Blu-ray Review “Charlie Chan Collection”

Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 262 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have to admit, I am a real sucker for a good detective story with mystery, twists and turns.  Thanks to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment they are bringing us four great films from the Charlie Chan Collection. The films included are “Shadows Over Chinatown”, “Docks of New Orleans”, “Shanghai Chest”, and “The Golden Eye” dating from 1946-1948″.  The character of Charlie Chan was created by writer Earl Derr Biggers dating back to 1923 and over 50 films featuring the character. If you are into classic sleuth films then this release is definitely for you.

These films have never-been-released and are making their DVD debut. They come in a large slipcase with four individual DVD case inside for each film. They are newly remastered for this release.  They are not perfect but especially for films nearing over 60 years old, they look stunning. Warner really gave these some love and it shows on the screen. I hope that Warner is planning to continue this collection because I would like to see further releases with these great films.

Official Premise: The most popular American films in 1930s China, the Chan movies were based on a fictional Chinese-American detective originally created by Earl Derr Biggers in 1923. Over four dozen films featuring Charlie Chan have been made since 1926. In 1931, the Fox Film Corporation cast Swedish actor Warner Oland as Chan in Charlie Chan Carries On; the film was a success, and Fox went on to produce 15 more Chan films with Oland in the title role.

Following Oland’s death, Scottish American actor Sidney Toler was cast as Chan; Toler made 22 Chan films, first for Fox and then for Monogram Studios. After Toler’s death, six more films were made, starring Roland Winters. The character has also been featured in several radio programs, two television shows and a number of comics.

Charlie Chan Collection is available on DVD August 6 at the WB Shop http://bit.ly/111XNp4

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Blu-ray Review “Mud”

Actors: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Sam Shepard, Michael Shannon
Directors: Jeff Nichols
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 130 minutes

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

“Mud” was one of the first sleeper hits of 2013. It started small but built a lot of noise behind it. It is a sure to be cult classic in the near future. It is a very nice blend of coming-of-age and adventure film with some amazing performances lead by Matthew McConaughey. Normally I am a not a fan of Reese Witherspoon but she does an excellent job as well. Also it will be a big snub if Tye Sheridan doesn’t get any award noms for this role. If you want more cast, we still got Sam Shepard, Michael Shannon (aka Zod from “Man of Steel”), Joe Don Baker, Ray McKinnon and Sarah Paulson as well. Definitely recommend this!

Official Premise: Mud is a timeless adventure about two boys, Ellis (Sheridan) and his best friend Neckbone (Lofland), who find a mysterious man named Mud (McConaughey) hiding out on a deserted island in the Mississippi. Mud tells the boys fantastic stories about his life including how he once killed a man in Texas and now vengeful bounty hunters are after him. He says he is planning to meet and escape with the love of his life, Juniper (Witherspoon), who is waiting for him in town. Skeptical but intrigued, Ellis and Neckbone agree to help him. But it isn’t long until Mud’s tall-tales come to life and their small town is besieged by bounty hunters out for blood.

Lionsgate is releasing this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet. I feel that this should be the norm today and my preferred choice with releases. The 1080 transfer with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 looks amazing. The locations where this film was shot look amazing and really stand out. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is amazing as well. It is subtle yet very effective for sure. The special features are decent but not spectacular. First we have an audio commentary track from director Jeff Nichols. Then we get four short featurettes, “A Personal Tale”, “The Arkansas Ensemble”, “Southern Authenticity” and “The Snake Pit”, which looks into the cast and the production.

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Blu-ray Review “The Big Wedding”

Actors: Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams, Katherine Heigl, Amanda Seyfried, Topher Grace
Directors: Justin Zackham
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: August 13, 2013
Run Time: 89 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

The draw for me with “The Big Wedding” is easily the film’s cast. Ensemble is calling it lightly. Here’s the list Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon and Robin Williams along with Katherine Heigl, Amanda Seyfried and Topher Grace. Not to shabby huh? I am not a huge fan normally of situational comedies, like “Meet the Parents” etc. but I figured I would give it a chance. It is not perfect but it has a few good laugh out loud moments. I would recommend this as a renter but to be honest it is worth seeing just for the dynamic of this wonderful cast. Plus it is rated-R, so it has a little edge as well.

Official Premise: A charmingly modern family tries to survive a weekend wedding celebration that has the potential to become a full-blown family fiasco. To the amusement of their adult children and friends, long-divorced couple Don and Ellie Griffin (De Niro and Keaton) are once again forced to play the happy couple for the sake of their adopted son’s wedding after his ultraconservative biological mother unexpectedly decides to fly halfway across the world to attend.

The Blu-ray presentation from Lionsgate delivers as much as it can being a comedy on Blu-ray. It is being released just as a Blu-ray no combo pack or digital copy included. The 1080p transfer is clear and the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works with the film’s comedic jokes. There is only one special feature included on the Blu-ray, which is a little sad due to all the talent involved with this film. “Coordinating The Big Wedding” is a featurette on the film production and gives a short but decent insight into it with cast/crew.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Oliver & Company: 25th Anniversary Edition”

Actors: Billy Joel, Joey Lawrence, Robert Loggia, Cheech Marin, Dom DeLuise
Directors: Dan Hansen, George Scribner
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 74 minutes

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

“Oliver & Company” and I go way back.  Back in 1988, I begged my  folks to see the film in the theaters but ended up missing out (due to my little sister – and I have never let her live it down since, 25 years later – insert maniacal laugh!) So I had to wait till the 1996 re-release to finally see this film and loved it (of course). In today’s standards, it is not the best thing to ever come out of Disney’s animation studio but it is fun and has some great music. It does features a great and talent voice cast including Joey Lawrence, Billy Joel, Dom DeLuise, Cheech Marin, Bette Midler and Robert Loggia. To be honest, I enjoy watching this on high-def Blu-ray but like “The Sword and the Stone”, it was not really up to Disney Blu-ray standards. I would recommend for fans of the film and though crazy Disney fanatics.

Disney has been releasing all the animated classics in their library recently onto Blu-ray. Along with this, “The Sword in the Stone” (1963) and and “Robin Hood” (1973) were released as well. In fact after looking into it they should be coming to an end shortly with only fourteen more theatrically released Disney Animated Classics left with two more set for this year alone. Next up we have “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” and “The Little Mermaid”.

Official Premise: Celebrate the 25th anniversary of a Disney classic with the stunning Blu-ray debut of Oliver And Company, featuring perfect picture and sound. Relive this charming animated adventure, packed with excitement, fun and unforgettable songs by Billy Joel, Bette Midler and Huey Lewis. In the heart of New York City, Oliver, a mischievous orphaned kitten, is befriended by Dodger, a carefree pooch and his ragtag family of misfit mutts. Life gets even better for Oliver when he is adopted by a lonely little girl named Jenny. But when tough guy Sykes and his Doberman sidekicks try to keep Jenny and Oliver apart, the spirited kitten and his newfound friends discover the meaning of courage and find a home where they truly belong.

Disney is releasing this film as a combo pack with a Blu-ray and DVD but unlike “The Sword in the Stone” (1963) and and “Robin Hood” (1973) there is no digital copy included. I guess since this is only celebrating it’s 25th anniversary it didn’t deserve it. Who knows why. Similiar to “The Sword in the Stone”, this release didn’t really wow me. The 1080p transfer looks good in parts but terrible in others.  The colors well represented though, I just feel like they overdid it on the restoration.  This film was never perfect in terms of its animation and maybe they would have been better off leaving some of those endearing imperfections. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track does delivers with the dialogue, action and fun music from Billy Joel, Betty Midler and Huey Lewis.

The special features are ok but not really anniversary special. First off, we get a vintage behind-the-scenes look with “The Making of Oliver and Company”. There is another featurette called “Disney’s Animated Animals”, which talks about created our furry friends. There is also an alternate ending included. There is a sing-along mode for the film’s six fun songs. There is a bonus shorts including “Lend A Paw” and “Puss Café”. Lastly there is a TV spot, a theatrical trailer and re-release trailers.

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Film Review “2 Guns”

Starring: Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg and Paula Patton
Directed by: Baltasur Kormakur
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 49 mins
Universal

Our Score: 4 out 5 stars

Here is some advice shared by the film “2 Guns:” never rob a bank that’s directly across the street from a diner with the best doughnuts in three counties. Why? Because that’s where all the cops hang out. That revelation is made by Bobby Trench (Washington) to his partner Michael “Stig” Stigman (Wahlberg) as they plan to rob said bank of the $3 million they believe is inside courtesy of Mexican drug lord Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos). The job goes off without a hitch. Unless you call a haul of $43 million a hitch.

Full of fun action pieces and great cast chemistry, “2 Guns” joins this summer’s “The Heat” as the year’s best buddy/action film. Washington and Wahlberg have a natural rapport that gives the impression they’ve been pals for years. They argue and bicker like an old married couple while doing their best to stay a step ahead of the money’s owners. Things get crazier when each man discovers the other isn’t a thief but a member of opposing law enforcement agencies. As things get progressively hairier for the duo, they realize that the only one they can trust is each other.

Cleverly written and stylishly directed, “2 Guns” reunites Wahlberg with his “Contraband” director, Baltasur Kormakur. Kormakur has a smooth flowing style that lets the action pour over the screen like a water fall. Based on the popular graphic novel series of the same name, creator Steven Grant and writer Blake Masters have come up with possibly the best mismatched team of partners since Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy cruised San Francisco in a baby blue Cadillac convertible in “48 Hours.” Both Washington and Wahlberg have great comic timing and they’re action chops need no explanation. The supporting cast also excels. It’s always a pleasure seeing Edward James Olmos on the big screen and he has fun with the role of Papi. Patton is Washington’s co-worker and on-again/off-again love interest. And as the man who wants his money back, Bill Paxton is both funny AND terrifying.

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Blu-ray Review “Robin Hood: 40th Anniversary Edition”

Actors: Brian Bedford, Pat Buttram, Andy Devine, Monica Evans, Phil Harris
Directors: Wolfgang Reitherman
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Home Video
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 83 minutes

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

Disney’s “Robin Hood” is not one of the biggest classics to have come out of Disney but I have always loved this film.  The story, the characters, the music! Roger Miller some of the most fun and catchy songs for the film. I recently watched this film on Disney Channel and much to my surprise I felt like I had just watched it the day before. My 14 month old daughter also had a blast watching this film and couldn’t take her eyes off the screen. Disney did a good job with this release and gave it the love that it deserves. Fans of this film should not miss this Blu-ray release, it is a must. Oo-De-Lally, Oo-De-Lally, Oo-De-Lally, what a release.

Disney has been releasing all the animated classics in their library recently onto Blu-ray. Along with this, “The Sword in the Stone” (1963) and and “Oliver & Company” (1988) were released as well. In fact after looking into it they should be coming to an end shortly with only fourteen more theatrically released Disney Animated Classics left with two more set for this year alone. Next up we have “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” and “The Little Mermaid”.

Official Premise: To commemorate its 40th anniversary, Disney proudly presents the unforgettable animated classic Robin Hood on Blu-ray for the first time ever. Experience all the fun, thrills and celebrated music of this legendary adventure with perfect picture and sound! Join Robin Hood, his trusted companion Little John and his hilarious band of Merry Men as they outfox greedy Prince John to save the good people of Nottingham. Dashing from one daring deed to the next, Robin won’t rest until he wins the hand of Maid Marian and restores King Richard to the throne. One of Disney’s most beloved movies is even better on Blu-ray Combo Pack!

Disney is releasing this film as a combo pack with a Blu-ray, DVD and digital copy included. Unlike “The Sword in the Stone”, this release delivers the goods. The 1080p transfer makes this film look better than it ever has.  The colors are really sharp and the line details are impressive as well. Disney gets a big thumbs up on this restoration job. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track also delivers with the sharp with dialogue and Miller’s tunes.

The special features are pretty good as well with a few nice high-def extras. First off, we get a never-before-seen deleted storyline presented with black and white storyboards. There is also an alternate ending included. There are four isolated songs from the film including “Oo-De-Lally,” “Love,” “The Phony King of England” and “Not in Nottingham”, as well as sing alongs. There is an behind the scenes look at the original artwork with a nice gallery of images. There is a fun read along for kids with the “Robin Hood Storybook”, runs about 15 minutes. Lastly, there is a bonus short film “Ye Olden Days” starring Mickey Mouse.

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Blu-ray Review “The Sword in the Stone: 50th Anniversary Edition”

Actors: Ricky Sorenson, Karl Swenson, Norman Alden, Sebastian Cabot, Martha Wentworth
Directors: Wolfgang Reitherman
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 79 minutes

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

Growing up, my sister and I just to watch “The Sword in the Stone” quite a bit and it was always one of our favorites. It has been many years since I’ve seen the film and yet it is still as ever entertaining. I was very impressed to find that I know (somehow) recall all the lyrics to the fun songs like “Higitus Figitus”. The music in this film is so great, I forgot how much I love the score. One thing I can’t come to terms with is the fact that this film is already 50 years old, that just blows my mind. Having watching this as a kid, to now have a daughter of my own, I can’t wait to share this with her.

Disney has been releasing all the animated classics in their library recently onto Blu-ray. Along with this, “Robin Hood” (1973) and and “Oliver & Company” (1988) were released as well. In fact after looking into it they should be coming to an end shortly with only fourteen more theatrically released Disney Animated Classics left with two more set for this year alone. Next up we have “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” and “The Little Mermaid”.

Official Premise: Disney proudly presents the 50th anniversary edition of a spellbinding and beloved animated classic. Conjure up magical family fun with the humor, adventure, and Academy Award-nominated music (best score – adaptation or treatment, 1963) of The Sword In The Stone – on DVD and now on Blu-ray combo pack for the first time ever! Take an amazing journey with a young orphan named “Wart” and the extraordinary wizard Merlin. According to legend, only someone with the purest character and inner strength can pull the enchanted sword from the stone and claim the throne of England. Armed with newfound confidence and the power of friendship, Wart discovers his destiny and learns the best magic is the kind you find inside yourself!

Disney is releasing this film as a combo pack with a Blu-ray, DVD and digital copy included. I have to admit though, I am a little disappointed in the release overall. The 1080p transfer is not the best, especially coming from Disney. I know the film is 50 years old but I am not sure how much restoration (if any) they did to this film since it looks a little iffy. Overall, it is still very enjoyable and a big improvement from past DVDs but not what I expected from in terms of Blu-ray standards. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track delivers at least very well, especially with the music and action.

Back to disappointing again with the special features. Come on Disney, this is for the 50th anniversary, where are the new and exciting extras? The only new feature is a never-before-seen alternate opening presented in black and white storyboards. “Music Magic: The Sherman Brothers” discuss about the men behind the films music. There is a short excerpt from “All About Magic”, hosted by Walt Disney. There are two classic animated shorts including “A Knight for a Day” and “Brave Little Tailor.” Lastly, there is a sing along with the movie, done in karaoke style.

 

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Blu-ray Review “The Dick Van Dyke Show: The Complete Fifth Season”

Actors: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Carl Reiner
Directors: Jerry Paris
Number of discs: 3
Rated: Unrated
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 775 minutes

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

Well this is it kids, the final season of one of my favorite shows that has ever graced television. Even though it is has been off the air for almost 50 years, I am going to miss this show. Thankfully Image Entertainment has delivered each wonderful season on Blu-ray. I have absolutely loved reviewing these releases over the last few months. I am looking forward to though to revisiting this series quite often with my wife and daughter, especially as she grows. It is one of those shows that never gets old and better each time you watch. The characters in this show are just so much fun and you really get to see them grow along with the show through its five seasons. Do not miss this release!

Official Premise: Don’t miss the fun in this final season of the multiple Emmy Award-winning DICK VAN DYKE SHOW. Generation after generation of TV viewers have fallen in love with this timeless classic! For laugh after laugh, join one of TV’s best-loved couples, Dick Van Dyke as Rob Petrie and Mary Tyler Moore as his wife Laura, along with Rob’s temperamental boss, Carl Reiner as Alan Brady, and his kooky co-workers, Morey Amsterdam as Buddy Sorrell and Rose Marie as Sally Rogers. Now see all 31 season episodes (airing 1965-1966), exquisitely remastered in their original full-length versions. Catch such classics as Laura blurting out Alan Brady’s big secret on national TV in Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth; mild-mannered Mel Cooley finally standing up to the boss in The Bottom of Mel Cooley’s Heart; and Alan Brady attempting to turn the Petries’ anniversary party into a self-serving documentary in A Day in the Life of Alan Brady.

Like the past four seasons before, Image has continued to deliver wonderful quality releases for this amazing show. These episodes have been released on Blu-ray with all-new scans from the camera negatives. The 1080p transfer looks, honestly not short of stunning for a show of it’s age. Each episode come with an original DTS-HD MA 1.0 audio track, which works for the show and its comedy. The episodes were mostly taped with a studio audience and the laughing is balanced well with the snappy jokes and sharp dialogue. You will not be let down with this amazing audio and video presentations.

There are some new Blu-ray exclusive special features included on this release. There is “TV Academy Tribute to Carl” with Garry Shandling. After that there are a few promos collection including “My Blonde-Haired Brunette” and a two packages with some great memories shared with the fans past and present. The rest of the season features are roll-overs from past DVD releases but are still fantastic. There are commentary tracks from Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke on episode 128 (Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth) and Episode 158 (The Gunslinger). Also Rose Marie, Larry Matthew and Bill Idelson lend their commentary to Episode 148 (Dear Sally Rogers). There are “Episode Photos” throughout all three discs for episodes 18 out of the 31 episodes.

Other extras include featurettes on disc 1: “Remembering 4½ and The Alan Brady Show Goes to Jail” and “Remembering Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth (episode 128)”, which look back at those episodes and their characters. Also there is the Emmy Awards® (1965-1966) Outstanding Comedy Series. Disc 2 also contains a look into the Emmy Awards® (1965-1966) Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series. It has two more recent features including “Comic Relief (1992)” and “TV Land Awards (2003)”. There are some Nick at Nite Promos. Lastly there are “Remembering Richard Deacon (episode 146)” and “Remembering Sally (episode 148)”.

Wrapping up the extras for not only the fifth season but the series in general are on a packed third disc. First we get three featurettes “Remembering Buddy’s Bar Mitzvah (episode 149)” and “Remembering The Gunslinger (episode 158)”. There is another feature called “Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman: If Men Could Cry”. Lastly there is a “TV Land Promo for The Dick Van Dyke Show”, a Theatrical Trailer for The Art of Love and a preview for “The New Dick Van Dyke Show”.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox”

Actors: Nathan Fillion, Ron Perlman, Cary Elwes, C. Thomas Howell, Kevin McKidd
Directors: Jay Oliva
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Run Time: 81 minutes

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

“Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox” is the latest DCU original animated movie and one hell of a dark and fun ride. If it is not apparent in the title, The Flash gets a chance to strut his stuff in this film. The film packs some seriously impressive animation, courtesy of Studio 4°C. Like most DCU animation films, there is no shortage of amazing voice actors. This time around we get some serious talent including Nathan Fillion, Ron Perlman, Cary Elwes, Michael B. Jordan, C. Thomas Howell and many more. If you are a comic cook nut you will enjoy how they adapated Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert’s “Flashpoint” comic crossover. Just be worked it is definitely not for little kids since it is easier the most violent DCU animated film that I have seen to date. With all the buzz surrounding the recently released Superman meets Batman crossover in “Man of Steel 2”, this should be hot on the radar.

Official Premise: We all wish for the chance to go back in time and change the things, for The Flash, that coveted chance is within reach. He traverses time to right a violent, decades-past crime against his mother, but the ripples of his good intentions prove disastrous, as a fractured, alternate reality now exists in place of the familiar one. Stumbling through this twisted reality where even Superman is nowhere to be found, The Flash seeks the trusted wisdom of Batman, only to find a grittier, more violent Dark Knight in his place. Together with the help of Cyborg, they race to restore the continuity of Flash’s original timeline while this new world is ravaged by a fierce war between Wonder Woman’s Amazons and the Atlanteans, led by a battle hardened Aquaman.

Warner (like usual) takes care of it’s DCU releases. This comes as a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet. We get all the basis and options covered with this release. The 1080p transfer really shines for this releases, especially with the animation. I thought the colors really popped and looks very sharp. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 worked perfectly representing the voice talent, as well as the kick-ass action throughout.

The special features are pretty freaking awesome as well. There is an audio commentary track from Producer James Tucker, director Jay Olivia, screenwriter Jim Krieg and comic writer Geoff Johns. A lot of great minds here discussing the production. “A Flash in Time: Time Travel in the Flash Universe” is an timeline about the manipulation of time in the film. “My Favorite Villain! The Flash Bad Guys” takes a look at baddies in the film. There is a sneak peek at for the next DCU animated film “Justice League: War” set to arrive on Blu-ray in early 2014. There are four animated TV series episodes including “Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!” from “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” and “Flash and Substance” from “Justice League: Season Two” and “Legends, Parts 1 & 2” from Justice League Unlimited. Lastly there is an 8-page digital copy excerpt of “Flashpoint #1” included.

 

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Blu-ray Review “On The Road”

Actors: Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Sam Riley
Directors: Walter Salles
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 124 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars

One thing that “On the Road” doesn’t fall short of is amazing talent. This film is jam-packed with a great cast including Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams, Viggo Mortensen, Steve Buscemi, and Terrence Howard. Since the film is very character driven, they all come together very well. I am surprised it took this long to get this film out there since it was shot back in 2010 but it was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and named one of the 10 Best Films of 2012. The film is directed by Walter Salles (“The Motorcycle Diaries”) and is based on the iconic 1957 novel by Jack Kerouac. This is the first time that Kerouac’s novel has been brought to the big screen and it is definitely worth the wait. If you are looking for a well-acted and directed rebellious road movie then you should dig “On the Road” quite a bit.

Official Premise: ON THE ROAD tells the timeless story of Sal Paradise (Sam Riley, “Byzantium”), a young writer whose life is shaken and ultimately redefined by the arrival of charming ex-con Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund, “TRON: Legacy”), a free-spirited, fearless, fast-talking Westerner and his girl, Marylou (Kristen Stewart, “The Twilight Saga”). Traveling cross-country, the new friends venture out on a personal quest for freedom from the conformity and conservatism engulfing them in search of the unknown, themselves, and the pursuit of “it” – the pure essence of experience. Seeking uncharted terrain and the last American frontier, the duo encounters an eclectic mix of men and women who each indelibly impact their journey toward self-discovery.

MPI is the distributor behind this Blu-ray release and they did a good job on it.  The 1080p transfer is sharp.  The locations are well represented and really lends to the film itself as a character. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks works well with the film’s ever so important dialogue and score. The only real part that I was upset with was the lack of special features.  The only extra included on the release is a theatrical trailer.  I would have loved to seen more here…maybe a commentary track from some of the amazing cast perhaps. Or what is a road movie without a crew documentary the journey, a behind-the-scenes look could have been cool as well.

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DVD Review “Magic Magic”

Actors: Michael Cera, Juno Temple, Emily Browning
Directors: Sebastián Silva
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 97 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

“Magic Magic” has seemed to completely slipped through my radar this year. It packs an impressive young cast including Juno Temple (“The Dark Knight”), Emily Browning (“Sucker Punch”) and Michael Cera (“Superbad”) in his most interesting role to date. Cera delivers the creeps and does a damn good job doing it. This psychological thriller really keeps you on your toes and hits when you don’t expect it. You definitely get this uncomfortable feeling through the whole film, which I did enjoy. I would recommend this for sure as a rainy weekend renter.

Official Premise: Award-Winning Chilean director, Sebastián Silva, invites you on this thrilling journey to the deepest reaches of your darkest fears. In a foreign country, far from home, Alicia (Juno Temple) arrives in South America to vacation with her cousin, Sarah (Emily Browning). When Sarah is suddenly called away, Alicia is stuck on a remote island off Chile with three of Sarah’s friends, including Barbara (Catalina Sandino Moreno) and Brink (Michael Cera), an American exchange student with a sadistic streak. Bewildered, frightened, and unable to sleep, Alicia’s reality becomes a nightmare from which there is no waking. Ancient indigenous rites, disturbing animal behavior, and captivating hypnotic trances come together in an intense exploration into the darkest corners… when the games go too far, reality unravels with astonishing and deadly consequences.

I wasn’t aware of the work of director, Sebastián Silva prior to this film but I will be keeping an eye out for him more now. In fact, I am actually shocked that this film was never released in theaters after its critically successful debut at Sundance this past January. Sony also only chose to release this film on DVD and skipped a Blu-ray release, not sure why. But I feel this could have benefited from a high-def surround track with its eerie score. In terms of special features, there is an exclusive to the DVD featurette included, “The “Making Magic Magic””, which gives a look into the production.

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Blu-ray Review “Swamp Thing”

Actors: Louis Jourdan, Adrienne Barbeau, Ray Wise
Directors: Wes Craven
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 91 minutes

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

I have always loved “Swamp Thing” growing up as a kid for two reasons…Adrienne Barbeau. The film itself is based on the 1970’s charcter from the DC Comics Universe. The approach to the series was very campy but I aalways though that “Swamp Thing” could have been a killer horror movie, done very dark and deep New Orleans-like. The film is directed by horror director Wes Craven (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”) and he did a good job with what he was given to work with. First thing I wanted to know with this release was if it was the uncut international version or the MGM cut version. Unfortunately, it is the latter. Shout! Factory was unable to get the uncut version due to legal reasons, which is a bit of a let down. Nonetheless, the film itself looks great and Shout! tried its best to deliver a great release. A must for any fan!

Official Premise: Deep in Florida’s darkest everglades, a brilliant scientist, Dr. Alec Holland (Ray Wise), and a sexy government agent, Alice Cable (Adrienne Barbeau), have developed a secret formula that could end world hunger and change civilization forever. Little do they know, however, that their arch nemesis, Arcane (Louis Jourdan), is plotting to steal the serum for his own selfish schemes. Looting the lab and kidnapping Cable, Arcane douses Holland with the chemicals and leaves him for dead in the swamp. Mutated by his own formula, Holland becomes Swamp Thing – a half human/half plant superhero who will stop at nothing to rescue the beautiful Cable and defeat the evil Arcane…even if it costs him his life!

Shout! Factory gave “Swamp Thing” some impressive love with its 1080p transfer within it’s aspect ratio of 1.85:1. I felt like certain scenes were better than others but overall it was impressive. The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono rack works well with the dialogue and the action scenes. Shout! delivered this release as a combo pack with both a Blu-ray and DVD included. There are some good new special features included on this release as well. Key word new special features! There is a brand new audio Commentary track with Writer/Director Wes Craven, which I really recommend. There is also an audio commentary with Makeup Effects Artist William Munns. There are great individual interviews with Adrienne Barbeau, Reggie Batts and “Swamp Thing” Creator Len Wein. Lastly, there are some Photo Galleries included.

 

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, review, swamp

Blu-ray Review “Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Four”

Starring: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, LeVar Burton, Marina Spirtis
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Run Time: 1180 minutes

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

Who doesn’t love the cliffhanger for “The Best of Both Worlds”? Captain Picard turned into a Borg…NOOOOOO!!!! It is the best in the franchise no question and left many fans screaming (including myself). Season four starts off with the conclusion episode and really kicks off the season with a bang. Due to the success and fan’s response to that cliffhanger formula it was reused throughout the rest of the series, including this season’s finale “Redemption”. Season four also marked the historic 100th episode of the show and the series passing the original series, which only had three seasons. The season some classic moments including a funny Robin Hood spoof with Q, Wesley Crusher leaving and the return of Denise Crosby as her own half-Romulan daughter! Season three really set the stands for this one and season four really takes the show into a great direction. If you are a fan of the show, do not miss this release.

Like the past three seasons, Paramount has continued to deliver fantastic releases for this show. “Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Four” delivers the show in glorious 1080p transfers of each episodes. These episodes look stunning, especially for being over 20 years old. Top that with a flawless DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track for each episode and Trek fans will be nothing but thrilled. Alternate audio tracks also include an English Stereo Surround, French Mono, Italian Mono, Castilian Mono, German Mono and Japanese Mono tracks. These episodes have been through a fantastic restoration which involved returning to the original film elements and it was worth every single second of effort because this release is great.

Paramount not only delivers a wonderful audio and video presentation, they also knock your socks off with great special features. The first five discs include a few extras where disc six is jam-packed. There are two audio commentary tracks including Rob Bowman and Mike and Denise Okuda on “Brothers” and Ronald D. Moore, Brannon Braga, and Mike and Denise on for “Reunion”. There are six “Archival Mission Log” featurettes, including “Mission Overview Year Four”, “Selected Crew Analysis Year Four”, “New Life and New Civilizations”, “Chronicles from the Final Frontier”, “Departmental Briefing Year Four: Production”, “Select Historical Data” and “Inside the Star Trek Archives”. These are Mission Logs are very informative and really cover all aspects from the show’s production and legacy.

Disc six from us a bunch of great high def extras. “In Conversation: The Star Trek Art Department” is a 68 minute discussion with Special Makeup Effects Artis Doug Drexler, Production Designer Herman Zimmerman, Scenic Art Supervisor Mike Okuda, Visual Effects Supervisor Dan Curry, Technical Consultant Rick Sternbach, and Deep Space Nine Scenic Artist Denise Okuda. Great new feature and a must-see for any fan of the show. ”Relativity: The Family Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation Part 1: Homecoming and Part 2: Posterity” features cast and crew focusing on all aspects of the from the stories to the fandom and together they run to about an hour of great content. Lastly there is a nearly four minute Gag Reel and a collection eight deleted scenes.

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Book Review “The JAWSfest Murders (A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery)”

Author: Crispin Nathaniel Haskins
Paperback: 281 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Release date: April 7, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Summer on Martha’s Vineyard is always hectic. It’s been that way for almost four decades thanks to the island being the home location of the popular film, “Jaws.” This summer is especially busy because the fictional Amity Island is hosting the 2nd JawsFest and thousands of fans of the film are expected. Chief of Police Laurie Knickles is already planning on her staff being stretched. But when an apparent shark attack victim shows up off shore she must rely on an old friend for help.

Smartly written, “The JAWSFest Murders” is a tidy murder mystery that is thoroughly entertaining, even if you’ve never heard of the movie “Jaws.” Our hero, Charles Williams, is a fan of the film who plans to meet up with his fellow “Finatics” to celebrate the film they love. Charles is surprised to find that an old friend is now the top cop on the island. An amateur sleuth himself, Charles is intrigued when the Chief tells him about a body that appears to have been attacked by a shark. The irony that it happened during “JawsFest” is not lost on either of them. Only later do they discover that the victim had been shot prior to being dumped in the drink. The Chief captures Charles’ total attention when the name of the victim is announced: Karl Bass, one of Charles’ on-line “Jaws” pals. The plot intensifies as more fans, and friends, mysteriously die.

Part of the joy of “The JawsFest Murders” is exploring the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Author Haskins is so descriptive of the layout of towns like Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven and Edgartown that the book almost reads like a Fodor’s Guide. Like I mentioned, you don’t have to know anything about “Jaws” to enjoy the book. However if, like me, you’re a fan of the film, you can look forward to several inside bits, some that sneak up on you. I was 50 pages in before I realized that the majority of the characters were named after the kids featured in “Jaws” and “Jaws 2.” Haskins doesn’t hit you over the head with “Jaws” but gives readers enough information to make them understand the passion of the fans.

“The JAWSFest Murders” is something the actual 2012 JAWSFest wasn’t – Entertaining!

Check out our interview with Crispin Nathaniel Haskins, here

To order your copy of “The JAWSFEST Murders” please visit www.marthasvineyardmysteries.com

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Blu-ray Review “Star Trek: The Next Generation, Redemption”

Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: July 30, 2013
Run Time: 86 minutes

Episodes: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I personally cannot get enough of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. Timed with the recent release of Season Four on Blu-ray, this two-part, “Redemption” is the season four finale and season five premiere. It is being released as a standalone similar to the “Best of Both Worlds” release with two episodes edited together for seamlessly. If you love these episodes like myself then you will be able to see the extended episode like never before. This cliffhanger is so epic and one of my favorites as we get to follow Captain Picard and Lieutenant Worf as they fight to end a Klingon Civil War. Currently the episode “Redemption, Part 2” is not available on Blu-ray, until Season Five comes out later this year. I would think that this release would be aimed for the hardcore Trekkies out there. It looks like we are seeing a trend now with these episodic feature length releases but  but for me this is a no-brainer for sure.

Like the series on Blu-ray, this also comes stocked with a very impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 and of course the original Dolby Digital 2.0 for those “Star Trek” purists that prefer the original broadcast audio tracks. The 1080p high definition transfer is nothing show of superb. Paramount did a beautiful job getting this series ready for its high-def close up. The special features are decent and unique to only this release. There is an Audio Commentary with Ronald D. Moore and Mike and Denise Okuda chatting about the episodes. There is decent length 30 minute featurette called “Survive and Succeed: An Empire at War” talking about the production of the episode from all aspects. Lastly there is two episodic promos for each episode. So you need to give props to Paramount since they could have just dropped these episode on a barbones disc and you know we still would have bought it, so the special features are a nice bonus to this release.

 

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