Blu-ray Review: “Scanners II: The New Order / Scanners III: The Takeover – Double Feature”

Starring: Liliana Komorowska, David Hewlett, Deborah Raffin, Valérie Valois, Yvan Ponton, Steve Parrish
Director: Christian Duguay
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: September 10, 2013
Run Time: 199 minutes

Scanners II: 3 out of 5 stars
Scanners III: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars

“Scanners” is one of my favorite horror flicks and one of the best films from David Cronenberg. The film was so unique, still holds up today and has spawned two sequels. “Scanners II” is a standalone from the 1981 film and has a different cast but still similar story. It has a hard act to follow-up but is a pretty decent film. The same can’t be said for “Scanners III”, which is not the greatest film but it still fun to watch (or at least it was when I was kid). Sort of reminds me a “Jaws 3-D”, terrible yet I still always watch it. This double feature is brought to us by Scream Factory, who is really coming to the aid of horror fans in need of obscure horror titles this year.

“Scanners II” Official Premise: Sequel to David Cronenberg’s 1981 feature, about a fringe group of humans who have developed telepathic powers. When a corrupt police commander (Yvan Ponton) decides to use the scanners to help take over the city, he convinces evil scientist Dr Morse (Tom Butler) to help him. Morse has plans to use a new mind-controlling drug on the telepaths, but has not reckoned with a rogue scanner who is determined to stop them.

“Scanners III” Official Premise: Second sequel to David Cronenberg’s 1981 horror, about a group of telepathic people, known as ‘scanners’, operating on the fringes of human society. Young Helena Monet (Liliana Komorowska) has exceptional telepathic abilities, but when she tries an experimental drug developed by her father she turns into a deranged killer, using her abilities to cut a murderous swathe to the top of her father’s pharmaceutical company. On her quest to dominate the world, Helena takes over a television station, and the only man who can stop her is her scanner brother Alex, recently returned from honing his skills in a Thai monastery.

Scream Factory delivered this double feature in a combo pack with Blu-ray and DVD of both films. “Scanners II & III” each located on one Blu-ray disc and one DVD. The transfers of these films are good but not out of this world. These films were never shot were not given a new touched up transfer for this release, so they both show their age a bit. Nonetheless, they both deliver what they need to in order to make the presentations worth checking out. They each come with a DTS-HD Master Audio track, which also work for what each film delivers. In terms of special features though there is no much hear except for Theatrical Trailers. But I am sure that some of you will just take “Scanners II” and consider “Scanners III” an optional bonus feature.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, double, feature, ii, iii, order, ...

Concert Review: “IMatter Fest and The Gate Presents” Phinehas, My Heart to Fear, Alive in the Dark, Praxia, Take Two

“IMatter Fest and The Gate Presents”
Phinehas, My Heart to Fear, Alive in the Dark, Praxia, Take Two
Date: Saturday, August 24th 2013
Venue: The Gate, Horseheads, NY

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Red Chord Records artist Phinehas brought their 2013 summer tour to The Gate located in the upstate NY town of Horseheads, NY on August 24th. The group who hails from Los Angeles is currently out on tour in support of their newest EP release titled “The Bridge Between”. Though the crowd on hand was of the smaller size all the bands who performed that evening gave their all in an effort to put on a great performance.

Take Two would hit the stage first and though the group experienced a few technical difficulties not of their own doing the local 5 piece punk/rock band forged through like professionals and did what all good openers do by priming the crowd for what was to come later in the night. Praxia another local band from the area would follow with their own unique style of metal core which definitely kicked things up a notch. Advent recording artists Alive in the Dark were up next and started off their set as though they were shot out of a cannon. The band certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves especially drummer Michael Guevarez who donned a creepy yet entertaining unicorn mask for a portion of the set.

Next up were Solid State Records artist My Heart to Fear. The band hails from Williamsport, PA an area probably best known for its baseball history however over the last few years have become a breeding ground for up and coming metal-core acts. Vocalist Trevor Pool worked the crowd in between songs which helped keep the excitement going and even though the bands tour van broke down between shows none of the members let that affect their performance which garnered a great response from the crowd.

Closing out the night were tour headliners Phinehas who put on a stellar performance from start to finish.
Each of the bands four members really put everything they had into the extended set which whipped the crowd in to several good sized circle pits. Guitarist Jason Combs and bassist Bryce Kelley made great use of the stage as they bounced and spun back and forth while delivering the bands crushing material. Drummer Lee Humerian was a show in his self dazzling the crowd with a bevy of stick twirling tricks while vocalist Sean McCulloch put the icing on the cake with his shredding vocals and commandeering stage presence.

I really have to give it to the people who handle The Gate. Not only do they provide a safe and fun environment to play and listen to music but they seem to be the only ones in the area that are doing anything for music fans and performers. Without their dedication to the art of music younger bands and listeners would have little to no chance to perform or experience some of the great music that is out there. Definitely keep up the good work!

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Concert Reviews Tagged With: alive, concert, dark, fear, fest, gate, ...

Blu-ray Review “Frankenstein’s Army”

Actors: Karel Roden, Alexander Mercury, Joshua Sasse, Robert Gwilym
Directors: Richard Raaphorst
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Dark Sky Films
Release Date: September 10, 2013
Run Time: 84 minutes

Film: 4 out 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Flesh-and-metal “Zombots”. Period. That is really all you need to know about “Frankenstein’s Army”, which should be enough to sell you. If that isn’t enough this film contains all  practical creature effects. Now take a look at the Blu-ray cover or the film’s poster and know that there are some crazy cool creatures created for this film. I am a super big fan of practical effects, which is not common in the age of digital but it really adds a lot of character to the film. I should also mention that the team that worked on this film also did the make-up effects on a few little known films in “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” franchise. Karel Roden (“Hellboy”) stars as Frankenstein and delivers a creepy yet powerful performance. If all that isn’t cool enough this was even filmed at abandoned World War II sites in Prague and throughout Europe. The first 20 minutes are slow but once it gets rocking…watch out!!! A must see for any fans of original and unique horror.

Official Premise: In the dying days of World War II, a battalion of Russian soldiers find themselves lost in enemy territory. Stumbling upon a village decimated by an unseen terror, they re lured into the secret lab of a deranged scientist (Hellboy’s Karel Roden) and forced to face off against his army of horrific flesh-and-metal war machines. Leaderless and faced with dissention amongst their dwindling ranks, the Russians must find the courage to face down this terrifying new menace or die trying. A nightmarish fantasy thrill ride unlike any other, Richard Raaphorst’s “Frankenstein’s Army” is a delirious plunge into the darkest depths of insanity.

The Blu-ray release from Dark Sky Films really looks awesome with its 1080p transfer.  The film has a handheld feel but captures the gritty feel to this crazy film. The creatures effects also look amazing under this.  There is a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which really delivers with the war action and creepy score. The special features are not out of this world but worth checking out. The main sell is a very in-depth “Making-Of” featurette, which clocks in just over 30 minutes. Everything is covered in this film from pre-production and onwards. It is a must watch There are five (very short) creature spots for each of these baddies including “Burnt Match Man”, “Mosquito Man”, “Propellerhead”, “Teddy Bear Woman” and “Razor Teeth”. I would have loved to seen more in depth on these creatures, even though we do cover that some in the featurette. Lastly there is a trailer gallery.

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

Concert Review: Marina and The Diamonds – Rumsey Playfield, NYC

Marina and The Diamonds
The Lonely Hearts Club Tour
May 29th, 2013
Rumsey Playfield, New York City

On May 29th, Marina And The Diamonds took the stage at the Rumsey Playfield in New York City for the last stop on The Lonely Hearts Club Tour. Fans got there early, and by 5:00pm, the line to get into the venue was already reaching across Central Park. The concert was opened by Charli XCX, writer of the hit summer song, Icona Pop’s “I Love It.” When Marina finally took the stage, the sun had set, the crowd was ready, and the cheer was exuberant as she stepped out wearing a 1950’s-inspired pink dress and wedding veil.

The Welsh singer-songwriter, Marina, is mainly known for her electro-pop music with catchy lyrics and a kitsch-with-an-edge personal style. Fans refer to themselves as diamonds, and her lyrics often bank on offbeat humor and alter-egos to tell the stories of different characters. The set list was comprised of a nice mix of songs from both her debut album “The Family Jewels” (2010) and her more recent release, “Electra Heart” (2012).

Each song and each costume change throughout the concert seemed to depict a new character. The common thread throughout? Love.

And nowhere was the theme more present than when she took to the stage for the encore, solo- just her at her piano. Directly addressing the audience, she broke out in tears several times while talking about her struggles as an artist and what the fans meant to her. “Last year, I was like, I really enjoy doing Electra Heart, but I always felt like- oh, there were so many things wrong and, like, you know, people hated me or like, I’m definitely a glass half empty girl. But since the beginning of this year, I actually haven’t been, and I’ve done this Lonely Hearts Club Tour, and I’ve enjoyed it so much. It’s because of you guys. Of course, you know, I’d like to be a good artist, but it’s the fan base who spreads the word, and I’m not a hits artist. Obviously, I’ve had singles, but I know that you’re an album crowd. This is the end of Electra Hearts, but I have the feeling we’re going to stick together for a long time.”

You know what they say, Marina. Diamonds are forever.

 

Related Content

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Concert Reviews Tagged With: concert, diamonds, marina, nyc, playfield, review, ...

Blu-ray Review “Empire State”

Starring: Emma Roberts, Liam Hemsworth, Dwayne Johnson, Nikki Reed, James Ransone, Michael Angarano
Director: Dito Montiel
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Release Date: September 3, 2013
Run Time: 94 minutes

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

With Dwayne Johnson popping up in practically about every film this year and Liam Hemsworth role with “The Hunger Games” behind him, I am surprised that this film didn’t make it into theaters. But I guess look what just happened to Hemsworth’s “Paranoia” in theaters and he has Indiana Jones co-starring with him. “Empire State” is definitely not what I expected but is pretty cool crime-thriller and it is also based around a true story. Like you would expect from Johnson, the action is here and he kicks some ass (like usual). Not my favorite film of the year but still worth a rent and would recommend this for fans of Dwayne Johnson.

Official Premise: After failing to get into the police academy, Chris Potamitis (Liam Hemsworth), settles for a security guard job with the “Empire State” Armored Truck Company. Chris makes the mistake of mentioning the company’s lax security to his best friend, Eddie (Michael Angarano), and is soon unwittingly drawn into an elaborate scheme to rob the abundant amounts of cash being stored there – resulting in the largest cash heist in U.S. History. As the stakes continue to rise, Chris and Eddie must outwit James Ransone (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), the veteran NYPD Detective that is hot on their trail, as well as the local crime bosses that want to know who pulled a job on their turf, or suffer the consequences.

Lions Gate is releasing this film as a Blu-ray + UltraViolet combo pack. The 1080p transfer works with the film’s action. The film has a pretty rocking DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track as well, which keeps the tension high throughout the film. The special features are decent and definitely worth checking out. There is commentary track from the director Dito Montiel. There is are behind-the-scenes interviews with cast/crew. The best extra is “Anatomy of a Heist: Interview with Chris Potamitis – The Mastermind Behind the Robbery”, which is featurette about the actual guy who the film is based on. Lastly, there a few deleted scenes included.

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

Blu-ray Review “The Lords of Salem”

Actors: Sheri Moon Zombie, Bruce Davison, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Ken Foree, Dee Wallace
Directors: Rob Zombie
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Run Time: 101 minutes

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

“The Lords of Salem” is easily Rob Zombie’s best films to date, read our interview with him here. When it comes to original and unique horror films, they are pretty rare in this market. After Rob’s last film “Halloween II”, he really gets back to his roots with this gritty and very creepy and goes balls-to-the-wall with this one. It is not your typical horror flick though since it is thought provoking and actually needs you to think after watching it.  So it is not a brainless gore flick. I think people are going to shun away from this film but they need to give it a chance because it grows on your with each viewing. No question one of my favorite films of the year, so far! Great work Rob! Can’t wait to see what you have planned next!

If you are a horror fan, than this should be your dream cast. Rob’s wife, Sheri Moon Zombie (“Halloween”, “The Devil’s Rejects”) takes the lead in this film and gives her best performance to date, read our interview here. The three modern day witches in the film are amazing including Patricia Quinn (“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”), Dee Wallace (“The Howling”, “Cujo”) and Judy Geeson (“To Sir, with Love”). They are just amazing together. But the one that steals the show is easily Meg Foster (“They Live”, “Masters of the Universe”). She gets a full transformation on this film and really gets into the role 110%, read our interview here. Of course then there is a few cameos from Rob’s regulars as well. Great ensemble!

Official Premise: From the singular mind of horror maestro Rob Zombie comes a chilling plunge into a nightmare world where evil runs in the blood. “The Lords of Salem” tells the tale of Heidi (Sheri Moon Zombie), a radio station DJ living in Salem, Massachusetts, who receives a strange wooden box containing a record, a “gift from the Lords.” Heidi listens, and the bizarre sounds within the grooves immediately trigger flashbacks of the town’s violent past. Is Heidi going mad, or are the “Lords of Salem” returning for revenge on modern-day Salem?

Anchor Bay is releasing this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet. There is also limited edition collectible packaging available. The film was shot on a very low budget  but the 1080 transfer looks pretty sharp, thanks to Brandon Trost, who also working with Zombie on “Halloween II”. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track works perfectly with John 5 haunting score.  The special features on this release are a bit of a disappointment though.  There is only an audio commentary track with writer/producer/director Rob Zombie. The track is solid though since Zombie talks us through his labor of love. I just would have loved to seen featurettes on the production itself, specifically Meg Foster’s transformation and the witch burning scene.

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

DVD Review “Revenge: The Complete Second Season”

Actors: Emily VanCamp, Madeleine Stowe, Gabriel Mann, Henry Czerny, Ashley Madekwe
Number of discs: 5
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: ABC Studios
DVD Release Date: August 20, 2013
Run Time: 924 minutes

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

When I watched the first season of I thought to myself, “Ok the first season was good but how the hell are they going to keep this whole revenge thing going?” But from the moment the second season started I was blown away.  They really have some smart writers on this show and they really know how to create a great story line and keep it sharp throughout the whole season. To top it off, this show really builds on the first season and is actually quite better.  The cast also really comes together as well and gives great performances. Kudos to Barry Sloane, who came into this show this season playing Aiden Mathis and has quickly becoming my personal favorite character. Also what I enjoyed about the second season is that there is much more mystery and secrets revealed. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for the third season, which premiering on September 29, 2013. I can’t imagine how they can top this season!

Official Premise: Emily Thorne returns to the Hamptons with a vengeance. Her enemies may be the same, but her mission now takes on a new, suspenseful twist. Feel the power of television’s most seductive series, as the action and the passion hit new heights in all 22 episodes of Revenge: The Complete Second Season on DVD. Emily will stop at nothing to uncover the secrets of her father’s murder, but the web of deceit is larger than she ever imagined. Now, with her mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) in the picture, even more will be revealed. Watch the sparks fly as Daniel and Ashley begin a torrid romance, while stunning events change the face of Amanda and Jack’s relationship, and new faces mean more trouble for Emily and Victoria, while a mysterious man from Emily’s past adds to her complications. Relive every biting and brilliant episode of Season Two, complete with never-before-seen bonus features that will lure you even deeper into the drama. Revenge: The Complete Second Season on DVD is addictive entertainment that will have you begging for more!

I am not sure why ABC is not getting on the Blu-ray wagon with these season releases. Same thing goes for one of my favorite shows “Castle”. But “Once Upon a Time” does get the Blu-ray treatment, so it beats me. I hope that they go Blu-ray for “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” Anyways back to “Revenge”, the fun doesn’t stop at the episodes since there is tons of great special features included for this season. The DVD special features include audio commentaries on the following episodes including “Illusion”, “Forgiveness” and “Truth – Part 2”. There are two featurettes including “The Sound of Revenge” and “Dressing Miss Davenport”, focusing on the score and the wardrobes used on the show. There are 35 deleted scenes, some are good and others are so-so, but worth checking out if you are a fan on the show. Lastly there is a trailer for “Schooled in Revenge” and bloopers included.

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

DVD Review “Eight is Enough: The Complete Fourth Season”

Actors: Dick Van Patten, Betty Buckley, Grant Goodeve, Willie Aames, Dianne Kay
Number of discs: 7
Studio: Warner Archive Collection
DVD Release Date: August 13, 2013
Run Time: 1342 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“Eight is Enough” was a little before my time but I remember it more on the repeats. This fourth season DVD comes split into two parts. The first part DVD comes with 14 episodes and the second part comes with 13 episodes. This season deals with issues like multiple marriages, pregnancy, and a graduation to the ever-expanding family. In terms of rating it was the show’s best rated season since the second, yet still the next season would be it’s last. The show packs an impressive cast including Dick Van Patten, Betty Buckley, Grant Goodeve, Willie Aames, Dianne Kay, Connie Newton, Lani O’Grady, Adam Rich, Susan Richardson and Laurie Walters. The show definitely brought back some memories. I have to admit though, it shows its age but if you grew up with it, it should be worth checking out.

Official Premise: The Bradfords bid adieu to the seventies by ushering in even more changes to the clan dynamic in Season Four. First up, minor league ball player Merle “the Pearl” Stockwell (Brian Patrick Clarke) sweeps Susan (Susan Richardson) off her feet. An engagement soon follows, but there’s one problem – David (Grant Goodeve) has already set THEIR date for HIS wedding while Nancy (Dianne Kay) has a singing telegram gig that day…And first comes marriage, then comes Mary (Lani O’Grady) finding a positive home pregnancy test! Meanwhile, Joanie (Laurie Walters) and Tom (Dick Van Patten) become competing journalists, Nicholas (Adam Rich) curses the family by breaking a chain letter, and Tommy (Willie Aames) runs for Prom Queen! On the more tender side, Abby (Betty Buckley) comes to grips with the memories of her deceased husband, while Tom is forced into a reunion with the father he has not seen in forty years – and he’s about to turn fifty!

“Eight is Enough” is being released on made-to-order DVD, thanks to Warner Archive. It is presented with an aspect ratio of 1.37:1. Concerning the show’s transfer, this DVD has been manufactured from the best-quality video master currently available. So it has not been remastered or restored for this release. They episodes look good but they could most definitely looks better, definitely for a DVD release. The show does with a Dolby Digital audio track, which works well for the comedic timing. There are no additional special features included on this release.

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

DVD Review “The Frozen Dead (1966)”

Director: Herbert J. Leder
Cast: Dana Andrews, Anna Palk, Philip Gilbert, Kathleen Breck, Oliver Macgreevy
Distributed by: Warner Archive
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 95 minutes

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

When I read the premise for “The Frozen Dead”, I thought “a sci-fi horror film about frozen Nazi soldiers…how could it go wrong?”. Too bad the film really doesn’t deliver much beyond that premise. The film drags quite a bit throughout, especially in the middle.  The visual effects are not too bad for 1966 and does take you back a little to that golden age but I just wasn’t really feeling it.

Official Premise: Dana Andrews stars in the ghoulish, sci-fi horror story The Frozen Dead. Twenty years after World War II has ended, members of the Nazi party remain, and they are determined to again rise to power. Having funded German doctor Rupert Norberg’s (Andrews) cryogenic experiments since the war, the party makes it clear that they expect him to reanimate some 1,500 frozen Nazis! Fearful for his life, Norberg continues his research – in increasingly horrific, murderous ways. But when his niece’s (Anna Palk) best friend goes missing, the young woman tries desperately to enlist help from an American scientist (Philip Gilbert) to stop the madness. Andrews took many jobs to pay the bills while trying to make it “big.” His boss at a Van Nuys gas station was so impressed with the actor’s determination that he paid for his acting and singing lessons.

“The Frozen Dead” is being released on made-to-order DVD, courtesy of Warner Archive. It is presented with an aspect ratio of 1.66:1. The transfer looks amazing for a film that is nearly 50 years old. The Dolby Digital track also works well with the score, but there isn’t much added suspense. I would recommend this release only for long-time fans of the film.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: 1966, dead, dvd, frozen, review

DVD Review “Tormented (1960)”

Director: Bert I. Gordon
Cast: Richard Carlson, Julie Reding, Susan Gordon, Lugene Sanders, Joe Turkel
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 70 minutes
Distributed by: Warner Archive

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

When in comes to Bert I. Gordon, I am one of his biggest fans. I had a chance to pick his brain a few years back, read interview here, and was a highlight of my career. He is known for his creature films like “The Amazing Colossal Man”, “Empire of the Ants” and “Earth vs. The Spider” but “Tormented” is much different yet still equally amazing. I haven’t seen this film in many years since it has not had a proper DVD release in the past, but it still holds up today.  It is still well formed, packs a few good spooks and is just great fun from the early 60’s. If you are a fan of classic suspense horror, then this release is a must! Highly recommend!

Official Premise: Richard Carlson stars in this thrill-fest as a man haunted by a nagging conscience and a dead lover! Jazz pianist Tom Stewart (Carlson) is headed for Carnegie Hall – right after he marries his lovely fiancée Meg (Lugene Sanders). But when Vi Mason (Juli Reding), a lounge singer Tom rejected, shows up at the island lighthouse where Tom practices, she insists that no one will marry Tom but her. After she accidentally falls over a railing to her death, Vi returns as a ghost bent on revenge. Slowly, Tom loses his grip on reality, and it’s a matter of time before tragedy strikes again in Tormented!

Richard Carlson is amazing in this film and really captures and creates the right amount of suspense with his character. Also I should point out that Joe Turkel also has a role in this film. If you don’t know him by name, Joe plays Lloyd the Bartender in “The Shining”.  You also got to love the aged dialogue including “It’s bad enough to welcome a musician into this family…but a jazz musician it is just too much!” What a riot! “Tormented” is being released on made-to-order DVD, thanks to Warner Archive. It is presented with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The transfer looks amazing for a film that is over 50 years old. The Dolby Digital track also works well with the score, which adds a lot of great suspense. I really loved this film and this release is a great tribute to it.

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

Blu-ray Review “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh”

Starring: Sterling Holloway, John Fiedler, Junius Matthews, Paul Winchell, Ralph Wright, Hal Smith
Narrator: Sebastian Cabot
Directors: John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reitherman
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 27, 2013
Run Time: 74 minutes

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

I have always loved Winnie the Pooh and his friends in the 100 acre woods. I grew up watching “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh”. It hard to believe that it was made over 35 years ago but it still holds up today and is very cute, humorous and screams classic Disney animation. The film consists of a collection of the original Pooh shorts including “The Honey Tree,” “The Blustery Day,” and “Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too”, backed by great narration from Sebastian Cabot. Backed with an amazing musical score and original voices of Sterling Holloway as Pooh and Paul Winchell as Tigger, makes this film a timeless classic. Now if Disney is reading this they just need to release “Pooh’s Heffalump Movie” along with its sequel “Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie” on Blu-ray next! Do I smell a the next double feature Blu-ray release?

Official Premise: Celebrate the never-ending friendship that has delighted generations with Pooh’s first and most beloved feature film. Full of fun and heartwarming stories, this Academy Award-winning animated classic (Best Cartoon Short Subject, 1968, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day) tells the tale of the first unforgettable meeting between Tigger (Paul Winchell) and Pooh (Sterling Holloway). Your family will laugh along when Pooh gets stuck in Rabbit’s (Junius Matthews) house from eating too much honey, and enjoy the lovable characters’ flurry of hilarious activity on a windy day. These timeless adventures are brought to life through extraordinary Disney animation and engaging songs and a digitally restored and remastered Blu-ray presentation.

Disney is releasing this Blu-ray as a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy. I love that Disney has switched from just iTunes digital copies to streaming digital copies from Vudu and Amazon. The 1080p transfer looks quite stunning for a film of it’s age.  The animation is very sharp and I have always loved the line detail in “Winnie The Pooh” films. The colors are pop-out as well and are very well restored. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track delivers as well. Since this film packs ome fun songs, it really gets a chance to shine. It also had my 15 month daughter on her feet dancing and clapping.

The special features are pretty decent as well. I particularly love the new feature “Disney Intermission”, which is activated when you pause the film with great and fun bonus activities for kids. There is an additional classic animated short including called “A Day for Eeyore”. If you watch Disney Junior like myself then you will be aware of the “Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” Shorts.  Included on this disc we get five shorts, including “If I Wasn’t So Small”, “Piglet’s Drawings”, “The Expedition”,  “Geniuses”, “The Honey Song”. There is a behind-the-scenes look in the feature “The Story Behind the Masterpiece”. There is a music video for the Winnie the Pooh Theme Song performed by Carly Simon. Lastly, there is a “Pooh Play-Along”, which is a great feature for the kids.

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

Blu-ray Review “Peter Pan: Return to Never Land”

Actors: Blayne Weaver, Corey Burton, Kath Soucie, Harriet Owen, Jeff Bennett
Directors: Robin Rudd
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Run Time: 72 minutes

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

Like the recently released “Planes”, “Return to Never Land” is a direct-to-video movie that was released in theaters back in 2002. I remember seeing it in theaters back then and actually quite enjoying it. The film is a direct sequel to 1953’s “Peter Pan” arriving nearly 50 years later. “Peter Pan” is easily one of my favorite Disney films ever, so this film has big shoes to fill. “Return to Never Land” does deliver though. It is not perfect but it is fun, packed some good jokes and has that same charm that we all loved from “Peter Pan”. It just makes you feel like a kid again while watching it. With the success of Disney Junior’s “Jake and the Never Land Pirates”, this would be great for today’s kids that weren’t born yet when this came out.

Official Premise: Let your imagination soar as your favorite characters from Peter Pan, Disney’s classic adventure, return to Never Land. Now, for the first time through the magic of Blu-ray, experience all the thrilling action with digitally restored picture and spine-tingling high-definition sound. Wendy’s very practical and no-nonsense daughter, Jane, begins the adventure of a lifetime when the infamous Captain Hook whisks her away to the enchanted island of Never Land. It’s up to Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and the Lost Boys to help Jane believe in faith, trust and pixie dust. With the first-ever Lost Girl at his side, will Peter Pan finally defeat Hook and his swashbuckling band of pirates? Share the power of believing with your family in Return To Never Land—now more spectacular than ever on Disney Blu-ray.

Disney is releasing this film as a Special Edition combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy. I love that Disney has switched from just iTunes digital copies to streaming digital copies from Vudu and Amazon.  The 1080p transfer looks really amazing with this film.  Even though it has that certain direct-to-video look, Disney did a great job of giving this film a nice polish job. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.  It works well the dialogue, the soaring through the sky, as well the action including the sword fights and all other aspects of swashbuckling.

Unlike the film, the special features are not very impressive. There are give deleted scenes included presented in various stages of the production but mostly in storyboards. Thought it might not excite many people, I watch Disney Junior quite a bit with our 15 month old daughter and she goes absolutely crazy for the “Pixie Previews” with the crew from the Tinker Bell movies.  So even though it is not directly related to “Return to Neverland”, I am pretty excited to see the five animated shorts including “Hide and Tink,” “Dust Up,” “Shooting Stars,” “Volley Bug” and “Just Desserts”. Lastly, there is a music video for the song “I’ll Try” performed by Jonatha Brooke and some trailers included.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, land, pan, peter, return, review, ...

Blu-ray Review “The Great Gatsby”

Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher
Directors: Baz Luhrmann
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Run Time: 142 minutes

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

When I read that Baz Luhrmann was making an adaption of “The Great Gatsby” I had to do a double take. This is the same guy who made the strikenly visual and over-the-top films like “Romeo + Juliet” and “Moulin Rouge!”.  I couldn’t wait to see what he will do with his retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel.  I have to admit, I was very impressed.  The film does scream Baz Luhrmann, which for me is a good thing. Everyone on this film including Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton look like they are having such a blast with this film and deliver a great ensemble. “The Great Gatsby” is a fun, visual trip with great music and equally impressive performances from the film’s cast.

Official Premise: The Great Gatsby follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin Daisy and her philandering, blue-blooded husband Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

Warner Bros delivered this release as combo pack including a Blu-ray + DVD and Ultraviolet digital copy. The film’s 1080p transfer really works well with the films from very dazzling visual effects and Baz’s vision for this period.  The colors stand out and the details are very sharp. The film was originally released in 3D and I have heard that that presentation is the preferred way to view this but the 2D version is still fun, though you can see very clearly where the extra dimension would have stood out.  Since music is a big part of this film, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track delivers as well. Craig Armstrong’s score is amazing and blends well with the film’s different yet very effective hip hop soundtrack.

The special features are good like the film but I would have loved to see a commentary track, especially with all this great talent included. “The Greatness of Gatsby” features director Baz Luhrmann and cast discussing bringing Fitzgerald novel to the big screen during pre-production. “Within and Without” features Tobey Maguire with his take on the production. “Gatsby Revealed” goes in-depth of five key scenes from the film including “Gatsby’s Party,” “Disconcerting Ride,” “Daisy and Gatsby Meet,” “The Plaza” and “Pool Scene”.

“The Swinging Sounds of Gatsby” is a great extra featuring Jay-Z, Beyonce, Fergie, will.i.am, Lana del Rey, Bryan Ferry, Florence + the Machine, Andre 3000, The XX, Sia, Gotye and others talking about the soundtrack. “The Jazz Age” touches on the other side of the music in the film with the Jazz angle from the ’20s. “Razzle Dazzle” looks into the costume design. “Fitzgerald’s Visual Poetry” talk about the visual aspect of the film. There are three deleted scenes and an alternate ending with Luhrmann intros. Lastly there is a vintage “1926 Trailer – The Great Gatsby”, silent film trailer.

The Great Gatsby is available on Blu-Ray 8/27/2013 at the WB Shop http://bit.ly/GatsbyWB

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

Blu-ray Review “True Blood: The Complete Fifth Season”

Actors: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley
Creator: Alan Ball
Number of discs: 7
Rated: Unrated
Studio: HBO Home Video
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Run Time: 720 minutes

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

Who doesn’t love HBO’s “True Blood”. The show has been going strong for five seasons now. When you start watching its is hard not to completed get sucked in. This season packs some great storylines i.e. Bill and Eric behind bars, Tara getting used to her new life as a vampire, Alcide turning his back on the wolfpack and a vampire civil war on the horizon. There is no shortage of action and drama this season. In fact this season is one of my favorite to date from the show, besides the first. You would think that after five seasons that this show would lose some steam but it only seems to get more interesting and entertaining. Season five also definitely can be considered a game-changer for the show and it was also creator Alan Ball’s final season. Season six has already started and completed last week and it was such a powerhouse of a season. Brian Buckner stood up to replace Ball as the show’s showrunner and continued without missing a beat, which just proves that this show is a force to be reckoned with.

The fifth season sees the return of our favorite True Blood cast members including Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgård, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley and Sam Trammell…just to name a few. They are all in fine-form and deliver some of their best performances of the series especially Ryan Kwanten, who has a fantastic arc. This season introduces various new cast members including Scott Foley as Patrick Devins; Christopher Meloni as Roman; Valentina Cervi as Salom; and Lucy Griffiths as Nora. I love the storyline surrounding the Authority and their affects on these characters. Each character their own arc, which works well for the most part, this season and the finale really brings it all together quite well.

HBO has delivered a very impressive DigiPack combo pack release for the fifth season of “True Blood”. Thanks to HBO Select, this release offers buyers the choice of three ways to watch in one set – Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy. The digital copy included is redeemable via iTunes, Vudu or Amazon and of course my favorite, UltraViolet. The 12 episodes are well represented with their 1080p transfers. The show has been given consistently impressive releases thanks to HBO and have continued to look very sharp and impressive. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks also deliver the mood for the show very well. I love composer Nathan Barr’s score for this show and as usual it is well represented here.

The special features are sure to leave diehard “True Blood” fans feeling very satisfied. “True Blood Episode Six: Autopsy” is an in-depth look behind-the-scenes with the cast and crew on that episode. “Authority Confessionals” gives you an inside look at the mysterious institution. There is an enhanced viewing option for the series allowing you to tap in Character Bios, Vampire Histories and fun facts while watching the show. There is a Flashback/Flash Forward option that will allow you to travel back through the show’s timeline and relive pivotal moments or Flash Forward to reveal the significance of a certain scenes. Lastly “True Blood Lines” is a fun guide to tap into secrets from relationships past and present.

Next up, the next batch of special features are available on the Blu-rays but are the only extras available on the DVDs. “Inside the Episodes” is an look into various back stories from each episode this season. There are five audio commentary tracks with cast and crew including creator/executive producer Alan Ball, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Denis O’Hare, Carrie Preston and many more! There are also Previews & Recaps from the series, in case you need to play catch up. Lastly you are able to watch these episodes seamless, so they flow really well together especially if you feel like marathoning it.

Thanks to Connect Your Home for setting us up with this great review. Can’t wait for what HBO has in store for “True Blood: The Complete Sixth Season” and also don’t forget that the show has already been renewed for a seventh season, which is planned for Summer of 2014. Keep it coming guys! This show is amazing!

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: blood, bluray, complete, review, season, true, ...

Film Review “The World’s End”

Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Paddy Considine, Eddie Marsan and Martin Freeman
Directed By: Edgar Wright
Focus Features
Rated: R
Running Time: 109 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from the fantastic ‘Cornetto’ trilogy, it’s don’t let Edgar Wright near your pub. Beginning with the climatic zombie destruction of The Winchester in 2004’s Shaun of the Dead through the collateral damage of all of Sandford’s local establishments in Hot Fuzz and now here in the eleven pubs leading to the twelfth and titular The World’s End, no barstool has been left unsplintered or unweaponized in one man’s struggle against a violent collective. It’s fitting that the oft tapped beer in this final installment is called Crowning Glory as Wright pulls out all the stops to deliver not only another great original action-comedy, but also a heartfelt conclusion to a trio of films that asked their audiences to face up to adulthood even if that also meant facing undead or intergalactic threats along the way.

In this case, the man on a mission is Gary King, a gloriously wild-eyed, drunken Simon Pegg. King brings us up to speed regarding an attempt him and his four mates made on their town’s Golden Mile pub crawl—five guys, twelve pubs, sixty pints. In 1990, they couldn’t complete their mission and King’s never lived it down. While his four friends have grown up into normal lives, King retains all the trappings of his youth from his Sisters of Mercy tee to the mix cassette in his car’s tape deck. Getting no reaction to his epic pub tale from his Alcoholics-Anonymous-like support group, Gary resolves to get his men back together for another try. He faces the harshest resistance from Andy (Nick Frost), his one time best friend, but having duped the other three men (Paddy Considine, Eddie Marsan and Martin Freeman) to get on board first by lying about his complicity, Andy grudgingly joins in.

In their hometown, the friends find everything the same and yet strangely alien. The pubs    have lost their individuality, the town center marred by Modern Art (a statue that looks like Thor‘s Destroyer, which can’t be a good sign). Worst of all, none of the residents seem to recall or acknowledge any of Gary’s crew. Either the residents of the town are not themselves or they never really cared at all to begin with. The first of many illuminating realizations for Gary is that the discovery the residents really aren’t themselves because of a robotic threat is actually a relief compared to the alternative. At the very least, it keeps King’s crew united in battle right at the point in Gary’s desperate mission where they’re all just about to go home.

The action scenes are the most creative you’re likely to see this year with Gary’s other worldly opponents offering plenty of surprises while not being completely invulnerable (sometimes a problem in your summer action flicks). There’s a video-game like playfulness to a couple of the best sequences that I can only think were strengthened through Wright’s Pegg-and-Frost-free work on Scott Pilgrim vs The World. Similarly on the human side, every man brings their own skill set to the struggle from Andy’s simmering Hulk-like rage, to Gary’s one-handed defense of his glass of beer. It translates to the physical comedy actually maintaining the level of rapid fire laughs that Wright’s writing is known for.

In between the drinking and the brawls, the men gradually fall into the roles of their teenage selves in the group which allows for touching emotional moments as they confront their own unfinished business completely separate from the pub crawl. Particularly moving and early in the film is Eddie Marsan’s Pete reacting to the utter indifference shown to him by his once school bully.

Fitting for the film, I remember my own sixteen year old self doing my best to get the word out on Shaun of the Dead in my high school newspaper and am elated to report that this trio of films has never dipped in quality. What a relief that we’ve made it through so many other apocalyptic films  this year unscathed in order to get to Wright’s crowning glory.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, review, worlds
« sdf
Previous
Page 140 of 272
Next
Next Page »