Toto’s David Paich talks about live DVD and CD “35 Year Anniversary: Live in Poland”

David Paich is a keyboardist, singer, composer, recording producer, and arranger, best known for his work with the rock band Toto. The band has sold over 30 million records and recently released a live DVD and CD titled “35 Year Anniversary: Live in Poland”. Media Mikes spoke with David recently about the live release, the bands staying power after 35 years and their upcoming studio album.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us a little bit about the bands new live CD/DVD?
David Paich: We are really excited about this release and it has been doing great so far around the world as well as here in the U.S. We shot the concert in Poland as we had played there in the past and our guitarist Steve Lukather had been there more recently in support of his solo record. The fans there are just outstanding and very passionate. With the band celebrating its 35 year anniversary we decided to document the show. We originally were going to shoot in Amsterdam however due to a transportation strike things got pushed back and we decided to go with our original idea of shooting in Poland. We wanted to make this release as much about the fans as it is about the band. We are very lucky to still be able to do what we love.

AL: Were there any reservations about shooting/recording a live album?
DP: We always do. We have never really been a great live video band. We are just a bunch of musicians from the valley. We aren’t rock stars like Aerosmith and Van Halen on stage but we knew it was important that this get documented. When you get to where we are in our career things go from year to year and summer to summer. We had actually done a video the year before this one and it didn’t turn out like we had hoped so it was shelved.

AL: Is the DVD compiled of multi-night footage or is this one show from that tour?
DP: This was a one night shot. When you are shooting over multiple nights it tends to make things harder. Normally you say you are playing three nights at one place and you shoot all three nights and pull the best performances. We got very lucky shooting this one night as the crowd was sensational so things worked out great. We put in a lot of preparation before the show that night to make sure that everything went off without issue.

AL: What do you think has kept Toto relevant 35 years after its initial inception?
DP: I think it’s mainly based on the fact that we can still pull this material off. Our musicianship is at a very high level. That’s us up there playing every note, every night. I don’t think there are a lot of bands still out there like us that have the scope and the range that Toto has. We cover a lot of genres and unless you are listening to a DJ or something like that a lot of bands can’t do what we do during our live shows. The way the music interacts with the crowds is just great and fans get to hear what they hear on the records.

AL: Toto is currently working on a new album. What is it that made you guys want to put out new music when a lot of bands from your era are going out and performing just their greatest hits?
DP: It was a combination of things. We had originally thought that our album from 2004 was going to be our last record. Through a bunch of legal stuff we found out that we had still owed our record label one more album. Instead of throwing just a bunch of stuff on there to fulfill our contract we decided to really put our whole heart in this thing and so far it’s turning out to be one of my favorite Toto records. I think the crowds are going to be pleasantly surprised by how much this new album reverts back to the sounds on the band’s first album. We really had a “go for it” attitude and we definitely pushed ourselves.

AL: Do you think your level of experimentation on the upcoming record is what will separate it from your 2004 release?
DP: One of the biggest changes was we didn’t have our bassist Mike Porcaro there or Jeff Porcaro for that matter. We were short handed and some of that work camaraderie was missing. When you bring in new players that can certainly be a big change. Keith Carlock has been great on drums and we have been playing with a number of different bassist’s who all have been given Mike’s blessing. Brining in those new elements makes it challenging but were uniquely bonded through music and it has been going great.

AL: Can you tell us about the band’s upcoming summer tour?
DP: We are doing a co-headlining tour with Michael McDonald for six weeks here in the U.S. We are going to be playing on a few different songs with one another each night and its going to be a lot of fun. We are packing the night with all of our hits and we also went back and grab some other favorites from the inner albums as well.

AL: You also do a lot of work outside of Toto can you tell us about some of the other projects you are working on?
DP: I just finished working with a 16 year old guitarist by the name of Andreas Varady. He is managed by Quincy Jones and he is just a great jazz guitarists. I just finished mastering his album which I believe will be coming out in early August. It’s going to be a really great contemporary Jazz album.

 

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DVD Review “Kung Fu: The Legend Continues – The Complete First Season”

Starring: David Carradine, Chris Potter
Created by: Ed Spielman
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed: Warner Archive
Release Date: May 27, 2014

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

“Kung Fu: The Legend Continues” is a spin-off of the 1972–1975 TV series “Kung Fu”. It ran from 1993-1997. I remember watching “Kung Fu as a kid and loving every single minute of it. Then I started watching the spin-off and I honestly just never got into it. It picks up after “Kung Fu: The Movie” with Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine), grandson of the legendary hero of the Wild West, who teams up with his policeman son, Peter (Chris Potter), to tame the new Wild West – 90’s urban America. I guess it plays better if you are watching this in the 90’s, even though I wasn’t even thrilled then, but this show does not hold up today. If you are a hardcore fan, you may dig it otherwise it would have been better off getting lost in the wild west.

Official Premise: When we last saw Kwai Chang Caine, in “Kung Fu: the Movie”, he was united with the son he never knew he had in turn-of-the-century Wild West. Now, the son of that son, also named Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine), must emerge from seclusion to save the son he thought lost. Like his legendary namesake, this Caine is also a warrior monk, operating a Shaolin temple in Northern California. After an evil priest, Tan (Ernest Abuba), destroys the temple, Caine and his young son, Peter (Nathaniel Moreau) each believe the other has perished. The two embark on very different paths ­ Caine wanders the Earth, while Peter (Chris Potter) becomes a cop. When fate brings the two together, they work to overcome their differing philosophies to battle Tan, and then help the innocent and bring justice to the new Wild West ­90’s urban America.

The best part of watching this show today is no question picking out all the guest stars from back in the day including Neve Campbell, Colm Feore, Katie Griffin, James Hong, Martin Kove, George Lazenby, Mako, Barry Morse, Sandra Oh, Regis Philbin, Mickey Rooney, John Schneider, Scott Speedman, Tara Strong, George Takei and of course Richard Carradine (Note these listed are throughout the whole series not just the first season). There are no special features included on this release, like most TV DVD series releases from Warner Archive. I assume that they are going to burn through the rest of this series mostly likely before the end of the year. So if you are a fan of this show, the next three seasons should be available soon so you can get all your 90’s cheesy goodness out.

 

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Find out when your favorite ABC shows are headed to DVD this Fall


Your favorite ABC shows are headed to DVD this fall. Here’s what’s coming down the pipe:

Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Tenth Season on DVD September 2nd
Castle: The Complete Sixth Season on DVD September 16th
Nashville: The Complete Second Season on DVD September 23rd
Once Upon a Time: The Complete Third Season on Blu-ray and DVD August 19th
Scandal: The Complete Third Season on DVD September 23rd
Revenge: The Complete Third Season on DVD September 26th

The Stakes Are Higher Than Ever Before in the Brilliant Sixth Season of TV’s Favorite Crime Drama* 

CASTLE: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON

Own Every Case and Relive All of Your Favorite Moments on DVD September 16, 2014

Get Even More Castle with Exclusive Never-Before-Seen Bonus Features

Synopsis: After Castle’s stunning romantic proposal to Beckett, what happens next? TV’s magnetic crime-fighting couple faces a whole new set of challenges as they juggle wedding plans and their most intriguing cases yet in ABC’s Castle: The Complete Sixth Season.

Beckett’s new job with the Justice Department takes her away from the wisecracking love of her life. But Castle’s devotion to his new fiancée – and her fascinating line of work – jeopardizes her career and creates a chain of events that might separate them forever. Back on the home front, Castle is none too pleased to discover his daughter has seemingly been captivated by, and now living with, her new, free-spirited boyfriend. It’s a season of surprises you won’t want to miss!

Experience every engaging moment of Castle’s brilliant sixth season, complete with all 23 unforgettable episodes, plus never-before-seen bonus features only available on DVD.

Talent/Cast: Castle stars Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle, Stana Katic as Kate Beckett,
Seamus Dever as Kevin Ryan, Jon Huertas as Javier Esposito, Tamala Jones as Laurie Parish, Molly Quinn as Alexis Castle and Susan Sullivan as Martha Rodgers.

Creator: Andrew W. Marlowe (Air Force One, End of Days)

Bonus Features:
Disc 1
Character Commentary (Need To Know episode) with Detectives Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan
Deleted Scenes

Disc 2
Audio Commentary (The Good, The Bad & The Baby episode) with Director John Terlesky, Consulting Producer/Writer Terri Edda Miller, Nathan Fillion and Seamus Dever

Disc 3
Audio Commentary (Deep Cover episode) with Supervising Producer/Writer Terrence Paul Winter, Nathan Fillion, Susan Sullivan and James Brolin
Deleted Scenes

Disc 4
Audio Commentary (In The Belly of the Beast episode) with Creator/Executive Producer/Writer Andrew W. Marlowe, Executive Producer/Writer David Amann and Executive Producer/Director Rob Bowman
Deleted Scenes
Castle Karaoke (TBD) – An extended performance of Seamus Dever singing “What I Like About You” in 618 The Way of the Ninja.

Disc 5
Castle in a Day with Stana Katic – Get an inside look at a day in the life of Castle with actress Stana Katic. Directed by filmmaker Mark Polish, this is a stylistic and intimate diary of a day during the cliff hanger scene of the season 6 finale.
A Few of Our Favorite Things – Nathan Fillion, Susan Sullivan and Molly Quinn, along with the rest of the cast and crew share some of their favorite things about Castle which we’ll compare to fan favorites collected via social media polls. Creator/Executive Producer Andrew W. Marlowe and Producer/Writer Terri Edda Miller reveal their favorite part of the show, the Castle and Beckett relationship and debut an unaired Castle and Kate moment from the season 4 finale.
Bloopers
Deleted  Scenes

Live For The Moments.

GREY’S ANATOMY: THE COMPLETE TENTH SEASON

 All 24 Heart-Stopping Episodes Plus Exclusive Bonus Features On DVD September 2, 2014

Synopsis:  The storm may have passed, but now the relationships and romance of Grey-Sloan Memorial must survive in its wake.  Bonds are tested, love is lost and the hospital bids farewell to Dr. Cristina Yang.  Experience every heart-stopping moment in the “can’t miss” tenth season of ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Following a massive mudslide, the hospital becomes a madhouse, and the lives of two doctors hang in the balance. The drama escalates as Arizona tries desperately to mend her broken marriage, while Derek and Meredith juggle their roles as surgeons and new parents. Meanwhile, a stunning betrayal pits Cristina against Meredith and, as April prepares for her big day, a familiar face returns to town. Big secrets lead to big problems and turn best friends into rivals.

Relive “Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Tenth Season” like never before with DVD exclusive bonus features that take you behind the scenes and draw you closer into the lives of the unforgettable men and women of “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Talent/Cast:  “Grey’s Anatomy” stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Jessica Capshaw as Arizona Robbins, Jesse Williams as Jackson Avery, Sarah Drew as April Kepner, Camilla Luddington as Jo Wilson, Gaius Charles as Shane Ross, Jerrika Hinton as Stephanie Edwards and Tessa Ferrer as Leah Murphy.

Executive Producers:     Grey’s Anatomy” was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes (“Scandal”, “Private Practice”, “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge”). Betsy Beers (“Scandal”, “Private Practice”, “Casanova”), Mark Gordon (“Saving Private Ryan”), Rob Corn (“Chicago Hope”), Tony Phelan and Joan Rater (“Law& Order: Trial by Jury”), Zoanne Clack and Stacy McKee are executive producers. “Grey’s Anatomy” is an ABC Studios production.

Bonus Features:
Extended Episode “Do You Know?”
Spotlight on Sandra Oh – Dr. Cristina Yang is one of the most beloved characters on Grey’s Anatomy. Get to know the actress who plays her as we sit with Sandra and reminisce about her favorite moments and memories, as she winds up her 10-year run.
Medical, Medical – The medical procedures on Grey’s Anatomy have intensified the hospital drama since day one. In this featurette, watch selected cast members get a tutorial from medical producer Linda Klein. From sewing stitches to starting a central line, we’ll see what it takes for the actors to pull off their TV surgical skills.
Bloopers
Deleted Scenes

TV’s Breakout Hit Returns

NASHVILLE: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON

Own All 22 Tantalizing Episodes Plus Never-Before-Seen Bonus Content Available Only on DVD September 23, 2014

 

Synopsis: Indulge your passion for drama, music, intrigue and seduction in ABC’s much buzzed about second season of “Nashville.”

Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton) and Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) are at the top of their game, but in Nashville, the higher you rise, the farther you fall. In the aftermath of her mother’s death, Juliette is poised to shine brighter than ever – until a sordid scandal threatens to destroy her. Meanwhile, after Rayna nearly loses her life (and her voice) in a horrific accident, she bounces back with her own record label and a new man. But can she still fire up audiences without Deacon by her side…and in her bed?

Meanwhile, Deacon must strike a balance with Teddy when the truth about Maddie’s paternity is revealed, Rayna’s breakout label star Scarlett must find a way to cope with life in the proverbial fast lane, and Lamar Wyatt’s sudden release from prison exposes the truth behind a shocking murder mystery!

Relive all 22 compelling episodes, plus access never-before-seen bonus features only available on DVD. Savor every moment of sin and song in a city where everyone has something to prove and everything to lose in “Nashville: The Complete Second Season.”

Talent/Cast: “Nashville” stars Connie Britton as Rayna Jaymes, Hayden Panettiere as Juliette Barnes, Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne, Eric Close as Teddy Conrad, Clare Bowen as Scarlett O’Connor, Jonathan Jackson as Avery Barkley, Sam Palladio as Gunnar Scott, Chris Carmack as Will Lexington, Lennon Stella as Maddie Conrad and Maisy Stella as Daphne Conrad.

Executive Producers: Dee Johnson (“Boss,” “The Good Wife”), R.J. Cutler (“The September Issue,” “The War Room,” “A Perfect Candidate”), Callie Khouri (“Thelma & Louise”) and Steve Buchanan are executive producers of “Nashville.” The series is produced by Lionsgate, ABC Studios and Opry Entertainment.

Bonus Features:
Bloopers
Deleted Scenes

The Time for New Adventures Has Come.

ONCE UPON A TIME:THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON

Own All 22 Bewitching Episodes and Never-Before-Seen Bonus Content Only on Blu-ray™ & DVD August 19, 2014

Synopsis:     Can five heroic characters set aside their personal grudges and private demons to rescue Henry – and themselves – from the ultimate evil? Experience the heart-pounding action and tantalizing suspense of Once Upon a Time: The Complete Third Season.

The stakes are higher than ever in a Neverland that’s the stuff of nightmares. At the dark heart of its mystery is Peter Pan, an ageless entity with a diabolical agenda and a chilling secret. For Emma, Henry, Hook, Rumple, Regina, Charming, and Snow, Pan’s actions have far-reaching consequences that will change their lives forever, create new alliances and introduce both Storybrooke and the Enchanted Forest to a powerful new villain of legendary wickedness – the Wicked Witch.

Add Season 3 to your Once Upon a Time collectionand relive all 22 bewitching episodes, plus access never-before-seen bonus features. Each time you watch, you’ll fall deeper under the spell of this irresistible series!

Talent/Cast:  Once Upon a Time stars Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard, Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/David Nolan, Emilie De Ravin as Belle/Lacey, Colin O’Donoghue as Captain Hook/Killian Jones, Lana Parilla as Evil Queen/Regina Mills, Jared Gilmore as Peter Pan/Henry Miles, Michael Raymond-James as Baelfire/Neal Cassidy and Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold.

Executive Producers:   Once Upon a Time was created by Adam Horowitz (Lost, Tron: Legacy) and Edward Kitsis (Lost, Tron: Legacy), who serve as executive producers. Steve Pearlman and
David H. Goodman are executive producers.  Once Upon a Time is produced by ABC Studios.

Bonus Features:   Wicked Villains – What makes the villains of “Once Upon A Time” tick?  These complicated characters are not only wicked, evil and dastardly but sometimes heroic, charming and brave.  The actors who embody these bad guys and the writers who create them take an in depth look at the show’s interpretation of everyone’s favorite foes. 
The Tale of Ariel – Follow the tale of everyone’s favorite mermaid, Ariel, played by Joanna Garcia, as we track the character’s development and story throughout the season. We will see the development of her look, track her story and watch her introduction to the other characters of Storybrooke/Fairytale Land.
 Inside the Writer’s Room: The Next Big Character – Get an inside look into the secret chambers of the writers of “Once Upon a Time.”
The Fairest Bloopers of Them All
Deleted Scenes
Audio Commentaries

Revenge Has No Limits.

REVENGE: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON

All 22 Devilishly Entertaining Episodes + Revealing Bonus Content Available Only on DVD August 26, 2014

Synopsis: Get ready for a sizzling hot summer in the Hamptons. Emily Thorne’s brilliant plan for vengeance takes a wicked turn in ABC’s “Revenge: The Complete Third Season.”  Relive the mystery, the fire, and the intrigue of TV’s most delightfully devilish series.

Season Three starts with a bang as Emily Thorne is shot and left for dead on her wedding day. But who pulled the trigger? Back at Grayson Manor, Conrad finds himself in the line of fire, and a flame from Daniel’s past may be the perfect new pawn for Victoria to play with – as she moves to defeat Emily for good. To top it all off, a surprise appearance of an old rival makes sparks fly as the wedding of the century approaches.

Experience the drama of all 22 smoldering episodes, complete with exclusive bonus features that reveal even more juicy secrets. Let the fireworks begin!

Talent/Cast: “Revenge” stars Emily VanCamp as Emily Thorne/Amanda Clarke, Madeleine Stowe as Victoria Grayson, Josh Bowman as Daniel Grayson, Nick Wechsler as Jack Porter, Gabriel Mann as Nolan Ross, Henry Czerny as Conrad Grayson, Christa B. Allen as Charlotte Grayson, and Barry Sloane as Aiden Mathis.

Executive Producers:     “Revenge” isexecutive produced by Sunil Nayar (Body of Proof, Oz), Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey (The Twilight Saga), as well as Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts (GCB).  The series, created by Mike Kelley (The O.C., One Tree Hill), is produced by ABC Studios.

Bonus Features:              Table For Five – Josh Bowman, Nick Weschler, Barry Sloane, Gabriel Mann and Henry Czerny enjoy some downtime at the Stowaway. Rivals on screen and buddies behind the scenes, the men dole out equal parts respect and ribbings  as they share details about their beginnings and ending, bromances, and on-set pranks.
Audio Commentary
Bloopers
Deleted Scenes

The Secret is Out!

SCANDAL: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON

Get Even More of the Show You Love with Exclusive “Too Hot For TV” Bonus Features, Including a Never-Before-Seen Extended Episode!  Available on DVD September 23, 2014

Synopsis: Forget everything you thought you knew about who to trust…and who to fear. The suspense ratchets up as secrets are revealed, loyalties are tested, and dark truths come to light in ABC’s “Scandal: The Complete Third Season.”

Now, seemingly invincible “fixer” Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) must confront the ultimate challenge: fixing herself. After sifting through her mysterious father’s labyrinth of lies, Olivia’s search for answers about her mother threatens not just national security, but the entire world. Meanwhile, the lives of her “gladiators” – as well as those of the president, his wife and key White House staffers – take sinister, unexpected turns. And when the major power brokers are themselves broken, who will be left to clean up the mess?

Watch the intensity unfold in all 18 episodes of “Scandal’s” riveting third season. Then, delve deeper behind the intrigue with exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features only available on DVD.

Talent/Cast:   “Scandal” stars Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, Columbus Short as Harrison Wright, Guillermo Diaz as Huck, Darby Stanchfield as Abby Whelen, Katie Lowes as Quinn Perkins, Tony Goldwyn as President Fitzgerald Grant, Jeff Perry as Cyrus Beane, Josh Malina as David Rosen, Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant and Scott Foley as Jake Ballard.

Creator: Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice)

Bonus Features:  Extended Finale Episode “The Price of Free and Fair Elections”
 L.A. For D.C. – The White House, The Capitol and the National Mall – these are just a few of the places that viewers see as they watch the show.  Check out the magic as we discover how Hollywood, CA transforms into our nation’s capital.  See the locations which Scandal shoots, learn how they accurately build sets, and see the digital magic  that goes into plate shots.
Jeff Perry Spotlight – Get to know actor Jeff Perry who portrays Cyrus Beene, the President’s Chief of Staff, and close friend of Olivia Pope.  Jeff has a long history with Shondaland, and we will hear from Shonda and his costars as Jeff shares with us his personal acting history.
Deleted Scenes
Bloopers

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DVD Review “Strawberry Shortcake: Fun Under The Sun”

Actors: Andrea Libman, Anna Cummer, Ashliegh Ball, Britt McKillip, Ingrid Nilson, Janyse Jaud, Kathleen Barr, Paul Dobson, Scott Mcneil, Shannon Chan-Kent
Director: Bob Hathcock
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: May 13, 2014
Run Time: 71 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Growing up in the 80’s and having a younger sister, I had been exposed to the world of “Strawberry Shortcake”. The franchise was rebooted in 2009 with the CGI animated series “Strawberry Shortcake’s Berry Bitty Adventures” based on the “Strawberry Shortcake” Franchise. Now I have a daughter of my own and she loves this new series. The animation is great. It is very colorful, fun and also educational. If you have a little girl, this is highly recommended for sure. We have had this for only two days now and already have watched it at least five times. So I have a feeling we are going to be getting a lot out of this DVD.

Official Premise: Join Strawberry Shortcake and her berry best pals on some sweet sunshine adventures! Blueberry makes a berry big blunder when she overhears Strawberry and thinks her friend is taking all the pals on a tropical vacation. After Blueberry makes some very funny attempts to make things right, Orange Blossom tries to build the girls their own fabulous resort. When they all work together to make it Berry Bitty City-style, it’s perfect…so perfect, in fact, that TV host Mavis Maraschino decides to do a segment on Cherry Jam right then and there! Will the girls ever get the Fun Under the Sun they’ve been dreaming of?

There are three episodes including on this DVD. “No Blueberry is an Island”; “Where the Berry Breeze Blows” and “The Berry Best Vacation”. Fox also included a digital copy of this and it has already been downloaded onto our iPad. There is really not a ton here in terms of special features but wasn’t expecting much for this kids release. There is a music video for “It’s A Beautiful Lovely Wonderful Day” and some printable coloring pages. If you want more of this show, like my daughter, season four of this show is set to air this year, so I had my DVR set and can’t wait for the new episodes. Hopefully Fox has a few more DVDs releases in the cards for this year!

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“Rio 2” Flies Home on 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray & DVD July 15

Get More Music, More Fun and More Laughs When the Hilarious Comedy Adventure Flies Home on 3D Blu-ray™, Blu-ray™ & DVD July 15

The Blu-ray™ Comes with More Than an Hour of Special Features
Including 15 Exclusive Levels of ANGRY BIRDS RIO and Two Bonus Songs!

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (June 3rd, 2014) – Get ready to shake your tail feathers! Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment takes you deep into the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest for the most fun you’ll have all summer, as RIO 2 debuts on 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD July 15. Just in time for summer vacation, this “hilarious family adventure” (Jeff Craig, Sixty Second Preview) will samba its way into your home with exciting bonus features and extras everyone will enjoy. Projected to eclipse more than $490 million worldwide at the box office, the animated hit is the must-own family title of the season.

The cast of the animated hit comedy Rio returns — along with a new flock of all-star voice talent, including Bruno Mars, Kristin Chenoweth, Andy Garcia and more — in this high-flying sequel for the whole family. The party continues when Blu (Oscar® nominee Jesse Eisenberg1), Jewel (Oscar® winner Anne Hathaway2) and their three kids take a walk on the wild side and embark on a colorful, comical, music-filled journey through the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit into his new surroundings, he goes beak-to-beak with the villainous Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all: his father-in-law!

The RIO 2 Blu-ray™ and DVD brings everything you loved from the first Rio, but with even more laughs, excitement and music! Not only will kids get nearly an hour and a half of bonus features on the RIO 2 Blu-ray™, but they’ll also get their groove on with two downloadable bonus songs from the RIO 2 soundtrack: “I Will Survive” and “Poisonous Love,” both performed by Gabi (Kristin Chenoweth) and Nigel (Jemaine Clement). For even more fun, every Blu-ray™ comes with 15 exclusive levels for Angry Birds Rio™ and Music Machine Sing-Along and Dance-Along songs for a whole family party! There’s also Janelle Monáe’s “What is Love” lyric video, a deleted scene, character auditions and much more!

 

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Win a DVD of the New Film “Beyond the Trophy” [ENDED]

MediaMikes.com and ARC Entertainment have teamed up to give (5) lucky readers a chance to win a DVD copy of the new film “Beyond the Trophy” starring Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts and Michael Madsen.

All you need to do is let us know below your favorite Eric Roberts performance. Is it his breakthrough role in “King of the Gypsys?” How about the sleazy Paul Snider in “Star 80?” Or his Oscar nominated work in “Runnaway Train?” (5) random entries will be chosen and the winners will receive the newly released DVD “Beyond the Trophy.”

This contest runs through Friday, June 13. Good luck!

SYNOPSIS: BEYOND THE TROPHY tells the story of men’s obsession with power and how far they will go to claim the “prize”. Two rival gangs in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, led by Gino (Robert Miano) and Cole (Michael Madsen), are vying for control. Danny (Michael Masini), an LAPD undercover police detective, goes deep into gangland to infiltrate one gang to bring down both. Along the way, he becomes entangled with the beautiful and seductive Angela (Ali Costello), whose relationship with her husband Jake and mob leader Gino makes her the focal point of an intoxicating romantic equation-with deadly consequences. Her dream is to escape the wrath of evil abusive men, and find the love she never knew.

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DVD Review “Dragons: Defenders of Berk – Part 2″

Actors: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, T.J. Miller, Zack Pearlman, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: May 27, 2014
Run Time: 220 minutes

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

“Dragons: Defenders of Berk – Part 2″ wraps up the second season of this epic TV series based on Dreamworks Animation hit film “How to Train Your Dragon. These 10 episodes feature all-new adventures and dragons. I feel that as this show has progressed it has gotten a little darker, which I really like. In fact, these 10 episodes were easily the best in the series to date. If you are a fan of the first film, then I highly recommend you getting into this series if you haven’t already. If it does nothing else it will hold you off until “How to Train Your Dragon 2” hits theaters June 13th!

Official Premise: Based on the DreamWorks Animation Academy Award® nominated movie How to Train Your Dragon, there’s action at every turn and excitement on every ride in DREAMWORKS DRAGONS: DEFENDERS OF BERK PART 2 as Hiccup and his fearless friends embark on new adventures and battle to protect their island home. The young Vikings must put their dragon training skills to the test to defeat dangerous and surprising new enemies! The series features original voice talent from the film including Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera and Christopher Mintz-Plasse and will include Zack Pearlman and more.

Rounding out the second season are the following episodes: “A View to a Skrill Part 2; “The Flight Stuff (Ask Heirheads)”, “Free Scauldy”; “Frozen”; “A Tale of Two Dragons”; “The Eel Effect”; “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”; “Bing! Bam! Boom!”; “Cast Out, Part 1” and “Cast Out, Part 2”. Like other recent Dreamworks Animation shows based on films “Turbo FAST” airs on Netflix. Season three of “Dragons” aka “Dragon Masters” is going to take that route as well the series moves to the streaming site in Spring 2015.

There is also a few great special features that dive deeper into the amazing world of “Dragons”. There is “Dragon Tracker Part 4”, which is an an-depth look at Skrill, Baby Thunderdrums and Speed Stinger dragons, along with a special sneak peek of Snaptrapper from “How to Train Your Dragon 2” “Evolution of Skrill” is a featurette with the visual effects supervisor David Jones explaining the history behind the dragon. Lastly “Here Comes the Fire” is a funny Dragon Mash-up music video.

If you still want more, you got it…if you that purchase the DVD will also get a Digital HD UltraViolet code for the title and Movie Money ($7.50 value) to redeem for tickets to “How to Train Your Dragon 2”. Also you can enter for a chance to win a free dragon racing saddle or a mystery box code for exclusive battle gear and powers to “School of Dragons”. This is an online game from JumpStart based on DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon franchise”. It is a real blast an highly recommended for any fan of the series. For more information, visit http://www.schoolofdragons.com.

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DVD Review “I Spy: The Complete Series”

Actors: Robert Culp, Bill Cosby
Number of discs: 18
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Shout! Factory / Timeless Media
DVD Release Date: June 24, 2014
Run Time: 4100 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

It pains me to say that when I first think about “I Spy” today, the terrible 2002 film starring Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson comes to my mind first. The better version of “I Spy” is no question the 1965 television series starring Robert Culp and Bill Cosby. For the first time ever, Shout! Factory and Timeless Media are releasing the complete series on DVD. All 82 episodes are here spread out over 18 discs for the award-winning series. These two secret agent intelligence operatives Kelly Robinson (Robert Culp) and Alexander Scott (Bill Cosby) are still just as sly and funny as ever. This show has not lost it’s class at all and was a blast to revisit with the complete series on DVD.

This show originally aired on NBC from 1965 to 1968. It was not only popular but also critically acclaimed, winning numerous awards including 1967 Golden Globe for Best Dramatic Series, three consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor for Bill Cosby and the Primetime Emmy® for Outstanding Musical Composition for Earle Hagen. “I Spy” also included some very memorable guest-star performances from Gene Hackman, Jim Backus, Ron Howard, Boris Karloff, Martin Landau, George Takei, Don Rickles and Eartha Kitt, who was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for her role.”

“I Spy” was a great blend of comedy and drama. The chemistry between Culp and Cosby was great. The show also aired at the peak of secret agent genre, mid 60’s, following on the heels of the hugely successful James Bond films. At the time every studio was trying to deliver their own brand of secret agent TV shows, films etc. Luckily, this show was one of the ones that stood out. Also I learned some interesting information about this show that it was banned from certain in the South due having an African-American (Bill Cosby) in a leading role. This was an interesting time in TV but it was also a very entertaining time.

Each episode is presented with its original full frame 4×3 Broadcast ratio. All 4,100 minutes or over 68 hours of television. They also each come with a Dolby 2.0 track, which delivers for the show. The episodes aren’t perfect but they are decent. If you were looking for a complete 4K restore, you will be disappointed but the episodes are still looking good for a show that premiered almost 50 years ago. There are no additional special features included here, which personally is a bit of a let down because I am sure they could have scrounged up some old featurettes or commentary tracks from previous releases.

 

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Anthrax to Release “Chile on Hell” Live DVD


LOS ANGELES, CA – Wednesday, May 28, 2014 – Get ready to mosh in the privacy of your own home, because multiple Grammy-nominated, Platinum-selling thrash masters ANTHRAX have announced the release of “Chile On Hell,” a live-in-concert DVD that is set for a September 16, 2014 release. “Chile On Hell” was filmed at the Teatro Caupolican in Santiago, Chile on May 10, 2013, and features Anthrax – Joey Belladonna/vocals, Scott Ian/guitar, Charlie Benante/drums, Frank Bello/bass and Jon Donais/lead guitar. The band performed an extended set that featured songs from Anthrax’s entire catalogue – all the fan-favorites including “I Am The Law,” “Indians,” “Madhouse,” “Caught In A Mosh,” “The Devil You Know,” and “I’m Alive.” “Chile On Hell” will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray, was recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound, and will retail for $16.98.

“Santiago was the perfect place to film the show for this,” said Anthrax’s Charlie Benante. “When we’d played there in the past, we’d finish our set, play our encore and go back to the dressing room. But every time, the fans would continue to scream and cheer and clap. I mean, they went on and on, they wouldn’t stop. One time Scott and I walked out to the side of the stage just to watch what was going on in the audience, it was intense. Why wouldn’t we want to film a DVD in front of an audience like that?

“Plus,” Benante continued, the time was right to do this DVD.” The band was in the home stretch of a three-plus-year campaign to record and support Worship Music and the Anthems EP, a period of time that was loaded with high points: the return of “classic era” vocalist Joey Belladonna, Worship Music making the band’s highest chart debut in two decades, the series of Big Four shows – Anthrax, Metallica, Slayer and Metallica, the four bands that wrote the speed and thrash metal road map – that culminated in the September 2011 Big Four spectacular at Yankee Stadium in the band’s home town of New York, “Anthrax Day” declared in the Bronx, becoming the first metal band to have its music (“Got The Time”) played on Mars, two Grammy nominations, and sold out shows in every corner of the globe. “We wanted to finish on a high note,” Benante continued, “we didn’t want to look back and regret that we didn’t record the live show.”

“Chile On Hell” was produced by Jay Ruston and filmed by City Drive Entertainment Group and DC3 Global. The DVD’s cover art was designed by Stephen Thompson who partnered with Benante to “redesign” the artwork from last year’s Anthems EP.

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Win a DVD of “Curse of the Dragon Slayer” [ENDED]


Media Mikes has teamed up with Phase 4 Films to offer (5) of our readers the opportunity to win a DVD copy of the new sword and sorcery film “Curse of the Dragon Slayer.” A film in the tradition of the popular HBO series “Game of Thrones,” “Curse of the Dragon Slayer” is directed by David Lyde and stars “Body of Proof” star Danielle Chuchran along with Richard McWilliams, Paul D. Hunt and James C. Morris.

All you have to do is let us know below you’re favorite Medieval-themed film. Is it a classic like “Excalibur” or “Braveheart?” Or maybe something funnier, like “Monty Python and the Holy Grail?” (also a classic). Five random entries will be chosen and those five will win a DVD copy of this new film.

This giveaway ends on Friday, June 6th.

Synopsis: Keltus, a knight of the ruling Order, is on the trail of the Shadow Cabal — a group of Orc cultists. When his leads run cold, he must team up with an elf bounty hunter, Nemyt, and an infamous orc raider, Kullimon, to infiltrate the Shadow and try to thwart their evil purpose — to unleash the God of the Undead.

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Win a DVD of “Axel: The Biggest Little Hero” [ENDED]

How does a voice cast sound including Matthew Lillard, Ed Asner, George Takei, and Tim Curry? Sounds great to me, “Axel: The Biggest Little Hero” hits DVD on June 3rd and to To celebrate the release, Media Mikes is excited to giveaway two (2) DVDs of the film to our readers. If you would like to enter for your chance to win one of this prize, please leave us a comment below or send us an email with your favorite Tim Curry film. This giveaway will remain open until May 30th 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.

AXEL’s always been a hero in his own mind. Unfortunately, in real life he’s just another mischievous little boy who pulls pranks while his village runs out of food. One day, he has a vision of a mystical grove of cactuses that could feed his people for years. Determined to save the day, AXEL and his best friend JONO embark on the journey of a lifetime where they must fly through magnetic valleys, escape an evil robotic lizard king, and put up with a brave but headstrong young Princess. Will AXEL find the magical plant and save his village? Can he become the real life hero he always wanted to be? Starring voice talent from Matthew Lillard, Ed Asner, George Takei, and Tim Curry.

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Win a DVD of Christian Slater’s Latest, “Way of the Wicked” [ENDED]

MediaMikes.com has teamed up with Image Entertainment to provide two of our readers with a free DVD of the new thriller, “Way of the Wicked.”

The film is directed by Kevin Carraway (7 Below) and stars Christian Slater (Stranded, True Romance), Vinnie Jones (X-Men: The Last Stand, Snatch), Emily Tennant (Juno, Mr. Young) and Jake Croker.

After a series of inexplicable murders sweeps a small, isolated community, Father Henry (Slater) goes to a local police detective (Jones) with a theory on why the murders are occurring. The two learn that a troubled teen with a dark past has recently moved to town and has set his sights on the cop’s beautiful, young daughter. Father Henry, who turns out to have secrets of his own, finds himself pitted against a demonic force more diabolically evil and twisted than any of them could have imagined.

 All you have to do to win a copy is let us know below your favorite Christian Slater film.  Was it his early stuff, like “The Name of the Rose” or “The Legend of Billie Jean?”  Or was it his classic role as J.D. in “Heathers” or the audience-friendly George in “Kuffs.”

Two random entries will be chosen and the winners will receive a copy of “Way of the Wicked” on DVD.  This contest will run through May 23.

“Way of the Wicked” will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on May 20, 2014.

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Win a DVD of “Lewis Black: Old Yeller – Live at the Borgata” [ENDED]

MediaMikes.com has teamed up with RLJ/Image Entertainment to give four lucky readers the opportunity to win a DVD copy of comedian Lewis Black’s latest stand up performance, “Old Yeller – Live at the Borgata in Atlantic City.”

SYNOPSIS: We’re screwed! You name it – politics, the environment, healthcare, parenting, social media – we’ve completely messed it up! And who better to squeeze laughter from the outrageous but the reigning king of rant, Lewis Black. His one-man crusade against idiocy and insanity – in front of a sold-out Atlantic City audience – will have you laughing out loud and shouting along. As one of the biggest headlining comics working today, a best selling author, actor and a regular on Comedy Central and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” Lewis has sharpened his hysterical, intelligent, take-no-prisoners tirades to razor-sharp daggers of pure comedy gold. Sit back, enjoy and get ready for the funniest fit of rage you’ve ever seen.

All you have to do to win is let us know below your favorite classic stand up comic. Is it someone from the past, like Jonathan Winters or the Smother’s Brothers? Or someone more recent. Let us know who makes you laugh. Four random entries will be chosen and the winners will receive a DVD copy of Lewis Black’s latest comedy The contest will run through May 25, 2014

“Lewis Black: Old Yeller” is now available on DVD.

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DVD Review “Challenge of the Gobots: The Series, Volume One”

Starring: Lou Richards, Arthur Burghardt, Frank Welker, Bernard Erhard, Bob Holt, Marilyn Lightstone, Sparky Marcus, Leslie Speights, Morgan Paull, Phil Hartman, B.J. Ward, Brock Peters, Peter Cullen
Number of discs: 3
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Archive
Run Time: 660 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Being a young boy in the 80’s, I used to be glued to watching cartoons all day and night. Thankfully, Hanna-Barbera helped me grow up with there endless supply of cartoons. “Challenge of the Gobots” was based on the Gobots toy-line released from Tonka. Warner Archive has been behind this series for a while now as they released the “Challenge of The Gobots: The Original Miniseries” back in 2011. This volume one collection includes the first 30 episodes in this 65 episodes series. Hopefully we will not have to wait as long for volume two. Getting a chance to revisit this show has been such a treat and reminded me how much I love giant transforming robot cartoons. I just do. Love them as a kid and nothing has changed now 30 years later. A must have for any 80’s cartoon fan!

Official Premise: They’re mighty robots and mighty vehicles are back at last! Cy-Kill! Leader-1! Cop-Tur! Turbo! Crasher! Scooter! The noble Guardian GoBots and the nefarious Renegade GoBots continue the war begun in The Battle for GoBotron (see Challenge of the GoBots: The Original Mini-Series) across time and space in their epic 60 episode series that comes to you factory fresh and newly remastered – from the original film elements! With Earth as their chosen staging ground, the Renegades deploy Earth’s worst such as the deranged Dr. Braxis (voiced by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Rene Auberjonois) in their quest to conquer Earth and GoBotron, so it’s a good thing the Guardians have Matt, Nick and AJ of UNECOM on their side! This 30-Episode, Three-Disc set collects the first half of the series and finds the amazing, metamorphosing cyborgs taking their fight to Ancient Rome, lost Atlantis and back to GoBotron in a series of adventures that will leave you shouting for “MOAR”!

The first 30 episodes included are: Battle for GoBotron; Target Earth; Conquest of Earth; Earth Bound; The Final Conflict; It’s the Thought That Counts; Renegade Alliance; Time Wars; Terror in Atlantis; Trident’s Triple Threat; Lost on GoBotron; Cy-Kill’s Shrinking Ray; The Quest for Roguestar; Ultra Zod;
Sentinel; Cy-Kill’s Cataclysmic Trap; Speed is of the Essence; Genius and Son; Dawn World; Pacific Overtures; Forced Alliance; Invasion from the 21st Level Pt. 1 & 2; Doppelganger; Scooter Enhanced; Tarnished Image; Cold Spell; Crime Wave; Auto-madic and Renegade Rampage Pt. 1. They are presented with their aspect ratio of 1.37:1. They look good but haven’t been restored. I am personally happy to have them available on DVD for the first time ever in one collection. Bring on volume two!

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DVD Review “True Blood: The Complete Sixth Season”

Actors: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Alexander Skarsgård
Creator: Alan Ball
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: HBO Home Video
DVD Release Date: June 3, 2014
Run Time: 600 minutes

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

“True Blood” even though the series has an end in sight, the sixth season shows no signs of slowing down. I personally think it is just as sexy, scary, entertaining as it was in the first season. With Vampire Bill being rebirthed as a powerful ancient deity to Louisiana Governor Truman Burrell declaring open season on all vampires to Sookie Stackhouse finding herself sidelined by a mysterious stranger with a hidden agenda, this season is the most exciting yet. Like I said, the end is near and fans can catch up on this season before the final season makes its HBO debut this summer. This is also the series first season with out creator Alan Ball, who left to work on HBO’s “Banshee”. So fans were worried but I feel that this show has grow so much since the first and I can’t wait to see what they have planned for season seven!

Official Premise: Season six introduces several exciting new story lines that threaten what little sense of normalcy remains in Bon Temps, The Authority is in flames, and True Blood is in short supply. As Bill comes to terms with his newfound powers after emerging reincarnated from a pool of blood, Louisiana’s governor has declared war, replete with novel anti-vamp weapons and a high-tech internment camp established to wipe out the vampire race forever. Meanwhile, Sookie and Jason must steel themselves for an encounter with their parents’ killer: the mysterious and ancient Warlow.

The cast continues to shines as well. Regulars like Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgård, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Sam Trammell, Nelsan Ellis, Deborah Ann Woll, Kristin Bauer van Straten and Joe Manganiello all really step up there game this season. Also joining them are new cast for season six includeing: Arliss Howard as Louisiana Governor Truman Burrell; Rob Kazinsky as Ben, a stranger with faerie ties; Rutger Hauer as Niall, a faerie grandfather; Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Nicole, a pro-vampire activist; and Amelia Rose Blaire as Truman Burrell’s daughter, Willa. Did I mention I can’t wait till season seven?

This DVD set comes with the full 10-episode season and I am very upset to find out that there is no Ultraviolet digital copy included with this…only Blu-ray. Honestly, that is a real bummer…what does it seriously cost HBO to include this?  There are also less special features on the DVD set than the Blu-ray set. Here only get ten clips of “Inside the Episodes” going behind the scenes on each with the show’s writers. There are five audio commentaries with cast/crew including executive producer Brian Buckner, Stephen Moyer, Carrie Preston, Amelia Rose Blaire and more! Lastly there are previews & recaps included.

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