Blu-ray Review “Senseless”

Actors: Marlon Wayans, David Spade, Matthew Lillard, Rip Torn, Brad Dourif
Director: Penelope Spheeris
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 93 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

After getting “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood”, “Senseless” may not be the most smartest comedy but is damn funny. The thing is that you kind of expected a little more from director Penelope Spheeris, who is known for great comedies like “Wayne’s World” and “Black Sheep”. But I don’t care this film still makes me laugh, it is zany over-the-top and just plain stupid. Call it a guilty pleasure I guess but there isn’t a week that goes by that my father or myself do not quote this film. “CORN!!! I didn’t eat no CORN!!!” Classic!

Official Premise: Perpetually poor Darryl (Marlon Wayans) is destined to lose his dream Wall Street job to a wealthy snob (David Spade)…until he volunteers for a high-paying scientific experiment that gives him superhuman senses and the competitive edge he needs. But when the side effects start, he finds his chances for success sabotaged by attacks of sensory overload.

Echo Bridge released this film on Blu-ray for the first time with a damn impressive high definition 1080p transfer.  I know the film is just a comedy but it is sharp and real step up from the last DVD release.  It is presented in widescreen 16×9 with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 also does the trick for the film and is very impressive as well. Since this film is all about the senses, the Blu-ray really does a good job of successfully deliver in both the audio and visual department.  Unlike most Echo Bridge releases “Senseless” actually comes with a Behind the Scenes featurette called “Play N Hockey”.  It is not much but at least it is a special features and better than a bare bones release.

 

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Book Review “Star Wars: Complete Vehicles”

Age Range: 8 and up
Hardcover: 200 pages
Publisher: DK CHILDREN
Release Date: July 29, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

DK Books is literally the best when it comes to fun and in-depth book for “Star Wars” fans.  They endless keep coming up with new and exciting books for this franchise.  The latest is “Complete Vehicles”, which sets out to explore the inner workings of the spaceships and vehicles of all six “Star Wars” movies. From the moment I opened this book till my wife dragged it out of my hands, I was completely zoned out.  What “Star Wars” fan wouldn’t do a back flip for a book like this!? If you think that book look familiar that is because it is in fact an expanded edition of the fan favorite book, “Star Wars: Complete Cross-Sections”.  This new amped up edition is jam-packed with new cross-section artworks and a ton of amazing new photos. A must for any true “Star Wars” fan.

Official Premise: “Star Wars: Complete Vehicles” is packed with visual explorations of more than fifty essential Star Wars spacecraft and landcraft, including the TIE bomber, Imperial shuttle, A-wing, B-wing, and more. Full-color cross-section artwork presents in-depth examinations of each craft’s weapon systems, engines, hyperdrives, cockpits, and construction secrets, providing a never-before-seen glimpse at the vehicles that drive the Star Wars universe. “Star Wars: Complete Vehicles” now features new and never-before-seen cross-sections!

DK really gets deep into detail with this book and even though this new edition is more kid-friendly than the original, I still found learning new things.  The images are extremely in-depth and very crisp.  There is a great foreword by John Knoll, the Visual Effects Supervisor at Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic. He really knows these vehicles inside out and gives a nice insight. Now if you own “Complete Cross-Sections”, the question is do you really need to buy “Complete Vehicles”? Well, I should probably still say yes since it does have the four new cross-sections but again I am a die-hard “Star Wars” fan. Can’t wait to see what they have planned next for this never-ending franchise but whatever it is I will be first in line!

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Blu-ray Review “No One Lives”

Actors: Luke Evans, Adelaide Clemens, Lee Tergesen, Derek Magyar, Beau Knapp, America Olivio, Brodus Clay, Linsay Shaw.
Directors: Ryûhei Kitamura
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Run Time: 86 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Last year, I was sent a film “Barricade” from WWE Studios and I loved it. So when the opportunity came up to watch Anchor Bay Films and WWE Studios’ latest horror film, I couldn’t say yes quick enough.  “No One Lives” is violent, super gory and delivers some really impressive twists and turns. The film is helmed by director Ryûhei Kitamura, who is known for “Midnight Meat Train”, “Versus ” and “Godzilla: Final Wars”.  This guy really knows horror and I am very excited to see what he has planned next. I watch many horror films a year and I couldn’t help but watch this twice in a row, just since I was so blown away. I highly recommend this brutal and intense horror thriller.

Luke Evans is absolutely amazing in this film, read our interview, here. If you don’t know him by name he is the main baddie in “Fast and Furious 6” and co-stars in “The Hobbit 2 & 3”. Adelaide Clemens is one of my favorite new actresses as well, you might know here from “Silent Hill: Revelation”. Since the film is produced by WWE, you have to expect a wrestler involved, we get Brodus Clay, read our interview here.  I should also mention that Brodus and Luke really get close in this film, you need to watch the film to understand.

Official Premise: When a ruthless criminal gang takes a young couple hostage and goes to ground in an abandoned house in the middle of nowhere, all hell breaks loose. When tragedy strikes, the tables are unexpectedly turned, and the gang finds themselves outsmarted by an urbane and seasoned killer determined to ensure that no one lives.

Anchor Bay released this title as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack edition. “No One Lives” packs a very sharp 1080p transfer.  Since the film is very dark, it still look great and really works with the action and gore. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track works well with the action and insanity that comes out of this film. My biggest disappointment in this release is the special features. The only extra is “From the Script to the Crypt”, which briefly goes into the behind-the-scene. The film has some of the most creative kills that I have seen in a while and I would have loved to seen a featurette on the special effects as well as a commentary track.

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Film Review “Elysium”

Starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster and Sharlto Copley
Directed by: Neill Blomkamp
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 49 mins
Tri Star Pictures

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

The last time director Neill Blomkamp and actor Sharlto Copley worked together it was in the brilliant, Oscar-nominated “District 9.” Four years later they’ve reunited for another cautionary tale called “Elysium.”

Early in the 22nd century, the Earth is but a shell of its former glory. Over-population has turned the planet into one giant, overcrowded slum, where unrest and violence reigns. High above the planet sits Elysium, a space station where the very rich and connected live worry free. The weather is always nice and nobody ever gets sick, thanks to an invention that cures everything from a paper cut to stage-4 cancer. We meet young Max (Maxwell Perry Cotton) and Frey (Valentina Giron) in the orphanage they live in. They both marvel at the sight that floats in the sky above them. “One day,” Max tells Frey, “I’m going there.”

We meet the now adult Max (Damon) as he walks through the crowded streets to work. Max works on the assembly line of a company that makes androids. Max did not do well after he left the orphanage and has spent some time in prison. His boss knows his past and constantly berates him. When an accident at work leaves Max with only days to live he will do anything he can to get to the Shangri-La in the sky.

What made “District 9” such a great film was the “under the radar” anti-apartheid message it told. That same greatness permeates “Elysium.” Here the message is over-population and illegal immigration. Is it a coincidence that the majority of those left on Earth speak Spanish, while the citizens of Elysium chat happily in French? Who knows. But it certainly makes you think.

Besides Copley, who plays a rogue agent for the tough-as-nails anti-immigration defense secretary (Foster), the cast is clearly divided between the have and have-nots. Damon, his body covered in enough steel to make him a cyborg, fights against all costs to realize his childhood dream. Besides Foster he has to contend with John Carlyle (William Fichtner), at whose company he works. It is Fichtner’s second baddie of the summer (after “The Lone Ranger”). On the more moralistic side is Frey (Alice Braga), now an adult and single mother and newly elected President Patel (Faran Tahir). Everyone in the cast does a fine job with the surprising exception of Foster. Speaking in a clipped, faux-accent, she sounds like Madonna after she moved to England.

Visually the film is packed with powerful images. Is that what our planet will look like in the next century? The future looks bleak, though if a comment the adult Frey makes, even though the world is in chaos you can still find cartoons on television. It’s certainly a world Neill Blomkamp wants you to consider. And do your best to avoid.

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Book Review “The Dark Man: An Illustrated Poem” by Stephen King

Author: Stephen King
Illustrated: Glenn Chadbourne
Hardcover: 88 pages
Publisher: Cemetery Dance Publications
Release Date: July 30, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“The Dark Man” is not a new release for Stephen King. He wrote this poem back when he was in college and it was published in Ubris in 1969. This release is King’s poem, “The Dark Man”, re-released over 40 years with a new life than to the amazing illustrations of Glenn Chadbourne. There are over 70 beautiful full-page illustrations from Chadbourne (“The Secretary of Dreams”). Let me tell you one thing, this book is creepy as hell and if you let yourself go into its world it will linger within you and haunt your dreams. It is not the first time that I have read this poem but with the new illustrations, I felt like it was an entirely new experience. Highly recommended!

Official Premise: Stephen King first wrote about the Dark Man in college after he envisioned a faceless man in cowboy boots and jeans and a denim jacket forever walking the roads. Later this dark man would come to be known around the world as one of King’s greatest villains, Randall Flagg, but at the time King only had simple questions on his mind: Where was this man going? What had he seen and done? What terrible things…?

Cemetery Dance Publications is the publisher behind this new hardcover release. They really scored for sure, as Stephen King’s fans should go crazy over this updated release to his poem. Glenn Chadbourne images really works well with King’s words and blend together. The actual black and white illustrations are very unique and the color factor adds a lot of extra terror. Within King’s story there are twists and turns and within the illustrations there are added hidden details every page. There are many layers to this book and even though it is just 88 pages, it is jam-packed and very entertaining.

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CD/DVD Review “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County (Deluxe Edition)”

Stephen King, John Mellencamp, T Bone Burnett
Ghost Brothers of Darkland County
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Number of Discs: 2
Label: Concord Music Group

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Ghost Brothers of Darkland County” is a very unique release. It comes from the great talented minds of Stephen King, John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett. It was originally a musical stage performance, which was performed in Atlanta in April of 2012. So what is this actually? It is a libretto of the acclaimed Southern Gothic supernatural musical. It is a mix of dialogue tracks, written by King with music by some amazing musicians including Elvis Costello, Neko Case, Sheryl Crow, Ryan Bingam, Kristofferson and Rosanne Cash…just to name a few. Costello and Kristofferson also take on characters in between the songs, along with Meg Ryan, Samantha Mathis and Matthew McConaughey. Can you believe the talent attached to this! It is very well put together and draws you in just like one of King’s novels.  The music is seamless with the dialogue and together they really create a creepy atmosphere.

Official Premise: Set in the tiny town of Lake Belle Reve, Mississippi, the Ghost Brothers’ story centers on two sets of brothers: the ghosts of Jack and Andy, dead in an apparent murder/suicide, and their nephews, the living Frank and Drake, who seem to be headed toward the same downward spiral as their uncles. Joe, younger brother of Jack and Andy, father of Frank and Drake, has decided it’s time to reveal his own terrible secret at the site of the tragedy, before it’s too late.

This deluxe edition comes with a two disc set, one CD and one DVD.  The DVD contains a bunch of great behind the scenes content and features the songs and interviews with Stephen King, John Mellencamp, and Musical Director, T Bone Burnett. The following three featurettes are included “A Look Behind Ghost Brothers of Darkland County”, “Truth In Studio” and “Libretto”. The DVD also comes with a digital copy of the libretto.  There is also a pamphlet included with the set for an MP3 download of just the music. I was also impressive with the fact that this deluxe edition also comes with the complete lyrics and script from the CD tracks…and it looks very sharp as well. I highly recommend this for country music fans and of course the words of the great Stephen King.

Track Listing:
1. Introduction By The Zydeco Cowboy
2. That s Me (Performed by Elvis Costello)
3. Anna and Frank Badmouthing Drake
4. That s Who I Am (Performed by Neko Case)
5. The Ghosts Argue and Fight
6. So Goddam Smart (Performed by Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin, Sheryl Crow)
7. Monique and Anna Meet
8. Wrong, Wrong, Wrong About Me (Performed by Elvis Costello)
9. Frank and Drake Argue
10. Brotherly Love (Performed by Ryan Bingham, Will Dailey)
11. Monique, Frank, Drake, and Anna Argue
12. How Many Days (Performed by Kris Kristofferson)
13. The Ghosts Talk (Dialog Underscoring: Patrick Fleming)
14. Home Again (Performed by Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin, Taj Mahal)
15. Monique Comforts Drake
16. You Are Blind (Performed by Ryan Bingham)
17. Joe Begins To Tell His Story
18. Tear This Cabin Down (Performed by Taj Mahal)
19. Joe Continues His Story
20. My Name Is Joe (Performed by Clyde Mulroney)
21. Jenna Expresses Her Feelings
22. Away From This World (Performed by Sheryl Crow)
23. Monique Frustrated With The Boys
24. You Don t Know Me (Performed by Rosanne Cash)
25. Joe Continues As The Ghosts Observe (Dialog Underscoring: Patrick Fleming)
26. And Your Days Are Gone (Performed by Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin)
27. Jack And Andy Fight Over Jenna
28. Jukin (Performed by Sheryl Crow)
29. Jack And Andy Argue And Fight
30. So Goddam Good (Performed by Phil Alvin, Dave Alvin, Sheryl Crow)
31. Joe Talks With His Younger Self
32. What Kind Of Man Am I (Performed by Kris Kristofferson, Phil Alvin, Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, Taj Mahal)
33. The Shape Sums Things Up
34. Truth (Performed by John Mellencamp with Lily and Madeleine Jurkiewicz)
35. Joe Talks With The Bartender

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DVD Review “Hurricane Smith (1992)”

Actors: David Argue, Carl Weathers, Jurgen Prochnow, Louise Mc Donald
Directors: Colin Budds
Studio: Warner Archive Collection
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 86 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

I can’t explain why but I am big sucker for cheesy 80/90’s action films. I can’t help it. It is like an addiction. Plus who doesn’t love Carl Weathers. Before this film, I grew up watching him as Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” series and Dillon in Predator. Of course everyone knows him as Chubbs Peterson from “Happy Gilmore”. He is just such a kick-ass guy and he does just that in “Hurricane Smith”. Like I said, this movie screams 90’s action but that is what makes it so good. It is not trying to hide anything. If you feel the same way that I highly recommend you picking up this DVD.

Official Premise: He’s been taken for a ride, roughed up and dumped in the gutter. But that won’t stop him. He’ll tear through Bribane, like a…well, his nickname is “Hurricane”! The man who put the Action in Jackson now puts the Hurricane in Smith. Determined to locate his sister, Billy travels from small-town Texas to Australia’s teeming Gold Coast. There, his search plunges into the street war of drug mobsters who’ll soon wonder what hit them. Jurgen Prochnow (Das Boot) costars as stone-cold evil gangster Charlie Dowd. And Cassandra Delaney is the good-hearted hooker who helps Billy as he blasts through a Down Under of high-rise chic and quaint Victoria buildings, of glorious beaches and back-alley gambling. For action that’ll blow you away, brace for Hurricane Smith.

Warner Archive is behind this release and it is the first time that “Hurricane Smith” is getting a DVD treatment. This film has been newly remastered and looks pretty awesome, especially for a 90’s film.  The film comes with an 1.85:1 aspect ratio and looks very impressive. The audio included is also an impressive Dolby Digital track, it works for the film’s action and cheesy yet funny dialogue.  There are no additional special features included here. I just need to say that Warner Archive deserves an award for giving these great titles some love and attention that would otherwise just remain stuck in the VHS age.

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DVD Review “Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels: The Complete Series”

Created by: Joe Ruby, Ken Spears
Voices of: Mel Blanc, Laurel Page, Marilyn Schreffler, Vernee Watson
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Warner Archive Collection
DVD Release Date: July 23, 2013
Run Time: 440 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I just loved Captain Caveman! When was I kid, I would run down my hallway screaming the “Captain CAAAAAVEMAAAAAAANNNN!” The show was originally aired as a segment on “Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics” (1977-79) for the first 24 episodes and after that the remaining 16 episodes shown in its own timeslot in 1980. Captain Caveman’s voice was provided by none other than Mel Blanc (aka voice of Bugs Bunny and hundreds others). There is just something about Hanna-Barbera’s cartoons that always bring my back to a great time from my childhood. They seem all very similar yet they are just so much fun. If you grew up with this show like myself or just discovering it, I would highly recommend this latest addition to the Hanna-Barbera Classic Collection.

Official Premise: As originally announced by Gary Owens’ stupendous stentorian tones: “Set free by the Teen Angels from his prehistoric block of glacier ice, comes the world’s first superhero, Captain Caveman! Now the constant companion to the Teen Angels, Brenda, Dee Dee, and Taffy, in their hilarious, and sometimes scary mystery missions. Get ready for Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels!” Originally a segment on Scooby’s All-Star Laff-a-Lympics (and utility player on the field for The Scooby-Doobies), the Mel Blanc-voiced Neolithic Wonder became a Saturday super-star in his own right, and he and the Teen Angels graduated to headliner status on their own show. This 2-Disc, 40-Episode collection contains every mystery solved by the Teen Angels and the Captain. So, beware villains and miscreants, the trademark battle-cry of “Caaaptain Caaaavemaaaan!!!!” is heard across the land again!

Thanks to Warner Archive, we finally get all 40 episodes of “Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels” for the first time. The episodes looks amazing for a show that is nearing 40 years old. They have been newly remastered and very impressive. They are presented in their original full frame aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The audio is also impressive with a Dolby Digital track. There are no additional special features included. Warner Archive has been a big proprietor of Hanna-Barbera’s cartoons and I can’t wait to see what they have planned next. Sorry just need to scream it one more time…”Captain CAAAAAVEMAAAAAAANNNN!”. Ok I am done…for now!

 

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    DVD Review “Mitchell (1975)”

    Actors: Joe Don Baker, Martin Balsam, John Saxon, Linda Evans, Morgan Paull
    Directors: Andrew V. Mclaglen
    Studio: Warner Archive Collection
    DVD Release Date: July 23, 2013
    Run Time: 97 minutes

    Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

    I came across “Mitchell” like I am sure many people have through “Mystery Science Theater 3000”. I absolutely loved that episode of the show and it introduced me to the actor Joe Don Baker and his great roles for film’s like the “Walking Tall” series. I know it pokes fun at the movie “Mitchell” but it also gave me an appreciation for the film as well. I am able to quote various lines from it and it always makes for a fun time watching it with friends. Even without the funny commentary track from “MST3K”, “Mitchell” is still a very entertaining film.  It may not be perfect but it is fun and action packed.

    Official Premise: Told to lay off a case involving an attorney who shot an intruder in his home, headstrong police detective Mitchell ignores the order — and proceeds to get tangled up in an investigation that connects the lawyer (John Saxon), the head of an import racket (Martin Balsam) and a scheme to unload a million-dollar cache of stolen heroin. Joe Don Baker, who made a name for himself as club-wielding sheriff Buford Pusser in the drive-in classic Walking Tall and whose later credits include a notable role in 2013’s Mud, plays the title role in an action film that’s gained a following among connoisseurs of guilty pleasures. At the center of all the action, of course, is Mitchell, giving as good as he gets in pell-mell sequences involving shootings, brawls, car chases, suicidal dune buggy jousts and a rappel from a police helicopter onto the racketeer’s speeding getaway boat. Linda Evans and Merlin Olsen are also in the cast.

    The film previously was only available on DVD as part the “Mystery Science Theater 3000”, so it is great that Warner Archive is giving this film some solo love and diving people a chance to enjoy it outside of the spoof series.  I personally look forward to sharing this with my friends and enjoying it for numerous repeat viewings over the years.  The DVD transfer itself looks good, I am not sure if Warner Archive has done any more restoration but I was used to watching it on a crappy TV bootleg copy. I would have loved to see this get the Blu-ray treatment especially since Warner Archive has been getting into that market recently. In terms of special features, there is nothing additional included on this DVD release.

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    DVD Review “Sugarfoot: The Complete First Season”

    Starring: Will Hutchins, Slim Pickens, Sheb Wooley and Dennis Hopper
    Created by: Michael Fessier
    Distributed by: Warner Archive
    MPAA Rating: Not Rated
    Running Time: 982 minutes

    Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

    I have to admit, I have never been the biggest fan of the Western genre.  In fact, “Sugarfoot” was never on my radar in the past.  I have heard of it but never saw any episodes. Will Hutchins really does a great job on his role and I really loved that character. The show itself is filled with guest stars right from the pilot including Slim Pickens, Sheb Wooley and Dennis Hopper as Billy the Kid. This show has also brought fame to many other well known talent including Bob Steele, Guinn Williams, Don Barry, Paul Fix, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts, James Garner, Charles Bronson and many more.  “Sugarfoot: The Complete First Season” features the first 20 episodes of the series over this 5-disc set.

    Official Premise: Based on The Boy from Oklahoma (1954), an easygoing Western starring Will Rogers Jr., Sugarfoot debuted on ABC-TV on September 17, 1957, where it alternated every other week with Cheyenne. Will Hutchins ably ambled into the boots of Tom Brewster, a peaceable lad aiming to get a law degree via a correspondence course, with a nose for danger and a heart of steel. Sarsaparilla sipping “sugarfoot” Tom has one major difference from the likes of Layne and Bodie, however, he would rather reach for his thinking cap than for his pistols (Not that he can’t ping a peso from twenty yards, mind you!

    Since this first season DVD release only includes 20 episodes, this show ran for four seasons with nearly 70 episodes. So I assume that Warner Archive is planning to releases the remaining seasons as well in the coming months.  So if you are a fan of this classic Western show then this show be music to your ears.  The episodes looks great for a show that is nearing 60 years old.  I am not aware if Warner Archive did a full restore on them but I was impressed enough.  Even though Westerns are not my cup of tea, I look forward to the rest of the seasons just to enjoy the timeless action and amazing cameos.

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    DVD Review “The Adventure of Superboy: The Complete Third Season”

    Actors: Gerard Christopher, Stacy Haiduk, Sherman Howard
    Number of discs: 3
    Studio: Warner Archive Collection
    DVD Release Date: July 16, 2013
    Run Time: 560 minutes

    Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

    Warner Archive is responsible for bringing this complete third season of “The Adventure of Superboy” to DVD for the first time.  They originally released the first season back in 2006 but there was a huge gap for the second season, which was released December 2012. So hopefully the fourth and final season of the show is not far behind. This show is a half-hour live-action television series based on early year of Kal-El aka Superman. The show ran from 1988–1992 and aired over 100 episodes. The title of the show was renamed in fact from “Superboy” to “The Adventures of Superboy” at the start of the third season.

    I personally was not a huge fan of this show.  I think Superman works best when he is Superman.  I am not really interested in his younger days, nor does anyone else. Anyone see “Man of Steel” – fast forward to the good stuff. But this show came at a time in our TV history in the early 90’s where it was considered a little campy as well.  The idea of superhero films or TV shows were focusing more on camp then the darker and more serious tones. Hardcore fans of DC Comics, might want this to complete their collection but I was not a big fan.

    Official Premise: Celebrate the Summer of Steel by diving into Kal-El’s adventures… when he was just a “boy” – and by boy we mean a fully-employed young adult! The show’s third season ushered in more changes as the hit syndicated show redefined itself for a new decade. Now named The Adventures of Superboy, the show leaves Shuster University behind, as Clark (Gerard Christopher) and Lana (Stacy Haiduk) take on internships in Capitol City at The Bureau of Extra-Normal Matters, a government agency dedicated to investigating aliens and the paranormal – years before anyone put an ³X² on a file. Working alongside fellow bureau member Matt Ritter (Peter Jay Fernandez) and under bureau chief C. Dennis Jackson (Robert Levine), Clark and Lana delve deep into the unknown as the show cooks up a comic-flavored confection of SciFi Noir. Fans will want to keep their eyes peeled for a pair of special guest stars in this 26-Episode, 3-Disc Collection – Stuart Whitman as Jonathan Kent and Ron Ely as …Superman!

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    Blu-ray Review “Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright”

    Actors: Frank Welker, Mindy Cohn, Matthew Lillard, Wayne Brady, Peter Macnicol
    Directors: Victor Cook
    Rated: Unrated
    Studio: Warner Home Video
    Release Date: August 20, 2013
    Running Time: 78 minutes

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

    When it comes to Scooby-Doo!, Warner Bros. Animation has been behind this series for the last few years and keeping it alive and fresh. “Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright” is the latest direct-to-video original animated movie and one heck of a fun time. It features the great voice talents of Frank Welker, Mindy Cohn, Matthew Lillard, Wayne Brady, Peter Macnicol and Ariel Winter. There is something about Scooby-Doo! that really still entertains time after time. This film is filled with great laughs, thrills and hijinks, all the great things that make up a great Scooby-Doo! movie. Keep them up Warner Bros!! Next up in the world of Scooby-Doo!, this September brings “Scooby-Doo! 13 Spooky Tales Run For Your ‘Rife!”, which is a collection of 13 action-packed adventures.

    Synopsis: Join Scooby-Doo, Shaggy and the Mystery Inc. crew as they head to Chicago for a talent show, a few museum tours and a whole lot of pizza. The windy city is home to the hit TV show, Talent Star, in which songwriting duo Fred and Daphne are finalists with high hopes. Not to be left out, Scooby and Shaggy have a secret act in the works, which they’re betting will take the contest by storm. Unlucky for all involved, the competition becomes frightful as the show is being broadcast from an opera house with a history of horrors and a particularly vengeful phantom that has cursed the show’s production.

    Warner Home Entertainment is releasing this latest film, like the past ones, in a Blu-ray combo pack including the Blu-ray, standard DVD and UltraViolet™ editions of the film. The 1080p transfer of the film looks great. The animation really is sharp and the colors are crisp. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works with the laughs and hijinks from the film. In terms of bonus features there is not much concerning the production itself but there are two bonus Scooby-Doo! episodes. Included episodes are “Never Ape an Ape Man”, which is the seventh episode of the first season of “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” and “Don’t Fool with a Phantom”, which is the eighth and last episode of the second season of “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!”.

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    Blu-ray Review “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes”

    Actors: Ralph Richardson, Ian Holm, Christopher Lambert, Andie MacDowell
    Directors: Hugh Hudson
    Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
    Studio: Warner Bros.
    Release Date: July 16, 2013
    Run Time: 137 minutes

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

    “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes” might not be considered the most popular portrayal of Tarzan but has always been one of my favorites. It is far for the worst, has anyone ever seen “Tarzan and the Lost City” back in 1998. Christopher Lambert aka Connor MacLeod from “Highlander”. took on the lead role in the film and does a great job. This version on the Blu-ray is the same extended version of the film which is roughly six minutes longer than the theatrical cut. This production is quite lavish and very beautifully shot.  It also focuses on the character’s dual nature as King of the jungle and as John Clayton, seventh Earl of Greystoke, heir to one of Scotland’s great estates. So I liked that angle of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ story being explored within the film. If you have never seen this film, this would be the way to watch it for sure.

    Official Premise: Hugh Hudson’s refreshingly adult revisionist take on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ immortal apeman arrives on Blu-ray like a blast of warm rain forest air. Robert Towne’s script (writing as P.H. Vazak) hews close to Burroughs’ origin as found in Tarzan of the Apes by way of modern anthropology. The second half may thread in some movie mythos (like Jane as English gentry) but plays out its savage vs. civilization theme. Gorgeously shot by John Alcott (The Shining, Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?), Greystoke also boasts an acting pedigree worthy of Burke’s peerage, including Ralph Richardson, Ian Holm , David Suchet, James Fox, and Nigel Davenport with Andie MacDowell and Glenn Close handling Jane physicality and vocality respectively. But the film belongs to Lambert’s heart-wide open performance as Tarzan and Rick Baker’s amazing simian simulations.

    Thanks for Warner Archive for giving this film some love to this.  This film has never looked better on this Blu-ray.  Warner Archive has been slowly crossing over into the world of Blu-ray with these classics and this one really benefited from the format. This Blu-ray was set to be released numerous times but was held back in order to perfect the transfer and damn, did it make a difference. The 1080p transfer looks stunning and it has been taken from impressive sources that have been restored with a very close eye to attention.  The film was originally with Dolby Stereo on 35mm and even had a 70mm release with 6-track sound and this film sounds amazing on Blu-ray with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. It works very well with the action and jungle scenes.  The special features are not jam-packed but still work checking out.  There is a fine commentary track with Director Hugh Hudson and Line Producer Garth Thomas, which is quite detailed and thorough.  Lastly there is a trailer included.

     

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    Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: apes, bluray, greystoke, legend, lord, review, ...

    Book Review “The Making of Hitchcock’s The Birds”

    Author: Tony Lee Moral
    Paperback: 224 pages
    Publisher: Oldcastle Books
    Release Date: September 1, 2013

    Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

    When you think of great suspense horror films, you can’t help but immediately think of Alfred Hitchcock. The guy has such an eye for making films.  He was meticulous about his shots and has inspired a countless number people since with this style. “The Birds” was Hitchcock’s next film after “Psycho” and I am sure that the anticipation surrounding it was very high.  I saw this film first when I was a child and it scared the living daylights out of me.  Watching it as an adult, it is still very effective as it was then.  This new behind-the-scenes book is planning perfectly to coincide with the film’s 50th anniversary this year and it is also the first book-length look into the making of this production.  I had the privilege of speaking with the film’s star Tippi Hedren earlier this year, read here, and she reflected on this film and it’s reign over popular culture. The recent HBO film, “This Girl”, read our review here, also focused on the topic of the making of “The Birds” as well. Highly recommend. This book is a must for any fast of Hitchcock’s work and a very in depth look into the making of this amazing and rather timeless film.

    Official Premise: Featuring new interviews with stars Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, and Veronica Cartwright, as well as sketches and storyboards from Hitchcock’s A-list technical team, Robert Boyle, Albert Whitlock, and Harold Michelson, the book charts every aspect of the film’s production all set against the tumultuous backdrop of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis and JFK’s presidency. Using unpublished material from the Alfred Hitchcock Collection, Evan Hunter’s files, Peggy Robertson’s papers, and Robert Boyle’s artwork, this is the ultimate guide to Hitchcock’s most ambitious film. This book analyzes the film’s modernist underpinnings, from art director Robert Boyle’s initial sketches influenced by Munch’s The Scream, to the groundbreaking electronic score by pioneering German composers Remi Gassmann and Oskar Sala. There is also a time line detailing the film’s production to its release at MOMA in New York, and the 1963 Cannes Film Festival.

    The book is authored by Tony Lee Moral, who is a documentary filmmaker, a writer, and the author of “Alfred Hitchcock’s Movie Making Masterclass” and “Hitchcock and the Making of Marnie”. So I think that he is the right person for this job.  He has a vast understanding of Hitchcock and a real passion in his words. You can tell when you are reading this book that there is a certain admiration behind the words.  The only thing that I would have wanted more from this book would have been more photos.  I am sure that there are tons of great behind-the-scenes photos from this production. Don’t get me wrong there is a nice middle section with some very crispy color and black and white shots. I am just a visual guy and a big fan of the art of books.  I would have like to have seen the photos spread out throughout book and posted in areas where they were relative to the book’s narrative. Overall though, I enjoy this quite a bit and look forward to passing it to a friend to enjoy as well. Now if you excuse me, I have to go watch “The Birds” again on Blu-ray. I have a sudden urge to enjoy this masterpiece of cinema for some strange reason.

     

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    Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: birds, book, hitchcocks, making, review

    Blu-ray Review “The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition”

    Actors: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz
    Directors: James Frawley
    Rated: G (General Audience)
    Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
    Release Date: August 13, 2013
    Run Time: 95 minutes

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

    Who doesn’t love The Muppets! Like many, I grew up watching the Muppets and have already loved their “The Muppet Movie”. Disney is releasing this film for the first time on Blu-ray in it’s Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition (34 years technically). This is the first and probably the best Muppets feature film to date. It stars Kermit and the Gang, Austin Pendleton, Charles Durning, Mel Brooks and Dom DeLuise. It is also jam packed with great cameos including Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Bob Hope, Orson Welles, James Coburn, Elliott Gould, Carol Kane, Madeline Kahn and Cloris Leachman. After nearly 35 years, this film is just as entertaining and a pleasure to revisit with the family. It has great movie and will guarantee a smile be put on your face! Plus with the The Muppets’ new movie, “Muppets Most Wanted” in theatres March 21, 2014, they are hotter than ever!

    Official Premise: Celebrate the Nearly 35th Anniversary of the ultimate frogs-to-riches story with the one that started it all: The Muppet Movie. From the very first “plunk!” of Kermit’s banjo playing “The Rainbow Connection” (Oscar nominee, Best Original Song, 1979), to the hysterical road trip that brings the fearless frog together with Fozzie, Gonzo, Animal and most importantly of all, Miss Piggy, join the jam-packed heartwarming hilarity, outrageous antics and big-shot Hollywood cameos.

    Disney brings this film on Blu-ray in a nice combo pack with a digital copy included, which can be redeemed to Vudu or Amazon Instant Video. I am very excited that Disney is finally getting away from the physical digital copy discs and jumping on the streaming digital copy bandwagon. “The Muppet Movie” has never looked better, its 1080p transfer is gorgeous. Any fan of this movie should be blown away at how impressive it looks. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also sounds amazing and works very well with the music in the film like “The Rainbow Connection”, very impressive.

    The special features included on this release are a must-watch as well. Firstly, there is director “Jim Frawley’s Extended Camera, which includes previously unseen footage. This is a must watch for any fan of the film. “Interactive Disney Intermission, Starring the Muppets” is a great new feature that really encourages extended and numerous bathroom breaks. Disney has actually made pausing the movie cool with great in-between footage that will entertain along with the film. There is featurette included for Pepe Profiles – “Kermit: A Frog’s Life”. There is an all-new Interactive Frog-E-Oke Sing-Along, which is a ton of fun as wel. Lastly there is a Doc Hooper’s Commercial and Original Trailers included. Left me feeling very satisfied here!

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    Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: 35th, anniversary, bluray, edition, movie, muppet, ...
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