Blu-ray Review “Appleseed XIII: Tartaros & Ouranos”

Starring: Luci Christian, David Matranga
Director: Takayuki Hamana
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Funimation
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 168 minutes

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

If you are a fan of the series “Appleseed XIII”, then you might want to consider checking out “Appleseed XIII: Tartaros & Ouranos”…as long as you do not expect new content. This new release from Funimation is two-film shortened summarization of the 13-episode anime series. I have to admit, I was a little bit hesitant since I did like the “Appleseed XIII” quite a bit, but these two films do work very well. They are tighter and really pack a nice punch. What is nice about these, most importantly, is that I feel that you can own both of these, the movies and the series, since they are both different beasts. A no brainer purchase if you love great anime.

Official Premise: In the wake of destruction from a worldwide non-nuclear war, the city of Olympus has become the control center of the world. As humanity adopts biological enhancements in attempts to achieve perfection, a terrorist organization uprises to prevent what could be the eventual extinction of the human race. Two former LAPD SWAT members join a special mech-piloting, military force to take down the leader of the terrorist organization.

Funimation Entertainment are the best when it comes to their Blu-ray anime releases. They really give a lot of love to these and I respect that. This release comes stocked with a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack. The 1080p transfer is awesome and really works well with this sharp and snazzy CG animation. There are two DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks included for both English and original Japanese audio. In terms of special features, there is nothing too impressive here. There are original previews for both “Tartaros & Ouranos”. There is a textless closing song and trailers included.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: appleseed, bluray, ouranos, review, tartaros, xiii, ...

Blu-ray Review “Oldboy”

Starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Spike Lee
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 4, 2014
Run Time: 104 minutes

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

“Oldboy” is a remake of the Korean cult classic of the same name directed by Park Chan-wook, which was released in 2003. This version was directed by Spike Lee and stars Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen. It is hard to really fall in love with a movie personally when you read about how much the director hates the movie himself. Originally, Lee’s cut of this film was nearly three hours long and it was torn apart by the producers bringing it down to 104 minutes. I was a fan of the original Korean film, so I also had high expectations. This film isn’t terrible but it also doesn’t improve or surpass the original. Worth checking out for some fun shock and wow but I would prefer the original.

Official Premise: “Oldboy” is a provocative, visceral thriller that follows the story of an advertising executive (Brolin) who is abruptly kidnapped and held hostage for 20 years in solitary confinement. When he is inexplicably released, he embarks on an obsessive mission to discover who orchestrated his bizarre and torturous punishment only to find he is still trapped in a web of conspiracy and torment.

Sony released this film on Blu-ray including also a HD Digital Ultraviolet copy. I would have loved to seen them take a chance and release the director’s cut of this film also but maybe they are holding out for a double dip to make more money to recoup how bad this film did in theaters. The 1080p transfer works well with the look and feel of the film, same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. In terms of special features, there are three featurettes including “The Making of Oldboy”, “Transformation” and “Talking Heads”. There are some alternate and extended scenes. Lastly there is a Workout Video Promo, which is quite funny.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, oldboy, review

Book Review “The Art of Ponyo”

Series: PONYO ON THE CLIFF
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Reprint edition
Release Daste: November 26, 2013
Language: English

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Studio Ghibli to me produces some of the best and most beautiful animated films. I know we have Pixar/Disney and they are wonderful but these films are on a different level of amazing. “Ponyo” was directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki back in 2008 and it was such a great film. There is something about a hand drawn film that really speaks to me still, maybe since it is rare amongst the sea of CGI animated film. There is something so different about an “Art of” book for either a live action film or CGI film versus a hand-drawn film. “The Art of Ponyo” is the latest release from Viz Media and if you are a fan of Ghibli, then you know how amazing these “Art of” books are. If you don’t then you need to pick this up ASAP since it is outstanding.

The reason why the art in this film is so amazing is because it is not only cel hand-drawning but also watercolor and pastel concept sketches and layout pages. The images are so beautiful and colorful, which is another aspect that I loved of the film is the use of color. The book also contains interviews with principals from the production talking about the animation choices and screenplay. I love that Viz Media has been putting these out again. I just wish that they would relate back to the hardcover option for these books like they were using years back with “Spirited Away”, “My Neighbor Totoro” etc. Otherwise, this is an amazing look into this film and it gives a real appreciation for hand-drawn animation.

After reading this book end to end and studying these amazing drawings and you are looking for more rest assured because Viz Media has more in the works. On April 8th, they are releasing “The Art of The Wind Rises” and on October 7th, they are releasing “The Art of Princess Mononoke”. If you haven’t seen “The Wind Rises”, it is easily one of Hayao Miyazaki’s best films and also sadly his last. So I would highly recommend checking that one out. It is beautiful and really going to be an amazing piece of art itself, I am sure. Keep them coming Viz, Studio Ghibli has quite the vast library of films.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: art, book, ponyo, review

Blu-ray Review “Gravity”

Actors: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Directors: Alfonso Cuaron
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 91 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I cannot recall an experience that I had in theaters like “Gravity” in a very long time. I was found myself emotionally effected throughout the film. I was blown away and even exhausted after viewing it. Sandra Bullock hasn’t been a favorite of mine but she was outstanding in this film. George Clooney is as charming as ever. Alfonoso Cuaron did such a beautiful job on this film. When you read into it and find out how much work was actually done to make this project come to life it is unbelievable. The visuals are out of this world…literally. If I had to describe this film in one word would be “Breathtaking”. No question, this was the best film of 2013.

Official Premise: Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney) in command. But on a seemingly routine mission, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski completely alone, tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the darkness. The deafening silence tells them they’ve lost any link to Earth and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left, and the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

For this release of “Gravity”, Warner packaged up a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + HD Digital Ultraviolet copy. The Blu-ray being reviewed here is not the 3D Blu-ray, which is ashame but “Gravity” was literally the best 3D film that I seen since “Avatar”…and I watch A LOT of 3D films. The 2D transfer is still outstanding and flawless just missing that extra “Wow” for me. The 1080p transfer is perfect and will stand up as one of the best of the year, I am definite. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is also absolutely amazing. It is not a 7.1 track, which maybe disappoint some but I was left very satisfied. This track especially complements Steve Price’s score. This score was one of the best scores that I have heard in recent years and it is represented very well. It also plays out like a third character in the film, which I loved.

The special features are absolutely amazing like the film, but I wish they wrapped it all up with a commentary track. “Gravity: Mission Control” is a very in-depth 107 minutes behind-the-scenes look into the prodcution. There are nine mini-featurettes included within this as well focusing on everything from cast to visual effects. “Shot Breakdown” is a nearly 40 minute look into five of the films most impressive FX shots. Amazing stuff here. “Aninigaag: A Short Film by Jonas Cuaron”, which is a short film tieing of the films most emotional scenes together. Lastly “Collison Point: The Race to Clean Up Space” is narrated by Ed Harris and takes about the real-life crisis happening now.

Own Gravity on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD 2/25

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, gravity, review

Film Review “Winter’s Tale”

Starring: Colin Farrell and Russell Crowe
Directed by: Akiva Goldsman
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 58 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 1/2 out of 5 stars

“What the hell did I just see?”

That was my first comment to the studio representative after I screened “Winter’s Tale.” Allow me to save you two hours of your life: In 1895 a young man, with his wife and new baby, are attempting to enter the United States. Sadly, because of an illness, they are ordered back to Ireland. They beg to stay or at least leave their baby behind, thinking he would have a better life in the new world. Rebuffed, the father steals a model of a sailing ship and, when no one is looking they lower it, with the baby attached, into the harbor, apparently with the hope that the wooden toy model will carry the baby to Brooklyn. We jump ahead 21 years later to find Peter Lake (Farrell) the baby, now grown up, running from Pearly Soames (Crowe) and his gang. Cornered, Peter makes the acquaintance of a snow-white horse, one that bows and beckons Peter aboard. Once he’s on its back, he heads toward Pearly and his goons, eventually JUMPING OVER the 12 foot gate and flying away. No, seriously.

So begins what I can only imagine a film that read much better on paper. Director Goldsman, making his feature film directorial debut, is an Academy Award winning writer (“A Beautiful Mind”) that ought to know better. This film deals with immortality, chance, Satan and so many incredulous plot devices that wouldn’t pass for muster anywhere, much less New York City! When, in present day New York, Peter is asked to provide two forms of ID and can’t you have to wonder, as I did, how in the hell is he living in a nice apartment with no ID or obvious source of income? I mean this makes surviving a trip in a toy boat in New York Harbor almost believable! Almost.

Sadly the biggest waste here is a very fine performance by Colin Farrell. Equally good, in what amounts to an extended cameo, is Jennifer Connelly. Crowe appears to still be channeling Inspector Javert from “Les Miz,” only with a nasty scar added to his chubby cheeks. By the time of the “big reveal”, and if you’re still reading this you must be somehow intrigued, you’ve hopefully figured out the story. If not, like Peter Lake, you’re on your own!

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, review, tale, winters

Blu-ray Review “The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale”

Actors: Elle Deets, Yuri Lowenthal
Directors: Richard Rich
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 83 minutes

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

“The Swan Princess” started back as a 1994 animated fantasy musical film based on the ballet “Swan Lake”. Fast forward to 2014 and we get “The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale”, which is the fifth film in the series and which also celebrates the 20th anniversary. The film is cute but the animation is low-grade and it couldn’t keep our attention for the short 80 minutes.

Richard Rich has been behind this series from the beginning and has directed and produced each and everyone of these sequels. He is also behind the sequels in the “Alpha and Omega” series. You have to give him props for keeping it going for five films now but I think it might be time to call it quits on this series. These stories are all stand-alone, so I am sure he can keep it going for twelve movies like “The Land Before Time” but this will probably be the last one I watch.

Official Premise: Shortly after the Royal Family adopts a young girl named Alise, she is taken away into the forest. Princess Odette, Prince Derek and their woodland friends, Jean-Bob the Frog and Speed the Turtle, must work together to find a way to bring her home to the castle.

Sony delivers this film in a two disc combo back with a Blu-ray + DVD and HD Digital Ultraviolet Copy. In terms of special features, there are two bonus Sing-A-Long videos for ““We Wanna Hear From You”” and ““Right Where I Belong””. Also included is a free, sparkly tiara for those little young princesses and a free Shutterfly Photo Book ($29.99 value) for the parents. Honestly, this is worth the purchase alone just for the photo book.

 

Related Content

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, family, princess, review, royal, swan, ...

TV Review: HBO’s “True Detective” Episodes 1-4

Created by: Nic Pizzolatto
Directed by: Cary Fukunaga
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Potts, Tory Kittles
Rating: TV-MA
Running Time: 60 minutes
Premiered: January 12, 2014

Episode 1: 3 out of 5 stars
Episode 2: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Episode 3: 3 out of 5 stars
Episode 4: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“True Detective” follows two Louisiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division homicide detectives as they hunt for a serial killer across seventeen years. The show flips back and forth between 1995 and 2012. There are extended flashbacks used with Det. Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) and Det. Martin Hart (Woody Harrelson) being interviewed separately and are the grounds for the whole story. I liked the fact that “True Detective” takes the approach of a mini-series, which is becoming a popular format after shows like “American Horror Story”.

The show is very dialogue heavy and character driven. It is also edgy and quite provocative. I am a big fan of director Cary Fukunaga (2010’s “Jane Eyre”). I think he has a great vision for this show and he really does great things with this mini-series. Louisiana is also used almost as another character and intertwines well with the characters and the story. The performances are not good but quite amazing. We all know that McConaughey and Harrelson are great actors but these roles are perfect for them and they simply nail it.

The first episode of “True Detective” is spent introducing us to characters of Cohle and Hart. We start with them getting the case for the ritualistic murder of a former prostitute. Their investigation for the case is started and we get the lowdown. The story is well setup here and I liked the characters. I find that I don’t like a show’s characters I usually do not enjoy the show no matter how good. I think though there could have been a little more added to this episode since I was left wanting a little more…but I guess that was the point.

The second episode really get deeper into both McConaughey and Harrelson’s characters. You start to learn a lot about them and some of their secrets. The story starts getting some steam and you are drawn into trying to figure out what is going on and where they are going with this show. This episode also has Alexandra Daddario (“Texas Chainsaw 3D”) and she is quite a sight. After the first episode, I have to admit, I wasn’t really racing to place the next right away. After this one, I immediately had to watch episode three.

Episode three really gives deeper into our characters. We learn more of their flaws and their unique views on the world. There are some interesting details of the investigation revealed in this episode. There is also a bit of tension revealed between the two partners, which gives an interesting dynamic. Hart also experiences some relationship issues (and I am sure it is not the end of it either). There was some decent reveal about the investigation in this episode as they track the killer. Thought it ran a little slow compared to the first two episodes, it was equal with the first episode.

Episode four is packed with tension between Hart and his wife, as well as investigation details. It also goes deeper into Cohle’s issue with drugs and his background. I love the dialogue in this episode, not that it is weaker in earlier episodes but this particular episode is really sharp. I liked seeing the partners team up and work together closely. Another aspect of love about this show is the car drives. They always seem to have these deep conversations while driving and McConaughey leaves you speechless. This was probably my favorite of the four episode to date. Let’s just say shit goes down and it is quite freaking intense!

So I found that I am not completely in love with this show but with these performances and the Louisiana feel, I am hooked. There is something very simple about it that draws you in. It is very slow-moving but I am sure that there is going to be a solid payoff worth waiting for. I am dying to see where they are going to go with the remaining episodes. In fact, I can’t believe we are already half-way through the series but I am in and very anxious to see where we go from here.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: TV Tagged With: 14, detective, episodes, hbos, review, true, ...

Book Review “Jerry Bruckheimer: When Lightning Strikes – Four Decades of Filmmaking”

Author: Michael Singer
Foreword: Johnny Depp
Series: Disney Editions Deluxe (Film)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Disney Editions
Release date: December 17, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When you think about Jerry Bruckheimer, you think BIG and then BIGGER! If you do they this book shouldn’t be surprising since it is HUGE. Love him or hate him, Bruckheimer has quite the resume and a very long list of box office blockbusters under his name. Here are a few of them including “Top Gun”, “Days of Thunder”, “Beverly Hills Cop”, “Bad Boys”, “Crimson Tide”, “The Rock” …(deep breath)…”Con Air”, “Armageddon”, “Gone in Sixty Seconds”, “Pearl Harbor”, “Black Hawk Down”, “Pirates of the Caribbean” series and “National Treasure” series. Besides films, he also has his hand in TV with the following series including “CSI” franchise, “The Amazing Race”, “Cold Case”, and “Without a Trace”. So if you are a fan of Bruckheimer, then I cannot recommend this book enough since it is really the ultimate ode to an amazing filmmaker…just make sure you have enough room on your bookshelf.

“Jerry Bruckheimer: When Lightning Strikes – Four Decades of Filmmaking” really gives deep to his start in the early 70’s with “The Culpepper Cattle Co.” all the way to the most recent “The Lone Ranger” from last summer. There are some very great behind-the-scenes information provided for these projects. The author, Michael Singer, is a writer and production unit publicist that has been in the business for over 35 years. He has worked beside Bruckheimer on his films whether it was in the deserts, on a tropical islands and many other filming locations. So Singer really is the best person for the job and to have an great insight into Bruckheimer’s body of work. Also previous books he has released include “The Art of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”.

Besides the writing, let’s get to the real good stuff, which would be the images. They are extremely high quality images from these films. In case you forgot that I said this book was HUGE, so expect that these images have big pages to fill. My only concern with this book was due to its size, the biding seems a little wobbly and weak. I think they should have make the structure a little more hardcover and this would have been perfect. Also included is a great foreword from Johnny Depp, who worked with Bruckheimer on numerous projects over the year. There is an exclusive interview with Bruckheimer’s wife, Linda. There is also (and this made me laugh) an introduction from Bruckheimer himself. I loved the fact that he gave his own intro. Jerry Bruckheimer is a legend and his work is very well-respected and will continue to be. Whenever you see a Jerry Bruckheimer film, you know it is going to be fun and quite a ride and that is what you get when you open this fantastic comprehensive guide to his still going strong career.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: book, bruckheimer, decades, filmmaking, jerry, lightning, ...

Blu-ray Review “Killing Kennedy”

Starring: Rob Lowe, Will Rothhaar, Ginnifer Goodwin, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jack Noseworthy, Casey Siemaszko
Director: Nelson McCormick
Rated: TV-14
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 87 / 90 minutes

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

“Killing Kennedy” is based on the 2012 non-fiction book of the same title by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. The film premiered on National Geographic Channel on November 10, 2013. It stars Rob Lowe as President John F. Kennedy, Will Rothhaar as Lee Harvey Oswald, Ginnifer Goodwin as Jacqueline Kennedy, Michelle Trachtenberg as Marina Oswald and Will Rothhaar as Lee Harvey Oswald. Produced by the late Tony Scott (“Unstoppable”) and Ridley Scott (“Prometheus”). I enjoyed the film but I did feel like it had too much a TV movie quality about it. It did have great performances from everyone in the cast. I was interested to see what Lowe could do with JFK and he nailed it.

Official Premise: The film traces the chilling events leading up to the gunshot heard around the world: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas in 1963. As John F. Kennedy (Lowe) rises to become U.S. president, a former Marine grows disillusioned with America. But when their paths ultimately cross, the course of history is changed forever in a chilling aftermath.

When “Killing Kennedy” aired on National Geographic, it ran about 88 minutes without commercials. The made-for-TV thriller is presented here with an never-before-seen extended cut, which runs about three minutes extra. Fox delivered this Blu-ray with an HD Digital Ultraviolet copy as well.  The 1080p transfer is solid for a TV movie and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works well creating the thrilling drama. In terms of special features, there is “Killing Kennedy: An Interview with Author Bill O’Reilly”, which gives good insight into the story. There is also a featurette “The Kennedy Mystique”. Both of these are work checking out for history junkies, no question.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, kennedy, killing, review

Film Review “RoboCop (2014)”

Directed By: Jose Padilha
Starring: Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman and Michael Keaton
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 118 minutes
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Here comes the obligatory comparison of the new “RoboCop” to the beloved ultra violent 1987 version. Sure this 2014 reboot comes up short in a lot of aspects that its 27-year-old sibling nailed. It lacks the wit and slights against our media driven culture. It’s satire of American politics isn’t quite as clever or absurdly funny. Also, the violence has been toned down; so don’t expect bullets to cause human bodies to erupt in blood and limbs to be blown off. And worst of all, you won’t leave the theater with any witty one liners. Despite all that, Padilha’s version is well written and a lot of fun.

While the original dropped us into a decaying, future Detroit, this one dumps us into a seemingly modernized Detroit. Regardless, it still puzzles me why a global company and it’s CEO would set up shop in a city with the country’s worst crime and poverty level. Omnicorp, headed by Raymond Sellars (Keaton), is having some difficulty pushing their crime prevention robots. I mean come on, who wouldn’t want robotic soldiers and goliath sized drones with dual machine guns patrolling the streets to keep America safe? If it’s good enough to keep Iran under our iron fist in 2028, then it’s good enough to help Americans sleep at night. So with the help of Dr. Dennett Norton (Oldman), Sellars plans on selling the American public on something else. They’ll combine a damaged human body with their military-grade robotics, to ease the minds of the public by giving them a robot with a conscience. Enter Detroit policeman Alex Murphy (Kinnaman). He’s barely being kept alive after an attempt on his life via a car bomb by a couple of corrupt cops and an underground crime boss. They’ll take what’s left of Murphy’s body, but mostly his mind, and combine it with the hardware of a killing machine. He’s an instant success at putting a dent in crime, but things go south fast when he begins to investigate his own attempted murder.

This movie changes up the tone and sometimes takes itself a bit too seriously, but some of the emotional depth it employs actually works. With this cast, it’s really hard to go wrong when wringing out some new twists on the characters. Oldman plays a great conflicted doctor with flashes of Commissioner Gordon towards the end. Keaton settles in well as a smug, evil corporate villain. Keaton needs to be in more movies as the protagonist. Samuel Jackson really steals the show as Pat Novak, an obvious poke at Fox News pundits. Jackson must have been the only one to have read this script and realize he needs to plant his tongue in his cheek. His role also proves my theory that he’s contractually obligated to drop at least one F-Bomb, censored or not, in every movie he stars in. As for Kinnaman as RoboCop…he’s alright. He’s not outstanding, but if you’re anticipating Oscar worthy performances, you’re in the wrong movie.

I’m not here to tell you that the original is a classic that should have never been remade. To be honest, there’s no real reason the original can’t be revisited or reimagined. The ‘87 version was alright, but not a groundbreaking masterpiece with a twisted lens on our future. The movie was a guilty pleasure, but it was behind the wheel when driving itself into the ground with sequels and two live action and animated series. It is easy to understand a fan’s concern that this new version could be a lifeless mockery, but the movie really does come off as a fresh product for the rebooted series. While I was hoping for a “Dredd 3D” style reimagining, this reboot kept me entertained and managed to rekindle the absurdity of a RoboCop.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: 2014, film, review, robocop

DVD Review “Search: The Complete Series”

Creator: Leslie Stevens
Starring: Hugh O’Brian, Tony Franciosa, Doug McClure, Burgess Meredith
Distributed by: Warner Archive Collection
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 1150 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Fans of this series have been awaiting this complete series release for a while. Back in 2011, the Warner Archive Collection put out “Probe” on DVD, which is the pilot telefilm for this 1972 NBC series. This 6-Disc set contains all 23-episodes from this short-lived, yet respected series. I am a technology nerd and this show was way ahead of its time with its gadgets and goodies. I think this is probably why this show didn’t last. “Search” had a great cast including Hugh O’Brian, Doug McClure, Tony Franciosa and the great Burgess Meredith. The show was clever and quite sharp and if you are a fan of this show, this is a no-brainer.

Official Premise: Hugh O’Brian, Doug McClure and Tony Franciosa rotate leads as elite high tech espionage operatives for Probe Division of World Securities Corporation in this spy-sensational SF-flavored actioner from Leslie Stevens (creator, The Outer Limits) and Robert Justman (Producer and one of the guiding lights of Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation). Each agent, dubbed a “Probe”, is wired for worldwide surveillance thanks to a Scanner (miniature video camera) and dental/ear implant. Tracking their telemetry and giving real-time mission advice is a team of specialists at Probe Control directed by the brilliant, irascible V.C.R. Cameron (Burgess Meredith).

This show also has a great collection of special guests including Stefanie Powers, Bill Bixby, Mary Ann Mobley, Sebastian Cabot, Barbara Feldon, Mel Ferrer and Joanna Cameron. This series has never been before released on DVD and thanks to Warner Archive, fans of this show can finally own this complete series. The episodes do not have with a brand new restoration but they are still solid within their original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The episode include a mono track, which works for the DVD. This release from Warner Archive is made to order and will be available only for a limited time. There are no additional special features included on this DVD.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: complete, dvd, review, search, series

DVD Review “Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map”

Actors: Frank Welker, Stephanie D’Abruzzo, Grey DeLisle Griffin, Matthew Lillard, John Rhys-Davies
Directors: Jomac Noph
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Run Time: 45 minutes

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

I love “Scooby Doo”, I grew up watching it and now I have a daughter of my own that I can share it with. “Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map” is a unique take on the series since it is done with all puppets. That’s right puppets! I think it works for the most part. I still prefer classic animation but I enjoyed the change. Most importantly, my 20 month old daughter enjoyed this quite a bit. It is short, running 45 minutes, so it also kept her attention the entire time. I would recommend checking this out whether you are an old time “Scooby Doo” fan or if you have kids (for sure).

Official Premise: Get ready to experience the world-famous Scooby-Doo! and Crew like never before in this all-new, original puppet movie! What begins as a routine night for the Gang — which includes the slobbering sleuth and Shaggy eating a triple-extra-large Scooby snack pizza — becomes a mad dash to find the frightening Phantom Parrot, who has a map to pirate Gnarlybeard’s hidden treasure. Scooby sniffs out the map’s clues, which lead him right to a spooky pirate ship. Ruh-roh! What will Gnarlybeard be willing to do to protect his booty? The whole family will love casting off on this mysterious, fun-filled voyage again and again.

There are two bonus cartoons included along with this film. “The Backstage Rage” is the ninth episode of the first season of “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!”, which first aired back in 1969. The other is “Robopup”, which is the twelfth episode of the first season of “A Pup Named Scooby-Doo” that aired back in 1988. It may be a whole lot of extras but when you have young child that asks for “More” after the film is over, it was nice to have another 45 minutes of episodes to share with her.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: adventures, dvd, map, mystery, review, scoobydoo, ...

Blu-ray Review “Nebraska”

Actors: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Stacy Keach, Bob Odenkirk, Missy Doty
Director: Alexander Payne
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 114 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Alexander Payne’s films are usually quite unique and different than standard film. “Nebraska” looked different right from the start since it is filmed in black and white. Personally, I feel like it is a little too long running nearly two hours. I think this would have been much better running at 90 minutes. It does have some amazing performances from Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk. Everyone thinks of Will Forte as just a funnyman and he is quite funny in this but he also has a great dramatic side. This might not be for everyone but I enjoyed it’s subtle aspects.

Official Premise: From Academy Award winner Alexander Payne, the director of Sideways and The Descendants, comes the film that critics are calling “An American Masterpiece.” When a father (Bruce Dern) and his adult son (Will Forte) embark on a journey to claim a million-dollar prize, what begins as a fool’s errand becomes a search for the road to redemption. Discover why Nebraska is “one of those movies I’ll watch for the rest of my life.”

Paramount delivers this combo pack including a Blu-ray + DVD + HD Digital UltraViolet copy. The 1080p transfer is solid and works well with the black and white shot film. I thought that the choice to shoot this film this way really added a lot of character. The audio consists of an interesting choice with it’s DTS-HD Master Audio 3.0 track, this is a different choice but it works well. There is only one special feature included on this release but it does cover a decent amount of ground looking behind-the-scenes. “The Making of Nebraska” looks into the script, cast and characters, locations, shooting in black and white and more. Would have loved to see a commentary track for this film.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, nebraska, review

Blu-ray Review “The Americans: The Complete First Season”

Starring: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Maximiliano Hernandez, Noah Emmerich, Margo Martindale
Number of discs: 3
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 572 minutes

Season: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Last year, I received a lot of emails and press releases from FX for their new show “The Americans”. I didn’t really give it a second look. Then a buddy of mine that never recommends any TV or movies to me says that he was obsessed with this show and I thought “Wait a second, I might need to check this show out”. Well, I am glad I did because is thrilling, smart and comes packed with a fantastic cast. Now that I am hooked on this series, I will be anxiously waiting the second season premiere on February 26, 2014.

Official Premise: Secrets can be deadly in this suspenseful thriller about undercover Russian spies in 1980s Washington, D.C. Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) seem to be a typical suburban couple, but they’re actually lethal KGB agents plotting to bring down America. As the Cold War escalates, Philip and Elizabeth must take extreme measures to continue their mission and keep their true identities hidden. But when an FBI agent moves in across the street, they become ensnared in a pulse-pounding game of cat and mouse.

“The Americans” looks really sharp on Blu-ray. I love the cinematography in this show. It is show very well. The 1080p transfers really are awesome for these episodes which transform NYC into Washington D.C. Having worked in both of these locations, I loved trying to figure out where these episodes were shot. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks are also impressive as well. Nathan Barr’s score for this show is great. It is thrilling and adds great tension to the episodes.

There are great special features included for the Blu-ray release. There is an audio commentary track for the season finale, “The Colonel”, with Joseph Weisberg, Joel Fields and Noah Emmerich. I would have loved to see a few more tracks but this episode was great and we get some great info. There are three featurettes going behind-the-scenes into the show with “Executive Order 2579: Exposing the Americans”, “Perfecting the Art of Espionage” and “Ingenuity Over Technology”. There is also a Gag Reel and Deleted Scenes included for this season.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: americans, bluray, complete, review, season

Blu-ray Review “Chicago: Diamond Edition”

Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, Lucy Liu
Director: Rob Marshall
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 113 minutes

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

Rob Marshall’s award winner musical “Chicago” is a great musical and probably is responsible for bringing the musical back in so many words. The film has an all-star cast including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah and John C. Reilly. I do not really understand why this film is getting a new “Diamond Edition” Blu-ray right now but is definitely worth checking out. I have seen this show on Broadway and yet the film actually supersedes the play. A must own for any fan of the film.

Official Premise: At a time when crimes of passion result in celebrity headlines, nightclub sensation Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) and spotlight seeking Roxie Hart (Zellweger) both find themselves sharing space on Chicago’s famed Murderess Row. They also share Billy Flynn (Gere), the town’s slickest lawyer with a talent for turning notorious defendants into local legends. But in Chicago, there’s only room for one legend!

Lions Gate delivered this Diamond Edition with a brand new, fully restored transfer. They are releasing this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + HD Digital UltraViolet copy. I was blown away with this film when I first saw it and it looks stunning on Blu-ray. The Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio surround track sounds stunning. The songs have never sounded better and really benefit also from this new track. This new transfer and upgraded audio is a perfect reason to pick up this Blu-ray.

In terms of special features, there is some great content. “Chicago in the Spotlight” is a brand new retrospective documentary with cast and crew. I would have been happy with the new transfer and audio track but they even went one step further with this extra content. There is an interesting and informative audio commentary with director Rob Marshall and screenwriter Bill Condon. There is a deleted musical number “Class” performed by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Queen Latifah. Lastly there is featurette focusing on “From Stage to Screen: The History of Chicago”.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, chicago, diamond, edition, review
« sdf
Previous
Page 115 of 272
Next
Next Page »