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Book Review “27: A History of the 27 Club through the Lives of Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse”

“27: A History of the 27 Club through the Lives of Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse”
Author: Howard Sounes
Hardcover: 360 pages
Publisher: Da Capo Press

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Named one of Publisher Weekly’s Top 10 Music Titles for Fall 2013 “27 A History of the 27 Club through the Lives of Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse” written by Howard Sounes is a book that takes a look at music’s “27 Club” and the artists who comprise it. Told over the course of 360 pages Sounes looks not only at the artists lives but also at their deaths and from there attempts to compare the artists in an effort to find similarities in these 6 subjects.

When I received my copy of “27” I thought to myself why hadn’t someone thought of writing about this sooner? This so called “27 Club” isn’t just made up of meteoric artist who only experienced a flash of success. Instead the members of this club include influential musicians who during their careers impacted millions of listeners and helped shape their respective genre’s for years to come. The thing I enjoyed most about how Howard Sounes approached this rather speculative topic is fairly interesting. The book is broken in to two parts with the beginning chapters being devoted to the life of each musician and the chapters toward the end of the book relating the deaths of these individuals. It was kind of nice as having followed the careers of both Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse I was able to sort of jump around a little bit as a portion of the material here has been widely documented and I think I am still recovering from the media coverage of both these events even though they were some time ago now.

Those looking for definitive answers on what ultimately ties these musicians together in death might not be too surprised with the information contained in this book nor will the reader find a lot of new or undocumented information on the subjects as I don’t feel that was the authors intention with this book. Instead for the first time the information about these six people is available all in one place combined with one person’s perspective on the events which are surprisingly similar. Combine that with 16 pages eerily fitting black and white photography and “27 A History of the 27 Club through the Lives of Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse” makes for an ok read.

CD Review: Against Me! “Transgender Dysphoria Blues”

Against Me!
“Transgender Dysphoria Blues”
Total Treble Music
Produced by: Laura Jane Grace
Tracks: 10

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Transgender Dysphoria Blues” is the 6th and latest release from punk rock veterans Against Me! Produced and written by front woman Laura Jane Grace the album features 10 brand new tracks which are a careful mixture of 90’s punk/indie rock. “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” clocks in at just under 30 minutes and is being released independently via the bands own label Total Treble Music.

For those unfamiliar with the events leading up to the release of this album do yourself a favor and find a copy of the May, 12th 2012 issue of Rolling Stone. Not only will that article catch you up to speed but it will also shed some light on the album’s title and several of the songs found on the record. If you already know singer Laura Jane Grace’s (formerly Tom Gabel) story then listening to the songs on “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” will certainly hit on a number of emotions while giving you a look into something a lot of us might not understand. The album plays as if you are listening to someone reading a diary filled with entries of struggle, confusion and sadness.

Tracks like “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” and “True Trans Soul Rebel” contain the bands signature punk driven sound while the lyrics give us a glimpse inside the tumultuous thoughts of Laura Jane pre-transformation. “Drinking with the Jocks” is an in your face tale of trying to fit in with what society deems as acceptable or “normal”. Though a good portion of the albums subject matter revolves around Laura Jane’s experiences songs such as “Osama bin Laden as the Crucified Christ” and the albums closing track, one of my favorites “Black Me Out” are filled with political references and insight that range from subtle to full on blatant.

Along with this being the first album to feature Laura Jane Grace it also is the first to feature the bands new drummer former Rocket from the Crypt drummer Atom Willard. Though the lineup and the look of the band has certainly changed since they first burst on the scene in 1997 the new version of Against Me! Is stronger than ever and “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” does a pretty good job at reaffirming that.

Track Listing:
1.) Transgender Dysphoria Blues
2.) True Trans Soul Rebel
3.) Unconditional Love
4.) Drinking with the Jocks
5.) Osama bin Laden as the Crucified Christ
6.) FUCKMYLIFE666
7.) Dead Friends
8.) Two Coffins
9.) Paralytic States
10.) Black Me Out

Blu-ray Review “Riddick”

Actors: Vin Diesel, Karl Urban, Jordi Molla, Matt Nable, Katee Sackhoff
Directors: David Twohy
Rated: R (Restricted) / Unrated
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: January 14, 2014
Run Time: 119 / 127 minutes

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

2000 was a big year for Vin Diesel, the sci-fi/action film “Pitch Black” was released and the franchise was born. The film was dark, gritty, intense and most importantly original. Then in 2004, we were given “The Chronicles of Riddick”, which was a bloated mess of a film. Luckily, “Riddick” is a nice return to the “Pitch Black” roots. It returns to its original R-rating and delivers some great bloody action. What “Riddick” doesn’t do is build on “Pitch Black” and take the franchise to a new place. Still for what it is, especially on a low $38 million dollar budget it is quite a ride. I would love them take this franchise further but I have a feeling that this will be the end of the road. I definitely recommend checking this out for sci-fi junkies and those who love the character of Riddick.

Official Premise: Vin Diesel reprises his role as the antihero Riddick in the latest chapter of the groundbreaking saga. A dangerous, escaped convict wanted by every bounty hunter in the known galaxy, Riddick has been left for dead on a sun-scorched planet that appears to be lifeless. Soon, however, he finds himself fighting for survival against alien predators more lethal than any human he’s encountered. The only way off is for him to activate an emergency beacon and alert mercenaries who rapidly descend to the planet in search of their bounty. With time running out and a deadly storm on the horizon that no one could survive, his hunters won’t leave the planet without Riddick’s head as their trophy.

Universal is releasing this Blu-ray with an Unrated Director’s Cut combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet digital copy. The Theatrical Version is also included as well. Usually I am not thrilled with unrated director’s cut but this one really speaks to the fans. In fact I think that if they released this in theaters it would have received a warmer reception. In terms of Blu-ray presentation, this film is a work of beauty. The 1080p transfer is stunning and looks like this is a $150 million dollar, easy! The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 will literally shake the walls during the action scenes, which there are plenty of. The year just got started but this is sure to be one of the best Blu-rays of 2014, no question!

I have to admit, I was expecting a little more love in the special features department for this film especially given how it is such a special project for Diesel and Twohy but I still dug quite a bit what we got. Don’t get me wrong a commentary track would have been great but there is some great content here. “The Twohy Touch” discusses how the film became and the legacy of the series. “Riddickian Tech” looks into the gadget and gizmos used to make this film as bad-ass as it was. “Vin’s Riddick” talks about the evolution of the character over the films. “Meet the Mercs” dives into the new group of mercenaires in the film. The World of Riddick” explores the world created for this franchise. Lastly “Riddick: Blindsided” is a neat motion comic.

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DVD Review “Henry Hugglemonster: Meet the Hugglemonsters”

Starring: Lara Jill Miller, Hynden Walch, Tom Kenny
Creator: Niamh Sharkey
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: January 14, 2014
TV rating: TV-Y
Run Time: 144 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Disney Junior is a wonderful thing if you have a young child. My daughter is 19 months old and she is in love with their newest hit show “Henry Hugglemonster”. In fact, she can’t get enough of it. Disney Junior has been a bit slow with taking advantage of this show with merchandise since I have been searching for a Henry plush for months now. Luckily in the meantime, we are able to enjoy Henry at home for the first time with the DVD “Meet the Hugglemonsters”. This show is super cute, fun and great for kids. Highly recommended for both boys and girls.

Official Premise: Welcome to the newest, happiest, most monster-rific spot on the map – the wondrous land of Roarsville – where five-year old Henry Hugglemonster lives, plays and learns something “roarsome” every day. Together with his loving parents and grandparents, big brother Cobby, sister Summer, baby bro Ivor, and a town full of cuddly monsters, Henry embraces all the joys and challenges of growing up. Whether he’s helping his sister put on a show, setting up a hugglejuice stand or entering his monsterdog Beckett in a pet pageant, he’s always discovering new ways to be the best brother, friend and monster he can be! Packed with over two hours of song-filled fun, teamwork and adventure, Henry Hugglemonster: Meet The Hugglemonsters will make your preschooler roar for more every time.

“Meet the Hugglemonsters” includes the following six episodes of Henry Hugglemonster: “The Huggleflower/“Monster Lullaby”, “Astrobrix”/“The Sore Roar”, “Promises Promises”/“Fireworks Night”, “The Hugglejuice Stand”/ “The Huggledance Party”, “Carried Away”/“Monster in Charge” and “Monsterpet Pageant”/“Ivor’s First Stomp”. Our family has seen this episodes many times when airing on Disney Junior but it is great to have to available on DVD now.

Fans of Disney Junior should also be very excited to find that there is a bonus episode included for the station’s newest upcoming show “Sheriff Callie’s Wild West”, which premieres on January 20th. The episode is “Horseshoe Peck”/”Callie’s Gold Nugget” and this is going to be a great show. I think my daughter has watched this more times so far since receiving this DVD than the “Hugglemonster” episodes. Also included as a bonus are great iron-on decals for Henry Hugglemonster, which I am sure my daughter will get us to make for her real quickly. Hope Disney doesn’t wait long to give us volume 2 DVD for this great show!

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Blu-ray Review “You’re Next”

Starring: Sharni Vinson, Nicholas Tucci, Wendy Glenn, AJ Bowen, Joe Swanberg, Barbara Crampton, Rob Moran
Directed by Adam Wingard
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: January 14, 2014
Run Time: 94 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

When I first saw “You’re Next”, I expect a full out horror film but I was blown away but what we got. The film is a part revenge thriller, comedy and full out gore fest. Overall, this film is a real blast to watch and will have you cheering. I love Sharni Vinson and she is just so bad-ass in this film. If it does nothing for you it will still have you whistling along to 1977’s “Looking for the Magic” by the Dwight Twilley Band days after watching it. I even have two of the animal masks from the film sitting above my office desk and it drives my poor wife crazy, so I know right there that that aspect was very effective for this film. Director Adam Wingard is a fantastic up-and-coming and he is going to be doing some great things for the genre. A must watch for any horror fan and I wish they made more films like this.

Official Premise: Aubrey and Paul Davison decide to celebrate their wedding anniversary by inviting their four children and their significant others to a family reunion at their remote weekend estate. But the family reunion goes awry when their home comes under siege by a mask-wearing team of crossbow-bearing assailants. The family has no idea who’s attacking them, why they’re under attack or if the attackers are inside or outside the cavernous, creaking house. All they know for certain is that nobody is safe.

I was surprised at first that there was no unrated or extended cut of this film. It always seems that films like this come unrated on Blu-ray, but to be honest I was also kinda happen that they didn’t need to take that route to draw more people in. Lions Gate delivered this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet Digital Copy included. The 1080p transfer holds that polished feel but also hangs on to the 80’s feel that I loved for this film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also rocked with the suspense and fantastic creepy as well score. This really works well to give this film a complete package.

“You’re Next” delivered some decent special features. The main deal here is “No Ordinary Home Invasion: The Making Of You’re Next”, which is a solid behind-the-scenes featurette on the film with cast and crew weighing in about their experiences. These only other features are two audio commentary tracks, but they really enhance the experience of the film and are highly recommended. The first audio commentary track is with Director Adam Wingard, Writer Simon Barrett and Actors Sharni Vinson and Barbara Crampton. This one is really a blast and it gives some great insight in the production. The next audio commentary track is a solo one with Director Adam Wingard and Writer Simon Barrett, it is a little more technical but still recommend if you enjoyed the film. These both make for a great repeat viewing.

Blu-ray Review “Sweetwater”

Starring: January Jones, Ed Harris, Jason Isaacs, Eduardo Noriega, Stephen Root, Dylan Kenin
Director: Logan Miller
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Arc Entertainment
Release Date: December 31, 2013
Run Time: 95 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

I have never been a huge fan of Westerns but I watch them from time to time. “Sweetwater” caught my attention since it has a really solid cast and its revenge thriller plot. January Jones has never really been a favorite but she really kicks some ass in this film. Ed Harris is brilliant as always. Jason Issacs always plays a solid bad guy and for all your country fans we get a nice role for singer Jason Aldean. The film is quite violent and action packed at times so even though I am not a big Western fan, I enjoyed it overall.

Official Premise: In the late 1800’s, a beautiful former prostitute (January Jones) is trying to build an honest life with her husband in the rugged plains of New Mexico. When she catches the eye of a sadistic and powerful religious leader (Jason Isaacs), her life is violently turned upside down. She embarks on a bloody course of vengeance with the assistance of a renegade sheriff (Ed Harris) who has violent tendencies of his own.

Arc Entertainment delivers a fine Blu-ray for this film. The 1080p transfer really is solid and captures the essence of the 1800’s timeline. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track did the same and worked well the action sequences as well. In terms of special features, we get a little look into the production with “The Making of Sweetwater”, which goes behind-the-scenes with interviews with Jones, Harris, Isaacs, Noriega, Ramirez and the Millers. There is also a song “Cold Grey Light of Drawn” by Hudson Moore and trailer included as well.

Blu-ray Review “Blue Jasmine”

Actors: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Louis C.K., Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Dice Clay, Sally Hawkins, Peter Sarsgaard
Directors: Woody Allen
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 98 minutes

Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Woody Allen is one hell of an unstoppable force. Since he made “Midnight in Paris” (my favorite film of 2011), I have been on a real kick for his films. “Blue Jasmine” can be described as simply, mesmerizing. Cate Blanchett is so bat-shit crazy that you both love at hate her. The film is hysterical yet has some great drama mixed in as well. I just kept asking myself how does this guy (Allen) come up with these amazing films. No question, this is one of the greats of 2013 and I have a feeling I will be having a repeat viewing in the very near future. Highly recommended!

Besides Cate Blanchett, who better win some awards for this role, there is a wonderful ensemble cast including Alec Baldwin, Louis C.K., Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Dice Clay, Sally Hawkins and Peter Sarsgaard. If I had to be runner up for best performance it would have to easily go to Bobby Cannavale who was an emotional wreck in this film and was wonderful. But very close behind him had to be Andrew Dice Clay, this guy was amazing. I kept asking myself why isn’t he in more films. Great talent here all around but that is expect from a Woody Allen picture.

Official Premise: Poignant, romantic and mesmerizing, writer/director Woody Allen’s latest masterpiece centers around Jasmine (Cate Blanchett), a former New York socialite teetering on an emotional tightrope, balancing between her troubled east coast past and a fresh start in San Francisco. Having moved into her sister’s humble apartment, Jasmine ricochets between the tumultuous acceptance of her new limitations, and the dreams of reclaiming her past life’s glamour. Join a powerful cast for an intimate portrayal of the battle between fantasy and reality which rages within us all.

Sony delivered this film as a combo pack with the Blu-ray and Digital HD Ultraviolet copy. The 1080p transfer was beautiful and really captured the essence of San Francisco. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track was solid as well but I wasn’t really blown away with the score like I was with “Midnight in Paris”. In terms of special features, it is not a surprise it is lacking since Woody’s films have never really impressed ere. “Notes From the Red Carpet” features the cast talking about the making the film and their characters. “Blue Jasmine Cast Press Conference” features interviews with Cate Blanchett, Peter Saarsgard and Andrew Dice Clay.

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Blu-ray Review “Dragon Ball Z: Season 1”

Starring: Sean Schemmel, Stephanie Nadolny, Christopher Sabat, Daisuke Gōri, Mayumi Tanaka, Kenji Utsumi
Director: Daisuke Nishio
Number of discs: 4
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Funimation
Release Date: December 31, 2013
Run Time: 925 minutes

Season: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Funimation Entertaiment has been pushing “Dragon Ball Z” series for quite some time. Last year, they completed releasing “Dragon Ball Z Kai”, which is the new restructure version of this show but they never have completed released the original “Dragon Ball Z” series on Blu-ray to date. They started back in late November 2011 with “Dragon Ball Z: Level 1.1” and “Dragon Ball Z: Level 1.2”, which got us to episode 34 out of 291 but future releases were cancelled and series was never completed. So that has left fans quite up in arms about this show but it looks like this release starts us back in the right track since we are already through the first season including 39 episodes. So hopefully they complete what they started this time. Dragonball Z: Season 2 Blu-ray is already slated to street on Feb 18, 2014, so I expected them to fly through season 9 by early 2015 at the latest.

Official Premise: The Saiyans, the last survivors of a cruel, warrior race, have carved a path of destruction across the galaxy. Now they have set their sights on Earth and will stop at nothing to obtain the wish-granting powers of the seven magic Dragon Balls for their very own. With the fate of his family, friends, and the entire human race hanging in the balance, Goku, the Earths greatest hero, must rise to meet the approaching threat. As he prepares for the fight of his life, Goku embarks on n epic journey that will take him to other worlds, pit him against new and old enemies alike, and force him to confront the dark secrets of his own past. At the end of this path, the most powerful opponent he has ever faced awaits: the evil Saiyan prince, Vegeta.

Funimation has really delivered quite an impressive Blu-ray presentation with this season by working a frame-by-frame restoration process to remove any blemishes, tape marks, and foreign bodies. The series has also been reframed and presented with an 1.78:1 aspect ratio and it looks great seeing this show with its new HD widescreen presentation. Colors are extremely sharp and the line detail is crisp. There are three audio tracks included, which also have been re-mastered and have never sounded better. The English dub comes with an Dolby TrueHD 5.1 with the original Japanese music. The original English language broadcast version with the broadcast version music is presented with an Dolby TrueHD 2.0 track. Lastly the original Japanese track with the Japanese music, of course is delivered with a Dolby TrueHD Mono track.

In terms of special features, there is nothing here to get excited over since there is nothing here. I would have loved to seen a featurette on focusing on the restoration process for this series or a new commentary track from the voice cast even on just a single episode. What we get instead is an Upcoming Special Feature Sneak Peek included. There are also the Textless Opening Song and Textless Closing Song included, as well as the U.S. Trailer. One feature that I did really liked, not really special feature but still very cool, is the “Marathon Feature”. This allows you to view the episodes continuously without the credits each episode. This really adds a lot and makes it very easy to enjoy a great binge viewing experience of this amazing series.

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Blu-ray Review “Nightmare City (1980)”

Starring: Hugo Stiglitz, Mel Ferrer, Laura Trotter, Francisco Rabal, Maria Rosaria Omaggio, Sonia Viviani
Director: Umberto Lenzi
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Raro Video USA Ltd.
Release Date: December 31, 2013
Run Time: 91 minutes

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

I remember seeing the video tape box for “Nightmare City” at the mom and pop video store Royal Video in Long Island, NY back in the early 90’s and just knew that I had to see this film. I was obsessed with Italian horror growing up. Umberto Lenzi is the genius behind great Italian horror films including “Cannibal Ferox”. What always struck me as odd is that this film is billed as a zombie film but even Lenzi himself denies that this is about zombies. I have to admit, the film itself isn’t as impressive as it was when I was a kid but Rare Video did quite a beautiful job on this Blu-ray. So if you are a fan of this film, this Blu-ray is a must own for sure.

Official Premise: Umberto Lenzi’s zombie shocker Nightmare City stars actor Hugo Stiglitz as a reporter caught in a living, breathing zombie hell. When an airplane comes into contact with radiation from a nuclear disaster it causes the passengers to mutate into scabby-faced humanoids with a compulsion to kill and drink the blood of their victims. As the zombies move into the city and beyond, will anyone or anything be able to stop the wave of bloody death and disease that threatens to decimate mankind?

Rare Video really did this film a solid and gave it a very impressive new high-definition transfer which was taken from the original 35mm negative. For a film that is over 30 years old, it looks quite stunning. Some of the gore looks aged especially the “zombie” make-up but overall, this film has never looked better. The LPCM 2.0 audio track is also a thing of beauty backed with a new and improved English subtitle translation. I was transported back to my childhood with this film’s amazing Goblin-like score, which is just so great and sounds amazing here.

In terms of special features, there is not a whole lot but quality represents over quantity. There is a nearly hour long intensive interview with Umberto Lenzi discussing the film and its legacy. There is the original English trailer, as well as the original Italian trailer. I was very impressed to find a fully illustrated booklet including inside the case, which focuses on the genesis and production of the film. It is written by Chris Alexander, who writes for Fangoria Magazine. I was surprised to see a few typos included in it though but overall, it is a great additional this great release.

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Blu-ray Review “Hell Baby”

Starring: Leslie Bibb, Rob Corddry, Riki Lindhome, Keegan Michael Key, Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon
Directors: Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Millennium
Release Date: December 31, 2013
Run Time: 93 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

Back in 1993, there was a show on MTV called “The State” which changed my life. This sketch comedy show was (and is still) so funny and it spawned great talent like Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon, also the creators of “Reno 911!” and writers of ”Night at The Museum”. There is also no shortage of talent along with the duo including Rob Corddry, Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel, even Michael Ian Black, who started with “The State” pops in for a nice cameo. “Hell Baby” is a horror/comedy spoof and has it fair share of problems but overall is quite entertaining. Overall, if you are a fan of these actors, I would recommend checking out for a few fun scares and a few decent laughs.

Official Premise: Jack (Rob Corddry) and Vanessa (Leslie Bibb) are an expectant couple that moves into the most haunted fixer-upper in New Orleans — a house with a deadly demonic curse. Things soon spiral out of control for Jack and Vanessa, as well as their-not-so-helpful neighbor F’Resnel (Keegan-Michael Key), Vanessa’s friendly psychiatrist (Michael Ian Black), Vanessa’s Wiccan sister Marjorie (Riki Lindhome) and the detectives assigned to look into the rising body count (Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer). Only the Vatican’s elite exorcism team (Garant and Lennon) san save them — or can they?

In terms of Blu-ray presentation, there is nothing extra special about the 1080p transfer but does look impressive nonetheless. Same goes for the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track, which delivers the few funscare jumps very well and the dialogue clearly. In terms of special features, there is nothing special here either besides nine deleted scenes and two gag reels. With all this talent involved, I would have loved to see a commentary track which could have really given this film a reason to watch again.

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Blu-ray Review “Big Ass Spider!”

Actors: Greg Grunberg, Lombardo Boyar, Ray Wise
Directors: Mike Mendez
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Epic Pictures
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Run Time: 85 minutes

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

When you hear the title “Big Ass Spider!”, you would probably think that this film was just another Syfy original movie but you would be wrong. This film is definitely a low-budget creature feature but it packs some solid production values. This comes quite polished and packed with great CG creature effects, solid action and also funny as hell. If you are looking for a fun and exciting ride, I would recommend checking this film out. Can’t wait for the sequel!

Official Premise: “An exterminator (Greg Grunberg) and his Hispanic sidekick (Lombardo Boyar) are caught in an epic battle when a military assault fails to contain a giant alien spider rampaging through the city of Los Angeles”. Epic right? But seriously do you really need to read what this film is about with a title like “Big Ass Spider!”, I mean come on, the title sells itself.

“Big Ass Spider!” comes with a solid cast including Greg Grunberg (TV’s “Heroes”), Lombardo Boyar (“Happy Feet I and II”) and Ray Wise (“X-Men: First Class”, TV’s “Twin Peaks”). Greg really nails this role, he is funny and he knows this film is a stretch but really has a blast with it. Lombardo Boyar is over=the-top and a laugh riot. Ray Wise is Ray Wise and steals the show (as always). The film is directed by Mike Mendez, who is best know for his 2006 horror feature, “The Gravedancers”. I can’t wait to see what he follows up this film with.

“Big Ass Spider!” really does shine on Blu-ray with its solid 1.78:1 aspect ratio presentation. The production value really stands up and looks solid and the visual effects look very impressive. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track also packs a nice punch. The dialogue is sharp and action is well represented. The only thing that I would have loved to seen with this release was a combo pack release with a digital copy.

In terms of special features, I was a bit let down. I would have loved to see the focus on the visual effects. We do get a solid commentary track with stars Greg Grunberg, Lombardo Boyar, and director Mike Mendez. You can tell that these guys had a blast with this film and this is a really fun track. The only other featurette is the “‘Big Ass Spider! Premiere'”, which takes us to South by Southwest Film Festival. Lastly, there is a very short collection of “Interviews” from cast/crew as well as a theatrical trailer, international trailer and TV spot included.

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Film Review “Grudge Match”

Starring: Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone and Kim Basinger
Directed by: Peter Segal
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 53 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

In the 1980s, there was no greater sport than boxing. And two of its best champions were Billy “the Kid” McDonnen and Henry “Razor” Sharp. Each man only lost once in their professional career: to each other. With a third meeting on the horizon, Sharp suddenly retired. He went back to his old job at a foundry, while McDonnen opened a restaurant, where he entertains patrons nightly with a puppet, mostly talking about how Sharp ducked him. But as is always the case in sports, there’s more than meets the eye to the truth.

Fun to watch, with enough action to go along with the laughs, “Grudge Match” could have been billed as Jake Lamotta vs Rocky Balboa, the boxing alter egos that earned De Niro and Stallone Oscar nominations (and the prize in De Niro’s case). In the most off-putting part of the film we are shown early boxing footage of the two, clearly taken from “Raging Bull” and “Rocky III.” This is fine. But in the scenes where the two “fight” each other, it’s obvious that the filmmakers have tried to digitally put the two actor’s faces on much younger bodies, an effect that makes the two look like they’re boxing in front of a fun house mirror.

When a young promoter (Kevin Hart) approaches both men with a deal to appear in a video game, they both reluctantly agree. It’s while throwing a few friendly jabs that the two let their dislike for each other show. The ensuing scuffle ends up on YouTube and soon the world is clamoring for the real thing. Billing it as “Grudgement Day,” Billy and Henry finally agree to the rematch that has eluded them for decades. As they prepare for the fight we learn that Henry retired after his girlfriend, Sally (Basinger), slept with Billy and had his baby. All grown up, the boy (Jon Bernthal, who looks like he could be De Niro’s son) takes on the job of training his pop while Henry turns to his old trainer, Louis Conlon (a very funny Alan Arkin). Of course things go badly when Sally also re-enters the picture.

The cast is well suited to the material, with both De Niro and Stallone showing a knack for comedy (De Niro has done it in the past with the “Meet the Parent” films but I’m pretty sure I’m the only person reading this that actually liked Stallone in “Rhinestone” or “Oscar”). Arkin has apparently snagged all of the great “aging wise-ass” roles in Hollywood, including last years’ Oscar nominated turn in “Argo.” He’s just as good here. Bernthal gives a solid performance as does Basinger, who seemingly hasn’t aged since the 1980s. And both De Niro (age 70) and Stallone (age 67) show some stamina during the climactic fight that ends the film. If there is a false note here it’s the young boy that plays De Niro’s grandson, He’s too precocious and cute to be a part of this family!

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, grudge, match, review

Film Review “The Wolf of Wall Street”

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Rated: R
Running time: 2 hours 59 mins
Paramount

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Earlier this month Paramount Pictures announced to film exhibitors that “The Wolf of Wall Street” would be the last film they will release on 35 mm. The digital age is here and from now on film is no more. My only thoughts is that they saved the best for last.

Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio) is a man on his way up. He has gotten caught up in the Wall Street boom of the mid 1980s and taken a job at a firm where he soon hopes to be making big bank. He is taken to lunch by, and under the wing of, the firm’s owner (McConaughey) and it is here that he learns the important part of Wall Street: you’re not making THEM money, you’re making YOURSELF money! When the Market crashes on Black Monday, Jordan finds himself out of work and searching the want ads. He applies to a firm that he learns is located in a strip mall. The main staple being sold are penny stocks…companies on the way up (allegedly) that consumers can get for pennies a share. Learning that his commission is 50% of what he sells, Jordan follows his mentors advice and makes himself $3000 on his first deal. Soon he decides to form his own firm, taking a few of his co-workers with him. Among them is Donnie Azoff (Hill, once again back in Oscar territory). Together they start a company where the money rolls in, the drugs roll out and Dwarf tossing is a competitive sport!

Based on the memoirs of the real-life Belfort, “The Wolf of Wall Street” is a humorous, depraved and intriguing look at the excess of the 1990s and the effect it had on people. When we first meet Jordan, his voice over tells us that he made $49 million last year. But he’s not proud of that fact, he’s annoyed. Another $3 mill and he could have said that he made a million dollars a week. Poor guy! As portrayed by DiCaprio, Belfort is a fun loving guy who is more than happy to share the wealth…and drugs…and hookers. His firm becomes so successful that competitions are held between prospective employees before they are even seen for an interview. DiCaprio has done his best work with Scorsese (this is their 5th collaboration) and he knocks it out of the park here. If a fourth Academy Award nomination (and first Award) aren’t forthcoming the Academy and I are going to have a stern conversation. From emotional highs to dramatic lows to some incredible physical comedy, DiCaprio gives Belfort something he probably didn’t have in real life: a soul. Hill is excellent as the nebbish Azoff. Also turning in great supporting work is Kyle Chandler, as an FBI agent on Jordan’s trail, Jean DuJardin as Jordan’s Swiss compatriot and, in a rare on screen appearance, Rob Reiner, who plays Jordan’s father.

Technically, this is Scorsese at his best. Is there a better storyteller working today? Armed with his usual sidekicks, including film editor Thelma Schoonmaker, Scorsese has fashioned another masterpiece, just in time for the holidays. In my humble opinion, this is the best film of 2013.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, review, street, wall, wolf

Film Review “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”

Starring: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, and Shirley MacLaine
Directed By: Ben Stiller
Rated: PG
Running Time: 114 minutes
20th Century Fox

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Walter Mitty (Stiller) has lived a dry life. His dating profile is barren. Not because he’s shy, but because he draws a blank when asked if he’s ever gone anywhere or done anything exciting. Ironically he is a long time photo department employee for the magazine “Life”. He’s lived a longer and more fulfilling life in his head. As his sister says, he zones out and begins to image a complex fantasy sprawl out in front while blocking out the real world. He sees himself as a true hero, constantly in the throes of battle or immersing himself in a wild adventure. Instead he’s spent years developing the photos of world traveler Sean O’Connel (Sean Penn) in the basement of the “Life” building.

Today he learns that “Life” has been acquired and will become an all online magazine. The company has brought in a new smug boss, Ted (Adam Scott). He’s a hot shot who’s clueless about how the company is run. Ted says the magazine’s final publication will feature an image that Sean has deemed as the quintessence of life. What is that image? Don’t know. Mitty has lost the negative and is quietly scrambling to find it. The beginning may not sound exciting, but the tapestry that is Walter’s imagination, is a saving grace. He saves animals from exploding buildings and in a light hearted moment, skews Benjamin Button.

His love interest in the movie, Cheryl (Wiig), seems to be the driving factor behind Walter’s sudden change of direction. Instead of accepting defeat, he pushes himself to globe trot in order to find Sean and ask what his final negative was. The film does begin to lose a major component of storytelling when Walter’s vivid imagination begins to phase out as he begins to encounter his own fanciful situations. How many people can say they’ve fought a shark in the water or sped away from a volcanic cloud of ash? As neat as though actual adventures are, I’d much rather watch Walter surf on gravel and duel Ted over a Stretch Armstrong.

Give ample credit to Ben Stiller for painting such a beautiful world for Walter, real and fake. Behind the camera, Stiller is smart enough to let the beautiful countryside of Iceland speak for itself in multiple scenes, but fails to give Walter a big enough playground even in the realm of his own visions. In front of the camera, Stiller puts his usual movie goofyness aside and plays the humble Walter well. Kristen Wiig is equally charming in her role as a single mom willing to let Walter into her life. One of my favorite parts of this movie is the fantastic indie soundtrack. The music meshes well when used as a simple bed for the scene to nestle on or when it overtakes the sound of everything.

Walter’s a likable guy and he’s very relatable since we’ve all had our fair share of daydreams. Who doesn’t wanna show up their boss in front of their co-workers? It’s easy to become disinterested and tired of the story as it stumbles beneath it’s frantic feet, but if your hearts in the right place, you’ll have a smile on your face as you exit the theater.

Blu-ray Review “Duck Dynasty: Season 4”

Starring: Willie Robertson, Jase Robertson, Kay Robertson, Phil Robertson
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: January 7, 2014
Run Time: 241 minutes

Season: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

The tagline on the box says its all “It’s a Duck Nation”. Duck Dynasty is one of the biggest TV shows on right now and only continues to get more popular. This season premiere got nearly 12 million viewers, which is the highest-rated reality series broadcast in cable history. Can you believe it? Where you are a fan of this show or not, there is no way to escape this show as it is everywhere you look. “Duck Dynasty” is easily the hottest reality show since “The Osbournes”. The fourth season is also no question, the best season so far. This season will leave you “Happy Happy Happy” while you get ready for the kick-off of Season 5, which debuts on January 15th.

Official Premise: The Robertsons are back and they’ve never had so much Southern charm. It’s a family affair as everyone comes together to throw a surprise wedding party for Phil and Kay. And when the guys and their wives realize Martin is forgoing poker for a date, they all take turns coaching him in romance. Meanwhile, Phil tries to teach his granddaughters how to fish, but the girls outsmart him and have him doing all the work. Later, he and Kay teach Sadie and John Luke how to make May Haw jelly. And as always, the guys’ antics continue as they attempt to make duck jerky, and a series of “gentlemen’s bets” leads them to the ultimate challenge of helping Phil get a wheelbarrow down from a tree.

Here are the episodes from Season 4: “Till Duck Do Us Part”, “So You Think You Can Date?”, “Hot Tub Grime Machine”, “A-Jase-ent Living”, “Termite Be a Problem”, “John Luke After Dentist”, “Scoot Along Si”, “Jerky Boys”, “Going Si-ral” and the Halloween episode “Quack O’Lanterns”. What doesn’t make it on the disc is the recent Christmas episode, which aired on December 11th, “O Little Town of West Monroe”.

In terms of Blu-ray presentation, this is one of those shows that don’t really benefit too much from a Blu-ray release. It looks sharp with its 1080p transfers but nothing going to blow you away. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, which has been the same for the last three seasons as well. In terms of special features there isn’t a whole lot to call the ducks over. There is about 20 minutes of Never-Before-Seen-On-TV footage, which is cool but again its only 20 minutes. They consist of six deleted scenes and five webisodes. I would have expected more from this highly successful season. Still for the price, it is worth picking up if you love the show.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: 4, bluray, duck, dynasty, review, season, ...

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