dogs and babies. Get your paws on Season Two — with a shocking season-ending revelation that will change everything.

The Blu-ray presentation is impressive for this season, it is on par with the first season.  As this show is a straight forward black comedy, the 1080p transfer doesn’t blow you away but looks great. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which works with the jokes and hilarious dialogue. The special features are a little light even less than the first season Blu-ray.  We get some decent deleted scenes and a blooper reel.  There are is a new short called “Stay” and a featurette “News at Noon with Jenna”.  There is also a fun “Wilfred/Ryan Mash-up” included.  Decent extras but I would have loved to see more specifically with commentary tracks, which I asked for in my review for the first season Blu-ray review (read here).  Oh well, I can hope for season three 😉

 

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DVD Review “Last Resort: The Complete First Season”

Actors: Andre Braugher, Scott Speedman, Daisy Betts, Camille De Pazzis, Dichen Lachman
Directors: Michael Offer
Number of discs: 3
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
DVD Release Date: July 2, 2013
Run Time: 558 minutes

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

If you watch the pilot to “Last Resort”, this show will have you hooked. It packs a sharp cast lead by Andre Braugher and Scott Speedman with supporting cast including Dichen Lachman, Daisy Betts, Robert Patrick, Jessy Schram and Sahr Ngaujah. This show was unfortunately canned after its first 13 episodes but that actually worked out for the show better. Even though I would like to have seen more, the show really worked best as a 13-episode arc.  It was tight, sharp and delivered a nice ending. I can easily see myself re-watching this series in the near future. I would recommend this for anything that missed it when it aired on TV or definitely for fans of the show to enjoy it again, plus this DVD is jam packed with great extras.

Official Premise: The U.S. ballistic submarine Colorado sits 500 feet below the Indian Ocean when orders come in to fire nuclear missiles at Pakistan. Captain Marcus Chaplin (Braugher) and XO Sam Kendal (Speedman), both question the legitimacy of the order and ask for confirmation, but instead receive missile fire from another U.S. submarine. Left for dead at the bottom of the ocean, the Colorado finds refuge on an exotic island. As troops come toward the island, the members of the crew must work to clear their name and find out who is involved in a conspiracy of nuclear proportions. The 13 episodes includes are: “Captain”, “Blue on Blue”, “Eight Bells”, “Voluntold”, “Skeleton Crew”, “Another Fine Navy Day”, “Nuke It Out”, “Big Chicken Dinner”, “Cinderella Liberty”, “Blue Water”, “Damn the Torpedoes”, “The Pointy End of the Spear” and “Controlled Flight Into Terrain”.

The special features on this series is actually quite awesome with 13 All-New Featurettes. “Making the Pilot” gives an inside look behind-the-scenes on the first episode. “Profiles in Courage” is a chat with– co-creators and executive producers Shawn Ryan and Karl Gajdusek on the USS Colorado crew members. “Conn Artists” talks about the sets with Production Designer Jim Spencer and Set Decorator Brenda Meyers-Ballard. “Anatomy of an Episode” focuses on the episode “Voluntold” with cast/crew. “Grace Under Fire” has Daisy Betts talking about her role. “Ties That Bind” features the cast chatting about the shows crucial relationship between Christine and Sam.

“Subvirtual” features the Fuse FX team talking about the show’s stunning computer-generated visual effects. “The Buzzard’s Nest” talks about filming the explosive riot scenes in “Big Chicken Dinner.” “Turning Point” looks into the Naval SEAL mission in Pakistan that sets off the chain of events in the series. “The Mole” – Jessica Camacho peels away the layers around Cortez’s undercover role aboard the USS Colorado. “Serrat’s Lair” looks into the building of the estate that serves as Serrat’s island compound. “I, Kylie” has Autumn Reeser reflecting about her role. “Epilogue” has the– cast and crew looking back on their characters and roles.

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Blu-ray Review “Regular Show: The Complete First & Second Seasons”

Starring: J.G. Quintel, William Salyers, Sam Marin, Mark Hamill
Created by: J.G. Quintel
Studio: Cartoon Network
Release Date: July 16, 2013
Run Time: 440 minutes

Seasons: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 5 out of 5 stars

I have to thank Mark Hamill for getting me into this show. When I interviewed him last October (read the interview here), he really pitched me on the show and since then I have been a HUGE fan. I think I might actually quote this show every single day from screaming OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! to my wife’s favorite, which is HAMBONING!!!! (which I actually hear might save your life one day).  Fans of this show will finally get a Blu-ray release for not one but two seasons of this amazing show.  That’s right we get all 40 episodes from the series’ first and second seasons. Count me in!

This show has also won the Emmy® Award for animated series last year and is only getting more popular as the series progresses.  It is created by J.G. Quintel (“The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack”, “Camp Lazlo”), who also voices the lead character Mordecai on the show.  This guy is a complete genius.  This show is not only funny, it is also ridiculously clever and sharp. There is not one episode that passes that I am not dying laughing at some point. William Salyers (“Morel Orel”) voices the other lead character, Rigby. (Click here for my interview with him from earlier this year). The two of these guys are a fantastic combo and really play off each other so well.  If you are a fan of other Cartoon Network shows like “Adventure Time”, I highly recommend this series.

Official Synopsis: Sarcastic blue jay Mordecai (voiced by J. G. Quintel) and somewhat responsible raccoon Rigby (William Salyers) are best friends. They even work together at a park owned by Pops (Sam Marin), a big lollipop-headed guy. Which seems normal enough. They’ve got a cranky gumball machine for a boss (Martin) and they work alongside a Zen-like yeti named Skips (Mark Hamill). Yep. Everything is as regular as can be.

The episodes from the first season included are: “The Power”, “Just Set Up the Chairs”, “Caffeinated Concert Tickets, “Death Punchies”, “Free Cake”, “Meat Your Maker”, “Grilled Cheese Deluxe”, “The Unicorns Have Got to Go”, “Prank Callers”, “Don”, “Rigby’s Body” and “Mordecai and the Rigbys”. The episodes from the second season included are: “Ello Gov’nor”, “It’s Time”, “Appreciation Day”, “Peeps”, “Dizzy”, “My Mom”, “High Score”, “Rage Against the TV”, “Party Pete”, “Brain Eraser”, “Benson Be Gone”, “But I Have a Receipt”, “This Is My Jam”, “Muscle Woman”, “Temp Check”, “Jinx”, “See You There”, “Do Me a Solid”, “Grave Sights”, “Really Real Wrestling”, “Over the Top”, “The Night Owl”, “A Bunch of Baby Ducks”, “More Smarter”, “First Day”, “Go Viral”, “Skunked” and “Karaoke Video”

The 1080p transfer for each episode is awesome with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. I have watched this show is various formats from online to satellite TV and this was a real treat. The animation looks crisp and the colors are very vibrant. Although the back of the packaging tells us that there are both a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks, neither of those are actually available. In fact the only track available for the episodes is a Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps) track. It is not terrible but a little bit disappointing when you consider how great this show would have been in TrueHD. HMMM HMMM!

The special features on this release are absolutely amazing (especially compared to “Adventure Times” recent Blu-ray season releases). There are two hours of bonus features along with an audio commentary track for literally every single episode with creator J.G. Quintel and the show’s storyboard artists.  This is literally worth the purchase of the Blu-ray alone! 40 commentary tracks! Hello!? Count me in!  Great way to revisit the show and also learn new things about it as a fan straight from the creators mouth.  Highly recommend these tracks.

There is the unaired pilot episode, which is awesome, as well as an animatic for it also. There is also an animatic for the episode “The Power”, along with a video of J.G. Quintel pitching the episode. There is an interview with J.G. Quintel chatting about this unique and amazing series and also his student short, “The Naïve Man from Lolliland”. Tired yet? Well there is still some more “Original Pencil Tests from Saerom”, “CG Test for Hodgepodge Monster”, “2010 Comic Con Teaser Trailer”, Party Tonight Music Video” and “Original Regular Show Commercials”. Any fan of this show will be left exhausted after all these great extras!

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“Friday the 13th: The Complete Collection” Debuts on Blu-ray™ September 13th

Thirteen’s the Lucky Number for Horror Fans When…

FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
Debuts on Blu-ray™ Friday the 13th of September

All 12 films from Warner Bros. and Paramount in One “Horrific” Collection for the First Time 

10-Disc Set Includes 7 Blu-ray Debuts, 11 Hours of Extra Content in Collectible Tin Packaging, 40-page Book with Behind-The-Scenes Photos, Camp Crystal Lake Counselor Patch and More 

Burbank, Calif., June 11, 2013 – On September 13th, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will provide plenty of blood-curdling thrills when Friday The 13th: The Complete Collection debuts on Blu-ray™. For the first time, all twelve Friday the 13th films will be packaged together, (with seven of them making Blu-ray debuts) as a result of a strategic distribution alliance between Paramount and Warner announced last fall, granting Warner exclusive video distribution rights to over 600 Paramount titles. The set also includes a Friday The 13th Killer Extras Bonus DVD.

This intense ‘slasher’ series is one of the longest-running and most successful horror franchises in film history, surpassing the domestic theatrical box-office grosses of such legendary series as A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.The film that turned psycho killer Jason Voorhees and his infamous hockey mask into a pop culture icon has also bested the horror competition as the #1 home entertainment seller, with total sales of $119.7M to date.

The 10-disc collection ($129.95 SRP) includes the twelve films on nine Blu-ray discs, as well as a killer DVD bonus disc full of special features on the making of the famous franchise. The must-own set will be presented in a collectible tin case with 11 hours of previously released special features and a 40-page soft cover book. The book is excerpted from Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday The 13th, a fan-favorite volume that’s viewed as the ultimate memoir of the series, and highlights some of the 200 interviews, 600 photos, storyboards, concept art and more. Also included is a brand new, official Camp Crystal Lake embroidered Counselor Patch.

Friday The 13th: The Complete Collection also includes digital versions of all 12 films with UltraViolet™, allowing viewers to download and instantly stream the films to a wide range of devices from computers and compatible tablets to smartphones, game consoles, Internet-connected TVs and Blu-ray players.

One of the most frightening franchises in film history, Friday The 13th focuses primarily on the character of Jason Voorhees, who drowned as a young child at Camp Crystal Lake due to the inattentiveness of camp counselors. Many years later, the camp becomes the scene of a number of murders – all of which are either committed or motivated by the avenging Jason, who forever lurks at Crystal Lake with his finely-honed machete.

Films in the Collection include:

  • Disc 1 – Friday the 13th (1980) 
  • Disc 2 – Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
  • Disc 3 – Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3D (1982)
  • Disc 4 – Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) NEW TO BLU-RAY
  • Disc 5 – Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985) / Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)  NEW TO BLU-RAY
  • Disc 6 – Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) / Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)  NEW TO BLU- RAY
  • Disc 7 – Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993) / Jason X (2002) NEW TO BLU-RAY
  • Disc 8 – Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
  • Disc 9 – Friday the 13th (2009) (Theatrical Version and “Killer Cut” Extended Version)
  • Disc 10 – Killer Bonus DVD Disc

 

Friday The 13th: The Complete Collection (BD) 
Street Date: September 13, 2013

Order Due Date: August 9, 2013

Rating: R

Pricing: $129.95 SRP

Cat. #:  1000408970

About Warner Home Video: 
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc., commands the largest home entertainment distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video’s film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Cinema.

 

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com and WB Ultra.

**About UltraViolet

UltraViolet allows you to collect, watch and share movies and TV shows in a whole new way. Available with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs, DVDs and Digital Downloads, UltraViolet lets you create a digital collection of movies and TV shows. Services such as Flixster and VUDU allow you to instantly stream and download UltraViolet content across a wide range of devices including computers and compatible tablets, smartphones, game consoles, Internet-connected TVs and Blu-ray players. Restrictions and limitations apply. Go to ultraviolet.flixster.com/info for details. For more information on compatible devices go to www.wb.com/ultravioletdevices.

 

 

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DVD Review “Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids: The Complete Series”

Actors: Bill Cosby
Number of discs: 15
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: June 25, 2013
Run Time: 2340 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

If you were an adult or kid in the 70-80′s then you should be aware of “Fat Albert” and the man behind the show Bill Cosby. And no I don’t mean the terrible 2004 live-action film. Bill Cobsy is one of the greatest comedians of our time. Kids these days most likely will not recognize him since he hasn’t done much in the last decade or so. Well, I remember the “Fat Albert” original animated series growning up and it is a riot. Finally, thanks to Shout! Factory we can own the complete series, which includes the best original 36 1972-75 Episodes, all 24 1979-81 episodes and all 50 1984 episodes. If you are a fan of this show and looking to take a trip down memory lane then this would be the set for you to purchase.

Official Premise: Premiering in 1972 on CBS this classic animated series was created, produced and hosted by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including Fat Albert himself. The show, based on Cosby’s remembrances of his childhood gang, focused on the lovable, oversized Albert and his friends. The show always had an educational lesson emphasized by Cosby’s live-action segments, and the gang would usually gather in their North Philadelphia junkyard to play a rock song on their cobbled-together instruments at the end of the show.

“Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids” Season 1 from 1972 contains the following 16 episodes: “Lying”, “The Runt”, “The Stranger”, “Creativity”, “Fish Out of Water”, “Moving”, “Playing Hookey”, “The Hospital”, “Begging Benny”, “The Hero”, “The Prankster”, “Four Eyes”, “The Tomboy”, “Stagefright”, “The Bully” and “Smart Kids”. Season 2 from 1973 contains the following 5 episodes: “Mister Big Timer”, “The Newcomer”, “What Does Dad Do?”, “Mom or Pop” and “How the West Was Lost”. Lastly, we get season 3 from 1975 contains 15 episodes including “Sign Off”, “The Fuzz”, 3 Ounce of Prevention, “Fat Albert Meets Dan Cupid”, “Take Two, They’re Small”, “The Animal Lover”, “Little Tough Guy”, “Smoke Gets in Your Hair”, “What Say?”, “Readin’ Ritin’, and Rudy”, “Suede Simpson”, “Little Business”, “TV or Not TV”, “The Shuttered Window” and “Junk Food”.

Next up we have “The New Fat Albert Show” season 1 from 1979 with 8 episodes, including “In My Merry Busmobile”, “The Dancer”, “Spare the Rod Bucky, Weird Harold…”, “Sweet Sorror”, “Poll Time”, “The Mainstream”, “Free Ride” and “Soft Core”. The second season from 1980 is next with 8 episodes including “Pain, Pain Go Away”, “The Rainbow”, “The Secret”, “Easy Pickins”, “Good Ol’ Dudes”, “Heads Or Trails”, “Pot Of Gold” and “The Gunslinger”. The last was season 3 from 1981 with another 8 episodes, including “Habla Espanol”, “Two By Two”, “Barking Dog”, “Water Are You Waiting For?”, “The Father”, “Double Cross”, “Little Girl Found” and “Watch That First Step”

The last series included for this show is “Bill Cosby’s Fat Albert” from 1984 with another 50 episodes including “Have a Heart”, “Watch Thy Neighborhood”, “Cosby’s Classics”, “Justice Good as Ever”, “Rebop For Bebop”, “Sinister Stranger”, “Handwriting On the Wall”, “Busted”, “It All Ads Up”, “Never Say Never”, “Don’t Call Us”, “The Runner”, “Video Mania”, “You Gotta Have Art”, “Long Live the Queen”, ”The Joker”, “Second Chance”, “Kiss and Tell”, “Teenage Mom”, “Film Follies”, “Harvest Moon”, “Read Baby Read”, “The Whisky Kid”, “Millionaire Madness”, “Call of the Wild”, “Funny Business”, “Three Strikes and You’re In”, “What’s the ID?”, “Rules Is Cool”, “The Birds, the Bees, and Dumb Donald”, “Double Or Nothing”, “Hot Wheels”, “No Place Like Home”, “Not So Loud”, “The Jinx”, “You Don’t Say”, “Amiss With Amish”, “Gang Wars”, “Computer Caper”, “We All Scream For Ice Cream”, “Superdudes”, “Painting the Town”, Rudy and the Beast”, “Wheeler”, “Faking the Grade”, “Write On”, “Cable Caper”, “Say Uncle”, “No News Is Good News” and “Attitude of Gratitude”.

For episodes that range from 30-40 years old, these episodes looks damn good. They are presented in full frame and are well represented by Shout! Factory. If you didn’t think that 110 episodes were enough to leave you satisfied, there is still more in the special features. “Hey, Hey, Hey . . . It’s The Story Of Fat Albert” is solid hour long documentary on the show and it’s legacy. There are audio commentary tracks with Show Creator Bill Cosby, Storyboard Artists Michael Swanigan And Tom Tataranowicz, Writer Robby London And Host Wally Wingert, which are definitely worth checking out. Lastly there is a Still Gallery included, as well as DVD-ROM content with Script And Storyboards.

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Blu-ray Review “House of Cards: The Complete First Season”

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Kate Mara, Corey Stoll, Reuel Pendleton, Sakina Jaffrey, Michael Kelly, Kristen Connolly
Developed by: Beau Willimon
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
DVD Release Date: June 11, 2013
Run Time: 674 minutes

Series: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

“House of Cards” is a pretty cutting edge TV series since it was made for and released specifically for Netflix. It consists of 13 episodes, which were released all at once on the paid online service. It is a fierce political drama with Kevin Spacey, perfectly leading pack. The show also co-stars Robin Wright, Kate Mara, and Corey Stoll (whom I loved in “Midnight in Paris”). David Fincher also co-created and directed the first two episodes and really set the tone for the whole season, which intense, smart and extremely well-written. This show also has paved for way for other shows to premiere online with Netflix. I can’t wait for season two, bring it on! If you are a fan of political dramas, then “House of Cards” is the show for you.

Official Premise: “House of Cards” follows House Majority Whip Frank Underwood (Spacey), a strong-willed, power-hungry Democrat from South Carolina set on conquering Washington D.C. alongside his wife, Claire (Wright). When the President decides to pass over Frank for a presumed appointment to Secretary of State, Underwood takes matters into his own hands by using Congress, the media, and corporate boosters as pawns in exacting revenge on those who betrayed him

Sony Pictures Entertainment gave this series a nice Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p transfer looks very impressive and is presented well with an aspect ratio of 2.00:1. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works well with the drama filled intense dialogue. I am a bit disappointed that there are ZERO special features included for this series.  If you are a subscriber to Netflix, there would be no reason for you to purchase this Blu-ray since you can watch the episodes already online for free. I would have loved to see some featurettes and commentary tracks included. So if you don’t have Netflix, then this would be for you but after you finish the season don’t expect anything extra.

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Blu-ray Reviews “Adventure Time: The Complete First & Second Season”

Actors: Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, Hyden Walch, Tom Kenny
Created by: Pendleton Ward
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Cartoon Network
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Running Time: 572 minutes

Seasons: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I have to admit, I was not aware of this amazing show when it first started airing.  I came in around the third season but I have never seen anything like this before. “Adventure Time” is an amazing blend of animation with fantasy and plenty of comedy. It is trippy, strange and completely weird but impossible not to love. The show’s creator Pendleton Ward is just 30 years old and has really delivered us a fantastic show not just for kids either, this show is for “kids” of all ages.  There are some many pop-culture references through this series that literally brings out the fanboy in all of us.  If you have never heard of “Adventure Time”, now is the perfect time to start. If you are a die-hard fan like myself, need I say more?

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Cartoon Network has released numerous DVDs for “Adventure Time” in the last few years but just recently started getting into the complete seasons, which I am big fan of.  This is the first time that The Complete First Season is available on Blu-ray and also the first time that The Complete Second Season is available at all in full. Together these releases brings us, the fans, 52 episodes of this amazing show in glorious high definition. They also come in very cool slipcases.  First season is Finn with a removable hat and the second season, surprised it isn’t Jake, is The Ice King, with removable beard. Very clever and a nice added touch!

The Complete First Season Official Synopsis: What time is it? It’s time for Adventure Time! Cartoon Network’s #1 hit comedy show and Emmy-nominated series centers on the post apocalyptic adventures of Finn (voiced by Jeremy Shada), a human boy with a funny hat, and his friend Jake (John DiMaggio), a magic and mischievous dog. The Blu-ray includes all 26 episodes from Season 1 and tons of special features by Ward. The first season also comes packaged with a collectible slipcover and is a must have for any Adventure Time fan.

The Complete Second Season Official Synopsis: It’s one crazy adventure after another for human boy, Finn, and his best friend, Jake, a 28-year old dog with magical powers. They’re out to have the most fun possible and they sure do find it exploring the Land of Ooo! Whether it’s saving Princess Bubblegum (Hynden Walch), battling zombie candy, taunting the Ice King (Tom Kenny) or rocking out with Marceline the Vampire Queen (Olivia Olson), with Finn & Jake it’s always Adventure Time.

Like I said before the episodes looks quite amazing with their 1080p transfers and aspect ratio of 1.78:1. I watched this show on Cartoon Network HD and this really gives the show a real impressive make over. The most disappointing aspect of this release is the audio tracks.  Oh man, they really let us down here.  Each season only comes with a weak Dolby Digital 2.0 (192kbps) track.  This is even bad for DVD standards. The show is dialogue based, so it doesn’t suffer too much but if I am upgrading this series, especially for the first season on Blu-ray, then I expect Blu-ray quality audio tracks.

The Complete First Season features the same extras, which are replicated from its previous DVD release. “Behind the Scenes” features the show’s creator Pen Ward show us around the show’s offices.  To top that there is a “Behind the Behind the Scenes,” which includes more strangeness inside the show.  “Adventure Time Music with Casey + Tim” is a featurette with the show’s composers Casey James Basichis and Tim Kiefer. There are also four commentary tracks including “Trouble in Lumpy Space” & “Prisoners of Love” with John DiMaggio, Jeremy Shada, Tom Kenny and Pen Ward; “Tree Trunks” by Bettie Ward and Polly Lou Livingston and “Ricardio the Heart Guy” with George Takei, Tom Kenny, Hynden Walch, Jeremy Shada and Pen Ward.

The Complete Second Season extras are not as bountiful as the first but it makes up for it in its content. There are literally 26 commentary tracks includes.  If you are a fan of this show, each one is better than the next. There is also a featurette “The Crew of Adventure Time”, with them being interviewed by Pen Ward. Topping this release off is my favorite part, even though it is not much of a bonus feature, if you like digital copies then these two seasons releases include all the episodes available to be added to your Ultraviolet digital streaming account!

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“Perception: The Complete First Season” DVD Giveaway [ENDED]

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

To celebrate the recent release of “Perception: The Complete First Season”, Media Mikes is happy to be giving away a DVD for the season. If you would like to enter for your chance to win one of these great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email with your why Perception is your favorite procedural drama television series. This is giveaway will remain open until June 17th at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to our readers in US and Canada only. One entry per person, per household. All other entries will be considered invalid. Media Mikes will randomly select winners. Winners will be alerted via email.

Synopsis: Enter the brilliant mind of Dr. Daniel Pierce and relive every thrilling case of Perception: The Complete First Season. Experience an original twist on the classic crime drama as Emmy Award® winner Eric McCormack (Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, 2001, Will & Grace), stars as an eccentric neuroscience professor whose revealing visions help him uncover what lies beneath conscious emotion.

Though recruited by the FBI for his masterful understanding of the human mind, Daniel’s odd and offbeat view makes it difficult for him to get close to anyone. His former student, Agent Kate Moretti (Rachael Leigh Cook), is one of the few people willing to accept Daniel’s peculiarities in exchange for his imaginative solutions. Two very different personalities join forces as they try to tackle the Bureau’s most complex cases.

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Blu-ray Review “The Dick Van Dyke Show: The Complete Third Season”

Actors: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Carl Reiner
Directors: Jerry Paris, John Rich
Number of discs: 3
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Run Time: 811 minutes

Season: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

I do not think that there could be such a thing as watching too much “The Dick Van Dyke Show”.  As these seasons are being released on Blu-ray, I find myself re-watching past seasons just to fill the gap in between. Even my wife now has become a fan finding the show like myself post airing. Image Entertainment is behind these and they have done such a wonderful job.  This season is first without Carl Reiner taking point in the writing department.  It still is exceptional funny, especially with the episode “That’s My Boy??”. With only two more seasons to go after this, I am going to be upset when the series is completed.  Can I suggest “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” next for them to release as a series? Hint Hint!

Official Premise: Pratfall-prone Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) and his plucky wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), along with wisecracking co-workers Sally (Rose Marie) and Buddy (Morey Amsterdam), captured America’s hearts in this TV favorite that irresistibly combined wit and slapstick. The third season, which earned the series’ highest ratings, opened with the landmark That’s My Boy?? about Rob’s fear that he’s brought the wrong baby home from hospital, getting the longest studio audience laughs in the show’s history. Also among the season’s 32 original full length episodes (airing 1963-1964) included in this set are the hilarious October Eve with Laura is mortified when a nude portrait of her surfaces in a New York gallery and Big Max Calvada in which a gangster muscles Rob, Buddy and Sally into writing a comedy routine for his nephew.

Like the past three seasons, Image Entertainment has consistently delivers wonderful presentations for this show (and many others as well).  These episodes are brought to us on Blu-ray with all-new scans from the camera negatives. The 1080p transfer just look stunning. The original source elements have held up very well and really don’t show their age at all. The DTS-HD MA 1.0 audio track is a simple soundtrack for a simple show. There not much needed here this show and it works perfectly. The episodes were mostly taped with a studio audience and the laughing is balanced well with the snappy jokes and dialogue.

There are some new Blu-ray exclusive special features. Including “Mary on The Danny Kaye Show”, which if you a nice switch since on Season 2, we had Dick on that show. Decent but Dick’s appearance takes the cake for being slightly more entertaining. “TV Academy Tribute to Carl with Steve Martin and George Clooney” it is a nice ode to the man behind this great show. Martin gives tribute and Clooney does the awarding. The rest of the season features are roll-overs from past DVD releases but are still fantastic. There are commentary tracks from Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke on episode 64 (That’s My Boy??) and episode 90 (October Eve). There are “Episode Photos” throughout all three discs for episodes 18 out of the 32 episodes. There are also commercials/promos on episode 64, 66, 80 and others for Nick at Nite.

Other extras include featurettes on disc 1: “Remembering the Sheldon Leonard”, “Remembering Rob and Laura”, “Remembering Buddy and Sally”, “Remembering That’s My Boy??” (episode 64), “Remembering the Betty Lou” (episode 72), which look back at these episodes and the characters. Also there is “Sheldon on the Role of Executive Producer”. Disc 2 contains featurettes on “Remembering Joe Coogan” (episode 80). There is a also a featurette “The Cast Plays Stump the Stars” and Rehearsal footage from “A Day in the Life of Sheldon Leonard”. Lastly disc three has one more featurette: for “Remembering Alan Brady” (episode 86) and “Remembering October Eve” (episode 90). Also there is a look into the show’s Emmy Awards® (1963-1964) and “Dick and Mary on Van Dyke & Company” included.

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Blu-ray Review “Appleseed XIII: Complete Series”

Actors: David Matranga, Luci Christian, Charlie Campbell
Directors: Colleen Clinkenbeard
Number of discs: 5
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Funimation
DVD Release Date: June 4, 2013
Run Time: 390 minutes

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

“Appleseed XIII” is the new Japanese CGI anime adaptation of Masamune Shirow’s 1985 science fiction manga series “Appleseed”. The series consists of 13 episodes (if you didn’t get that from the title). The series focuses on the exploits of ES.W.A.T. members Deunan and her cyborg partner Briareos and stays pretty close the original manga stories. The series was produced in association with Production I.G, aka the makers of “Ghost in the Shell”. I am a big fan of “Appleseed” and I am glad to see this series get some new life. I wish it wasn’t returned to 13 episodes but it still works and it is a blast for fans looking for more.

If you are a fan of the past films “Appleseed” & “Appleseed Ex Machina”, you will be happy to know that David Matranga returns as Briareos and Luci Christian returns as Deunan Knute. So this should make fans of the characters happy. It has also been almost six years since the last film, so this OVA series is very welcomed. “Appleseed XIII” was also compiled into two theatrical feature films in Japan. The first feature film was titled, “Appleseed XIII: Tartaros” and the second titled, “Appleseed XIII: Ouranos”.

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

Funimation gave this OVA series a lot of love.  This limited edition Blu-ray release comes in a very sharp hard case with two cases, one for the Blu-ray presentation of this show and the another for the DVD. This is a typical “complete series” release from the studio and is very impressive. The 1080p transfers on the episodes look fantastic and work very well with the CG animation style and non-stop action for this series.  There are two audio tracks included, both which are Dolby TrueHD 5.1.  Like I mentioned above, I am fan of the English track due to the voice talent that is included.  But both of them are comparable and very impressive to satisfy either type of fan.

The special features are pretty awesome as well, just like the series itself. There are two audio track for two episodes. Episode #7 features Mike McFarland, Ian Sinclair and Monica Rial, which is a complete blast to listen to and adds a lot to the episode itself. The second is with Episode #12, which features Colleen Clinkenbeard and David Matrenga, also very informative and a must listen for fans. “The Inside” is a crazy long nearly two and a half hour behind the scenes look at the making of each episode. Plain and simple…this is awesome and highly recommend! Lastly there is a U.S. Trailer, and a Textless Opening and Closing Theme.

 

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

Actors: Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, Dev Patel and Olivia Munn
Creator: Aaron Sorkin
Number of discs: 6
Rated: Unrated
Studio: HBO Home Video
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Run Time: 725 minutes

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

Aaron Sorkin knows how to do political drama, after all he also created the Emmy Award-winning “The West Wing”, which was a pretty well-known show 😉 HBO is really delivering some of the best television shows in the last year or so, along with “Veep” and “Game of Thrones”. “The Newsroom” features an all-star cast lead by Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, Dev Patel and Olivia Munn. There is also a fantastic recurring cast including Jane Fonda, Hope Davis, Terry Crews, David Krumholtz, Patton Oswalt and Marcia Gay Harden. There is just so much talent in this show, I don’t know how it doesn’t explode. The show is witty and well-written, thanks to Scott Rudin (“The Social Network”). If you enjoyed the first 10-episode season, you will be happy to know that “The Newsroom” was renewed for a second season, which premieres on July 14, 2013 only on HBO.

Official Premise: HBO presents the new one-hour drama series from the fertile mind of Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) and executive produced by Sorkin, Scott Rudin and Alan Poul. Smart, topical, humorous and highly entertaining, The Newsroom takes a behind-the-scenes look at a high-rated cable-news program at the fictional ACN Network, focusing on the on- and off-camera lives of its acerbic anchor (Jeff Daniels), new executive producer (Emily Mortimer), their newsroom staff (John Gallagher, Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Olivia Munn, Dev Patel and others) and their news-division boss (Sam Waterston).

HBO gives a whole lot of love to its shows Blu-ray releases. First of all they all come packaged in this beautiful strong box, which is very sharp.  It also comes with HBO Select, which offers its viewers the choice of three ways to watch the show – Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy. The digital copy is redeemable via a provider of your choice: iTunes, Vudu or Amazon, as well as an UltraViolet copy through supporting providers. So you are filled with choices here and can watch the show wherever – whenever. The 1080p transfer of the show is very clear and sharp.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track works well with the dialogue and since this is a political drama it is very important for this to work!

The special features are also very impressive, again since HBO treats their shows very well. There is a five audio commentaries track with no only Aaron Sorkin, but also executive producer Alan Poul and cast members Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston, Emily Mortimer and more! This is a great way to get some replay value out of the show. “Mission Control”  is a great behind-the-scenes look at the production with the cast and crew. “The Rundown” is a roundtable discussion with Aaron Sorkin, executive producer Alan Poul, co-executive producer Greg Mottola, Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer and Sam Waterston as they discuss the first season. “Inside the Episodes” is an inside perspective on each episodes with Aaron Sorkin. Lastly there are a few Deleted Scenes and Episodic Previews & Recaps, rounding out a great release.

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Blu-ray Review “True Blood: The Complete Fifth Season”

Actors: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley
Creator: Alan Ball
Number of discs: 7
Rated: Unrated
Studio: HBO Home Video
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Run Time: 720 minutes

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

Who doesn’t love HBO’s “True Blood”. The show has been going strong for five seasons now. When you start watching its is hard not to completed get sucked in. This season packs some great storylines i.e. Bill and Eric behind bars, Tara getting used to her new life as a vampire, Alcide turning his back on the wolfpack and a vampire civil war on the horizon. There is no shortage of action and drama this season. In fact this season is one of my favorite to date from the show, besides the first. You would think that after five seasons that this show would lose some steam but it only seems to get more interesting and entertaining. Season five also definitely can be considered a game-changer for the show and it was also creator Alan Ball’s final season. I am still looking forward to what happens next in the upcoming sixth season, coming this June! Bring it on!

The fifth season sees the return of our favorite True Blood cast members including Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgård, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley and Sam Trammell…just to name a few. They are all in fine-form and deliver some of their best performances of the series especially Ryan Kwanten, who has a fantastic arc. This season introduces various new cast members including Scott Foley as Patrick Devins; Christopher Meloni as Roman; Valentina Cervi as Salom; and Lucy Griffiths as Nora. I love the storyline surrounding the Authority and their affects on these characters. Each character their own arc, which works well for the most part, this season and the finale really brings it all together quite well.

HBO has delivered a very impressive DigiPack combo pack release for the fifth season of “True Blood”. Thanks to HBO Select, this release offers buyers the choice of three ways to watch in one set – Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy. The digital copy included is redeemable via iTunes, Vudu or Amazon and of course my favorite, UltraViolet. The 12 episodes are well represented with their 1080p transfers. The show has been given consistently impressive releases thanks to HBO and have continued to look very sharp and impressive. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks also deliver the mood for the show very well. I love composer Nathan Barr’s score for this show and as usual it is well represented here.

The special features are sure to leave diehard “True Blood” fans feeling very satisfied. “True Blood Episode Six: Autopsy” is an in-depth look behind-the-scenes with the cast and crew on that episode. “Authority Confessionals” gives you an inside look at the mysterious institution. There is an enhanced viewing option for the series allowing you to tap in Character Bios, Vampire Histories and fun facts while watching the show. There is a Flashback/Flash Forward option that will allow you to travel back through the show’s timeline and relive pivotal moments or Flash Forward to reveal the significance of a certain scenes. Lastly “True Blood Lines” is a fun guide to tap into secrets from relationships past and present.

Next up, the next batch of special features are available on the Blu-rays but are the only extras available on the DVDs. “Inside the Episodes” is an look into various back stories from each episode this season. There are five audio commentary tracks with cast and crew including creator/executive producer Alan Ball, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Denis O’Hare, Carrie Preston and many more! There are also Previews & Recaps from the series, in case you need to play catch up. Lastly you are able to watch these episodes seamless, so they flow really well together especially if you feel like marathoning it.

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