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DVD Review “Trancers: City of Lost Angels”

Starring: Tim Thomerosn, Helen Hunt, Art La Fleur
Directed by: Charles Band
Distributed by: Full Moon Features
Release Date: November 2013
Running Time: 30 minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

If you are a fan of Full Moon, then you know about the lost original sequel to the classic series “Trancers”. Trancers: City of Lost Angels” was post of an unreleased anthology film that Charles Band directed back in 1988 called “Pulse Pounders”. It consisted of three short films, the first was the “Trancers” sequel, the next was “H.P. Lovecraft’s The Evil Clergyman” and the last was a sequel to “The Dungeonmaster”. For the last 25 years, these were though to be lost…until now. “Trancers: City of Lost Angels” otherwise known as “Trancers 1.5” sees the return of Tim Thomerosn, Helen Hunt and the rest of the “Trancers” cast. A must have for any Full Moon fan!

In 2011, a once thought lost workprint of “Pulse Pounders” was found and the first segment “The Evil Clergyman” was digitally restored. It received such praise from fans that Full Moon decided to move forward on the digital restore of “Trancers”. According to the DVD disclaimer, it was a painstaking process that took over a year to bring this basically stock footage into a film and augmenting the soundtrack with music from the classic first “Trancers” film. So if it wasn’t for the fans, this would have never seen the light of day.

Official Premise: Jack Deth, the super cop from the future, has put away three centuries worth of time traveling criminals. But Deth’s most dangerous collar, the ultraviolent assassin Edlin Shock, has escaped from her maximum security holding cell and won’t rest until she’s exacted revenge. Meanwhile, Deth is trying to make a life for himself as a private eye in 1988 Los Angeles with his hot-blooded girlfriend Lena (played by Academy Award winning actress Helen Hunt). Relationship troubles are just the beginning of Deth’s problems when he learns that Edlin Shock has followed him back in time. Aided by his former police chief McNulty, whose consciousness is inhabiting the body of a 13-year-old girl, Jack Deth will have to use his wits, as well as his fists, to save the past, present, and future!

The lost sequel might only be 30 minutes long but following it there are some decent special features included. There is a Tim Thomerson Intro Video. There is “Flashback Weekend Premiere Documentary”.There is a “Pulse Pounders Show West Promo” included. Lastly there is an un-restored 60-second preview of “The Dungeonmaster” segment. This segment is also planned to be released on Full Moon’s streaming channel online and in fact all three segments will be shown there together as the original “Pulse Pounders” anthology. Leave it to Full Moon to deliver the best for their fans. If you are not a subscriber to Full Moon’s streaming channel, I would highly recommend it!

DVD Review “Dr. Kildare Movie Collection”

Starring: Lionel Barrymore, Lew Ayres
Distributed by: Warner Archive
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
DVD Release Date: January 23, 2014
Running Time: 737 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

With all the flashy films being released today with ridiculous large budgets, some times it is great to revisit simple classics from an earlier era of film. Dr. Kildare is a character created by the author Frederick Schiller Faust, under the pen name Max Brand. This movie collection release includes the series of films that he was featured in, which were released in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The character continues right through the 70’s with a radio series in the 50’s, a TV series in the 60’s and 70’s. If you are a fan of this character, then these films are a must to revisit.

The collection included the following 9 films: “Young Dr. Kildare” (1938), “Calling Dr. Kildare” (1939), “The Secret of Dr. Kildare” (1939), “Dr. Kildare’s Strange Case” (1940), “Dr. Kildare Goes Home” (1940), “Dr. Kildare’s Crisis” (1940), “The People vs. Dr. Kildare” (1941), “Dr. Kildare’s Wedding Day” (1941), “Dr. Kildare’s Victory” (1942). Also as an added bonus, there DVD set contains the unaired 1960 MGM-TV pilot film for the “Dr. Kildare” series starring Lew Ayres and also co-starring Robert Redford!. This is a real treat for any fan as well.

Official Premise: Although not the first actor to don the scrubs of Max Brand’s idealistic young intern, Lew Ayres owned the role for a series of superlative medical dramas that cemented in place all the ample talent that had long been on display, starting with All Quiet on The Western Front (1930). Ayres’ costar, the needs-no-superlatives Lionel Barrymore, who, as the grumpy, garrulous and brilliant Dr. Leonard Gillespie found a regular supporting role that was roomy enough to showcase his prodigious gifts that would continue in a series of flicks even after Ayres departed the title role.

When it comes to the quality of these films you have to consider that they are all over 70 years old. According to Warner Archives site, they have been manufactured from the best-quality video master currently available and has not been remastered or restored for this DVD release. So they are not perfect but still have that classic quality about them. They are also presented in their original aspect ratio of 1.37:1.

If you are looking for the more “Dr. Kildare”, Warner Archive Collection have released the TV series available in their Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) sets. “The Complete First Season” was released back in April 16, 2013 and “The Complete Second Season” was just put out this year on January 28 2014. They are available via available via WBShop.com & Amazon.com like this release as well. Like this release since they are MOD, we do not know how long they will be produced so get them while you can!

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DVD Review “The Jimmy Stewart Show: The Complete Series”

Starring: James Stewart, Ellen Geer, James Daly, Dennis Larson, Kirby Furlong, John McGiver
Distributed: Warner Archive
Running Time: 606 minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

James Stewart was such an amazing actor both dramatic and comedic. “The Jimmy Stewart Show” started in 1971 and ran for 24 episodes. The show included guest stars such as M. Emmet Walsh, Cesar Romero, Kate Jackson, Alan Oppenheimer, Fran Ryan, Jack Soo, Will Geer, Nita Talbot, Regis Philbin, William Windom and Gloria DeHaven. It was a real blast from the bast to watch this show. It still has the comedic edge and delivered a few great laughs. If you are a fan of Mr. Stewart, this would come recommended.

Official Premise: James Stewart made a rare sojourn into the world of Situation Comedy on NBC at the dawn of the Seventies. His gift for comedy, on grand cinema display since the dawn of his career, made him a congenial fit for the familial world of episodic comedy. Stewart plays Professor James Howard, an anthropologist struggling to make sense of the generation gap with his college students and just plain struggling to make sense of his own family.

Jim and wife Martha are busy raising an eight-year-old, as is their twenty-nine-year-old first born, Peter (James Daly) and his wife, Wendy (Ellen Geer). And “Uncle Teddy” (Dennis Larson) is sure to demand “the proper respect” from his five-day-older nephew, Jake (Kirby Furlong). It’s a good thing Jim has a Nobel Prize-winning best friend, chemistry professor Dr. Luther Quince (John McGiver) to help make sense of the chaos, especially after a house fire forces Peter’s family to move in with Jim’s!

This series is brought back to life thanks to Warner Archive, who delivered it onto DVD for the first time. The release is MOD or Made-To-Order, so if you do want to get a copy of this show I would recommend doing so quickly because we do not know for how long they will be producing it. The show looks aged a bit and I do not think there was a full restore here but it looks still decent for DVD. The show is presented in with its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. There are no additional special features included.

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DVD Review “Anna Nicole”

Starring: Agnes Bruckner, Martin Landau, Adam Goldberg, Cary Elwes, and Virginia Madsen
Director: Mary Harron
Distributed by: Sony Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 89 minutes

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

When I saw the cover for “Anna Nicole”, I would have sworn that it was a documentary about the late supermodel. Agnes Bruckner (TV’s “Private Practice”) is really spot on with the looks and the nails this role. The film is based on the New York Magazine article ”Paw Paw & Lady Love” by Dan Paul Lee. It also packs a solid supporting cast including Martin Landau, Adam Goldberg, Cary Elwes, and Virginia Madsen. Growing up “adoring” Anna Nicole in her prime as a kid, I really enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look into her troubled life.

Official Premise: Anna Nicole Smith (Agnes Bruckner) was a single mother from Texas, who became one of the biggest supermodels in the world, but her sudden catapult to fame came with a price, as drugs, alcohol and reckless behavior led her down a tragic path. Now you get to see the whole story in this compelling original film, as Anna Nicoles sexual desires, crippling addictions and her overwhelming need to be famous lead her from incredible fame and fortune to her unfortunate descent.

This film also grabbed by attention since it comes from the Director of “American Psycho”, Mary Harron. I think she had a good vision and it shows both the rise and the fall of this supermodel quite well balanced. It is well-written thanks to John Rice & Joe Batteer (“Blown Away”, “Windtalkers”). If there are any fans out there still of Anna Nicole Smith, I would recommend giving this a watch for sure. Just remember this was made for Lifetime, so don’t expect any skin. The one thing that I was a little upset about that there are no special features included along with this DVD. I would have been curious to see about Agnes transformation into Anna Nicole.

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Theatre Review “Once” National Tour – Orlando, FL

“Once” National Tour
January 28th – February 2nd
Bob Car Performing Arts Centre
401 West Livingston Street
Orlando, FL 32801-1413

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Before “Once” was such a big deal and became an Academy Award winning film (for Best Song “Falling Slowly” in 2007), I was already a huge fan of the film and its music. When the show was produced as a stage play on Broadway, I thought that it couldn’t have made a better fit for that format. And not surprisingly it ended up winning eight 2012 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Living here in Orlando, FL sometimes it can be harder to catch Broadway’s best but luckily we have the treasure that is Bob Car Performing Arts Centre, which delivers the best of Broadway right in the center of city of Orlando. When the national tour dates were announced for “Once”, I couldn’t have been more excited.

I have had the privilege of interviewing both leads in this touring play, Stuart Ward and Dani de Waal (click on their names for respective interviews). They are really talented and do great justice to this beautiful piece of work. They add something special and unique to each of the songs, which I instantly fell in love with. I have been listening to the “Once” soundtrack consistently since 2007 and only to be slightly replaced with the 2012’s Broadway Original Cast Recording. So I am not only a fan but I feel like this music speaks to me on a much deeper level. When I was listening (and singing along) during this play, I feel like they really nails these tracks and delivered the soul that would be expected from Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.

“Once” is quite the stage experience and features a very impressive ensemble of actor/musicians who play their own instruments onstage. The supporting cast to this play are also outstanding and really wrap up the show with a red ribbon. High regards go out to Evan Harrington, who plays Billy, for a particularly great performance. Prior to the show starting, you were able to get up on stage and walk around to feel like you are a part of the show. The cast then came out and started just riffing and playing fun music for the audience to enjoy. Ray Bokhour, who played Da, had a really beautiful and touching go at the song “On Raglan Road” and hang the audience near tears. When the show did start it blended in so well from the pre-show that if you didn’t know the music, you wouldn’t have even realized it started.

The set was extremely simple and has no changes besides the enter/exit of some chairs and music equipment. Pretty much the whole cast is on the cast throughout the whole show playing along with their instruments and adding to each of these wonderful songs. The story itself if you are not familiar follows a Dublin street musician who is about to give up on his dream when he meets a beautiful young woman who encourages him to keep going and do something with his songs. The two get closer overtime and work on their music… but this isn’t your fairy tale romance as events become much more complex in their time together. I cannot recommend this play any higher. It is emotionally gripping and will leave you hanging on to every note of its beautiful music. Congrats to the national tour cast since they simply nailed it.

Click here to purchase tickets during the show’s stop in Orlando and also be sure to check out the schedule for the remainder of the national tour!

Miami, FL (The Adrienne Arsht Center)
Feb. 4 – 9, 2014

Tampa, FL (Straz Center)
Feb. 11 – 16, 201

Fort Myers, FL (Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall)
Feb. 18 – 23, 2014

New Haven, CT (Shubert Theater)
Feb. 26 – March 2, 2014

Atlanta, GA (Fox Theatre)
March 4 – 9, 2014

Pittsburgh, PA (Benedum Center)
March 11 – 16, 2014

Rochester, NY (Auditorium Theatre)
March 18 – 23, 2014

Buffalo, NY (Shea’s Performing Arts Center)
March 25 – 30, 2014

Minneapolis, MN (Orpheum Theatre)
April 1 – 6, 2014

St. Louis, MO (The Fox Theatre)
April 8 – 20, 2014

Des Moines, IA (Civic Center of Greater Des Moines)
April 22 – 27, 2014

Tempe, AZ (ASU Gammage)
April 29 – May 4, 2014

Denver, CO (Buell Theatre)
May 6 – 18, 2014

Las Vegas, NV (Smith Center for the Performing Arts)
May 20 – 25, 2014

Seattle, WA (The Paramount Theatre)
May 27 – June 8, 2014

Portland, OR (Keller Auditorium)
June 10 – 15, 2014

San Francisco, CA (Curran Theatre)
June 17 – July 13, 2014

Los Angeles, CA (Pantages Theatre)
July 15 – Aug. 10, 2014

San Diego, CA (Civic Center)
Aug. 12 – 17, 2014

Costa Mesa, CA (Segerstrom Hall)
Aug. 19 – 31, 2014

Charlotte, NC (Blumenthal Performing Arts Center)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 5, 2014

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DVD Review “Birth of the Living Dead”

Actors: George A. Romero, Larry Fessenden, Mark Harris, Gale Anne Hurd, Elvis Mitchell
Directors: Rob Kuhns
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: First Run Features
DVD Release Date: January 7, 2014
Run Time: 76 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“The Walking Dead” is one of the hottest shows on TV right now. It is a world wide phenomenon. But this zombie madness all started back in 1968 with George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead”. Originally when I heard about “Birth of the Living Dead”, I thought “another documentary?” but I was really pleasantly surprised. The documentary is smart, sharp and very informative. There are a very small list of interviews included, which I feel works for this film because it keeps Romero front and center, as he should be. Highly recommended for any horror fan!

Official Premise: In 1968 a young college drop-out named George A. Romero directed Night of the Living Dead, a low budget horror film that shocked the world, became an icon of the counterculture, and spawned a zombie industry worth billions of dollars that continues to this day. Birth of the Living Dead shows how Romero gathered an unlikely team of Pittsburghers policemen, iron workers, teachers, ad-men, housewives and a roller-rink owner to shoot a revolutionary guerrilla style film that went on to become a cinematic landmark, offering a profound insight into how our society worked in a singular time in American history.

This film delivers some impressive special features. There is an extended interview with George A. Romero, which runs just over 30 minutes. I liked listening to his stories and they interview is quite interesting. There is an audio only extra called “George A. Romero at the Museum of Modern Art, June 16, 1970”, which runs about 10 minutes. Lastly there is also a feature “Bill Hinzman and the World Record-Breaking Monroeville Zombie Walk”, which is worth the price of the DVD only.

CD Review “Sofia the First: Songs From Enchancia”

“Sofia the First: Songs From Enchancia”
Label: Disney
Tracks: 19
Release Date: January 28, 2014

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Having a 20 month old daughter, our family is quite the fan of “Sofia the First“. She has been watching the show since she was 8 months old and stops everything she is doing when it comes on. We also have first “Sofia the First” CD in our record player non-stop and she loves the music (as do I). “Sofia The First: Songs from Enchancia” includes 15 songs from from the first season of the Disney Junior TV Series. The album also includes a bonus song, “Be Who You Wanna Be”, which was a big summer hit and features Jake from “Jake and the Never Land Pirates”) and four karaoke instrumental tracks for kids to sing-along to. If you are a fan of this show then this CD is a must have. My daughter has had it on loop since we received it and I have a feeling we are going to burn it out quickly!

Season one has brought us so many great songs including “Good Little Witch” and “Bring My Best Friend Back” (which is such a great duet). I also love that there are three tracks with classic Disney princesses included as well. “The Love We Share” features Ariel, “Ride of Your Lives” features Jasmine and “Make it Right” features Belle. I love all three of these tracks and so glad that they made it onto this CD. Disney has a gold mine with this show and I love how they try and blend in classic Disney characters as well without being cheesy or overwhelming! Can I suggest a duet with Rapunzel next? My daughter will flip out! One track that I realized was missing was the holiday special song “Wassailia”. I can’t wait to see what season two holds for this show. I am sure the music is going to be so great and I look forward for Disney Junior to release future song collections in the coming months!

Track Listing:
1. Sisters and Brothers (Sofia)
2. Merroway Cove (Sven, Oona and Sofia)
3. The Love We Share (Ariel and Sofia)
4. Bigger Is Better (Amber)
5. (You Can Always) Count On Baileywick (Cast)
6. Make It Right (Belle and Sofia)
7. Good Little Witch (Ballad) (Sofia)
8. Good Little Witch (Lucinda and Sofia)
9. The Ride of Your Lives (Jasmine, Sofia and Amber)
10. A Recipe for Adventure (Aunt Tilly and Sofia)
11. Bring My Best Friend Back (Clover and Sofia)
12. The Simple Life (Cast)
13. Make Way for Miss Nettle (Miss Nettle)
14. Enchancia (Ruby, Jade and Sofia)
15. Be Who You Wanna Be (Jake and Sofia)
16. Merroway Cove (Instrumental)
17. Bigger Is Better (Instrumental)
18. Good Little Witch (Instrumental)
19. A Recipe for Adventure (Instrumental)

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DVD Review “Last Vegas”

Actors: Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline
Directors: Jon Turteltaub
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: January 28, 2014
Run Time: 105 minutes

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

From the moment this was announced it was referred to as the senior citizen take on “The Hangover”. It doesn’t quite pack that comedic level of that film but it does come back with an all-star cast including Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline. The film has its moments with a few decent laughs but also misses a few as well. I still enjoyed watching this film but it is what I like to call a “one-timer”. I would recommend checking it out if not just to see this wonderful cast together and, of course, the beautiful Las Vegas. This makes me want to take the next trip to the sin city.

Official Premise: Billy (Michael Douglas), Paddy (Robert De Niro), Archie (Morgan Freeman) and Sam (Kevin Kline) have been best friends since childhood. So when Billy, the group’s sworn bachelor, finally proposes to his 30-something-year-old girlfriend (of course), the four head to Las Vegas with a plan to stop acting their age and relive their glory days. However, upon arriving, the four quickly realize that the decades have transformed Sin City and tested their friendship in ways they never imagined. The Rat Pack may have once played the Sands and Cirque du Soleil may now rule the Strip, but it’s these four who are taking over Vegas.

This DVD includes an UltraViolet digital copy as well, which is a nice bonus. In terms of special features there is some decent content but nothing spectacular and again the Blu-ray comes stocked with more. There is an audio commentary track from Director Jon Turteltaub & Writer Dan Fogelman, worth checking out if you love the film, I wasn’t really digging it. There are also three featurettes included. The film is “It’s Going to be Legendary”, which goes behind-the-scenes with main cast. “Four Legends” look at this ensemble cast. Lastly “The Flatbush Four” focuses on the character arcs of these four main characters.

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DVD Review “Captain Phillips”

Actors: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Catherine Keener, Faysal Ahmed
Directors: Paul Greengrass
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 134 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

Tom Hanks is a such tremendous actor and I have been a big fan of his work recently, especially with “Cloud Atlas”. His performance in “Captain Phillips” was no question some of his best work to date. It is very emotional and very intense. The film was based on real events and is so well done that it literally has you on the edge of your seat the entire time. I originally wasn’t planning on rush out to theaters to see this but I am really glad I did since I really enjoyed this. I just wonder what happened to Hank’s Oscar nod? Either way this comes highly recommended!

Official Premise: Captain Phillips is a multi-layered examination of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates. It is – through director Paul Greengrass’s distinctive lens – simultaneously a pulse-pounding thriller, and a complex portrait of the myriad effects of globalization. The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama’s commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips (two time Academy award®-winner Tom Hanks), and the Somali pirate captain, Muse (Barkhad Abdi), who takes him hostage. Phillips and Muse are set on an unstoppable collision course when Muse and his crew target Phillips’ unarmed ship; in the ensuing standoff, 145 miles off the Somali coast, both men will find themselves at the mercy of forces beyond their control.

This film works well on DVD, it is a not a film that screams Blu-ray release. The audio and video are still solid since the film relies more on the actor’s performances then flashy effects. What is good at least is that there are the same special features that is included on the DVD as there is on the Blu-ray. That has not always been the same recently either. There is a very interesting audio commentary track with director Paul Greengrass. There is also a three-part featurette “Capturing Captain Phillips” including “Embarkation”, “Full Ahead” and “Stand Fast”. Lastly there is also a UltraViolet Digital Copy, so that is a nice bonus!

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Blu-ray Review “Escape Plan”

Actors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Jim Caviezil
Directors: Mickael Hafstrom
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Summit Inc/Lionsgate
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Run Time: 115 minutes

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

“Escape Plan” is an action fans dream come true bringing legends Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger together in one film. I know they were in “The Expendables” films together but that felt more like a cameo. “Escape Plan” is pure escapism. It is quite intense and definitely action-packed thriller. It also features an impressive supporting cast including Jim Caviezel (TV’s “Person of Interest”), Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (“Fire with Fire”), Sam Neill (“Jurassic Park”), Vinnie Jones (“X-Men: The Last Stand”) and Vincent D’Onofrio (TV’s “Law and Order: Criminal Intent”). Recommended for sure to all 80’s action fan boys. These action stars are in their 60’s but they still kick-ass.

Official Premise: One of the world’s foremost authorities on structural security agrees to take on one last job: breaking out of an ultra-secret, high-tech facility called “The Tomb.” Deceived and wrongly imprisoned, Ray Breslin (Stallone) must recruit fellow inmate Emil Rottmayer (Schwarzenegger) to help devise a daring, nearly impossible plan to escape from the most protected and fortified prison ever built.

“Escape Plan” is quite the beast of a film. It cost $70 million and it looks quite awesome. It arrives on Blu-ray as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD and Digital HD UltraViolet. The 1080p transfer really looks great and the high-tech prison is very polished looking. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works great with the non-stop action and even work up my daughter upstairs (sorry sweetie). When it comes to these action films you cannot help it but amp it up to 11 and test to see what these audio tracks can do.

In terms of special features, the film packs some decent extras. There is an audio commentary with Director Mikael Hafstrom and Co-Writer Miles Chapman. A little technical but still informative. There are three featurettes are included. “Executing the Plan: The Making of Escape Plan” goes behind-the-scenes in the production. “Maximum Security: The Real-Life Tomb” looks into how they built this prison. “Clash of the Titans” looks into bring our two leads together. Lastly there are a few Deleted Scenes included.

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Blu-ray Review “The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box”

Actors: Michael Sheen, Sam Neill, Lena Headey, Aneurin Barnard, Ioan Gruffud
Director: Jonathan Newman
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Image Entertainment
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 98 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

Right off the bat, I was sold on “The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box” due to this amazing cast including Michael Sheen (Showtime’s “Masters of Sex”, “TRON Legacy”), Lena Headey (HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” “300”), Sam Neill (“Jurassic Park”), Ioan Gruffudd (“Fantastic Four), Aneurin Barnard (Starz’s “The White Queen”, “Ironclad”). There is a lot of great talent here. This fantasy/action/adventure film is quite epic and really fun. “The Adventurer” is a visual film and also packs a decent size budget, which really adds to the scale. I hope they are planning on making this a franchise because there is great position there.

Official Premise: Ancient mysteries. Powerful evil. And a fearless hero’s quest through a fantastical realm of steam-powered wonders and sinister magic… In “The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box”, seventeen-year-old Mariah Mundi’s life is turned upside down when his parents vanish and his younger brother is kidnapped. Following a trail of clues to the darkly majestic Prince Regent Hotel, Mariah discovers a hidden realm of child-stealing monsters, deadly secrets and a long-lost artifact that grants limitless wealth – but also devastating supernatural power. With the fate of his world, and his family at stake, Mariah will risk everything to unravel the Curse of the Midas Box!

Image Entertainment delivered this film with a solid Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p transfer is sharp and looks great with the visual aspect of the film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track holds steady with the action and has some great wall-shaking moments. There is only one special feature included on this Blu-ray. It is a decent behind-the-scenes look with “The Making of The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box”. I would have loved to see a commentary track from this amazing cast as well.

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CD Review: Tom Keifer “The Way Life Goes”

Tom Keifer
“The Way Life Goes”
Merovee Records
Produced by: Chuck Turner, Tom Keifer, Savannah Keifer
Tracks: 14

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Tom Keifer is probably best known for his work as lead singer of the popular 1980’s blues/rock band Cinderella who’s hit song “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)” is still being played on countless classic rock stations around the world. “The Way Life Goes” is Keifer’s first release as a solo artist and features 14 hook heavy blues/rock tracks that showcase Keifer’s gritty yet melodic voice.

Very rarely do you see artists venture out on a solo career some 20 years after their initial success. What’s even rarer is when the artist is able to pull it off. Tom Keifer has done that and more with the release of “The Way Life Goes”. Tracks like “It’s Not Enough” and “Cold Day in Hell” do a great job setting the tone of the album as they snake back and forth with driving, upbeat instrumentation which captures and holds the listeners attention.

Tracks like “Ask Me Yesterday” and “You Showed Me” are more ballad like numbers featuring piano and acoustic guitars. The icing on the cake is Keifer’s vocals. For a guy who at one time was unable to sing due to a paralyzed left vocal cord you would never be able to tell listening to this record. From low to high Keifer shows great range and strength making “The Way Life Goes” an enjoyable listen. Whether you a fan of Cinderella in the bands glory days or you’re just looking to check out some new music that covers a lot of territory then this is the album for you.

Track Listing:
1.) Solid Ground
2.) A Different Light
3.) It’s Not Enough
4.) Cold Day In Hell
5.) Thick and Thin
6.) Ask Me Yesterday
7.) Fools Paradise
8.) The Flower Song
9.) Mood Elevator
10.) Welcome to My Mind
11.) You Showed Me
12.) Ain’t That a Bitch
13.) The Way Life Goes
14.) Babylon

CD Review: Red Dragon Cartel “Red Dragon Cartel”

Red Dragon Cartel
“Red Dragon Cartel”
Frontier Records
Produced by: Ronnie Mancuso, Jake E. Lee
Tracks: 10

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Red Dragon Cartel is the newest rock/metal group formed by former Ozzy Osbourne/Badlands guitarist Jake E. Lee. Along with Lee the group features Ronnie Mancuso on bass, drummer Jonas Fairly and singer D.J. Smith. Together the group creates a sound that blurs the lines between progressive rock, heavy metal and industrial synth pop. The self-titled debut is being released via Frontier Records and features 10 original tracks produced by Mancuso and Lee and Executive Produced by Kevin Churko (Five Finger Death Punch, In This Moment, Ozzy Osbourne).

Having been a subscriber of Guitar World magazine for as long as I can remember I certainly wasn’t stranger to the work Jake E. Lee. From Ozzy’s “Bark at the Moon” and “Ultimate Sin” albums to his recent appearances on VH1’s “That Metal Show” he was a player that was always on my radar. When it was announced he was going to be coming out with a new project I was certainly down for checking it out. “Red Dragon Cartel” is a unique blend of styles that cover a wide spectrum of hard rock and metal. The albums opening track “Deceived” shares a striking resemblance to “Bark at the Moon” while forging new ground both musically and vocally.

The track “Feeder” is a catchy rocker that is the first of several tracks to feature guest appearances with this one featuring Robin Zander of Cheap Trick fame. Other guest performances on the album include Maria Brink of In This Moment, former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di’Anno and former Pantera/current Kill Devil Hill bassist Rex Brown to name just a few. Don’t let the long list of guest musicians fool you in to thinking that Red Dragon Cartel can’t stand on their own as singer D.J. Smith and the rest of the members of the band all can certainly hold their as the guest performances act more like the icing on the cake.

Though I found portions of the album sounding a bit dated there was nothing on the album that made me want to stop listening. I think the members of Red Dragon Cartel have made a solid record that showcases a number of different styles and talents and those things alone are makes this album worth checking out.

Track Listing:
1.) Deceived
2.) Shout It Out
3.) Feeder (feat. Robin Zander)
4.) Fall from the Sky
5.) Wasted
6.) Slave
7.) Big Mouth (feat. Maria Brink)
8.) War Machine
9.) Redeem Me
10.) Exquisite Tenderness

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Filed Under: CD Reviews Tagged With: cartel, cd, dragon, red, review

CD Review: Reverend Horton Heat “REV”

Reverend Horton Heat
“REV”
Victory Records
Tracks: 13

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The high octane psycho-billy rebels know as Reverend Horton Heat are back with their 11th studio album simply titled “REV”. Though it has been four years since the bands previous release “Laughin’ & Cryin’ with the Reverend Horton Heat” the 3 piece band from Texas have not missed a beat. The album which is the band’s first since signing with Victory Records features 13 tracks which are very reminiscent of the bands early material.

Having been a fan of the Reverend since the early 90’s I was pretty excited when I started to hear grumblings that the band was working on a new album. Little did I know how surprised I was going to be when I was finally able to listen to it. Classic RHH all the way! The album wastes no kicking the tires and lighting the fires as it blasts right out of the gate with the instrumental track “Victory Lap” which showcases the always impressive instrumental skills of Jim “The Rev Heath”, Jimbo Wallace and Scott Churilla.

As the album progresses you hear everything from classic rockabilly to country and all stops in between. The song “Schizoid” is vintage RHH through and through from its subject matter to the Rev’s signature “yeahs”. The track “My Hat” is the perfect dance number for those looking to swing the night away while the album’s first single “Let Me Teach You How to Eat” goes straight for the throat in blazing style. Don’t let a four year gap between albums scare you away as “REV” is all killer and no filler. Even if you never thought about buying an RHH album in the past this one is a great starting place as it does a great job of capturing all of the bands style and sound.

Track Listing:
1.) Victory Lap
2.) Smell of Gasoline
3.) Never Gonna Stop It
4.) Zombie Dumb
5.) Spooky Boots
6.) Schizoid
7.) Scenery Going By
8.) My Hat
9.) Let Me Teach You How to Eat
10.) Mad Mad Heart
11.) Longest Gonest Man
12.) Hardscrabble Woman
13.) Chasing Rainbows

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Filed Under: CD Reviews Tagged With: cd, heat, horton, rev, reverend, review, ...

Film Review “Philomena”

Starring: Judi Dench and Steve Coogan
Directed by: Stephen Frears
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 38 mins
The Weinstein Company

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Philomena Lee (Dench) is celebrating an important birthday today. Not her own, mind you. 50 years ago the young Philomena met a handsome young man at the local carnival and ended up with a prize she didn’t expect. Sent to the local Abbey to have the baby she finds herself indentured to the nuns, working to not only pay for the care of her child but to “atone for her sins.” When her young son is put up for adoption she is devastated, never forgetting the little boy she loves.

Equal parts affecting yet exhilarating, “Philomena” is that rare congress of a talented triangle of acting, writing and directing. Dench is brilliant as the adult Philomena (she recently received her seventh Academy Award nomination for her work here). In spite of her generally outgoing appearance there is a sadness behind her eyes born of five decades of heartbreak. Coogan, who also co-wrote the film with British-television writer Jeff Pope, is equally effective in a rare dramatic turn. Best known for his work in comedies like “Tropic Thunder” and “Hamlet 2,” he excels here as former BBC journalist Martin Sixsmith, on his own journey of redemption after being caught in a political scandal. Special credit must also be given to Sophie Kennedy Clark, whose performance as the younger Philomena matches Dench’s note for note.

Coogan, Pope and director Frears have managed to make religion the centerpiece of the film without you really knowing they have. Whatever your beliefs, you will silently begin to question them as the film progresses. This is done subtlety…there is no giant hammer hitting you over the head. As the film progresses, from Ireland to America and back, you are constantly mulling over who, and what, was right or wrong. Martin convinces his editor that this will be a “human interest story” but it truly is much, much more.

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

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