Blu-ray Review “Aladdin: Diamond Edition”

Actors: Robin Williams, Gilbert Gottfried, Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman
Directors: Bill Perkins, John Musker, Ron Clements
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Run Time: 90 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 5 out of 5 stars

“Aladdin” was and will always be one of my all-time favorite Disney films. I saw this film in theaters with I was a kid and fell in love. I was also a huge fan of the Sega Genesis game and TV series growing up as well. There is just so much magic packed into this film. The music. The animation. Robin Williams. It is simply perfect. Watching this film definitely makes me miss Robin a lot! He was a comedy genius in his prime and luckily will never be forgotten! My favorite part of this film arriving on Blu-ray this year is that I am able to now introduce it to my 3 1/2 year old daughter, who has no become quite obsessed with it as well. So my job as a dad is done as far as I am concerned. This is a must own for any Disney fan, PERIOD!

Official Premise: Climb aboard for a magical carpet ride with nonstop laughs, action-packed adventure and Academy Award(R)-winning music that will make your heart soar (1992: Best Music, Original Song, “A Whole New World,” Original Score). Now for the first time ever, a whole new world of Disney’s ALADDIN is revealed in a whole new way on Blu-ray and Digital HD — with never-before-seen bonus! With the help of a hysterically funny, shape-shifting, 10,000-year-old Genie, street-smart commoner Aladdin and clever, confident Princess Jasmine join forces against the evil sorcerer Jafar to put an end to his plans to take over the kingdom!

Disney released this Diamond Edition as a combo pack with a Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD copies included. Let me tell you I was simply blown away with the animation in high definition. The colors are just unbelievable. Everything about this movie just shines in 1080p. I am glad they waited this long to release this film because it looks like they really gave this film some good loving. Same goes for Disney’s DTS Master Audio 7.1 track, which perfectly showcases the songs that we all know and love for all those years. Simply perfect. No other way to describe it, honestly.

The special are fantastic editions to this already wonderful Blu-ray. I absolutely loved watching “The Genie Outtakes”. Robin Williams bloopers with his famous character are magically. “Genie 101” features Scott Weinger (the voice of Aladdin) as the host discussing the character. “Ron & John: You Ain’t Never Had a Friend Like Me” features the two directors, John Musker & Ron Clements, talking about the film. “Aladdin: Creating Broadway Magic” focuses on the stage play with host Darren Criss. “Unboxing Aladdin” explores Easter eggs and hidden secrets with  Joey Bragg from Disney Channel’s Liv & Maddy. Lastly there are also ALL classic bonus from the original DVD releases. There are also some extras bonus extras included if you use Disney Movies Anywhere.

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Book Review “Disney’s Storybook Collection: 2015 Edition”

Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Grade Level: Preschool – Kindergarten
Series: Storybook Collection
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Disney Press
Release Date: May 5, 2015

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

When I think about “Disney’s Storybook Collection”, I travel all the way back to 1999 and I think of the book that I received from my wife (then girlfriend) as a birthday gift. I would really love to praise this latest edition and say that its the bees knees but it really didn’t WOW me. In fact, instead of containing new original stories, it features a bunch of simple retelling of existing Disney stories. So it is great for my daughter, since she doesn’t care about new stories and just loves seeing pictures of her favorite characters and hearing fun stories but not really super exciting for daddy, who is looking for something new and original.

So the only thing that is actually new in this book is that there are some new artwork included and edited text. But otherwise, this includes a lot of older stories taken from previous books. Here is a list of the stories includes in this latest edition “The Lion King”; “Wreck-It Ralph”; “The Princess and the Frog”; “Cinderella”; “Frozen”; “Robin Hood”; “101 Dalmatians”; “Peter Pan”; “Mulan”; “Aladdin”; “Beauty and the a Beast”; “Lady and the Tramp”; “Pinocchio”; “Lilo & Stitch”; “Sleeping Beauty”; “Tangled”; “The Little Mermaid”; “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. If you are looking for a really good and new Disney Storybook Collection, they released a new Christmas last Fall and that one was great featuring new, original stories. Skip this get that!

 

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Blu-ray Review “Escape from New York: Collector’s Edition”

Starring: Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Season Hubley
Director: John Carpenter
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: April 21, 2015

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4.5 out of 5 stars

When I thought to myself, “do I really need another edition of Escape from New York on Blu-ray”?, I quickly remember that this was being released from Shout! Factory and they give a lot of love to their releases. This film was previously released in 2010, but this new Collector’s Edition includes a new 2K scan of the inter-positive, struck from the original negative and a butt-load of new special features. This film is still a classic and a blast to watch. Kurt Russell is so iconic as Snake Plissken.

Official Premise: In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam. But when the US president (Donald Pleasence) crash-lands inside, only one man can bring him back: notorious outlaw and former Special Forces war hero Snake Plissken (Russell). But time is short. In 24 hours, an explosive device implanted in his neck will end Snake’s mission, and his life, unless he succeeds!

The Collector’s Edition of “Escape from New York” includes a nice improvement over the 2010 Blu-ray. with its 1080p transfer presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. I was expecting a little more from the new 2K scan but there was a nice improvement in quality from the previous release. I believe the same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which sounds classic score by John Carpenter and Alan Howarth. Also included is a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track but the 5.1 is easily the winner here.

There are special features filled out on both discs. The first one features, a brand new audio commentary with Actress Adrienne Barbeau and Director of Photographer Dean Cundey. This is worth the purchase alone, love these two. There is also an audio commentary track both Director John Carpenter and Actor Kurt Russell, as well as another with audio commentary with Producer Debra Hill and Production Designer Joe Alves. Each track is amazing in its own way and worth checking out for any fan.

Disc two kicks off with a collection of high-def extras. “Big Challenges in Little Manhattan: The Visual Effects of Escape from New York” looks behind-the-scenes with some interviews with Dennis Skotak, Director of Photography of Special VFX and Robert Skotak, Unit Supervisor and Matte Artist. “Scoring the Escape: A Discussion with Composer Alan Howarth” chats with the composer on creating the sound for the film. “On Set with John Carpenter: The Images of Escape from New York” is a collection of work from Still Photographer Kim Gottlieb-Walker.

There are two more interview features, the first is “I Am Taylor: An Interview with Actor Joe Unger” and the second is My Night on Set: An Interview with Filmmaker David DeCoteau. There is a deleted scene for the original Opening Bank Robbery Sequence including optional commentary by John Carpenter and Kurt Russell. “Return to Escape from New York Featurette” is a cool vintage EPK with interviews. Lastly there are Theatrical Trailers and Photo Galleries included.

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CD Review: Judas Priest “Defenders of the Faith” 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

Judas Priest
“Defenders of the Faith” 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Columbia/Legacy
Tracks: 31 (3 Discs)

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Judas Priest’s “Defenders of the Faith” album Columbia/Legacy Records has released the “Defenders of the Faith” 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition.  The 3 disc release features a combined 31 tracks which lets listeners relive 1984, a year which had the band coming off a long list of successful album releases and continuing on with the Platinum selling “Defenders of the Faith” album. The 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition includes a newly remastered version of the original album, a 2 disc live performance recorded during the subsequent tour, special edition packaging and an 18 page booklet with rare photos from the Defenders tour.

Right of the bat I want to say that if you already have the original version of “Defenders of the Faith” skip this version or go out and track down an original vinyl copy of the album. I found the remastered version of the album to be quite thin with too much emphasis on Rob Halfords vocals. It would have been nice if the newly remastered tracks featured beefed up instrumentation to accompany the metal gods prowess however much of that seemed lost or non-existent. I found the real gem of this release to be the two disc live album which is included as a part of the deluxe edition. Recorded on May 5th, 1984 at the Long Beach Arena the recording captures the band in their element. Not only do you get to hear most of the songs from the Defenders album in a live a setting but you are also treated to classic Priest tracks such as “Electric Eye”, “The Green Manalishi” and of course “Hell Bent for Leather” which includes Halfords signature motorcycle revving. Everything Priest is known for with their live performances is captured on these two discs making it for me the star if the release. Also included is some really cool die-cut packaging and a small booklet with a brief story from the band along with several live photos from the tour.

Though I wasn’t a fan of all the discs from the “Defenders of the Faith” 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition I found the live portion of this release more than made up for it. So if you are looking this album and want something a little extra then the Anniversary edition is the way to go however, if you are just looking for the studio tracks of songs like “Love Bites” and “Some Heads Are Gonna Roll” then make your way to the nearest record store and get yourself an original release of the album.

Track Listing:
Disc 1- Defenders of Faith (Remastered)
1.) Freewheel Burning
2.) Jawbreaker
3.) Rock Hard Ride Free
4.) The Sentinel
5.) Love Bites
6.) Eat Me Alive
7.) Some Heads Are Gonna Roll
8.) Night Comes Down
9.) Heavy Duty
10.) Defenders of Faith

Disc 2- Live at the Long Beach Arena 5/5/84
1.) Love Bites
2.) Jawbreaker
3.) Grinder
4.) Metal Gods
5.) Breaking the Law
6.) Sinners
7.) Desert Plains
8.) Some Heads Are Gonna Roll
9.) The Sentinel
10.) Rock Hard Ride Free

Disc 3- Live at the Long Beach Arena 5/5/84
1.) Night Comes Down
2.) The Hellion
3.) Electric Eye
4.) Heavy Duty
5.) Defenders of the Faith
6.) Freewheel Burning
7.) Victim of Changes
8.) The Green Manalishi
9.) Living After Midnight
10.) Hell Bent For Leather
11.) You’ve Got Another Thing Coming

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Blu-ray Review “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: 10th Anniversary Edition”

Actors: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly, Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor
Directors: Tim Burton
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: March 3, 2015
Run Time: 115 minutes

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

I can’t believe that it has already been 1o years since Tim Burton rebooted the 1971 cult classic hit “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” with his film “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. Despite most of the critics and public, I did enjoy this film. Johnny Depp is a looney in it and nails the role. Of course he is no Gene Wilder but it is also a completely different movie, so give and that there. This is a film that only Tim Burton could have remade. So even though I love this film, this 10th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray doesn’t really impress at all.

Official Premise: An eccentric chocolatier, Willy Wonka (Depp), long isolated from his own family, launches a worldwide contest to select an heir to his candy empire. Five lucky children, including Charlie (Highmore), a good-hearted boy from a poor family who lives in the shadow of Wonka’s extraordinary factory, draw golden tickets from Wonka chocolate bars and win a guided tour of the legendary candy-making facility that no outsider has seen in 15 years. Dazzled by one amazing sight after another, Charlie is drawn into Wonka’s fantastic world in this astonishing and enduring story.

The only real selling point of this release is for a snazzy new case and an exclusive 30 page photo book with photos and stills from the production and also a personal message from Tim Burton. That is all. There is no additional improved video or audio presentations here. We get the same special features as the previous 2011 release as well. Not that either of those were bad originally but in terms of upgrade to this release, there really isn’t any reason to purchase this unless you are a die-hard fan or if you have never owned this Blu-ray before.

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Blu-ray Review “101 Dalmatians: Diamond Edition”

Starring: Rod Taylor, J. Pat O’Malley, Betty Lou Gerson, Martha Wentworth, Ben Wright, Cate Bauer
Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman
Number of discs: 2
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Run Time: 79 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“101 Dalmatians” may not be the best Disney animated film but it is a very important one. This film introduced the Xerox process that save Disney. The film was never very pretty or breathtaking in terms of animation but it was a hit for the studio and probably the reason why we are still getting new films today. Overall, it is still a fun film. I haven’t seen it in years and I enjoyed it quite a bit. My two year old also enjoyed it as well. So I see this being a must watch for the coming months.

Official Premise: Pick your favorite spot to watch — anytime and anywhere — and get ready for a fun-filled adventure with 101 DALMATIANS for the first time ever on Blu-ray and Digital HD! Pongo, Perdita and their super-adorable puppies are in for thrills, hilarious spills and an epic action-packed adventure when they face off with Cruella De Vil, Disney’s most fabulously outrageous villainess. Unleash all the excitement and suspense of Disney’s 101 DALMATIANS, a beloved classic you’ll want to share with your family again and again!

The Diamond Edition Blu-ray of “101 Dalmatians” comes in a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy. The 1080p transfer looks good. There is little grain found here ala “The Sword in the Stone” or “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” but in a good way. I noticed through some blurring when the dogs were running. Not a major issue but definitely noticeable. There are two audio options for this release. First we have a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track which sounds quite great. The second is an original Dolby Digital Mono track, which doesn’t have what it takes to keep up with the 7.1 track.

The special features are impressive on this release. There is a all new feature “Lucky Dogs”, which features Disney Animation/Imagineering alum Rolly Crump, ink and paint artist Carmen Sanderson, animator Burny Mattinson, animator Floyd Norman and voice actress Lisa Davis talking about their experiences on the film. “Dalmatians 101” features actress Cameron Boyce, who plays Cruella De Vil’s son in the upcoming Disney’s “Descendants” giving facts about the film. “The Further Adventures of Thunderbolt” is an all new animated short following the black-and-white television star from the movie.

“The Best Doggoned Dog in the World” is actually the tenth episode of “The Wonderful World of Disney”, which aired during its fourth season in 1961. It is presented in its entirety and in high definition, this is a real treat. There are also a bunch of classic bonus features taken from past DVD releases of “101 Dalmatians”, including the seven part feature “Redefining the Line: The Making of 101 Dalmatians”, music videos, unused songs and promotional spots (no pun intended).

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Enter to Win DVD of “23 Blast” & “Welcome to Inspiration” (Limited Signed Edition) [ENDED]

Media Mikes is happy to showcase the recent release of 23 BLAST and WELCOME TO INSPIRATION. We would like to give our fans a chance to win an five (5) Autographed Limited Edition DVD of “Welcome to Inspiration” signed by stars Christy Sutherland and Larry Gatlin and also five (5) DVDs of “23 Blast”. If you want to win this great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email with your favorite inspiration feel good movie. This giveaway will remain open until February 6th 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.

Official Premise: 23 BLAST
When a high school football star is suddenly stricken with irreversible, total blindness, he must decide whether to live a safe, protected life or to summon the courage through playing football to step back into the world. “23 Blast” is based on the amazing, true story of Travis Freeman. A typical teenager growing up in a small town in Kentucky, Travis is a local hero on and off the field. In the prime of his youth, he is unexpectedly stricken with an infection that destroys his optic nerve; he becomes blind overnight. Under the influence of parents who love him, a physical therapist who challenges him, a coach who inspires him, and a best friend who he cannot bear to leave behind, Travis shows us what true bravery is by competing on the gridiron, helping his team advance to the State playoffs. We follow Travis and Jerry Baker, his closest friend, from the time they meet on the football field as kids through high school. Jerry’s attraction to the dark side of teenage temptations threatens to pull the friends apart. It is only on the football field where they truly connect. Depicting a story of hope triumphing over despair, of courage and faith overcoming fear and of victory prevailing over adversity, “23 Blast” is designed to encourage and uplift audiences.

Official Premise: WELCOME TO INSPIRATION
Set in the small fictional American southern town of Mountain Brook, “Welcome To Inspiration” follows a diverse cast of characters as they struggle in their lives. A young musician wishes to share his gift with a larger audience; a widow copes with the death of her soldier daughter; a small business owner sacrifices her freedom for the safety of a young runaway; a mechanic finds a family by finding his faith; and a man and woman strengthen their marriage by seeking the Lord’s wisdom. The main theme in this film is that you too can live a life of irrefutable success if you learn and act upon the things that God has revealed to you! We have to ask ourselves daily; Am I truly listening.

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Win an Autographed Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray of “Tornado Chasers” [ENDED]

Media Mikes is teaming up with the team at TVNweather to give or fans a chance to win an Autographed Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray of “Tornado Chasers (2013)”. If you want to win this great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email with what fascinates you most about Tornadoes. This giveaway will remain open until January 2nd 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.

For the first time on Blu-ray, the Limited Collector’s Edition of Tornado Chasers, signed by Reed Timmer and select members of the cast and crew, is now available while supplies last. Tornado Chasers (a two-time Webby Award Honoree*) is widely recognized as the best, most authentic series about storm chasing.

This Blu-ray edition features the acclaimed 2013 season, which follows extreme storm chaser Reed Timmer as he intercepts some of the biggest tornadoes in history. The 12-episode season features rare and breathtaking coverage of tornadoes including: Young County, TX (5/17/13), Rozel, KS (5/18/13), Edmond, Fallis, and Shawnee, OK (5/19/13), Moore, OK (5/20/13), Cora, KS (5/27/13), Bennington, KS (5/28/13), and El Reno, OK (5/31/13).

The Tornado Chasers Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray includes the following:
Two-disc collectible Blu-ray box signed by Reed Timmer and team.
Fully remastered for Blu-ray with lossless audio.
English subtitles (main program).
All 12 episodes of the 2013 season of Tornado Chasers in stunning 1080p high definition with lossless audio.
“Behind the Scenes of Tornado Chasers”: an in-depth, two-part documentary about the making of the series.
“Storm Science”: a two-part education program hosted by Reed Timmer
More than 50 minutes of deleted scenes.
Collection of promos and season trailers.

 

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Product Feature “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” Limited Edition Raphel Statue Gift Set

Are you a fan of collectible DVD/Blu-ray gift sets? As a collector, I have purchased many over the years including “Pacific Rim” and recently the “Spartacus: The Complete Series” Limited Edition gift sets. You make not know it but all of these amazing figures/statues that comes with the movies are made by a fantastic company, Snap Creative. I was shocked to look around my office and realize that I had dozens of their products already.

I had the chance to interview CEO of Snap Creative, Bill Howard, to chats about their work with the recently released Blu-ray of “Transformers: Age of Extinction”, read here. Since then I have been tracking their upcoming releases closely. Their latest is with the Blu-ray release for reboot of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” including a highly detailed collectible statue of Raphael from the film.

If you want this amazing Amazon exclusive Raphael statue you would need to buy the Limited Edition Gift Set of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)”, which includes a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD. When you want to talk about detail, this statue is outstanding. I mean, every detail is perfect from his red bandanna and his new look for the reboot. As you can see above Raphael, posed ready for battle with his twin sais geared up.

I was a fan of this reboot and they really captures him perfect by using the digital character model that they did in the movie to make this status. The figure stands 6.5 inches tall, which is standing on a small display base with street sewer entrance. The whole thing spans over 7 inches wide and nearly 5 inches deep. If you are a TMNT fan, then this Raphael statue is a must-have.  Can’t wait to see what Snap Creative has planned next for us!

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Blu-ray Review “Moontrap: Anniversary Edition”

Starring: Walter Koenig, Bruce Campbell, Leigh Lombardi, Robert Kurcz
Director: Robert Dyke
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Olive Films DVD
Release Date: November 18, 2014
Run Time: 92 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

When I saw Olive Films was releasing “Moontrap” on Blu-ray, I knew I had to have it. The film stars classic cult actors Walter Koenig (“Star Trek: The Original Series”) and Bruce Campbell from “The Evil Dead” series. The film is celebrating its 25 anniversary this year. I probably haven’t seen this film since 1989 but I remember that it was pretty cool. Definitely not a straight-forward horror/thriller as it is filled with camp humor throughout some intentional and some not. Fun times for sure still. The visual effects shows its age a bit but with a cast like Koenig and Campbell, it is an instant winner.

Official Premise: A 1980s cult classic, Moontrap stars Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead) and Walter Koenig (Star Trek’s original Chekov) as astronauts sent to the moon to investigate evidence of what appears to be signs of human life. They reanimate the body of a woman (Leigh Lombardi), who warns them that the moon is under the control of a race of alien cyborgs, which have been awaiting the opportunity to stage their invasion of Earth. The humans realize that desperate measures must be taken to halt the cyborgs’ departure from the moon — even if it ends in their own destruction.

“Moontrap” looks pretty good with its remastered HD transfer by Olive Films specifically for this release. Since it takes place in space a lot, there is some noise in the darkness of space but otherwise, it is fairly clean. This is presented for the first time in widescreen format with its original monaural soundtrack. The special features are solid as well with a new video interview with Bruce Campbell and Walter Koenig as well as a new video interview with director Robert Dyke and writer Tex Ragsdale. Lastly there is an audio commentary by Robert Dyke and Tex Ragsdale, which is worth checking out as well if you are a big time fan.

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Blu-ray Review “Lord of Illusions (Collector’s Edition)”

Starring: Scott Bakula, Kevin J. O’Connor, Famke Janssen, Daniel Von Bargen, Susan Traylor, Vincent Schiavelli
Director: Clive Barker
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: December 16, 2014
Run Time: 109 / 121 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Dating back to 1995, I remember when I saw that Clive Barker had a new film coming out and just new I had to see it. At the time, I was already in love with his work like “Nightbreed” and “Hellraiser”. “Lord of Illusions” shortly became no different. This film was a nice mix of noir, sci-fi and horror. Plus honestly, who doesn’t love Sam Beckett himself, Scott Bakula kicking ass and taking names. Scream Factory, thankfully, is behind this release and they are pulling out all the cards here. They have not only one but two cuts of the film. Disc one is the Theatrical Cut of the film, while disc two feayures an all NEW high definition transfer of Clive Barker’s Director’s Cut of the film making this a must own for any fan of the film.

Official Premise: From best-selling author and celebrated director Clive Barker comes a supernatural thriller that rips apart the boundaries between sanity and madness, and between the art of illusion and the terrifying forces of magic. Scott Bakula “(“Quantum Leap”) portrays Harry D’Amour, a private detective visiting Los Angeles on a routine investigation. Harry gets more than he bargains for when he encounters Philip Swan (Kevin J. O Connor, “The Mummy”), a performer whose amazing illusions captivate the world. But are they really illusions? Harry isn’t so sure as he is thrust into a nightmare of murder, deception and terrifying assaults from the dark beyond. Famke Janssen (“X-Men”, “Hemlock Grove”) and Daniel von Bargen (“Super Troopers”) also star.

This Collector’s Edition release features a solid Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p transfer looks great, especially on the director’s cut. The DTS-HD Master Audio track also works perfectly with the amazing score. The special features are great as well. There is a commentary track from director Clive Barker. There is a featurette “A Gathering of Magic”, which includes original behind the scenes footage. There is more unseen and rare behind the scenes footage into “Illusion of Reality”, which includes vintage interviews looking into the making of the film. There is a NEW interview with Storyboard Artist Martin Mercer, which is a must watch. Lastly there are some deleted scenes with Clive Barker giving commentary and also a Photo Gallery.

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Blu-ray Review “Batman: The Complete Television Series (Limited Edition)”

Starring: Adam West, Burt Ward, Julie Newmar, Frank Gorshin, Burgess Meredith, Cesar Romero, Alan Napier, Neil Hamilton, Stafford Repp, Madge Blake, Yvonne Craig
Number of discs: 13
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: November 11, 2014
Run Time: 3019 minutes

Series: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 5 out of 5 stars

Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na BATMAAAN!!! I didn’t grow up with the 60’s “Batman” but I loved watching the series in repeats. This show was the king of campy jokes. Also dating back to the late 80’s, I was completely obsessed with anything “Batman”, thanks to Tim Burton’s 1989 feature. So this show was a nice complement to the darker film. Thanks to Warner Home Video, “Batman: The Complete Television Series” contains all three classic seasons scanning 120 original broadcast episodes, which are presented uncut and completely remastered. A must have for any “Batman” fan!

This show boosted career of Adam West (as Batman) and Burt Ward (as Robin)…or at least Adam West. This series also features some fantastic guest stars and cameos including including Julie Newmar, Cesar Romero, Frank Gorshin, Liberace, Vincent Price, Burgess Meredith, Bruce Lee, Art Carney, Milton Berle, Sammy Davis Jr., Dick Clark, the Green Hornet and Kato, and Bill Dana as José Jimenez.

This POW-erful numbered limited-edition collection includes the 120 episodes scanned over 13 Blu-rays along with an Ultraviolet Digital HD copy of the series. These episodes looks absolutely stunning. For a show dating back to the 60’s, you would never guess that this was nearly 50 years old. The 1080p transfer for these episodes, remastered in high-definition, look amazing for this series. This show was always very colorful and the colors here are extremely vibrant and crisp.

There are more than three hours of never-before-seen bonus content including interviews with both Adam West (as Batman) and Burt Ward (as Robin). “Hanging with Batman” is what it says just spending some time chatting with Adam West. “Holy Memorabilia Batman!” focuses on the world of collectibles for the series. “Batmania Born!” talks about building the series and the art and design behind it. “Bats of the Round Table” is a roundtable candid conversation with Adam West and his friends.

“Inventing Batman in the words of Adam West” features West discusses his script notes on episodes 1 & 2 on bringing Batman to life. “Na Na Na Batman!” feature Hollywood favorites stars and producers rehashing their favorite Batman memories. Along with the extras, also included is a Hot Wheels® Replica Batmobile, The Adam West Scrapbook, 44 Vintage Trading Cards and a 32-Page Complete Episode Guide. Plus to top it all off if you push a button on the side of the box, it plays the end of the famous theme. ONE MORE TIME EVERYONE!! Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na BATMAAAN!!!

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Enter to Win Blu-ray Combo Pack for “The Expendables 3: Unrated Edition” [ENDED]

To celebrate the release of “The Expendables 3: Unrated Edition”, we are happy to be giving a Blu-ray combo pack from the film. If you want to win this great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email with which actor you want to see in the next “The Expendables”. This giveaway will remain open until November 28th 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.

The film stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Antonio Banderas, Kelsey Grammer, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Kellan Lutz, Ronda Rousey, Glen Powell, Victor Ortiz, Robert Davi, and Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Expendables 3 Blu-ray Combo Pack includes a documentary, two featurettes “that delve deep behind-the-scenes with the incredible cast and crew,” an extended scene, and a gag reel. The Blu-ray features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack encoded with Dolby TrueHD for Dolby Atmos-enabled systems.

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Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: 3, bluray, combo, edition, enter, expendables, ...

IndieBox Announces “Brütal Legend: Limited Edition”

IndieBox, in partnership with Double Fine Productions, is releasing a special “limited edition” of the rock ‘n roll game Brütal Legend starring Jack Black, Tim Curry, and Ozzy Osbourne. Only 250 copies of this limited edition are available for purchase.

Orlando, FL – November 8, 2014 – IndieBox, a mystery box for indie games, partners with talented indie developers to create retrostyle game boxes featuring handpainted artwork with DRMfree game copies, Steam keys, full color manuals, CD soundtracks, posters, collectibles, and much more.

This October’s featured game was Brütal Legend, created by Double Fine Productions. The game stars the voices of Jack Black, Tim Curry, Ozzy Osbourne, and other rock legends who are summoned to the world of Heavy Metal to do battle. Swing an axe (and guitar) at demons and monsters as Eddie Riggs, voiced by Jack Black. Brütal Legend is now available on the IndieBox store for $24.99 plus shipping. Each limited edition box is numbered for authenticity. Only 250 will be placed for sale at Indiebox.MyShopify.com.

Brütal Legend was the first game to be revealed prior to shipping by IndieBox. September’s mystery game was Luftrausers by indie developer Vlambeer. The Collector’s Edition of Luftrausers can also be purchased at Indiebox.MyShopify.com while supplies last. November’s subscription deadline is November 21st at 11:59PM EST. New subscribers must subscribe before then to get this month’s mystery box! We think subscribers will really dig it. For more information, visit TheIndieBox.com and join the IndieBox community on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheIndieBox, and Twitter, Twitter.com/TheIndieBox.

Double Fine Productions is an awardwinning, independent game development studio founded in 2000 by games industry veteran Tim Schafer.

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: announces, brutal, edition, indiebox, legend, limited, ...

3D Blu-ray Review “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D: Extended Edition”

Actors: Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans
Director: Peter Jackson
Number of discs: 5
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: NEW LINE HOME VIDEO
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Run Time: 186 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
3D: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

If you are a fan of Peter Jackson, then it is no surprise that he is a big fan of releasing extended cuts of his films. “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”. The new Extended Cut includes 25 minutes of additional content that extends individual scenes making this a must see for fans of the film. Sone extras scenes include much more of Mirkwood, as well as more of Dol Guldur and Thranduil and of course, more Stephen Fry, who is just simply awesome…amongst much more. This film is no question of my favorite films of last year and only gets better with each viewing. This 5-disc 3D Extended Edition also includes more than nine hours of new bonus features. This should at least hold you off until “The Battle of Five Armies” hits theaters this December!

Official Premise: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, on an epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. Having survived the beginning of their unexpected journey, the Company travels East, encountering along the way skin-changer Beorn and a swarm of giant Spiders in the treacherous forest of Mirkwood. After escaping capture by the dangerous Wood-elves, the Dwarves journey to Lake-town, and finally to the Lonely Mountain itself, where they must face the greatest danger of all–a creature more terrifying than any other; one which will test not only the depth of their courage but the limits of their friendship and the wisdom of the journey itself–The Dragon Smaug.

Warner Bros is bringing this film home with a combo pack including a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + UltraViolet Digital HD copy. Like the previous Blu-ray release for “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”, the Extended Edition is no different. I enoyed the 3D in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” but this film really shines with the added effect. The scale of the film is so large and Smaug is just a cinematic marvel. If you watch this film, especially the Extended Edition, I would absolutely recommend doing it in 3D. The 1080p transfer is simply outstanding, as is the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track. Easily, this is one of the best Blu-ray presentations that I have seen all year.

The Extended Edition extras include a new audio commentary track with Director/writer/producer Peter Jackson and writer/co-producer Philippa Boyens discussing the new cut etc. “New Zealand: Home of Middle-Earth, Part 2” features Jackson and his team traveling through the film’s locations. “The Appendices Part 9 & 10” is the next two installments in Jackson’s sprawling “Appendices” documentary showcase this massive production. Combine these extras with the special features that were included in the first release of “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” on Blu-ray and we finally got a winning package here.

The other extras include: “Peter Jackson Invites You to the Set” is a two part look into the behind-the-scenes on this production. There are four Production Videos featurettes including “Introduction to Pick-Ups Shooting,” “Recap of Pick-Ups, Part 1,” “Recap of Pick-Ups, Part 2″ and “Music Scoring.” “Live Event: In the Cutting Room” is a recording of the March 2013 worldwide live event where Jackson answered fans questions and gave a tour of his production facilities. “New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth, Part 2″ gives a follow up look into the locations. Lastly there are Trailers & Previews and Music Video for “I See Fire” by Ed Sheeran.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, the newest epic in The Hobbit trilogy arrives on Blu-ray 3D™ and Blu-ray™ November 4th from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The Extended Edition features a 25-minute longer cut and more than nine hours of new special features.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: 3d, bluray, desolation, edition, extended, hobbit, ...
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