Blu-ray Review “Hell of the Living Dead/Rats: Night of Terror (Blood Soaked-Double Feature)”

Actors: Margit Evelyn Newton, Franco Garofalo, Ottaviano Dell’Acqua, Geretta Geretta
Directors: Bruno Mattei, Claudio Fragasso
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Blue Underground
DVD Release Date: August 26, 2014
Run Time: 198 minutes

“Hell of the Living Dead”: 4 out of 5 stars
“Rats: Night of Terror”: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

When I see an announcement from Blue Underground, I can’t help but get excited since they always find a way to release some crazy cult classics that I loved growing up. Case in point, their new ‘Blood-Soaked Double Feature’ Blu-ray, which includes both “Hell of the Living Dead” and “Rats: Night of Terror”. These are great Italian horror films that deserve a great release. I remember the first time I rented these on VHS and was drawn in by their fantastic boxes when I walked down the horror isle. So these were a great trip down memory lane.

Both of these films are directed by the legendary Italian director Bruno Mattei, who is also known for “Emmanuelle in Prison” and “SS Extermination Love Camp”. When you think of ’80s Italian shockers, these are always two that come to my mind. They are jam-packed with over-the-top gore, twist endings, humor and still hold up today. It’s been a while since I have seen these films but they are still just as fun and shocking.

Official Premise “Hell of the Living Dead”: An accident at a chemical plant unleashed a horrific virus, and an elite SWAT team is sent to New Guinea to investigate. But when they arrive on the hellish island, they discover a plague of flesh-eating zombies as well as a beautiful female reporter who practices nude anthropology. Can the commandos survive this cannibal rampage, uncover a shocking government secret and still find time for occasional cross-dressing before the ravenous hordes of the living dead infect the entire world?

Official Premise “Rats: Night of Terror”: In the year 225 A.B. (After the Bomb), a group of post-apocalyptic bikers discover an abandoned research laboratory filled with food, water…and thousands of rats. But these are no ordinary vermin; these are super-intelligent mutant rodents with a ravenous appetite for human flesh. Can a bunch of heavily armed but not-too-bright human scavengers survive a night of terror against the most hungry and horrific predators on earth?

Blue Underground didn’t just throw these on Blu-ray, they really delivered them with some extra love. These were both given brand-new high definition transfers from their original uncut and uncensored negatives. These films have never look better personally. Blue Underground could have just dropped these on a disc and called it a day but instead, they really make sure they were giving a solid release to the fans. These films also come with solid DTS-HD Master Audio Mono tracks, both films sound great. So if you are a horror fan, these are a must.

In terms of special features, there is some decent content. There is a newly-produced documentary called “Bonded By Blood”, which includes interviews with Co-Writer/Co-Director Claudio Fragasso and Stars Margit Evelyn Newton, Ottaviano Dell’Acqua & Massimo Vanni. There is also an interview with Director Bruno Mattei in the extras “Hell Rats Of The Living Dead”. Other than that there are some Theatrical Trailers and Poster & Still Galleries included here.

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Blu-ray Review “The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night (Criterion Collection)”

Starring: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr
Director: Richard Lester
Number of discs: 3
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Criterion Collection
DVD Release Date: June 24, 2014
Run Time: 87 minutes

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

The Beatles is one of the best bands EVER. They have changed pop culture forever. Their music is eternal and will never be forgotten. I can sum this Blu-ray up in one word…SPECTACULAR. If you are a Beatles fan, you NEED this release. If you don’t have a Blu-ray player, go out and buy one! “The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night” was released on Blu-ray back in 2009 to a pretty poor release. If you felt burned that one all you need to know is that this is being released under the Criterion Collection and that means perfection. The music in this film is just so amazing. Tell you that you don’t belt out these classic Beatles tracks like “A Hard Day’s Night”, “Tell Me Why”, “If I Fell”, “And I Love Her”, “Can’t Buy Me Love”, and “I Should Have Known Better” while watching or even thinking about this film.

Official Premise: In 1964, the Beatles had just recently exploded onto the American scene with their debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” The group’s first feature, the Academy Award-nominated “A Hard Day’s Night,” offered fans their first peek into a day in the life of the Beatles and served to establish the Fab Four on the silver screen, as well as to inspire the music video format.

Criterion is releasing this as a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack. The film itself has been recently given a spectacular 4K restoration from the original camera negative for this Blu-ray. Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.75:1, I cannot stress how stunning this transfer looks. 5/5 stars is simply not high enough. Also this release is also director approved, so you can not just take my word but also Richard Lester’s word. The black and white is so sharp looking and you couldn’t tell that this was shot nearly 50 years ago.

Since The Beatles are obviously known for their music, the audio tracks on this release are very important. There are a few different tracks on this Blu-ray. My favorite has to be the LPCM mono track. It is extremely clear and the songs are very well balanced. When I cranked up a few of the songs, they just sounded absolutely perfect. Same goes for the dialogue in the film, it sounded great as well. There is also a new DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which was made by Apple Records. Personally, this track works best with the songs, of course. Both very impressive and two different experiences, to be honest.

The special features are jam-packed and quite outstanding for this release. “Anatomy of a Style” feature story editor and screenwriter Bobbie O’Steen and music editor Suzana Peric discussing the film’s music sequences including “A Hard Day’s Night”, “I Should Have Known Better”, “Cant Buy Me Love”, “And I love Her” and “She Loves You”. “In Their Own Voices” includes behind-the-scenes stills and footage from the making of “A Hard Day’s Night” as well as clips from audio interviews a few of the Beatles. “You Can’t Do That: The Making of A Hard Day’s Night” is the 1994 documentary, produced by Walter Shenson (producer of “A Hard Day’s Night”) and narrated by Phil Collins featuring cast/crew from the film and runs just over an hour.

“Things They Said Today” is a  documentary from 2002 that focuses on long term success of “A Hard Day’s Night”. “The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film” is a short film that was shot by Richard Lester in 1959 and features Richard Lester, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Graham Stark, and Bruce Lacey. “Picturewise” is a  new video essay focuses on the production history of “A Hard Days Night” and Richard Lester’s directing style. This was written and produced by critic and filmmaker David Cairns exclusively for Criterion. “The Beatles: The Road to A Hard Day’s Night” is a new video interview with Mark Lewisohn, author of “The Beatles: All These Years, Volume 1 — Tune In”, which was also conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2014.

But wait, there is still more…there is an audio commentary track from 2002 created from material produced by Martin Lewis and features actors John Junkin, David Janson, and Jeremy Lloyd; cinematographer Gilbert Taylor; associate producer Denis O’Dell; second assistant director Barrie Melrose; assistant editors Pamela Tomling and Roy Benson; and others. There are two trailers including the 2000 re-release and the 2014 re-release.  Lastly there is an fantastic illustrated booklet featuring an essay by critic Howard Hampton.

 

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The Oak Ridge Boys’ Richard Sterban talks about new live album “Boys Night Out”

Photo Credit: Jarrett Gaza

Richard Sterban is best known as the bass singer for the country and gospel quartet The Oak Ridge Boys since 1972. He started off his career singing with the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. Going 40+ years strong, the band is currently touring around 150 days a year and shows no signs of slowing down. On tax day, April 15th, the band is releasing their first live album “Boys Night Out”. So if you have any money left over, I would highly recommend checking it out. Media Mikes had the privilege to chat with Richard about the live album, singing with Elvis and non-stop touring.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about the new album “Boys Night Out” and why a live album now?
Richard Sterban: This is something that our fans have wanted for a long time. Our fans always tell us that they love our studio albums but that live and in person we are so much more exciting. So we decided that it was time to capture that excitement on a CD. It seemed like every time we were going to try and record a live album, we would get an opportunity to do a new studio album whether it would be a new country album, Christmas album or Gospel album. So we always put the live album on the backburner, so to speak. Last year, we just decided we were going to record some of our shows live. We ended up recording eleven live shows and between all of those we chose out what we thought were the best cuts that would describe a live Oak Ridge Boys show. I think it turned out really well.

MG: How much planning when into picking the playlist for this album?
RS: There were certain songs that we felt had to be included, “Elvira” for sure and “Thank God for Kids” was another. Then we listened to the input of Cleopatra Records, who we just recently signed with. It was a combination of their input and what we wanted. We just put our heads together and came up with fourteen songs. I feel that it is really a great example of a boys night out with The Oak Ridge Boys.

MG: What was it like starting your career singing with Elvis? How do you top something like that?
RS: I have had a pretty excited life and career. For two years prior to joining The Oak Ridge Boys, I sang with JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet and I had a chance to sing with the King of Rock and Roll, which was really exciting. I got a call one day that the bass singer from The Oak Ridge Boys” was leaving and they wanted me to take the job. So I had to make a very important decision. I loved singing with the King of Rock and Roll…lip-singing with Elvis but I joined the Oak Ridge Boys and I have gone on to bigger and better things with them.

MG: I know that you also have a book out that also covers your early years with Elvis and through your amazing career with The Oak Ridge Boys.
RS: Yes, I do have a book out called “From Elvis to Elvira”. It is my life story and is filled with tons of great stories. It is available on my personal site RichardSterban.com, Amazon.com or catch up with us at a show and I will have them with me to sell and sign if like.

MG: Over 40 years with The Oak Ridge Boys, what continues to drive you?
RS: I think it is several things but the most important is that even after 41 years we still enjoy doing what we do. We look forward every night to getting up on that stage and taking our music live to our audiences. We are still having fun doing this and I think that is the most important. We also love the creative process of going into the studio and creating new music. So that is what keeps us going.

MG: Why do you think that generations of fans are still following you guys today?
RS: We pride ourselves on that. There is no question that we have gotten older and our core audience has aged along with us. But we are really considered family entertainment. There is something for every family at our shows whether you are a grandpa/grandma or a young kid. We encourage parents to bring their kids to their show as well. Our shows are definitely fun for the whole family.

MG: Which of your songs really gets you going the most when you are on stage?
RS: Naturally, I would have a tendency to levitate to “Elvira”. That is our biggest song and everyone has to hear “Elvira” at our shows. We have tons of other really great songs. I think one of the most meaningful songs that we ever recorded is “Thank God for Kids”. We do that song every night and we look out in the audience and see parents hugging their kids and people holding hands. It is pretty emotional. Now at our age, when William Lee Golden sings this song at the end he says “Thank God for Grandkids too!” [laughs] We are all grandparents now and I hate to admit this but last week I became a great grandfather as well, so that is definitely something amazing.

MG: Can you reflect on music today in the age of Facebook, Twitter and other social media?
RS: We try to pay attention to that. Duane Allen is on Facebook all day and keeps the fans posted there. Joe Bonsall, our drummer, is on Twitter all day. There is an advantage to being in a group since you can spread the responsibility out. I am not a big social media guy. I am on Twitter though. I spend my time doing the old fashion thing, like we are doing right now. I talk to

Photo Credit: David Bean

newspapers and radio stations all the time. So that is the function that I serve. In this day and age, we have a lot of ways to get the news out and we are really embracing it.

MG: You guys never seem to rest; tell us about your non-stop touring this year?
RS: We average about 150 days a year on the road. You can tell by looking at our schedule this year going to be no exception, in fact probably more. But it is what we love doing. We look forward to each night and sharing our music with our fans and that is why we are still going strong. Touring is a big thing for us and we love getting out there and doing it. Health is probably the key to our future. I think as long as the four of us continue to enjoy good health then we are going to keep getting out there and touring.

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: album, boys, live, night, oak, richard, ...

Win Opening Night Tickets to see Rod Stewart and Santana in Albany, NY [ENDED]

Media Mikes is teaming up with AEG Live to giveaway two (2) opening night tickets to ROD STEWART AND SANTANA: THE VOICE, THE GUITAR, THE SONGS North American Tour in Albany, NY.  If you would like to enter for your chance to win one of this amazing prize, please leave us a comment below or send us an email with your favorite Rod Stewart and Santana songs. This giveaway will remain open until April 11th at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to our readers in US 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.

Rod Stewart and Santana, two of music’s most influential hit makers and dynamic live performers, will join forces and embark on an 18-concert North American tour this summer. Kicking-off May 23 in Albany, NY, the tour unites two musical trailblazers who have helped redefine the sound of popular music for the last five decades through their combined love of rock, soul, world rhythms, funk, jazz and blues. Both Stewart and Santana are known for their high-energy, hit-packed live concerts — making the combination an incomparable experience for all music fans.

With his singular voice, narrative songwriting and passionate live performances, Rod Stewart has built one of the most successful and enduring music careers of all time. In a career spanning more than five decades, he has amassed sales of more than 150 million albums worldwide and has countless chart-topping hits and industry accolades – including two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was bestowed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by the Queen of England. In May 2013, Stewart released Time, his first rock album in a dozen years, on Capitol Records. The album features 11 original tracks and marks Rod’s return to songwriting after nearly two decades. Time entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 1, setting a new British record for the longest gap between chart-topping albums by an artist — and in the US, it marked Stewart’s highest-charting album of original material since 1979. In addition to touring, Stewart headlines one of Las Vegas’ most critically and commercially successful residencies at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

For forty years and as many albums later, Santana has sold more than 100 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. To date, Santana has won ten GRAMMY ® Awards and three Latin GRAMMY ® Awards. He won a record-tying nine GRAMMYs for a single project for 1999’s Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for “Smooth”). He has also received the Billboard Century Award (1996), was ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1998), and received the Billboard Latin Music Awards’ Lifetime Achievement honor (2009). Among many other honors, Carlos Santana has also been cited by Rolling Stone as #15 on their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” Celebrating the chart debut of Guitar Heaven (Arista) in 2010, Santana joined the ranks of the Rolling Stones as the only musical act in chart history to score at least one Top 10 album in every decade beginning with the 1960s. He is also currently headlining at a multi-year residency at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. In 2013, Carlos Santana was the recipient of the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors Award. Santana’s new album CORAZÓN (RCA/Sony Latin Iberia) due out May 6, 2014 is a collaborative effort with the biggest names in Latin music.

ROD STEWART AND SANTANA: THE VOICE, THE GUITAR, THE SONGS North American Tour Itinerary 2014

May 23 – Albany Times Union Center
May 25 – Uncasville Mohegan Sun
May 27 – Pittsburgh CONSOL Energy Center
May 31 -Buffalo First Niagara Center
Jun. 3 – Louisville KFC Yum! Center
Jun. 6 – St. Louis Scottrade Center
Jun. 7 – Lincoln Pinnacle Bank Arena
Jul. 31 – Eugene Matthew Knight Arena
Aug. 2 – Vancouver Rogers Arena
Aug. 4 – Calgary Scotiabank Saddledome
Aug. 5 -Edmonton Rexall Place
Aug. 8 – Winnipeg MTS Centre
Aug. 10 – St. Paul XCEL Energy Center
Aug. 12 – Denver Pepsi Center
Aug. 14 – Kansas City Sprint Center
Aug. 16 – Rosemont Allstate Arena
Aug. 19 – Washington DC Verizon Center
Aug. 20 – Wantagh, NY Jones Beach

For additional tour/ticket info visit: http://thevoicetheguitar.com/

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Film Review “About Last Night”

Starring: Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy and Regina Hall
Directed by: Steve Pink
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 40 mins
Screen Gems

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

If you have any fond memories of the 1986 film “About Last Night…” I urge you to go read the “Robocop” review also available on this site. If not…

Danny (Ealy) and Bernie (Hart) are best friends. Upwardly mobile, fairly successful and in their early 30s, their lives revolve around their jobs and their favorite bar, where they spend their time trying to pick up new ladies. Well, Bernie does. Danny is in a funk since his last girl dumped him. Tonight Bernie has met Joan (Hall) and soon the two of them are back at Bernie’s place frantically doing what Jerry Reed called in “Smokey and the Bandit” ‘he-ing and she-ing.” A few evenings later Joan introduces Danny to her roommate, Debbie (Joy Bryant). The two start off talking quietly but end up back at Danny’s place. The End. Actually there’s another 80 minutes or so left of the film but if you’re still reading I’ll keep writing.

A remake in name only, “About Last Night” is a poorly directed series of Kevin Hart skits with an occasional emotional moment somehow finding its way onto the screen. As much as I like Kevin Hart in small doses, like when he shows up on “Modern Family,” as a featured player in a movie he seems to play the same person: Chris Tucker. His motor-mouthed, high pitched performance is so reminiscent of Tucker that I kept waiting for him to yell, “can you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?” Hall keeps up with him, shrill word for shrill word. On the other side of the coin you have Ealy and Bryant. They both do their best to keep the film grounded in some sort of reality but eventually seem to give up, as if knowing it would be a thankless task. The best parts of the film are when Debbie moves in with Danny…the two of them learning to understand the commitment they’ve made, even when it seems impossible. It’s in these scenes that a little love is paid to the 1986 film (that and a short clip on television). Otherwise, the entire dynamic of the original film (Bernie and Joan HATE each other from the start. It is this dislike that keeps Danny and Debbie cautious) is totally ignored.

Instead of trying to tell a story it seems like director Pink just pointed his camera and filmed until the actors stopped talking. There is no pacing. No rhythm. You never get in a storytelling groove that might allow you to care for some of these characters. If there is anything positive at all about this film it is the performances of Ealy and Bryant.

Valentine’s Day 2014 will long be remembered as the first day that three 1980’s remakes hit theatres simultaneously (“Endless Love” also starts today). A couple more misses like this and it may be remembered as the last.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, night, review

Blu-ray Review “Night of the Demons”

Actors: Amelia Kinkade, Cathy Podewell, Allison Barron, Alvin Alexis, Linnea Quigley
Directors: Kevin Tenney
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Run Time: 90 minutes

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

When I was a kid, I used to rent from the video store called Royal Video (now long gone) in Long Island, NY. I remember they used to have a huge standee advertising this film and probably drew me into watching this film way too young. Amelia Kinkade was so great in the role of Angela. One of my favorite Screen Queens, Linnea Quigley, steals the show. This film is a perfect example of a great 1980’s splatter-fest. It has what every a guy would want in a horror movie. If you grew up with this film as I have, I highly recommend this. Hopefully Shout! is planning on releasing the two sequels on Blu-ray as well. They can keep the terrible remake though 😉

Official Premise: It’s Halloween night and Angela is throwing a party, but this is no ordinary spook bash. Everybody’s headed to Hull House, a deserted funeral home with a shocking secret in its past and something evil alive in its basement. Now the guests are becoming possessed, and this party’s treats include tongue-ripping, eyeball gouging, gratuitous nudity, bloody dismemberment and more. Welcome to the blowout where all Hell is breaking loose: You’re invited to Night Of The Demons.

This film flies onto Blu-ray with a fantastic Blu-ray transfer. I feel that the film has never looked better. I remember viewing this on VHS and if I only could have see it this way because it looks great. The DTS-HD Master Audio track also works so well with the film’s music and the scares as well. This Blu-ray/DVD combo pack comes with a great new cover art and also the classic poster artwork as well on the reserve side.

In terms of special features, there are a few great brand new extras created for this release. There is a new commentary track with Director Kevin Tenney and actors Cathy Podewell, Hal Havins, Billy Gallo and FX artist Steve Johnson. This one is a blast and great way to revisit this film. There is also another audio commentary track with Director Kevin Tenney, Executive Producer Walter Josten and Producer Jeff Geoffray. There are also new interviews with cast and crews including director Kevin Tenney, riter/producer Joe Augustyn and actress Linnea Quigley. Lastly there is a Promo Reel, trailers, TV spots and still galleries included.

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1984’s “Silent Night, Deadly Night” Returning to the Big Screen

Christmas is coming early this year for horror fans. Starting December 4th, Screenvision and Fangoria Presents will unwrap Charles E. Sallier, Jr’s cult horror classic “Silent Night, Deadly Night” in theatres all across the country.

The story of Billy Chapman, a young man who, at age five, witnessed the murder of his parents by a madman wearing a Santa Claus suit, the film was a hot bed of controversy upon it’s original release due to it’s story line, drawing the ire of parent associations and film critics, most notably Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.

For a list of dates and theatres currently booked for this event go to www.fangoriaonscreen.com

 

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Blu-ray Review “Lady Antebellum: Live – On This Winter’s Night”

Starring: Lady Antebellum
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
DVD Release Date: October 29, 2013
Run Time: 76 minutes

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

I think that there is nothing that Lady Antebellum cannot do. Their music is quite amazing and crosses from beyond just country music fans. Last year when the band released “On This Winter’s Night”, it was easily my favorite Christmas album of the year and was on loop for endless plays on my phone. I was thrilled to find out that Eagle Rock is releasing a filmed concert of the band performing these songs at Nashville’s famed Schermerhorn Symphony Center along with more than 40 symphony orchestra musicians. This Blu-ray is a great way to get into the Christmas mood. I have a feeling that we are going to wearing this Blu-ray out this holiday season.

Official Premise: In between dates on their massively successful world tour, country superstars Lady Antebellum spent their brief summer break recording Christmas songs for their festive album On This Winter’s Night . This live concert film brings those songs to life with the help of more than 40 symphony orchestra musicians at Nashville’s famed Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The program includes seasonal favorites like ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ and ‘Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow’, alongside the self-penned title track ‘On This Winter’s Night’. The collection includes 11 live performances along with personal Christmas stories, memories, and traditions that Lady Antebellum are sharing with their fans for the first time.

Eagle Rock Entertainment delivered this Blu-ray with a slightly disappointing 1080i transfer. It still looks good enough for the live performance. The DTS-HD Master Audio track delivers a solid sound for these tracks. This Blu-ray includes some decent special features as well.  There are five acoustic tracks including “Blue Christmas,” “The First Noel,” “Silent Night (Lord Of My Life),” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas”. There is a promo video for “A Holly Jolly Christmas”. There are “5 Things You Didn’t Know About The Holly Jolly Christmas Video”. There is a behind-the-scenes look into the track “A Holly Jolly Christmas” and also a making of “On This Winter’s Night”.

Track List:
1) A Holly Jolly Christmas
2) On This Winter’s Night
3) This Christmas
4) I’ll Be Home For Christmas
5) Silver Bells
6) Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
7) Blue Christmas
8) The First Noel
9) Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
10) Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
11) Silent Night (Lord Of My Life)

 

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Book Review “Kiss, Kiss Good Night” by Kenn Nesbitt

Author: Kenn Nesbitt
Illustrator: Rebecca Elliott
Board book: 12 pages
Publisher: Cartwheel Books
Release Date: August 27, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

A snuggle, a hug, a kiss, a nuzzle. What wonderful ways to show you love someone. “Kiss, Kiss Good Night,” is a warm, loving, cuddle-inducing book. The animals in this book are all going to bed and before they fall asleep, their mothers each give them a sweet sign of love. There is nothing better than a mother’s love, especially at night. Kenn Nesbitt captures just what it means to love and be loved.

Rebecca Elliott is an incredible illustrator. She beautifully portrays a mother’s love with her adorable animal pictures. In every furry detail, there is a bit of love. This is a wonderful bedtime book. I can’t wait to read this to my daughter every night!

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Blu-ray Review “Fright Night 2: New Blood”

Starring: Will Payne, Jaime Murray, and Sean Power
Directed by: Eduardo Rodriguez
Rated: Unrated
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Run Time: 88 minutes

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

What a waste of time! “Fright Night 2: New Blood” is billed as a direct-to-video sequel to the 2011 remake, yet it is just another remake. I do not understand why they decided to take this route. Of course none of the original cast is back for this mess of a film. Charley, Amy and Evil Ed are placed in a high school program in Romania. Instead of Jerry Dandridge, we get Gerri Dandridge, who is not hard on the eyes I might add, as their female professor. Lastly Peter Vincent is also here except he a reality Ghost Hunters-wanna be paranormal investigator. There is no explanation or reference back to the other film, unless you know from reading this, I was left with a confused face on the entire movie.  Did I mention this is a waste of time?

Official Premise: By day Gerri Dandridge is a sexy professor, but by night she transforms into a real-life vampire with an unquenchable thirst for human blood. So when a group of high school students travel abroad to study in Romania, they find themselves ensnared in Gerri’s chilling web of lust and terror. Charley and “Evil” Ed must stop Gerri from drinking and bathing in the blood of a “new moon virgin,” which just so happens to be Charley’s ex-girlfriend, Amy. They enlist help from Peter Vincent, the vampire hunting host of a reality show called “Fright Night,” to drive a stake through Gerri’s plan and save Amy from a fate far worse than death.

20th Century Fox still delivered a nice release for this terrible film as a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD Ultraviolet combo pack. The film is also delivered unrated but since it was never released, it is just another way to draw in any type of audience. The special features are just as weak as the film is.  There is an audio commentary by director Eduardo Rodriguez and producers Alison Rosenzweig and Michael Gaeta, Besides that there is “Fright Night” Webisodes and “Dracula Revealed” featurette included. Don’t waste your time, waste the 2011 remake instead or of course the original 1985 Tom Holland classic, which is the best. Stop making useless remakes!

 

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DVD Review “Christopher Cross: A Night In Paris”

Christopher Cross: A Night in Paris
DVD + 2CD
Eagle Rock Entertainment
Total Running Time: 97 minutes

Our rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars

“What’s your favorite guilty pleasure song?” Well…while I always have to spend some time thinking about which 10 albums I’m going to be stranded on a desert island with or which 25 had the most impact on my life, the numero uno guilty pleasure song question has always been an easy one for me to answer: “Sailing” by Christopher Cross. Sure, many may think all copies of the song should be permanently exiled to the jukebox of cheese, but there’s no denying that it’s a perfectly crafted and superbly produced pop gem. It’s lush orchestral strains in tandem with that gently-picked guitar line always help me to find tranquility for the entirety of its four-minute jaunt – as does much of music he’s produced over the past 30+ years.

So why is it that, barely 15 minutes into watching his latest live DVD, “A Night in Paris”, I found myself with an aching headache, desperately wanting to grab the remote so I could eject the disc? Is it because Cross’ voice sounds so weak and strained that he’s butchered all of vocal lines in all of the songs he’s performed up to that point? No. Is it because the concert lighting is so flashy and overdone that it in no way matches the musical content or demeanor of the performers? No. Is it because, despite the fact that the show was allegedly shot using nine HD cameras, the picture quality looks like a bad bootleg copy that was obtained at a local flea market? No. Ahhh…but it does have something to do with the visuals. Quite a lot, in fact.

“Paris” is easily one of the most poorly filmed and shoddily edited live concert DVDs I have ever seen. For starters, the small, non-descript, dimly-lit stage doesn’t allow for much movement of either the musicians themselves or the camera crew. As a result, the resulting individual shots – including ones from a camera that’s inexplicably mounted on a tripod that’s located directly behind the drummer – are fairly static and bland.

In an effort to make up for lack of kinetic energy in both the individual shots and the overall performance itself, director Sebastien Bonnet has to cut the film together using rapid fire editing techniques that make it impossible to focus on any one visual for more than just a few seconds. Many music videos employ this style – and, luckily, they end after 3 to 4 minutes. But “Paris” runs a full 97 minutes. Mon dieu.

For example, the third song of the show, “Leave it to Me” (from Cross’ most recent studio outing, 2011’s “Doctor Faith”), times in at 3:49 and is 125 beats per minute (think Sting’s “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” or Suzanne Vega’s “Luka” and you’re right on the money). By the time the band had hit their final flourish, I had counted 115 video cuts. That averages out to a staggering one cut every two seconds. Sure, that won’t induce epilepsy, but, trust me, it will make you reach for the Advil.

The 2CDs that are included in this set contain all 17 tracks contained on the DVD with most of the in-between song banter omitted. While the recording is solid and the tracks do represent a fair cross-section of Chris’ body of work, the performance is so lackluster and the quality of Cross’ vocal delivery is so awful that one would be far better off listening to 1999’s “Greatest Hits Live” CD or watching the “An Evening With Christopher Cross” DVD also from that same year. Both are much better of examples of why Cross’ career has spanned far beyond that “Best New Artist” Grammy win in 1979.

Cross mentions at various points throughout “A Night in Paris” that the performance is being recorded for a DVD so he can document this particular point in his career. Clearly, it’s an important evening to him. Hopefully, he’s pleased with the end results – because, frankly, it’s hard to imagine that anyone else would be.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: christopher, cross, dvd, night, paris, review, ...

“Fright Night 2: New Blood” – Available 10/1 on Blu-ray and DVD

By day Gerri Dandridge is a sexy professor, but by night she transforms into a real-life vampire with an unquenchable thirst for human blood. So when a group of high school students travel abroad to study in Romania, they find themselves ensnared in Gerri’s chilling web of lust and terror. Charley and “Evil” Ed must stop Gerri from drinking and bathing in the blood of a “new moon virgin,” which just so happens to be Charley’s ex-girlfriend, Amy. They enlist help from Peter Vincent, the vampire hunting host of a reality show called “Fright Night,” to drive a stake through Gerri’s plan and save Amy from a fate far worse than death.

Street Date: October 1, 2013
Screen Format: Widescreen 2.00:1
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1
Total Run Time: 83 minutes

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: 101, 2, blood, bluray, dvd, fright, ...

Win Tickets to Exclusive One Night Screening in Orlando, FL of “Sharknado” with Never-Before-Seen Footage! [ENDED]

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Media Mikes is teaming up with Fathom Events for the Exclusive Midnight Showing of “Sharknado” in theaters for one night only. If you live in the Orlando. FL area, we are giving away a two pairs of tickets to attend the screening below.  It should be guaranteed to be a blast to his this instant cult classic on the big-screen! If you would like to enter for your chance to win tickets, please leave us a comment below or send us an email indicating why you love “Sharknado”. This giveaway will remain open until Monday July 29th, Midnight. 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.

Date: Friday, August 2
Time: 12:05am (local time)
Theatre: Pointe Orlando with IMAX, Orlando FL
Expected Run Time: 100 minutes

Ticketing: Tickets are available by clicking on the orange “Buy Tickets” button.  If online ticketing is not available for your location, you can purchase your tickets by visiting the box office at your local participating cinema.  A list of participating locations can be found on the Theater Locations tab.

Special Fathom Features: In addition to the big screen presentation of this “made-for-TV guilty pleasure,” cinema audiences will be treated to never-before-seen footage including a behind-the-scenes featurette and a gag reel!

Cast Includes:
Ian Ziering – Fin Shepard
Tara Reid – April Wexler
John Heard – George
Cassie Scerbo – Nova Clarke

Directed By:
Anthony C. Ferrante

Up in the sky. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s a…shark!

On August 2nd join Fathom Events and The Asylum in select cinemas nationwide for an exclusive midnight showing of Sharknado!

Described by Entertainment Weekly as “… an hour-and-a-half of ridiculous, slapstick, theatrical, scientifically-impossible fun,” Sharknado, is the story of beachside bar regulars who team up to investigate the ecological nightmare that has deadly sharks swimming through the streets of Los Angeles and falling from the skies.

Get your tickets today because this one-night event will be your only chance to see this instant cult favorite on the big screen!

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Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: exclusive, fl, footage, neverbeforeseen, night, orlando, ...

Best of Warner Bros. Mother’s Day Movie Night Giveaway [ENDED]

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We think that most can agree… Moms are the best – and they do a lot for us! Now it’s time to return the favor and celebrate this Mother’s Day by giving mom the movie night she deserves! Celebrate Sunday, May 12th in the best way possible by spending quality time with your family and watch one of YOUR favorite classic films! Watching a classic flick together tells the story of a different time and place, and is the perfect opportunity to catch up and share stories with your family… tell them something that they never knew about Mom!

To celebrate Mothers Day and WB’s 90th Anniversary, Media Mikes would like to giveaway one of the following Blu-ray titles below to our readers! (Prize will be chosen randomly from the titles below!) If you would like to enter for your chance to win this great prize, please post your results from the Guess-the-Scene Game below. Highest score wins! This giveaway will remain open until May 15th 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.


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Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: bros, day, giveaway, mothers, movie, night, ...

DVD Review “Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection”

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

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

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

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

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

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: dead, dvd, living, night, resurrection, review, ...
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