DVD Review “Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection”

Directed by: James Plumb
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Release Date: April 30, 2013
Run Time: 90 minutes

Film: 1 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

I understand that “The Walking Dead” has made zombie’s hot again but can’t we come up with a new idea here.  Why does everyone have to mess with George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead”. If you are going to deliver a “Brand new take on the horror classic”, then I suggest you actually have seen the original film first. I have seen hundreds of rip-offs, remakes or related zombie films and yet I have never seen a more boring and poorly made film as “Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection”.  I was literally twiddling my thumbs. The zombies are terrible and laughable.  All around I won’t be recommending this to any Romero or horror fans and I will burning this DVD after this review.

Official Synopsis: Based on George A. Romero’s classic “Night of the Living Dead”. In 2012 the deceased have risen from their graves once again with the instinct to feed on the living. As academics speculate on the scientific cause of this phenomenon theologians point to the Armageddon foretold in the Book of Revelation. As the cities are overrun and civilization crumbles a family takes refuge from the undead army in an isolated farmhouse in West Wales. But the greatest threat is already among them as they fight to stay alive.

“Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection” is only being released on DVD and I understand why.  The transfer on the film looks like it was shot on a broken iPhone.  It is blurry and out of focus in various parts. The transfer is in widescreen with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track is nothing special. The film features barely any underscore, which only adds to the the film dragging. There is no suspense added at all.  The special features are nothing special either.  There is a cast and crew commentary track, which I wouldn’t recommend unless you love the film.  There is also a trailer gallery included. Terrible extras for a terrible movie. You’ve been warned.  Don’t let the title of  “Night of the Living Dead” draw you in.

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DVD Review “Koala Kid”

Starring: Rob Schneider, Tim Curry and Alan Cumming
Director: Kyungho Lee
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Rating: PG
Run Time: 86 minutes

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

If you are not familiar with “Koala Kid”, that may be cause it was made in South Korea and was released outside of the U.S. under the title “The Outback”. This DVD is available exclusively from Walmart & Walmart.com. I have to say I actually highly recommend it for kids. It is very cute and colorful. It is packs a fantastic voice cast, which includes Rob Schneider, Alan Cumming and Tim Curry. It also stars but doesn’t showcase one of my favorites, Brett McKenzie. I assume that kids wouldn’t know who he is but he is the man behind the music in 2011’s “The Muppets” and also won an Oscar for Best Song. Kids are going to love this song, especially the musical number “Down Under”, this film is a hit.

Official Premise: Journey down under and meet a whole new breed of hero in this laugh-filled, action-packed animated adventure with an all-star voice cast, including Rob Schneider, Tim Curry and Alan Cumming. Johnny (Schneider) is a rare white koala bear who just wants to fit in and make friends. But when a twist of fate mistakenly transforms him into a fearless protector of animals, called “Koala Kid,” Johnny finds himself in over his head on a thrilling trek across the outback. With help from his hilarious new sidekicks, including a crafty Tasmanian devil, a lovable lizard and a boomerang-flinging female koala, Johnny may just outwit a villainous crocodile named Bog (Cumming) and become a true hero after all.

Like many of the recent CGI animated films to come from outside the U.S., “Koala Kid” was made and released in 3D. This film was fun but it was really made to be watched in 3D and really takes advantage of that format. I would have loved to seen a 3D Blu-ray for this film, which is only available in Germany right now. The DVD still looks sharp but a Blu-ray would have been better. The special features included might not be much for an adult but it is sure to keep kids busy for a while. There is a “Koala Kid Adventure Map” for them to explore and play with. There is a also a fun sing-along for the some “Down Under”. Your kids will be up on their feet and dancing around with this track for sure.

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DVD Review “American Masters – Mel Brooks: Make a Noise”

Actors: Mel Brooks
Directors: Robert Trachtenberg
MPAA Rated: Not Rated
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: May 21, 2013
Run Time: 90 minutes

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

Who doesn’t love Mel Brooks? He has delivers some of the best comedy in the business over the last 60 years.  Whether it is film, TV, music or Broadway.  The man has done it all.  This latest American Masters program takes a look at Mel Brooks’ career in “Make a Noise”.  I grew up watching his films from “History of the World, Part 1” to “Blazing Saddles” to The Producers” and “Young Frankenstein”. This type of comedy always hit home with me and still has as I have grown up. I look forward to sharing these wonderful films with my daughter now as she grows.  They are timeless and will remain that way through time. This program was a great look into Mel Brooks, whether you know everything about him or are just meeting him for the first time.  There is a little something for everyone.

Official Premise: After 60 years in show business, Mel Brooks has earned more major awards than any other living entertainer; he is one of 14 EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) winners. Yet, the comedy giant has energetically avoided a documentary profile from being made, even issuing an informal gag order on his friends – until now. Brooks has agreed to throw himself into a new documentary about his storied career, giving American Masters exclusive interviews and complete access to his film archives.

In the film we get taken through Mel’s life starting from his childhood growing up in Brooklyn to his start in the buisness to his marriage of Anne Bancroft to his Broadway career. There are new interviews with Mel Brooks, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Cloris Leachman, Carl Reiner and Joan Rivers. These are people who know Mel and that have worked wiht him. They give wonderful insight into his career and who the real “Mel Brooks” is.  The program runs 90 minutes but I could have watch for at least 3 hours without becoming boring or repetitive.  The guy has done so much there is no way to sum it up in just 90 minutes.  The bonus feature included on this DVD is over 15 minutes of deleted segments.

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DVD Review “The Ricky Gervais Show: The Complete Third Season”

Actors: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington
Directors: Dan Fraga
Studio: Warner Archive
DVD Release Date: April 9, 2013
Run Time: 328 minutes

Season: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

I have been a fan of “The Ricky Gervais Show” when it aired on the UK radio station, XFM, over ten years ago.  Since then this show was been developed as a podcast, audio book and mostly recently an animated series.  When this animated series was announced I wasn’t particularly thrilled.  I originally thought that re-releasing the podcasts with new animations was a little lame, but I forgot how very funny all of these actually were. Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington are very funny together.  This season contains the last 12 out of the 39 episodes produced. There has been talks about a fourth season, but was shelved last year from Gervais himself. If you are a fan of shows like “The Office”, “Extras” and “An Idiot Abroad” then this is sure to deliver some great laughs whether you are a fan of the podcasts or not.

Official Premise: Series 3 starts with an impossible mission as Karl pitches another movie idea and struggles in vain to relay the insane plot to Ricky and Steve. Over the following 12 episodes Karl offers fascinating insights into his family history, encounters with domestic insects and the dangers of wearing crash helmets. Challenged at every turn by Ricky and Steve, who entertain with their own priceless real-life exploits, Karl remains stoic and retains his bizarrely unique perspectives regardless. As things draw to a close. The tree imagine themselves in an old people’s home – still arguing over utter nonsense with the final word going to Ricky, appropriately enough.

This DVD release is being release by Warner Archive as a “made-to-order” DVD. I would love to see these seasons make their way to Blu-ray like in the UK but I have a feeling that this is the best that we are going to get. These episodes have been manufactured from the best-quality video master currently available and has not been remastered or restored for this release. The animation is simple yet still looks very good on this DVD presentation. They come with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The audio track included is a Dolby Digital track. The first and second season included a some great extras but this release is completely baron. The second season DVD was also “made-to-order” but it still contains some sweet extras. So I was left disappointed with this final season but at least it is available for fans.

 

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DVD Review “Childrens Hospital: The Complete Fourth Season”

Starring: Rob Corddry, Rob Huebel, Malin Akerman, Erinn Hayes, Ken Marino, Megan Mullaly, Henry Winkler, Lake Bell
Studio: Warner Archive
DVD Release Date: April 9, 2013
Running Time: 156 minutes

Season: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

I have loved “Childrens Hospital” ever since the first season but I feel that we are starting to part ways.  The fourth season of the show is definitely funny in parts but it doesn’t feel as unique that it has in past season. The show only runs 11 minutes per episode and I think that that works in its favor. The show packs a phenomenal cast including Rob Corddry, Rob Huebel, Malin Akerman, Erinn Hayes, Ken Marino, Megan Mullaly, Henry Winkler and Lake Bell. This season also had some wonderful guests starring including Jon Hamm, Dominic Monaghan, Nick Offerman, Frances Fisher and Brian Huskey. There is great talent here but maybe the show has run it course for me. “Childrens Hospital” has spawned two spin-offs shows. One of them is good,  “NTSF:SD:SUV::” and one of them not so good “Newsreaders”.

Official Premise: TV’s sickest medical series returns for its fourth twisted season, winner of the 2012 Emmy® Award for Outstanding Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment. A satirical jab at network medical dramas, Childrens Hospital explores the lives of a group of self-absorbed doctors who put their libidos first and patients second. Amnesia, Madonna sightings, single-mom promotions, assassination attempts, Mafia kingpins and the accidental electrocution of one of its stars are just some of the topics addressed.

I am assume that I am not the only one who feels this way either since this is the first season that is being produced only as an MOD or Made-to-order DVD. Warner Home Video’s past releases have been much higher quality.  They have come with nice cases with slipcases.  These episodes have been manufactured from the best-quality video master currently available and has not been remastered or restored for this release. They come with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The audio track included is a Dolby Digital track. Lastly there is also no special features included here.  The past DVD releases for Season 1 & 2 and Season 3 have had some great extras included. Overall this is a letdown from past releases but at least it is available for fans. And fans should keep an eye out for more episodes this Summer as the the series was renewed for a fifth season by Adult Swim.

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DVD Review “Tom and Jerry Kids Show: The Complete Season 1”

Directed by: Carl Urbano, Don Lusk, Paul Sommer, Robert Alvarez, Jay Sarbry
Voices of: Charlie Adler, William Callaway, Teresa Ganzel, Dick Gautier, Phil Hartman, Don Messick, Frank Welker, Patric Zimmerman
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: April 30, 2013
Running Time: 290 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I am not sure what it is about “Tom and Jerry” but they have always been one of my favorites. This popular cat and mouse duo has been around since 1940 and have never left the public eye for long. This animated series features the duo as kids, probably taking a page from “Muppets Babies”. “Tom and Jerry Kids Show” premiered in 1990 on Fox Kids and ran through 1994 for five seasons for a total of 65 episodes. This complete first season includes the first 13 episodes. So how does the the young Tom and Jerry rank against the older Tom and Jerry? Well it is fun and still had me laughing! So I give it a thumbs up…It was good as a kid for me and still good for me as an adult! I look forward to future seasons!

Official Premise: A Rivalry for All Ages! Spend some time with the beloved animated duo in their furry, formative years in Tom & Jerry Kids Show: The Complete Season One. Available for the first time on DVD in this 2-Disc collection, these delightful adventures follow the kitten and baby mouse as they taunt each other and create mayhem like only young ones can. Joined by their pals Droopy, Dripple, Spike and Tyke, Tom and Jerry bring on the giggles and good times in episodes such as Toys Will Be Toys, Bat Mouse, Cosmic Chaos and The Maltese Poodle. So run wild with 13 episodes from the hit TV series that feature more than four hours of hi-jinks that will be sure to bring out the kid in all of us!

“Tom and Jerry Kids Show The Complete Season 1″ is animated fun for the whole family. I have a 10-month old daughter and she literally lit up when these cartoons came on. I love that. For a show that I watched growing up now I will be able to share with my own child. The 13 episodes are split over a two-disc set with over four hours of guaranteed laughs and of course many “Tom and Jerry” hi-jinks. Each episode of this show is about 7 minutes so it works out that there is more like 39 mini-episodes included. The colors on the episodes still look sharp for a show that was produced well over 20 years ago, feeling old now. The audio included on the DVD is a typical Dolby Digital Mono track, which works well for the show itself. There are no additional special features included on the DVDs.

Season 1 episodes list:
Disc 1
1: Flippin’ Fido, Dakota Droopy & the Lost Dutch Boy Mine, Dog Daze Afternoon
2: Toys Will Be Toys, Droopy Delivers, My Pal
3: Prehistoric Pals, Super Droop & Dripple Boy Meet the Yolker, Marvelous Marvin
4: Bat Mouse, Puss n’ Pups, Outer Space Rover
5: The Vermin, Aerobic Droopy, Mouse Scouts
6: Sugar Belle Loves Tom, Sometimes, Mall Mouse, Super Duper Spike
7: Cosmic Chaos, Droopy of the Opera, Beach Bummers

Disc 2
8: Gator Baiter, Hoodwinked Cat, Medieval Mouse
9: Clyde to the Rescue, Droopio & Juliet, Maze Monster Zap Men
10: Crash Condor, Yo Ho Ho…Bub, Scrub-a-Dub Tom
11: No Biz Like Snow Biz, The Maltese Poodle, Cast Away Tom
12: The Little Urfulls, Droopo – First Bloodhound, Indy Mouse 500
13: Exterminator Cometh, Foreign Legion Frenzy, Urfo Returns

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DVD Review “Quentin Tarantino’s Rolling Thunder Pictures Triple Feature”

Actors: Evelyne Kraft, Alex Rocco, Hari Rhodes, Asher Brauner, Kitty Bruce
Directors: Ho Meng-hua, Arthur Marks, Jack Hill
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: April 16, 2013
Run Time: 287 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When Tarantino and Miramax started Rolling Thunder Pictures back in 1995, it was a label that was meant to release lost gems and fan favorites that haven’t seen the light of day in a long time, generally cult classics. This triple feature DVD release showcases Tarantino favorites from the label including “Detroit 9000 (1973)”, “The Mighty Peking Man (1977)” and “Switchblade Sisters (1975)”. These films are classic exploitation flicks and should be a must see for all fans of that genre. I really had a blast revisiting these titles and I am sure you will too, whether you are watching for the fifth time or the very first time!!

Like Tarantino himself, one of my first jobs was working at a mom and pop video store. It was one of my favorite jobs that I have ever had and I even met my wife working there. I remember when these films were re-released on VHS, that’s right VHS, under this label. I was responsible for ordering at the video store and I was sure to stock up on these three titles when they were re-released back then. This DVD is a nice way to own these three cult classics again and you really can’t describe it better than it is on the box “See the Action! Feel the Passion!” No-brainer for any fan of exploitation films.

“Detroit 9000” Official Premise: Jam-packed with nonstop action, sexy distractions and funky music, this hip crime story follows two Detroit cops, whose pursuit of a dangerous gang responsible for a high-society heist ignites a powder keg of corruption and violence!

“The Mighty Peking Man” Official Premise: Treat yourself to one of the funniest and campiest movies ever made: The Mighty Peking Man! After a colossal ape-like creature is captured in the jungle and brought to civilization – along with the scantily clad blonde bombshell he protects – the fearsome beast breaks loose and goes looking for giant-size payback!

“Switchblade Sisters” Official Premise: A riotously entertaining mix of sex, jealousy and massive firepower, Jack Hill’s Switchblade Sisters is the action-packed story of the toughest gang of teenage girls to ever hit the streets – the Dagger Debs. Bad to the bone, these outrageous high school vixens go where they want…and create mayhem wherever they go!

Even though I would have loved to see this triple feature released on Blu-ray instead of DVD.  The transfers are still good…or at least good enough since they still have that grindhouse gritty feel. All three of the film are presented in 16×9 Widescreen with various aspect ratios. “The Mighty Peking Man” is presented with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 with a Dolby Digital 2.0 track, which is the most impressive on the release. “Detroit 9000” is presented with an aspect ratio 1.78:1 with a Dolby Digital Mono track. Lastly, “Switchblade Sisters” is presented with an aspect ratio also with a Dolby Digital Mono track.  There are no additional special features included on this release besides the films themselves. Would have loved to seen some 42nd street style trailer included for these titles at least.

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DVD Review “Thale”

Actors: Morten Andresen, Erlend Nervold, Silje Reinåmo
Directors: Aleksander Nordaas
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Xlrator
DVD Release Date: April 23, 2013
Run Time: 77 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

“Thale” is a very unique Norwegian fantasy/horror film. The focus of the film is the folklore myth that is mythical character of ‘huldra’, which is a beautiful (and quite naked woman in the film) who lives in the deep in the woods and has a cow tail. I have to admit, I am sucker for another in either the fantasy or the horror genre. The story lacks any major twist or heavy horror aspects for me personally. It also barely runs 80 minutes but captures your attention throughout. If for nothing else I would watch this just for Silje Reinåmo. She is a sight to look at for sure.

Official Premise: wo crime-scene cleaners discover a mythical, tailed female creature in a concealed cellar. She never utters a word, unable to tell her story, but the pieces of the puzzle soon come together: she’s been held captive for decades for reasons soon to surface.

The cinematography in the film is quite impressive and handled by the director Aleksander Nordaas. In fact he also server as the writer, producer and editor for the film. I think he has real potential and I am looking forward to what his next project is. The film is the Norweigan language and that is the only way to watch it. The English dub is absolutely terrible and makes this film a comedy. I would prefer this film on Blu-ray since it has that fantasy feel and I am sure it will complement Nordaas’ film quite more. In terms of special features, there is nothing here on this DVD. This is disappointing since I would have loved to see some visual effects featurettes or commentary tracks.

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Josh Duhamel Narrates “Planet Ocean” On Blu-Ray and DVD on April 9th

JOIN NARRATOR JOSH DUHAMEL ON AN INSPIRATIONAL VISUAL VOYAGE INTO THE ASTONISHING AND REMARKABLE HEART OF OUR EXISTENCE

PLANET OCEAN

AVAILABLE APRIL 9, 2013 ON BLU-RAY™AND DVD

FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Universal City, California – Directed by highly acclaimed photographer, filmmaker and environmentalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand (Home) and narrated by actor Josh Duhamel (Transformers, Life As We Know It), Planet Ocean is a cinematic adventure that invites viewers of all ages to change the way they look at the ocean and appreciate its greatest natural mystery. Planet Ocean will be available on Blu-ray™ and DVD on April 9, 2013 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Through dazzling aerial and underwater imagery captured in extreme geographical conditions worldwide, Planet Ocean delivers an unprecedented journey into the least known regions of our planet. The stunning documentary aims to captivate as well as provide understanding of humankind’s relationship to the ocean and stress the urgency of making sustainable change. Brought to life with dynamic and relatable narration, this groundbreaking film can be enjoyed by the entire family.

Planet Ocean will be available on Blu-ray™ and DVD.

Blu-ray™ disc unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound.

DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing the movie in more places, both at home and while away.

BONUS FEATURES (BLU-RAY™ and DVD):
· THE MAKING OF PLANET OCEAN
· IN THE SKIES ABOVE RIO: Breathtaking images of Rio de Janeiro’s magnificent shores will inspire you with wonder and delight.
· UNDERWATER: Uncover the natural mysteries of marine life with Planet Ocean’s team of underwater cinematographers.
· SHANGHAI: Extraordinary aerial photography of Shanghai’s busy harbor underscores the significance of ocean commerce.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – BLU-RAY™:
Street Date: April 9, 2013
Copyright: 2013 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Selection Number: 61126490 / 61126510 (CDN)
Running time: 1 Hour, 33 Minutes
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen
Rating: Not Rated
Languages/Subtitles: English, Italian, Castilian Spanish, Japanese, Brazilian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Latin American Spanish, Norwegian, Russian, and Swedish
Sound: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

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DVD Review "LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out"

Directed by: Guy Vasilovich
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 22 minutes

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I love the idea of “LEGO Star Wars”. I have various pieces built together all over my home office. When they made the feature, “LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace”, I was head over heals. It was released in a beautiful Blu-ray/Combo pack with a limited edition Han Solo character. That brings be to wonder for this release, Why no Blu-ray? That is one thing that I am caught up for this release (would have been a 5/5 rating). Why release one in high def and not the other. If you can get over that than this is absolutely hysterical and a must own for any “Star Wars fan”. There is so much crammed in the short 22-minute feature that you are left wanting more but at the same time absolutely satisfied.

Official Premise: Your favorite characters are back to save the galaxy in LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out. The heroes of the Rebel Alliance including heroic Luke Skywalker, swaggering Han Solo and steadfast Princess Leia have no time to celebrate their victory over the Empire as a new Imperial threat arises. But as Jedi-in-training Luke embarks on this next mission, he discovers that his celebrity status as a “Death-Star-Blower-Upper” can be a double-edged lightsaber when he’s constantly mobbed by crazed fans. So much for secret missions! Meanwhile, Darth Vader and Darth Maul are locked in a hilarious “Sith-ling” rivalry as they compete for the Emperor’s approval. It’s an action-packed comic adventure that’s out of this world!

To be honest, I am shocked that they even got to release this film now that Disney owns Lucasfilm. They already canceled “The Clone Wars” and shelved “Detours”, so I am just happy that they didn’t shelf this as well. I do hope that Disney smartens up and that they are planning more of these “LEGO Star Wars” features because they are so much fun. “The Empire Strikes Out” packs some very funny yet witty slapstick humor. Fans can also expect your favorite LEGO Star Wars characters. Just because this title is related to “Empire Strikes Back”, we still get our favorites like Darth Maul, Ahsoka Tano and many more who pop in for a laugh or two.

Written by Emmy Award winner Michael Price (“The Simpsons”), the feature includes voices from series regulars including Anthony Daniels, Ahmed Best, Tom Kane and  Sam Witwer appear as the voices of C-3PO, Jar Jar Binks, Yoda and Darth Maul. Also a bunch of other veterans return including Kenneth Colley, Brian Blessed, Andrew Secombe and Julian Glover, whom reprise their roles of Admiral Piett, Boss Nass, Watto and General Veers, respectively. “The Empire Strikes Out” was dedicated in memory of Ralph McQuarrie, the designer of the original trilogy, who recently passed away. Lastly I haven’t forgotten  the DVD will include an exclusive collectible Darth Vader w/Metal LEGO minifigure. So that is easily worth the $10 price point alone.

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"The Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collection: Romance" 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 90th anniversary of Warner Brothers this month and the release of the latest “The Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collection: Romance”, Media Mikes would like to giveaway this great box-set to one of its fans! If you would like to enter for your chance to win this great prize, please leave us a comment below or send us an email with your favorite romance film. This giveaway will remain open until April 15th at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to everyone in the whole world!! 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.

The Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collections are being released throughout the year in five separate sets. Each features a gem-packed collection of 20 essential movie classics in five major genres: Best Pictures (January), Musicals (February), Romance (April), Comedy (July) and Thrillers (September). A booklet will be included in each Collection which contains photos and synopses of all the films in the set.

The Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collection: Romance
The collection will be divided into three chapters on 22 discs: Timeless Love (1938-1942); Unforgettable Affairs (1950-1965); and Modern Romance (1973-2008).

Films included are:
1. Jezebel (1938)
2. Gone with the Wind (1939)
3. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
4. Casablanca (1942)
5. Mrs. Miniver (1942)
6. Now, Voyager (1942)
7. Annie Get Your Gun (1950)
8. A Streetcar Named Desire: The Original Director’s Version (1951)
9. Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
10. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
11. Splendor in the Grass (1961)
12. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
13. A Touch of Class (1973)
14. A Star Is Born (1976)
15. The Goodbye Girl (1977)
16. The Bodyguard (1992)
17. You’ve Got Mail (1998)
18. Two Weeks Notice (2002)
19. The Lake House (2006)
20. Nights in Rodanthe (2008)

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DVD Review "The Girl"

Starring: Toby Jones, Sienna Miller, Imelda Staunton, Penelope Wilton
Directed by: Julian Jarrold
Distributed by: HBO Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: TV-14
Running Time: 90 minutes

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

“Blondes make the best victims.  They’re like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints” – Alfred Hitchcock

When it comes to HBO Films, I don’t care about the topic or anything, I am immediately interested. They always seem to impress with their high profile cast and edgy and in-your-face films, for example the recent “Hemingway and Gellhorn”. “The Girl” was nominated for three Golden Globes including Best Actor, Actress and Motion Picture – Made for Television. The film focuses on Alfred Hitchcock’s obsessive relationship with Tippi Hedren, his leading lady in “The Birds” and “Marnie”. “The Girl” stars Toby Jones as Hitchcock and Sienna Miller as Hedren. Both actors did marvelous jobs. They were both very committed to the roles and delivered an intense performance. I was blown away with Jones’ portrayal of good ole “Hitch”. Everything from his look, to this walk or that voice was a real score. Move over Anthony Hopkins! If you are a fan of Hitchcock, do not miss this release.

Official Premise: “The Girl” tells the story of the director’s obsessive relationship with his leading lady during the making of The Birds and Marnie. As he attempted to sculpt Hedren into the perfect blonde of his imagination, Hitchcock became obsessed with the impossible dream of winning the real woman’s love. Her rejection of his misguided attempts only added to his obsession, putting both their careers and personal lives in jeopardy. “The Girl” is a complex tale of power, obsession, and the price exacted for stardom.

I am a little disappointed with this film’s release, not the actual release itself but the fact that is only being released made to order on DVD, thanks to Warner Archive. HBO has had great success with their original films and I would have loved to see this get a proper DVD and even Blu-ray. The transfer looks stunning with its 16X9 widescreen aspect ratio. The audio track packs nice Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, which is a step up from previous Warner Archive releases. The only special features included is an interview with Tippi Hedren, the star of the original “The Birds” and Marnie”. She reflects on working with Hitchcock and related to the film. It is way too short though and only runs about three minutes. I would have loved to see more extras surround this film itself with featurettes on the production, interviews with Sienna Miller and Toby Jones and even a commentary track.

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DVD Review "Hey Good Lookin’"

Directed by: Ralph Bakshi
Starring: Richard Romanus, David Proval, Jesse Welles, Tina Bowman
Distributed by Warner Archive
Release Date: April 2nd, 2013
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 77 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Hey Good Lookin'” is written, produced and directed by one of my favorites Ralph Bakshi, who is the man behind film’s like “Fritz The Cat”, “Wizards” and “American Pop”. There is a lot of back story behind the production of “Hey Good Lookin'”. The film was originally shot and delivered back in 1974 as a live-action/animated combination, eight years before it was finally released in 1982. Originally only the main characters were animated and the rest were portrayed by live actors. The final version of the film is quite different with most of the live-action sequences taking out with animated scenes replacing them. The original version remains unreleased and will probably never see the light of day. Either way I love Bakshi’s style of animated and this film is no different.  I love the 50’s setting and the animation still holds up well after over 30 years. Don’t miss this release!

Offical Premise: From Cool World creator Ralph Bakshi, Hey Good Lookin’ is an outrageous, nostalgic and adult take on a more innocent time. Well, not that much more innocent: not every street corner was a Happy Days setting. Our hero, Vinnie, leader of the ragtag gang known as the Brooklyn Stompers, plays it cool. His lady, Roz, thinks he’s the most wonderful thing on two legs. And his off-the-wall, hot-wired friend Crazy Shapiro would die for the honor of Vinnie and the gang. They’re all sympathetic and familiar characters turned loose in a funky, surreal cartoon landscape that really packs a punch, just as the ‘50s-styled soundtrack of original songs by John Madara and Ric Sandler evokes playful memories. With Fritz the Cat, Heavy Traffic and Cool World, Bakshi made animation history mixing mature themes and hip humor. If you know his work, then Hey Good Lookin’ is up your alley.

This film is released for the first time on DVD, thanks to Warner Archive.  It is only available via Warner Archive on a made to order basis.  The transfer of the film looks quite amazing on DVD with an sweet widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The animation really looks sharp and the line detail is well presented and restored. The colors are very sharp and pop off the screen.  The audio track included is a Dolby Digital Mono track and works well with the dialogue and the film’s music. I would have loved to seen Warner Archive give this film the Blu-ray treatment like they have been doing with some of their releases. But at least this film finally gets a decent DVD release and a chance to get the attention it well-deserves. Lastly, besides a trailer, there are no additional extras or special features included.

 

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: dvd, good, hey, lookin, review

DVD Review "K-9: The Complete Series"

Actors: Robert Moloney, Keegan Joyce
Directors: James Bogle
Number of discs: 4
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: May 7, 2013
Run Time: 330 minutes

Series: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

If you are a fan of “Doctor Who”, then you most likely know about his longtime robot pet dog, K-9. This series is a children’s sci-fi/comedy spin-off re-imagined by “Doctor Who” creator Bob Baker. “K9” first made an appearance in the 1977 “Doctor Who” episode “The Invisible Enemy” and has since become an iconic television character. The show is a bit of a stretch for any “Doctor Who” fan. The show isn’t on par with the charm that the series. It is a mix of live action characters with visual-effects, but the episodes don’t come with the highest quality for televsion. As much as I enjoy “Doctor Who”, I feel that this “K-9” would have been better left within in the “Doctor Who” series.

Official Premise: Blasting back into action via a space time manipulator, everyone’s favorite robot dog arrives in late 21st-century London, now scarred by alien intrusion and government rule through their cybernetic police force. With the assistance of teenagers Jorjie, Darius, drifter Starkey and Professor Gryffen, K9 becomes Earth’s front-line defence against dangers threatening from any place – and anytime – in the galaxy! They will have a lot of fun, action, adventure, and some jolts along the way, saving the earth from alien creatures, scary monsters and more than a few nasty humans!

Episode included: Regeneration, Liberation, The Korven, The Bounty Hunter, Sirens of Ceres, Fear Itself, Fall of the House of Gryffen, Jaws of Orthrus, Dream-eaters, The Curse of Anubis, Oroborus, Alien Avatar, Aeolian, The Last Oak Tree, Black Hunger, The Cambridge Spy, Lost Library of Ukko, Mutant Copper, The Custodians, Taphony and The Time Loop, Robot Gladiators, Mind Snap, Angel of the North, The Last Precinct, Hound of the Korven, the Eclipse of the Korven

The 4-DVD set contains all 26 original episodes from the short-lived series. Shout Factory still delivered a nice DVD presentation. The show just back some decent special effects and I would have loved to see this show get the Blu-ray treatment. The special features on the complete series DVD are not that impressive overall. There is a “Interview with K9”, which is fun for kids. “The Making Of K9 Documentary” is a decent yet short behind-the-scenes look into the show. I would have loved to see a few commentary tracks included on the episodes.

 

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DVD Review "Killing Them Softly"

Actors: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn
Directors: Andrew Dominik
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 97 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

“Killing Them Softly” is adapted from George V. Higgins’ 1974 novel “Cogan’s Trade”. It is a hitman movie that is disguised under a film about the economic crash. Brad Pitt doesn’t arrive on the screen until around 25 minutes in but he gives a very strong performance along with Scoot McNairy. You may know Scoot from 2010’s “Monsters” and last year’s “Argo”. The film also co-stars Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, and Sam Shepard.

For the film, Brad Pitt was reunited with director Andrew Dominik after “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”, a film that no one saw. I wasn’t blown away from the film as a whole but I like certain things about it. Besides the acting, I liked it’s gritty feel, the robbery scene was well shot and the slow-mo assassination scene was very neat. I would say watch it for the performances but the film itself isn’t sharp enough to keep your attention.  I would call it a one-timer and in a year I would have forgotten this film every existed.

Official Premise: Adapted from George V. Higgins’ novel and set in New Orleans, Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) is an enforcer for the Mob. When a high-stakes Mob protected card game is heisted by some small time crooks Cogan is called in to track them down and restore order to the local criminal economy.

The special features are disappointing to say the least.  There are only four deleted scenes that add up to less than ten minutes. Lastly there is a “Making of Killing Me Softly” featurette but it only runs five minutes, which is way to shot to give a behind-the-scenes look.  The DVD release also doesn’t come with any digital copies like the Blu-ray release.  I would have hoped for at least an Ultraviolet digital streaming copy to be included.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: dvd, killing, review, softly
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