Blu-ray Review “UHF: 25th Anniversary Edition”

Actors: Weird Al Yankovic, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Richards
Directors: Jay Levey
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: November 11, 2014
Run Time: 93 minutes

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

Weird Al Yankovic is so hot right now after topping the charts with his newest album (for the first time ever). It is also the 25th anniversary of his cult classic film “UHF”. The film stars Weird Al Yankovic along with Michael Richards (“Seinfeld”), Kevin McCarthy (“Invasion of the Body Snatchers”), Fran Drescher (“The Nanny”), Gedde Watanabe (“Sixteen Candles”), Victoria Jackson (“Saturday Night Live”) and more! It has been many years since I have seen this film and it still holds up today and is extremely funny. If you are looking for some laughs and some great special features, be sure to pick this up!

Official Premise: A lot of TV stations have forgotten what ’quality’means. But not Channel 62. They NEVER knew what it meant. In the cult classic UHF, Weird Al Yankovic is George Newman, a daydreamer who becomes the manager of a small TV station that’s losing money as quickly as it’s losing viewers. Before long he’s programming shows like ’Stanley Spadowski’s Clubhouse, ’ ’Wheel Of Fish’ and ’Raul’s Wild Kingdom. ’ But can Channel 62’s new popularity save it from sinister forces? To find out… don’t touch that dial!

This 25th Anniversary Edition of “UHF” makes its Blu-ray debut, thanks to Shout! Factory. The 1080p transfer looks good and relatively clean. I was not a huge fan of the audio track though since it is not even a full HD track. It is basically a DVD English Stereo track. It is not terrible but I would have expected more.  There are a great deal of special features included. There is the Retrospective Panel from the San Diego Comic-Con 2014, which literally just happened a mere few months ago. There is an audio commentary track, deleted scenes, some behind-the-scenes footage, a music video, production stills and some Easter eggs included.

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Playstation 4 Video Game Review “Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes – 2.0 Edition”

Platform: Playstation 4
Developer: Avalanche Software
Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios
Release date: September 23, 2014
Rating: Everyone 10+

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Disney Infinity” is back and better for its second edition called “Marvel Super Heroes”. Superheroes have never been bigger and this latest 2.0 edition features 16 Marvel figurines and 40 power discs (82 in total to be released in future wave), so there’s no shortage of options at all. After playing the original “Disney Infinity”, I found myself picking it apart quite a bit. This game really improves on the first games issues and delivers a mush more fun and content filled game. It is still not perfect but it is a blast to play and I have a feeling I will be playing this for many months to come.

“Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes” is split up into different two game modes much like the original. There is the Playset mode and Toybox mode. In the playset mode, you can transport into the world of one of the hit franchises from the game and generally run anywhere between 6–10 hours in length, so they are no incredible long but do back some great content. The Toybox mode still allows players to create their own games and worlds, using items unlocked in Playset mode.

When it comes to figures, we get the following three franchises covered to start including “The Avengers”, “Spider-Man” and “Guardians of the Galaxy”. In the Starter Pack, we get Iron Man, Black Widow and Thor. Captain America, Hawkeye and Hulk are available in single character packs and complete the roster for “The Avengers”. I cannot wait for Wave 2 to come for this franchise since Loki and Falcon have been confirmed!

Next up is “Spider-Man”, only with the web slinger himself, we also have Nova, who is included in the play set. Venom, Iron Fist and Nick Fury are available as single character packs. I am a bit taken back that Nick Fury is seated with Spider-Man. I am sure some young kids aren’t going to make the connection just yet since he is primarily seen with “The Avengers” in the film and TV series.

Lastly and easily my favorite film of the year, we have Guardians of the Galaxy. Included in the playset is Star-Lord and Gamora, while Drax, Groot and Rocket Raccoon are available in single character packs. Future wave 2 release for this series include Ronan and Yondu, so there is plenty of growth and expansion available here as well.

Unlike the first game, you are only able to play specific characters in specific playsets. This new edition allows you to collected “Cross Over Tokens” scattered throughout levels in order to bring character like Nova, Iron Man, Rocket Raccoon and Hulk into more than one playset. This gives the game and entirely new dynamic and I really enjoyed it.

These new figures are really a big improvement over the first game. I really enjoyed the “Guardians of the Galaxy” characters. The abilities were great and really run to play with. My real surprise honestly has to be Nova from “Spider-Man” play set. I really enjoyed him as well. With “The Avengers” each of them are equally amazing. Hulk has a great special move. Iron Man can sort of glide. Captain America has his shield to through around. There are 16 characters and I spent a lot of time just fighting with myself to figure out who I should try first.

Since there are 40 power discs in wave one, I will highly a few of my favorite. S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier Strike is a great ability. Infinity Gauntlet is a rare and very powerful disc. If you are an “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” fan, getting to ride in Lola is a blast. There is also Ability discs that allow Team Up with characters like YOndu, Winter Soldier and Ant-Man. In the toy box, the customization for “Guardians of the Galaxy” is pretty cool with Groot’s View and Groot’s Roots.

Also a very cool expansion feature is that you are able to take all of your original Disney Infinity figures and power discs and they can still be used in the Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition) toy box. You cannot use original play sets though with the 2.0 gam though. This adds a lot more ability to play with this new game and to have original Disney Infinity characters meeting 2.0 edition characters.

The control are a bit tighter in this new edition. I felt that the driving in the first game was absolutely horridenous and this time around it is much smoother. The violence is not too bad but I am honestly not a fan of the ability to turn on civilians in the game. You are able to drive down the street and literally plow down people. I am sorry but this isn’t “Grand Theft Auto”. There isn’t any blood or anything, so it doesn’t seem that bad but still could have been tamed a bit and feels very unnecessary.

November 4th brings us a new wave of Disney Original figures for use in the Toy Box. Included characters in the first batch are Donald Duck, Aladdin, Jasmine, Tinker Bell, Stitch, Hiro Hamada & Baymax from Big Hero 6, Merida and Maleficent. I can’t wait to check these characters out. Hopefully in the the next edition of “Disney Infinity” isn’t to far, far away 😉 Fingers crossed Disney! Cross over to the Dark Side!

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Playstation 4 Game Review “Alien: Isolation – Nostromo Edition”

Publisher: SEGA
Developer: The Creative Assembly
Rated: Mature
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Platform: PlayStation 4

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I am always a sucker for anything spawning out of the “Alien” franchise. “Alien: Isolation” promised to be the best of the recent attempts at a good game in the series. The game puts you in the in control of Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley, as she searched for her mother. The story takes place 15 years after the events of the first movie and another 42 before she is found in the sequel. What I liked about this game the most is that there is only one Xenomorph that hunts you down. Now even though it is just one doesn’t mean that she is not still one tough bitch. I think literally, I died about 25 times in the first 5 minutes of playing this game. This is it horror fans, if you are looking for a great “Alien” video game adaption, look no further.

Official Premise: “Alien: Isolation” is a first-person survival horror game which captures the fear and tension evoked by Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic film. Players find themselves in an atmosphere of constant dread and mortal danger as an unpredictable, ruthless Xenomorph is stalking and killing deep in the shadows. Underpowered and underprepared, you must scavenge resources, improvise solutions and use your wits, not just to succeed in your mission, but to simply stay alive.

The game play itself is quite impressive. The campaign itself runs a very solid 15 hours, so there is plenty of content included in the primary compaign. There are at least five to seven additional missions planned to be released from now till 2015. So even if you beat the game already, there will be some great new content available to fans. If you are a horror fan, then most importantly, you will be happy that this game definitely scared the shit out of me. There is some great sound design in this game and it really created some great tension when playing, which lead to a few solid jumps as well throughout. The design of the game just looks stunning on the PlayStation 4.

I know there are tons of scary games out there like “F.E.A.R”, “Dead Space” and “Resident Evil” but this game definitely had you pausing and running for a quick change of underwear. What I loved about the Xenomorph is that it is very effective based on your moves and your actions, it responds to you and you need to be able to act very very fast or get ready to start the mission over.  Sega really did a great job here. There are a few small issues like the story is a little light and some of the missions get a bit repetitive but it gets quickly overlooked in my eyes when you find yourself hiding in a locker waiting for the Xenomorph to pass you and hopefully not find you. You better cut your nails before you play because this is a real nail-bitter.

Now if you are excited to get to play a Ripley’s daughter, you are going to love the two bonus missions that were included with pre-ordering the game. In this “Nostromo Edition” of the game it contains the“Crew Expendable” expansion pack, which features the voices and likenesses of movie’s stars like Sigourney Weaver and Tom Skerritt. It allows you to play as either Dallas, Parker or Ellen Ripley from the original film as they try and get rid of the Alien. There is also a second expansion called “Last Survivor”, which was included in “The Ripley Edition” of the game, which again allows you to take control of Ellen Ripley, as she is the last person alive on the Nostromo. There are still a bunch more expansions planned for this game, so stay tuned because the fun (if you call getting the shit scared out of you fun) to be had.

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Blu-ray Review “Attack on Titan: Limited Edition – Part 2”

Starring: Yûki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, Marina Inoue, Kishô Taniyama, Yu Shimamura, Yû Kobayashi
Director: Tetsurô Araki
Number of discs: 4
Studio: Funimation
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Run Time: 300 minutes

Series: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Attack on Titan” has really resurrected my love for Japanese anime. The show is fantastic and as a whole is easily one of the best series that I have watched in a while. I just wish the series was longer than 26 episodes, since the manga is quite long as well. This Limited Edition Part 2 comes with a 3-D Lenticular Art Card and Notes From Beyond The Wall: Part 2 (a 24 page digibook containing 4 panel comics, artwork, interviews and more!). The series is also being re-adapted into two animated theatrical films set to be released Winter 2014 and 2015. The word is that there is also a live-action movie that will begin filming in summer 2014 for a planned summer 2015 release. So stay tuned “Titan” fans, there is still a lot of come!

Official Premise: Eren Jaeger vowed to rid mankind of the bloodthirsty giants who devoured his mother and destroyed his city. Now, after discovering that he has the ability to turn into a Titan, the world Eren promised to protect looks at him like he is the monster. Narrowly avoiding execution, Eren’s fate is entrusted to the Scout Regiment where he must prove capable of following orders. But on an expedition outside the wall, a unique female Titan appears and cuts through the Scouts, leaving a trail of carnage and splintered bones behind her and making it difficult for Eren to control his rage. As it becomes obvious that a traitor is sabotaging the Regiment from within, Eren must ask himself who humanity’s true enemy really is.

Like Part 1 of “Attack on Titan”, it is delivered by FUNimation Entertainment with a solid Blu-ray presentation. The episodes look fantastic in their 1080p transfers in 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The style of animation looks so amazing and the detail is incredible. Same goes for the audio options. We get the original Japanese language track in Dolby TrueHD 2.0 and an English dub in Dolby TrueHD 5.1. Both are excellent but I have to admit like Part 1 as well, the 5.1 track wins. There is over an hour of special features included, a little less than Part 1 but still decent. There is a commentary track for episodes 14 & 25, Attack on Titan at Anime Expo, ”Chibi Theatre: Fly, Cadets, Fly!”, Eyecatch Gallery, Textless Songs, and trailers included.

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“White Christmas: Diamond Anniversary Edition” Hits Blu-ray October 14th

PARAMOUNT CELEBRATES THE DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE BELOVED HOLIDAY CLASSIC STARRING DANNY KAYE AND BING CROSBY AND HONORS THE HUMANITARIAN WORK OF UNICEF

 Paramount Pictures and The Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye Foundation Donating $100,000  to Support UNICEF’s Work for Children

Blu-ray™ Combo Pack Debuts October 14, 2014 with a Bonus Holiday Music CD and New Special Features Including a UNICEF Documentary Hosted by Danny Kaye, Sing-Along Lyrics, a Virtual Duet Between Bing Crosby and Michael Bublé and More

  HOLLYWOOD, Calif.  –  Celebrate 60 years of the treasured musical classic Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS with the spectacular new Diamond Anniversary Edition arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack October 14, 2014 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.  Starring legendary performers Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen and featuring unforgettable music by Irving Berlin, the beloved holiday film offers timeless entertainment for all ages.

In honor of the 60th anniversaries of WHITE CHRISTMAS and Danny Kaye’s appointment as UNICEF’s first Goodwill Ambassador, The Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye Foundation and Paramount Pictures are proud to make a combined $100,000 donation to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF* to support UNICEF’s lifesaving work for children around the world.  As UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador, Danny Kaye traveled to numerous countries in 1954 to see the work of the organization firsthand and appeared in and narrated a documentary entitled Assignment Childrenabout his experience, which is included in the new Blu-ray Combo Pack along with a new introduction by Michael Bublé.  Danny Kaye received an Honorary Academy Award® in 1955 for his work on this extraordinary documentary, as well as for his unique talents, his service to the Academy, the motion picture industry, and the American people.

Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS Diamond Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack also includes new special features such as five classic Christmas television show appearances by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, including a virtual duet between Crosby and Michael Bublé, an optional sing-along subtitle track that accompanies the film’s most popular songs, new photo galleries, and a Christmas CD with 12 songs featuring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Judy Garland, including EIGHT never-before-released tracks.  Additional previously released special features include commentary by Rosemary Clooney, backstage stories, featurettes on Crosby, Kaye and Clooney, and more.

 

Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS Blu-ray Combo Pack

Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS Blu-ray will be presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English Restored Mono DTS-HD Master Audio, French Mono Dolby Digital, Spanish Mono Dolby Digital and Portuguese Mono Dolby Digital, as well as English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, English Restored Mono, French Mono and Spanish Mono, as well as English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The Blu-ray Combo Pack includes the following:

Disc 1 (Blu-ray):

  • Feature film in high definition
  • Feature film with optional Sing-Along Subtitle Track—NEW!
  • Commentary by Rosemary Clooney
  • Classic Holiday Moments—NEW!

o   “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby on December 1, 1976

o   “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby featuring Michael Bublé on December 10, 2012

o   “Silent Night” by Bing Crosby on December 12, 1948

o   “Jingle Bells” by Danny Kaye and Nat King Cole on December 25, 1963

o   Danny Kaye reads from A Christmas Carol on December 22, 1965

  • Assignment Children—NEW!

o   With introduction by Michael Bublé

  • Backstage Stories from White Christmas—The production boasted the #1 and #3 box office stars of its time and the director of Casablanca. It featured the most popular song in American history and became the highest-ranking film at the box office in 1954.  From little-known production details to behind-the-scenes trivia, this segment offers insights about the timeless holiday classic.

 

Disc 1 (Blu-ray)—cont’d:

  • Bing Crosby: Christmas Crooner—Crosby’s family members offer personal memories of the film and discuss the crooner’s Yuletide connection.  The piece also includes film historians sharing rare stories about Crosby and White Christmas and a visit to Crosby’s hometown of Spokane, Washington.
  • Danny Kaye: Joy to the World—Some people only know him as the silver screen’s ‘court jester,’ but Danny Kaye was a true humanitarian who helped children around the world as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.  This moving tribute sheds light on the multi-talented actor, who won two honorary Academy Awards®, including the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and spread joy beyond the Hollywood spotlight.
  • Irving Berlin’s White Christmas—Many people don’t know all of the lyrics to the most popular Christmas song of all time or that Irving Berlin wrote it while sitting poolside at an Arizona Resort.  This fascinating feature sheds light on the genesis and enduring popularity of the best-selling single in American history.
  • Rosemary’s Old Kentucky Home—Take a tour of Rosemary Clooney’s home in Augusta, Kentucky, which has become a historical landmark.
  • White Christmas: From Page to Stage— The legacy of White Christmas continues with a hit Broadway musical, nominated for two Tony awards.
  • White Christmas: A Look Back with Rosemary Clooney
  • White Christmas Photo Galleries—NEW!

o   Rehearsals

o   Behind-the-Scenes

o   Filming

o   Publicity Shots

  • Two Theatrical Trailers

Disc 2 (DVD):

  • Feature Film in Standard Definition
  • Commentary by Rosemary Clooney

Disc 3 (DVD):

  • Same special features listed above in standard definition with the exception of the optional sing-along subtitle track

Bonus Music CD

  1. Winter Wonderland – Rosemary Clooney
  2. Deck the Halls/Away in a Manger/O, Little Town of Bethlehem/The First             Noel – Bing Crosby
  3. Waltz Around the Christmas Tree – Danny Kaye
  4. Marshmallow World – Bing Crosby & Ella Fitzgerald
  5. The Christmas Song – Rosemary Clooney
  6. Just What I Wanted For Christmas – Bing Crosby
  7. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Rosemary Clooney
  8. Jingle Bells – Danny Kaye & Peggy Lee
  9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Bing Crosby & Judy Garland
  10. Home For The Holidays – Rosemary Clooney
  11. Some Children See Him – Danny Kaye
  12. The Night Before Christmas – Bing Crosby

The film will also be available as a Diamond Anniversary Edition two-disc DVD set with Discs 2 & 3 above.

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Board Game Review “Monopoly: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Edition”

I have been playing Monopoly as long as I can remember but I guess I can say that I have never actually played Monopoly till I played “Monopoly: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Edition”. Even though this is not the 80’s cartoon that I grew up with, I still love it and if you are a fan of the current Nickelodeon cartoon you are going to love it also. If you are a hardcore fan of the 80’s cartoon and not a huge fan of the new series, don’t worry because there is a Monopoly edition coming out in November for that as well.

In this edition you have the ability to take over New York City and take off featured 22 locations found in current TV series like Donnie’s Workshop & Lab (Replacing Boardwalk and Park Place), Rock Bottom Boxing Club, Antonio’s Pizza-Rama, Kraang’s Lair, Shredder’s Hideout and Splinter’s Dojo. Instead of only traveling by trains in the original game, here you can travel in high tech turtle mobiles like the Patrol Buggy, Foot Clan Bike, Stealth Cycle, and ShellRaiser from the series.

There are six new collectible tokens included. Of course, you get the choice to either play for the side of good or the side of evil (or even Pizza). The tokens included are Kraang, Spike, Throwing Star, Mutagen, Shredder’s Mask, and of course PIZZA. The classic Chance and Community Chest cards are translated into Allies and Enemies cards.  This edition features  not money but Turtles cash featuring your favorite characters: $1.00 Shredder, $5.00 Raph, $10.00 Leo, $20.00 Mikey, $50.00 Donnie, $100.00 April, and $500.00 Splinter.

I was a little taken back that you couldn’t necessarily play with a token as each of your favorite turtles but I commend the brave choice to shake things up and be a little brave. If you are a turtle fan, you will no question find this game especially fun and creative. I look forward to sharing this game with my daughter as she grows up. She is two years old and already a huge fan of TMNT, so this will be popular game for sure in our house (or at least until the 80’s cartoon version comes out).

 

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Blu-ray Review “Sleeping Beauty: Diamond Edition”

Actors: Mary Costa, Eleanor Audley, Barbara Jo Allen, Verna Felton, Barbara Luddy
Directors: Clyde Geronimi
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Run Time: 75 minutes

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

Timed slightly ahead of the Blu-ray release of Disney’s live-action smash hit “Maleficent”, which is set to be released on November 4th, Disney’s 16th animated classic returns to Blu-ray in an all new Diamond Edition. Personally, I would have waited until November to release this to get parents to pick up both films in one shot. Listen, this is a definitely a cash-in release, especially since this was just released on Blu-ray in 2008 but there are some new extras included as well as a digital copy. So it isn’t just a new box and nothing new. Having a two year old at home, even though some parts a little scary, I am excited to be able to share this film with her because she absolutely loves the character Aurora already.

Official Premise: Fall under the glorious spell of Disney’s Ultimate Princess Fairy Tale! The magic is real as you experience all the pageantry and power on Blu-ray — and for the first time ever on Digital HD — with incredible high-definition picture and thrilling, soaring sound! Beauty, wonder and adventure spin together in a grand legend that transcends time as Maleficent, one of animation’s most spectacular villains, sends the kingdom’s beloved Princess Aurora into an enchanted sleep. In a majestic story that awakens all your senses, Good Fairies arm brave Prince Phillip to defeat a fearsome fire-breathing dragon and rescue Aurora. But success in battle may not be enough, for the only way to awaken the Princess is with True Love’s kiss!

This Diamond Edition of “Sleeping Beauty” includes a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD Digital Copy. This is the first time that film has been released digitally, so that is a nice bonus. The 1080p transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track are literally perfect for an animated film that is 55 years old. The colors are just so vibrant and literally jump off the screen. I am not sure if the transfer has been upgraded since the 2008 release but it is still outstanding. The songs are perfectly balanced as well and sound amazing in their 7.1 surround track. If you love the original track, also included is the original Dolby Digital 4.0 stereophonic track for those Disney purists.

There are tons of great special features included. The new extras include “Once Upon A Parade, Starring Sarah Hyland ” which takes us behind-the-scenes with Sarah Hyland from ABC’s Modern Family at Magic Kingdom. “Art of Evil: Generations Of Disney Villains” focuses on Disney’s favorite villain animator, Marc Davis and his influences. “DisneyAnimation: Artists in Motion, Extended Edition” features Walt Disney Animation Visual Development artist Brittney Lee as she develops a three dimensional sculpture of Maleficent, completely out of paper. “Beauty-Oke: Once Upon A Dream” is a Sing-along tfor Aurora’s signature song. There are three brand new, never before seen deleted scenes.

Other Classic DVD Bonus Features include “The Sound Of Beauty: Restoring A Classic”, which looks into restoring the film and focuses on its 7.1 mix. “Picture Perfect: The Making Of Sleeping Beauty” shows us the behind-the-scenes magic that took place to place this film with Legendary Animators, actors and film historians. “Eyvind Earle: A Man And His Art ” focuses on the career of background painter and renowned American Artist. There is also an audio commentary track with John Lasseter, Andreas Deja and Leonard Maltin and believe it or not there is still much more included.

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Blu-ray Review “Gone with the Wind: 75th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition”

Actors: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia De Havilland, Hattie McDaniel
Directors: Victor Fleming
Number of discs: 4
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Run Time: 238 minutes

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

“Gone with the Wind” is one of the most influential films of our time. It is a classic of classics. Who hasn’t seen this film? It is a must see for everyone! Released in 1939, it won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress. Based on Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer-prize winning novel continues to have an affect on people after all these years. In fact, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing this 75th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray to celebrate its latest anniversary. It is limited/numbered and comes with new collectible packaging, memorabilia and special features. If you already own the 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition, this release is slightly different in terms of collectibles and some new extras. If you have never owned this film, this is a great re-release (at least until the 80th Anniversary).

Synopsis: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland, Leslie Howard and Hattie McDaniel star in the quintessential Hollywood epic that still stands as history’s all-time domestic box-office champion ($1.6 billion adjusted for inflation), with more tickets sold than any other movie ever made. Gone with the Wind opens on the eve of the Civil War. Rich, beautiful and self-centered Scarlett O’Hara (Leigh) has everything she could want. Except, that is, Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard). As the war devastates the South, Scarlett discovers the strength within herself to protect her family and rebuild her life. Through everything, she longs for Ashley, unaware that she is already married to the man she really loves (Gable) — and who truly loves her — until she finally drives him away. Only then does Scarlett realize what she has lost and tries to win him back.

If you love “Gone with the Wind”, then you will love that this The Ultimate Collector’s Edition comes with a replica of Rhett Butler’s handkerchief as well as a music box paperweight that plays Tara’s theme dressed with the image of the Rhett-Scarlett famous kiss. Also included is a 36-page companion booklet, which focuses on the style of Gone with the Wind and is written by New York fashion designer and Project Runway finalist Austin Scarlett. The new special features include footage of Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh attending the original movie premiere in Atlanta called “Gone With the Win: Hollywood Comes to Atlanta” and “Old South/New South”, which takes you on a journey through today’s South revisiting the real-life locations depicted in the film and how they have been influenced over the year.

Warner is releasing this film as a combo pack including a Blu-ray + UltraViolet digital copy. The 1080p transfer is unbelievable goregous for a 75 year old film. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 is also outstanding as well highlighting the dialogue and Max Steiner’s amazing score. There is also a standard Dolby Digital Mono track included. Other rolled over extras from previous releases include, a commentary track from Historian Rudy Behlmer on the first disc. The second Blu-ray includes literally over 8 hours of special features taken from the 70th Anniversary release…eight hours! Lastly there is a bonus DVD including “MGM: When the Lion Roars”, which is alone a three part, six hour documentary looking at the history of M-G-M, hosted by Patrick Stewart.

Commemorate the 75th anniversary of Gone with the Wind with the new Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray™ set – Available 9/30/14. Buy it now from WB Shop: http://bit.ly/GWTW75

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Blu-ray Review “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition”

Starring: Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain, William Vail, Teri McMinn, Edwin Neal
Director: Tobe Hooper
Number of discs: 4
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Dark Sky Films
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Run Time: 83 minutes

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

Love it (myself) or hate it (my wife), “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is an absolutely classic in the horror genre. It is iconic and has stood the test of time. Speaking of time, the film is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary this year. MPI Media Group is re-releasing the film on Blu-ray presenting the original restored film in an all-new 4k scan authorized by Tobe Hooper and a ridiculous all-new 7.1 channel soundtrack. If you think you have seen “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” before, think again because watching this Blu-ray is like an entirely new experience.

Official Premise: It has been called grisly, sick, and perverse, as well as raw, unshakeable, and the movie that redefined horror. It was attacked by churches, banned by governments, and acclaimed by only the bravest of critics. It stunned audiences worldwide and set a new standard in movie terror forever. Today writer-producer-director Tobe Hooper s dark, visionary tale remains unparalleled in its impact as perhaps the most frightening motion picture ever made.

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition” is released as a kick ass DigiPack  combo pack with two Blu-Rays and two DVDs. If this only had a digital Ultraviolet copy, it would be absolutely perfect. The film itself is gritty and was shot on 16mm film, so this film never looked really amazing. I remember watching it on VHS tape and if you could compare that to this new Blu-ray, it would be like two different films. For this release, the film was mastered in 4K and presented on Blu-ray in 1080p high definition. It just looks terrific. Horror fans get ready to do a back flip.

I never thought I would be seeing a film like “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” with DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track on Blu-ray but that is what we get here. You would expect this track from a big-budget summer action but never a 40 year old horror film. This track is fantastic and works so well with all aspects from the revving of the chainsaw to the  famous flash photography sounds. Along with this epic track, there are three other tracks including a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, LPCM 2.0 and LPCM Mono. So there are tracks for everyone whatever you are craving

The special features are split over two discs. The first disc is purely audio commentary tracks. Anything you ever wanted to know about this film is included in these tracks. The first track is with Producer-Director Tobe Hooper, Actor Gunnar Hansen, and Cinematrographer Daniel Pearl. The second is with Production Designer Robert Burns and Actors Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, and Paul A. Partain. The third is Writer-Producer-Director Tobe Hooper. The last is withCinematographer Daniel Pearl, Editor J. Larry Carroll, and Sound Recordist Ted Nicolaou. One is better than the next.

The second disc includes “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Shocking Truth”, which runs over 70 minutes. “Flesh Wounds: Seven Stories of the Saw” is another 70 minute featurette. Between these two extras, you will be exhausted with knowledge. “A Tour of the TCSM House with Gunnar Hansen” is a chat with Leatherface himself. “Off the Hook with Teri McMinn” and “The Business of Chain Saw: An Interview with Production Manager Ron Bozman” are interviews with the respective actors.

“Grandpa’s Tales: An Interview with John Dugan” features the actor reflecting on his iconic role. “Cutting Chain Saw: An Interview with Editor J. Larry Carroll” talks about his work on the film. There are 15 minutes of BRAND NEW Deleted Scenes and Outtakes along with the previous released 25 minutes of additional Deleted Scenes and Outtakes. There is also a Blooper Reel, Horror’s Hallowed Grounds, Still Gallery, Trailers, TV and Radio spots included.

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

Actors: Liam McIntyre, Andy Whitfield, Manu Bennett, Lucy Lawless, Peter Mensah
Directors: Joshua Donen, Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Steven S. DeKnight
Number of discs: 13
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Run Time: 2136 minutes

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

“Spartacus” is a show that I never got to watch during its original run since I was not a subscriber to Starz. I caught the show after it was completed. The entire series can be easily summed up in three words: stylish, sexy, and brutal. The series started off strong with “Blood and Sand”, then had a hard turn with the loss of it’s star Andy Whitfield due to cancer but bounced back with its prequel series “Gods of the Arena” and then got back on track with the official second season “Vengeance” and finished off strongest with “War of the Damned”. I love a show that can see its potential and then end while it is on top. This was a strong show and Anchor Bay has re-released every season of the hit Starz TV show into a very impressive collectible bundle.

Official Premise: Spartacus tells the classic tale of the Republic’s most infamous rebel, who comes alive in the series’ first season, Blood and Sand. Then comes Gods of the Arena, a prequel that explores a deadly history before the arrival of Spartacus, and the death he now carries with him. The second season, Vengeance, continues to follow Spartacus as he is faced with a choice to either satisfy his personal need for vengeance, or make the sacrifices necessary to keep his growing army from breaking apart at the seams. Finally, in War of the Damned, Spartacus carves his name into history as he plots to avenge his wife’s death and leads Batiatus’ slaves in a bloody uprising that will not be forgotten or equaled. All four seasons are currently available on Blu-ray.

The series features an all-star cast with Andy Whitfield getting his star-making title role for first season. Liam McIntyre ended up taking over as Spartacus for Seasons two and three after his passing. Other notable cast in the series includes John Hannah (“The Mummy”, “Four Weddings and A Funeral”), Peter Mensah (“300”, “The Incredible Hulk”), Manu Bennett (“30 Days of Night”), Nick E. Tarabay (TV’s “Crash”), Dustin Clare (“Underbelly”), Dan Feuerriegel (“Home and Away”), Simon Merrells (“The Wolfman”), Todd Lasance (“Cloudstreet”), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (“FlashForward”) and the scene-stealer and still smoking hot Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess”, “Parks and Recreation”).

This Limited Edition release includes the 13 discs within a very detailed (and quite graphic) statue inside of its base. Anchor Bay is known for their stunning “Limited Edition” releases like the outstanding sets from “The Walking Dead” series. It is great to see a series like this get this kind of attention and respect. The set itself besides the pretty collectible comes with some new extras including three commentaries tracks from season one and an exclusive bonus disc with several featurettes as well as including all the old special features as well. Along with the Blu-ray discs, Anchor Bay really sweetened the deal including the entire series with UltraViolet Digital HD copies.

“Spartacus: The Complete Series” includes each episode with stunning 1080p transfers backed with even better Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround tracks. They look and sound outstanding throughout the entire series and get with each season. The new special features include Audio Commentaries on episode “Legends” with Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, Executive Producer Rob Tapert, and Actors Viva Bianca and Lucy Lawless. “Great and Unfortunate Things” features with Executive Producer Rob Tapert and Actors John Hannah and Lucy Lawless. Last one is on “Mark of the Brotherhood” with Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Manu Bennett, Viva Bianca, and Lucy Lawless.

“Spartacus Fan Favorites with Liam McIntyre” features the actor giving out his top ten fan-favorite moments from the series. “Scoring a Hit: Composer Joseph LoDuca” has the composer discussing his work on the show, briefly. “An Eye Full: Roger Murray” is a chat with the series’ prosthetic & prop supervisor, Roger Murray, and its executive visual effects supervisor, Charlie McClellan. “Spartacus: Paul Grinder” features the series’ 2nd unit director discussing the show. Lastly, “The Last Word: John Hannah” features the actor talking about the show. So even though these aren’t outstanding new extras, Anchor Bay could have just packaged this seasons together and resold them with nothing new, so I give them an A for effort here.

No on to the rest of the special features for each of the seasons. First up is “Spartacus: Blood and Sand – The Complete First Season”, which comes with a ton of extras. There are extended versions of “The Red Serpent” and “Sacramentum Gladiatorium” and commentary tracks for “The Red Serpent” with Director Rick Jacobson, Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Executive Producers Rob Tapert and Joshua Donen, “Sacramentum Gladiatorium” with Director Rick Jacobson, Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Executive Producer Rob Tapert and “The Thing in the Pit” with Director Jesse Warn and Actor Andy Whitfield.

There is an enhanced version of Shadow Games, as well as an extended versions of “Delicate Things and Mark of the Brotherhood”. There are also Audio commentaries with Director Michael Hurst and Actors Andy Whitfield and Lucy Lawless discussing Shadow Games and Director Rick Jacobson, Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Actor Erin Cummings for the episode “Delicate Things”. “Whore” and “Party Favors” also hae tracks with Actors Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless, and Viva Bianca; and Revelations with Writer Brent Fletcher, Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Actor Nick E. Taraby. There is a commentary track along with the enhanced episode” Kill Them All” with Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Peter Mensah and Katrina Law. There is a collection of nine featurettes going behind-the-scenes into season.

“Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” is jam-packed as well with great extras. There are Audio Commentaries track with Executive Producer Robert Tapert, Director Jesse Warn, Production Designer Iain Aitken, and Costume Designer Barbara Darragh for “Past Transgressions, which is also an Extended Version; Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Dustin Clare, Peter Mensah, and Maime Murray for “Missio;” Robert Tapert, Director Michael Hurst, and Actor Lucy Lawless chat about the Extended Version of “Paterfamilias;” Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Dustin Clare, Lucy Lawless, and Kaime Murray chat about the Extended Version of “Beneath the Mask”;” Steven S. DeKnight, Writer Brent Fletcher, and Actors John Hannah and Lucy Lawless focus on the Extended Version of “Reckoning” and lastly, Steven S. DeKnight, Director Rick Jacobson, and Actor Peter Mensah commentate on the Extended Version of “The Bitter End”

“3D “Ring of Fire” Battle Sequence” is a collection of the seasons key scenes presented in 3D, which is totally rad! “Starz Studios: Gods of the Arena” features the cast/crew discussing the series. “Weapons of Mass Disruption” is a quick chat with Property Master Rob Bavin chatting about the seasons weapons. “Battle Royale: Anatomy of a Scene” looks into the boot camp the actors underwent. “On Set with Lucy Lawless” takes us around with the actress. “10 Easy Steps to Dismemberment” is a collection of the seasons best kills. “Post Production: The Final Execution” shows the work done to the show after shooting. “Enter the Arena: Production Design” looks at set design and CG work. “Dressed to Kill” is an interview with Costume Designer Barbara Darragh and cast. Lastly there is a Convention Panel highlight with Stephen S. DeKnight, Lucy Lawless, John Hannah, and Vivia Bianca from a Comic-Con and a collection of Arena Bloopers.

“Spartacus: Vengeance – The Complete Second Season” includes audio commentaries on all but two of the season’s episodes. “Fugitivus” features Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Viva Bianca, Lucy Lawless, and Liam McIntyre on the Extended Version. “A Place in This World” features Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Lucy Lawless, Liam McIntyre and Peter Mensah on the Extended Version. “The Greater Good” features Robert Tapert and Actors Lucy Lawless and Craig Parker. “Empty Hands” has Robert Tapert, Director Mark Beesley, VFX Art Director Peter Baustaedter and Actor Viva Bianca talking about the Extended Version.

The Extended Version of “Libertus” features Rick Jacobson and Actor Liam McIntyre. “Chosen Path” has Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Viva Bianca, Lucy Lawless, and Nick Tarabay talking about the Extended Version. “Sacramentum”, also the Extended Version features Robert Tapert, Jesse Warn, and Actor Dustin Clare. The last commentary track is on the Extended Version of “Wrath of the Gods” with Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Viva Bianca, Lucy Lawless, and Liam McIntyre. This collection of commentary tracks are outstanding if you are a fan of this series.

“Starz Studios – Spartacus: Vengeance” is an extended look into the season. “The Making of Spartacus: Vengeance” takes a quick look into the shows production. “Behind the Camera: Directing the Rebellion” gives a glimpse into the show behind-the-scenes from direction to digital effects. “On Set with Liam McIntyre” folllows around the actor while getting into character. “Burning Down the House: The VFX of Episode 205” is a chat with VFX Supervisor Charlie McClellan on the season’s critical scenes. “The Legend of Spartacus” talks with Historians Aaron Irvin and Jeffrey Stevens discussing the real history behind the series. “Famous Last Words” gets some final word from characters that were killed off. Lastly there are Bloopers and a teaser included.

The last season of the show “Spartacus: War of the Damned – The Complete Third Season” includes sex featurettes, ten commentary tracks, and extended versions of each episode. There audio Commentaries include Robert Tapert, Mark Beesley, and Chloe Smith for “Enemies of Rome;” Stephen S. DeKnight and Actors Manu Bennett, Liam McIntyre, and Simon Merrells for “Wolves at the Gate;” Stephen S. DeKnight and Actors Dustin Clare, Anna Hutchinson, and Todd Lasance for “Men of Honor;” Stephen S. DeKnight, Rick Jacobson, and Actors Christian Antidormi and Simon Merrells for “Decimation;” Stephen S. DeKnight, Director TJ Scott, and Actors Manu Bennett and Dan Feuerriegel for “Blood Brothers”…

…(deep breath)…Robert Tapert, Director Mark Beesley, and Visual Effects Art Director Peter Baustaedter for “Spoils of War;” Robert Tapert, Director Jesse Warn, and Executive Visual Effects Supervisor Charlie McClellan for “Mors Indecepta;” Stephen S. DeKnight, Rick Jacobson, and Actors Manu Bennett and Liam Mcintyre for “Separate Paths;” Stephen S. DeKnight and Actors Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Anna Hutchinson and Todd Lasance for “The Dead and the Dying;” and Stephen S. DeKnight, Rober Tapert, Rick Jacobson, and Actor Liam McIntyre for “Victory.”

“Spartcus: The Legend Retold” is a overview of the series as a whole. “The Price of Being a Gladiator” goes into the workout that the actors have to endure for the show. “A Bloody Farewell” features cast and crew reflecting on the series. “The Spoils of War Revealed: Visual Effects” looks into the show’s effects and visuals. “Adorning the Damned” looks into the show’s costumes. Lastly “The Mind Behind Spartacus” is an interview with Series Creator Stephen S. DeKnight, who if you don’t recognize him is the guy on virutally ever commentary track for this series.

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Blu-ray Review “Halloween: The Complete Collection (Limited Deluxe Edition)”

Starring: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Danielle Harris, Nancy Loomis, Nancy Stephens, Malcolm McDowell
Directors: Rob Zombie, Rick Rosenthal, John Carpenter, Steve Miner, Joe Chappelle, Tommy Lee Wallace
Number of discs: 15
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Anchor Bay
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Run Time: 1287 minutes

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

Halloween is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with the The Complete Collection of the “Halloween” film franchise. This collection includes all ten films from the series. I love Michael Myers, he is one of the rare horror icons that still creeps me out. I love Freddy and Jason but Myers still steals the show for me. Even though all of the films aren’t gems, as a whole they are a great franchise. This is the first time that these films have ever been released together in one massive box set. I personally would have hoped for a little more in terms of “wow factor” especially from the Limited Deluxe Edition luckily, I get my “wow” from the extras. What we get is a simple slipbox (with great cover art BTW) which holds the ten (black) cases, along with a thin 42-page booklet. There is nothing special or flashy about this release. Still though, I am fairly happy with this release and should make hardcore horror fans happy as well.

Official Premise: Halloween night – Haddonfield, IL. A young boy butchers his older sister with a kitchen knife. 15 years later, he escapes from a mental institution only to return home and terrorize the town, including babysitter Laurie Strode. Now pursued by Dr. Loomis, the doctor who tried to treat him until he realized that “what was living behind that boy’s eyes was purely and simply… evil”. His name is Michael Myers. And so began one of the most iconic horror franchises in history – what producers Moustapha Akkad and Debra Hill, writer/director John Carpenter and stars Jamie Lee Curtis & Donald Pleasence started has spawned 10 feature films and lasted over 35 years. Now, for the first time ever, experience the terror of every Halloween film available together in 1 set! This limited edition deluxe set includes 15 discs jammed with content Halloween fans will love.

Here is a breakdown of what films/cuts we get within the 15 discs: The first two discs are decided to the original classic “John Carpenter’s Halloween” (1978), the second disc being a Deluxe Edition Exclusive. Disc three contains the theatrical cut of “Halloween II” (1981), while disc four, which is a standard DVD, contains, the infamous television cut, also a Deluxe Edition Exclusive. Disc 5 is “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” (1982), plain and simple, as is Discs 6 & 7 housing “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” (1988) and “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” (1989), respectively. Disc 8 includes the theatrical cut of “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers” (1995″, while disc 9 is going to be a big draw for fans with the highly sought upon Producer’s Cut, another Deluxe Edition Exclusive.

Disc 10 includes “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” (1998) and Disc 11 houses “Halloween: Resurrection” (2002) closing out the original series. Then disc 12 brings us the remake/reboot “Rob Zombie’s Halloween” (2007), while disc 13 is a bonus disc from that film as well as a Deluxe Edition Exclusive. Disc 14 is “Rob Zombie’s Halloween 2” and wrapped up the release is disc 15 with Additional Bonus Features, which is again a Deluxe Edition Exclusive and includes a massive amount of extras including the 101-minute extended cut of “John Carpenter’s Halloween” (1978) in full 1080p HD! This is worth the purchase alone just for this disc. But what I should note that is very strange is that this 15th bonus disc is housed in the case for “Rob Zombie’s Halloween 2”, which honestly doesn’t make any sense most likely because of lack of space in the box. Not a huge deal, just very odd decision to be honest.

The next part is where the deal gets a little sour for this release. There is no consistency with the audio/video presentations. All of these films have been released before on Blu-ray and besides the first film and the Rob Zombie films, the presentations have been a bit rocky. Unfortunately, this box set does not include new transfer of these films they are merely exact copies of the previous rather disappointing releases. I would have loved Anchor Bay to dive in and fix the poor releases of “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers” (1995), “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” (1998) and “Halloween Resurrection (2002)”, thanks to Echo Bridge Entertainment. They are not horrendous but definitely disappointing for hardcore fans.

Of course, not surprisingly the winner is the original “John Carpenter’s Halloween”. It comes with a solid Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Surround track as well as the Original 1978 Audio in a Dolby TrueHD Mono track. “Halloween II” (1981) (which includes the Original “Moustapha Akkad Presents” Opening Credit) and “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” (1982) include the same presentations as their Scream Factory releases. The second film comes with a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround track, while “Season of the Witch” settles for a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. Same goes for “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” and “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” are the same quality from the 2012 Anchor Bay releases. Both films have a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround track but the 5th film certainly sounds better.

“Rob Zombie’s Halloween” (2007) and “Halloween II” (2009) are identical to their past Blu-ray as well. Since these are the most recent, they are also some of the best. Surprisingly though, the real underdog of the release “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers – Producer’s Cut” is one of the best presentations in the set with a solid video presentation and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround track. It even trumps the Theatrical Cut, which is kinda sad but expect since it is a copy from the Echo Bridge release. I feel like this is going to be a main draw for most horror fans for sure.

Now if you are on the fence for the audio/video presentations. The main draw (behind the additional cuts) are some brand new, never before seen bonus features including new interviews with cast and crew, commentaries, behind the scenes documentaries, and much more. “John Carpenter’s Halloween” stars off with a brand new Audio Commentary with Director of photography Dean Cundey, editor/production designer Tommy Lee Wallace and “The Shape,” Nick Castle. Excellent track. There is also a fantastic Audio Commentary, which is a fan boys dream with Co-writer/director John Carpenter and actress Jamie Lee Curtis. “The Night She Came Home” is an hour extras with Jamie Lee Curtis discussing her one and only convention appearance. “On Location: 25 Years Later” takes us to the shooting locations from the first film. Lastly there are TV spots, radio spots, a theatrical trailer and a collection of scenes from the film’s television cut.

The second disc for “John Carpenter’s Halloween” brings us another Audio Commentary track with Writer/director John Carpenter, producer Debra Hill and actress Jamie Lee Curtis, which is an older track but still decent. “Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest” is a nearly 90 minutes retrospective with interviews from cast/crew. Lastly there is a fact track, TV spots, Radio spots and a trailer included. The Theatrical Cut of “Halloween II” features two commentary tracks, the first with director Rick Rosenthal and actor Leo Rossi, and the second with actor/stunt coordinator Dick Warlock. Both quite decent. “The Nightmare Isn’t Over!: The Making of Halloween II” is a retrospective documentary on the sequel. “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds: The Locations of Halloween II” takes on to the shooting locations from the film. Lastly there are Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary from Rosenthal, an Alternate Ending, some trailers and spots and a stills gallery.

“Halloween III: Season of the Witch” includes an Audio Commentary track from: Director Tommy Lee Wallace, Rob G. from “Icons of Fright,” and Horror’s Hallowed Grounds’ Sean Clark. Definitely made by fans for the fans. There is also an Audio Commentary with Actor Tom Atkins and BD/DVD Producer Michael Felsher, this is a must listen or Atkins fans. “Stand Alone: The Making of Halloween III: Season of the Witch” goes behind-the-scenes with Director Tommy Lee Wallace, Actors Tom Atkins and Stacey Nelkin, Stunt Coordinator Dick Warlock, Cinematographer Dean Cundey, Costume Designer Jane Ruhm, and others. There is an “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds”, this one called “Revisiting the Original Shooting Locales” hitting the filming locations. Lastly there is a Still Gallery, TV Spots and a Theatrical Trailer included.

“Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” includes a decent Audio Commentary from Actors Ellie Cornell and Danielle Harris as well as a track from Director Dwight H. Little and author Justin Beahm, which is a bit more entertaining. There is also the Theatrical Trailer included. “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” includes two Audio Commentary tracks as well. The first from Actor Don Shanks and author Justin Beahm and the second from Director Dominique Othenin-Girad and actors Danielle Harris and Jeffrey Landman. Both decent and insightful tracks. “On the Set” contains some raw behind-the-scenes footage with cast interviews. Lastly there is a original promo from the film as well as a Theatrical Trailer. This is not a ton compared to other films but if you remember the 2012 Anchor Bay Blu-ray, there were bare-bones. Luckily there is more extras from 4 & 5 on disc 15.

“Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers – Theatrical Cut” comes only with a Still Gallery, TV Spots and
Theatrical Trailers but no fear since The Producer’s Cut saves the day again. It includes a great Audio Commentary with Writer Daniel Farrands and composer Alan Howarth. A real winner. “Acting Scared: A Look at the Film’s Cast” features Actresses Mariah O’Brien and J.C. Brandy looking back at the film. “The Shape of Things” goes into the films issues and special make-up effects creator John Carl Buechler. “Haddonfield’s Horrors” goes behind-the-scenes with director of photography Billy Dickson and production designer Bryan Ryman. “A Cursed Curse” is an interview with Trancas International president and Curse associate producer Malek Akkad and producer Paul Freeman. “Full Circle” is a chat with Composer Alan Howarth. There is a collection of extended scenes, alternate footage and extra scenes of graphic violence cut from the film. There is also Archival Interviews and Behind-the-Scenes Footage including an interview with the late Donald Pleasance. Lastly there is another Cast & Crew Tribute to Donald Pleasance and a teaser trailer.

“Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” stars off with a great Audio Commentary moderated by Sean Clark along with director Steve Miner and actress Jamie Lee Curtis. “Blood is Thicker than Water: The Making of Halloween H20” is an hour restrospective with tons of cast/crew interviews. There are six scenes from the film presented with composer John Ottman’s original score via an isolated music DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. There are Vintage Interviews and Behind-the-Scenes Footage adding up to over 45 minutes with some great interviews. Lastly there are a Still Gallery, a TV spot and a Theatrical Trailer. Again this is another film that never had special features on Blu-ray, so this is welcomed for any fan.

“Halloween Resurrection” includes an alright Audio Commentary: Director Rick Rosenthal and editor Robert A. Ferretti. There is a collection of six deleted scenes and three alternate endings with optional director’s commentary. There are over 40 minutes are Web Cam videos edited together again with optional director’s commentary. There are tons of Vintage Interviews and Behind-the-Scenes Footage. There is also Head Cam footage, Storyboard Analysis, a Set Tour, an interview with Curtis, Still Gallery and some trailers. Most of these extras are ports from the Echo Bridge Blu-ray.

“Rob Zombie’s Halloween” comes with tons of special features. There is an outstanding must liste Audio Commentary track with Director Rob Zombie. There is over 30 minutes of Deleted Scenes, Alternate Ending & Bloopers. “The Many Faces of Michael Myers” is a featurette with cast/crew. “Re-Imagining Halloween” is a three-part extras looking at the filmmaking process. “Meet the Cast” is a chat with the actors. There are Casting Sessions, a Screen Test and Theatrical Trailer included. On the bonus disc there is still more with a ridiculous over four hour documentary “Michael Lives: The Making of Halloween”, which leaves no stone un-turned. Love or hate, the remake/re-imaging, this is a something special.

“Rob Zombie’s Halloween 2” wraps up the extras for the film. There is another solid Audio Commentary from Zombie that really dives into the film. There is tons of Audition Footage, Deleted and Alternate Scenes, Blooper Reel and Make-Up Tests. “Uncle Seymour Coffins’ Stand-Up Routines” is a three-part collection of full-length routines from the character. There are six music video from Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures, included “Zombie A Go Go”, “Honky Tonk Halloween”, “Redneck Vixen From Outer Space”, “Dr. Demon & The Robot Girl”, “Transylvania Terror Train” and Macon County Morgue”.

So have you had enough with the special features yet, there is still a bunch more…and I mean a bunch all assorted from the film. We start off with the mentioned above extended cut of “John Carpenter’s Halloween”. “Halloween Unmasked 2000” is more interviews coming into the films for about 30 minutes. There is a super brief interview with producer Moustapha Akkad. Lastly for the first film there is another Still Gallery. There is an interview with “Season of the Witch” make-up effects artist Tom Burman and some radio spots. “The Making of Halloween 4: Final Cut” dives into the production of the film and if that isn’t enough there also is “The Making of Halloween 4” which runs almost 50 minutes and goes much deeper into the film, produced by Scream Factory. Lastly there is a another Still Gallery for the fourth film.

“Inside Halloween 5” is a vintage behind-the-scenes DVD feature that is over shadowed again by Scream Factory’s “The Making of Halloween 5”. There is also another “Halloween 5” Still Gallery and a “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds” for the four, fifth and sixth film, as well as the HHG pilot episode, which focuses on John Carpenter’s original film and the HHG Fan Edition: Bus Tour. AND finally we end this release with a collection of TV spots for “Halloween 4”, “Halloween 5”, and Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” (2007) and “Halloween II” (2009). Whew, I need a nap ladies and gentlemen. This review took a week for me to produce and is easily one of the most intensive box sets I have ever tackled. Enjoy and if you are a “Halloween” fan and got a little extras spending money, I would recommend the splurge.

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Blu-ray Review “Silent Night, Deadly Night: 30th Anniversary Edition”

Actors: Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick, Eric Freeman, Elizabeth Kaitan, Linnea Quigley
Directors: Charles E. Sellier, Jr.
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Run Time: 85 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

I can honestly say that I feel old celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the horror cult classic “Silent Night, Deadly Night”. I loved this film growing up as a kid (and nothing as changed today). I mean who doesn’t love the idea of a killer Santa Clause. This is the first time that this film has ever been released on Blu-ray but Anchor Bay sadly gives this film no love at all and it will surely just enrage any true horror fan. Recommended only for the very true avid collectors, otherwise stick with your DVDs.

Official Premise: “Silent Night, Deadly Night” is the heartwarming story of little Billy Chapman who was traumatized by his parents’ Christmas Eve rape and murder, then brutalized by sadistic orphanage nuns. But when a grown-up Billy is forced to dress as jolly St. Nick, he goes on a yuletide rampage to ‘punish then naughty’. Santa Clause is coming to town…and this time he’s got an axe!

So I am happy with the fact that this Blu-ray includes the original unrated version, but I am not thrilled that the transfer feels like nothing better than a DVD upscale. Also the uncut scenes are not cleaned up at all and stick out like a sore thumb. This could have easily been cleaned up in the restoration process. The audio included is not terrible boasting a decent Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track.

Then we get to the special features, which are definitely going to let down again. Firstly, they are missing the original trailer which started all the controversy and protecting about the film. There is a new commentary track from Writer Michael Hickey, Composer Perry Botkin, Editor/2nd Unit director Michael Spence and Co-Executive Producer Scott J. Schneid. It is new but is also quite a bore and almost painful to listen to. Lastly there is the unauthorized interview from director Charles E. Sellier, Jr. and Poster and Stills Gallery included.

There is plenty of effort they could have put into this release but you can tell that it is frankly just lazy. Lame special features, mixed with a poor 1080p transfer, I am left shaking my head with disappointment. When you look at what other companies like Scream Factory, Synapse Films and Grindhouse Releasing are doing with there releases, Anchor Bay is falling into the discount bargain bin category.  This is definitely not a  30th Anniversary Edition quality release.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Ghost in the Shell: 25th Anniversary Edition”

Starring: Akio Ôtsuka, Atsuko Tanaka, Kouichi Yamadera, Tamio Ohki, Iemasa Kayumi, Yutaka Nakano
Directors: Mamoru Oshii
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Run Time: 82 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 0 out of 5 stars

If you are counting on your fingers wondering if you are going nuts, don’t worry the answer is no. “Ghost in the Shell” did come out in 1995 and it has only been 19 years since its release. This Blu-ray celebrates the the 25th anniversary of the publication of Masamune Shirow’s original manga. If you are scratching your head again wondering how this compares to the 2009 “Ghost in the Shell 2.0” Blu-ray release, you are not alone again, but luckily I will explain. The 2.0 cut was a new version of the film with over 250 reworked scenes, remastered by Mamoru Oshii himself including a new voice cast recording and brand new score from Kenji Kawai. The original theatrical cut has never been released before on Blu-ray, so this is the first time. Honestly though unless you are a hardcore fan, who needs the original cut (which is pretty awesome to have don’t get me wrong), I wouldn’t rush out to pick this up.

Official Premise: Set in the year 2029 and following World Wars III and IV, a Japanese-led Asian block dominates world affairs. The alliance maintains its international supremacy through its elite security force whose cybernetically enhanced operatives tackle an array of hi-tech terrorists and other threats to international security. These augmented agents can “ghost hack” (i.e., download their consciousness) via the now omnipresent internet into other machines and human/machine cross breeds. Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cybernetically augmented female agent, has been tracking a virtual entity known as the Puppet Master with her crack squad of security agents. The shape-shifting Puppet Master, a rogue creation of a rival agency of the security apparatus, has concluded that it is a life form in its own right, “born in sea of information,” and requested political asylum and true physical existence in defiance of its creators.

This 25th Anniversary Blu-ray release includes a HD remaster of the original, unaltered theatrical cut of the film. This version has never been released on Blu-ray before, which is a cool thing but I expected so much more from the “25th Anniversary release” The audio tracks includes are a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 for the English track and only a LPCM 2.0 for the Japanese track. If you recall the 2009 Blu-ray we got DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 for both Japanese and English tracks along with LPCM 2.0 as well for each. This Blu-ray just doesn’t cut it for me in comparison. Plus there are ZERO special features included on this release besides a booklet with an interview from Mamoru Oshii and an article on the “The World of Ghost in the Shell” and “The Impact of Ghost in the Shell”, which makes for a nice read but hardly enough to warrant a re-buy.

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Vinyl Review: Doyle “Abominator” 180g Double Vinyl Edition

Doyle
“Abominator” 180g Double Vinyl Edition
Monster Man Records
Tracks: 12

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Former Misfits/Gorgeous Frankenstein guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein is back with a brand new album titled “Abominator”. The album is the debut release from the group simply titled “Doyle” whose members consists of guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein, vocalist Alex Story, bassist Left Hand Graham and former Misfits drummer Dr. Chud. The album is being released via Monster Man Records and features 11 tracks spread over 2 180 gram virgin black LP’s

If you read our original review of this album then you already know how great it is. So you are probably wondering how you make a great album even better. Release it on 180 gram vinyl that’s how! Combine that with a vibrant double gatefold sleeve and an additional track and you really can’t ask for more. This is how you should listen to this album as the 24 bit 45rpm mixes just blast through your speakers. Don’t get me wrong the CD/MP3 versions are still great but there is just something extra appealing to the ear with the vinyl mixes. Highlights for me included the albums opening/title track “Abominator” along with “Valley of Shadows” and “Dreaming Dead Girls” which features a killer performance buy the bands front man Alex Story. Also worth checking out is the song “Drawing Down the Moon” which is exclusive to this release.

From start to finish “Abominator” is pedal to the metal energy! The album does a great job not only paying homage to the classic “Misfits” sound Doyle is known for but it also infuses a progressive element that will captivate new listeners as well. One thing I noted in my previous review was that there seemed to be a lack of bass in the albums overall mix. It seems as though that was addressed with the vinyl release as the album has a really warm even sound showcasing each of the band members tone. If you haven’t got your copy of the album yet or you want to expand your vinyl collections then make this release your next purchase.

Track Listing:
Side A:
1.) Abominator
2.) Learning to Bleed
3.) Dreaming Dead Girls

Side B:
4.) Drawing Down the Moon
5.) Valley of Shadows
6.) Land of the Dead

Side C:
7.) Cemetery Sexxx
8.) Love Like Murder
9.) Mark of the Beast

Side D:
10.) Headhunter
11.) Bloodstains
12.) Hope Hell is Warm

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Blu-ray Review “Pumpkinhead (Collector’s Edition)”

Starring: Lance Henriksen, Jeff East, Mayim Bialik, George ‘Buck’ Flower, Devon Odessa, Tom Woodruff Jr.
Director: Stan Winston
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Run Time: 86 minutes

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

“Pumpkinhead” may not be the best horror film ever but it is a quite memorable one. I love the character of Pumpkinhead and what it stands for in the horror genre…and what that is is outstanding use of practical effects. It shouldn’t come as a surprise though since it was directed by the late Stan Winston (aka the guy behind the dinosaurs in “Jurassic Park”). This film has always held up and continues to over the years. Thanks to Scream Factory for giving this horror cult classic horror a real solid “Collector’s Edition”. Backed by an outstanding genre cast including Lance Henriksen (“Aliens”), Jeff East (“Deadly Blessing”), Joel Hoffman (“Slumber Party Massacre II”) and Kerry Remsen (“A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge”), this is a must own for any horror fan.

Official Premise: When a group of teenagers inadvertently kill his only son, Ed Harley (Lance Henriksen, Aliens) seeks the powers of a backwoods witch to bring the child back to life. But instead, she invokes ’the pumpkinhead’ (a monstrously clawed demon which, once reborn, answers only to Ed’s bloodlust). But as the creature wreaks it’s slow, unspeakable tortures on the teens, Ed confronts a horrifying secret about his connection to the beast: and realizes that he must find a way to stop its deadly mission before he becomes one with the creature forever.

This “Collector’s Edition” comes as a solo Blu-ray. I am surprised Scream didn’t add on a DVD as well like they do with most releases. The 1080p is absolutely impressive. I remember renting this film on VHS tape when I was a kid and being scared shitless. Well, now I am able to do that still but with some really impressive visuals. The practical make-up effects really shine with this new transfer. There are two audio tracks included here. There is a new DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. I prefer the 5.1 track since it is really well-balanced, works well with the scares and the film’s score.

Scream Factory again caters to it’s fans and really delivers some amazing bonus content here. There is a brand new tribute to Stan Winston called “Remembering the Monster Kid” with new interviewwith actors Lance Henriksen and Brian Bremer, special effects artists Alec Gillis, Tom Woodruff Jr. and Shannon Shea. There are also brand new interviews with producer Richard Weinman and actors John D’Aquino and Matthew Hurley. For the first time in HD, “Pumpkinhead Unearthed” is included, which is a documentary on the making of the film.

Had enough yet? Well there is still more! There is an audio commentary with Co-screenwriter Gary Gerani and Creature & FX Creators Tom Woodruff, Jr. and Alec Gillis, which is a great listen for sure. There is a featurette called “Demonic Toys”. There is a some more great Behind-the-Scenes Footage. Lastly there is a Still Gallery and a Theatrical Trailer included rounding out the extras. Damn Scream Factory, you guys rock! Horror fans, should know that these guys are also releasing the sequel “Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings”, this October on Blu-ray as well…just in time for Halloween. After that you guys can stop though since we do not need the Syfy created “Pumpkinhead 3 & 4” at all, thanks but no thanks!

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, collectors, edition, pumpkinhead, review
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