Blu-ray Review "Mulan: 2 Movie Collection"

Actors: Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, Miguel Ferrer, Pat Morita, Harvey Fierstein
Directors: Tony Bancroft, Barry Cook
Number of discs: 3
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 12, 2013
Run Time: 167 minutes

Mulan: 4 out of 5 stars
Mulan II: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Mulan” was at the tail end of Disney’s hand-drawn animation success.  I have always been a fan of “Mulan” and I always thought it was underrated.  The music and songs are memorable and it has fun characters like Mushu (thanks to Eddie Murphy).  The film also creates another classic Disney princess, who is not only pretty but also very strong.  I think having a daughter of my own that resonates a little more with me. “Mulan II” on the other hand is quite a different story. It comes from a time that Disney was making sequels left and right to their products just for the sake of the buck.  To be honest though, it is not as bad as I remember.  Maybe that is due to its impressive Blu-ray transfer (more on that below).  So obviously the main draw here is to own “Mulan” for the first time on high-def Blu-ray.  The film is also celebrating its 15th anniversary, which is cause for celebration.

Official Premise: Celebrate the 15th anniversary of Disney’s critically-acclaimed masterpiece Mulan with this sensational 2-movie collection – presented for the first time in Blu-ray high definition. Mulan’s triumphant tale of honor, courage, and family pride shines brighter than ever with new digitally mastered picture and sound! Disney’s original animated classic magically transforms an ancient Chinese legend into a spectacular motion picture event. Relive all the wonder and excitement as Mulan breaks tradition by joining the Imperial army accompanied by her hilarious guardian dragon, Mushu. The adventure continues in Mulan II, as newly engaged Mulan and Shang journey to a distant city in a valiant quest to save their beloved empire. Your whole family will adore these two extraordinary films on Disney Blu-ray.

Alright now more on the audio/video presentation.  Disney is known for going out of their way to deliver very impressive high-def transfers of their classic animated films.  “Mulan” ranks up their with the best of them. The 1080p is extremely sharp and really showcases the beautiful animation and colors used throughout this film. There is something about hand-drawn animation that just really looks amazing on Blu-ray.  Even though, I love me some Pixar films, I really have a special place in my heart for the slight imperfections in the lines and it just reminds you that everything does not need to be perfect.  “Mulan II” also (believe it or not) looks quite amazing with its 1080p transfer.  Of course, it is not as good as “Mulan” since it carriers that direct-to-video look, but the colors look good and sharp even though. Like the 1080p video, “Mulan” also packs a fantastic DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track.  It works very well with the music and action. “Mulan II” also sounds great but again a notch below the first.  The songs (even though not great) sound decent and the dialogue is clear. Also I should mention that both films are located on one Blu-ray disc and the additional two DVDs include each film on their own disc.

The special features are probably my least favorite aspect of this whole release.  “Mulan” packs nothing new at all for it’s 15th anniversary and just rehashes its DVD features, all presented in SD.  There is an audio commentary track with Producer Pam Coats and directors Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, decent and very informative.There are seven deleted scenes (like usual) in storyboards mode with introductions by director Tony Bancroft. “Classic Backstage Disney” runs about an hour with numerous behind-the-scenes featurettes including “Mulan’s Fun Facts,” “The Journey Begins,” “Story Artists’ Journey,” “Design,” and  “Production”.  Lastly “Classic Music & More” includes more featurettes including “Songs of Mulan,” “Mulan’s International Journey and five music videos. “Mulan II” fares even worse with only three short extras.  “Voices of Mulan” looks into the return of several original cast members, as well as the new voices.  There are three deleted scenes, surprisingly in HD. Lastly there is a music video for “I Wanna Be Like Other Girls” by Atomic Kitten.

“Mulan” is not the only animation classic being released on high-def Blu-ray.  March 12th will also bring the release of “Brother Bear 1 & 2”, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1 & 2” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.  Of course like Disney is smart to release their films like that “Mulan”,  “Brother Bear” and “Hunchback” with their direct-to-video sequels because otherwise I do not think that anyone would be interested in owning them.  So I look at these direct-to-video sequels as a bonus feature really.  I am not sure how “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” fits into this trend but that is one release that I am highly anticipating.

 

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Book Review "Star Trek The Next Generation: On Board the U.S.S. Enterprise"

Author: Michael Okuda, Denise Okuda
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Barron’s Educational Series
Release Date: March 1, 2013

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Being a big Star Trek fan-or Trekkie, I just had to add this latest book to my collection. The U.S.S. Enterprise is represented all around my office with model, toys and even Christmas ornments. So if you are a fan of “Star Trek” then who wouldn’t want to be transported to the Final Frontier for a 3D tour within this book? I have to say I was hoping for a little more since this book really is putting its audience under the age of 12.  Nonetheless, I like to consider myself young at heart.  This brand-new book contains a detailed 48 pages contains a 3D tour of everyone favorite way to cruise through space, the U.S.S. Enterprise.  This year is a big year for “Star Trek” with “Star Trek: Into Darkness” coming out this May, as well as the 25th anniversary of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”,  so fans are sure to be on “Star Trek” overload.

As long as they are aware that it is rather short and aimed at a younger audience they should still be left satisfied. If you are a new “Star Trek” fan or a life-long fan, this contains the history of the starship Enterprise in detail and with very sharp illustrations.  I was excited to get a chance to see the Enterprise from new angles and it almost feels like you are a fly on the wall. So what can you expect to see inside the ship? How about the ship’s bridge, the captain’s chair, the main consoles, as well as their Starfleet members living quarters.  Even though the book is only 48 pages, there is still some decent information packed into it.

So if you are left wanting a little more from this book, it also contains a CD-ROM, which gives a digital detailed tour of the Enterprise . This software program was developed along with the creators of the “Star Trek” sets that were used in the films and on the television series, so you know that it is accurate.  I feel that this kind of makes up for the length of the book and gives the reader an added bonus. Speaking of accuracy, the book is authored by Michael Okuda, and his wife Denise.  In fact Michael was the scenic art supervisor for “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, and the designer of the ship’s control panels, computer readout animations, and other features. So that also shows the book is in good hands. Like I said, try having a fan pass this up.

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DVD Review "Action Heroes of the Cliffhanger Serials"

Actors: Lee Powell, John Wayne, Gene Autry, Clayton Moore, George Reeves and Adam West
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Legend Films
DVD Release Date: February 26, 2013
Run Time: 90 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

I know the action heroes serials were before my time, I still always loved watching these with my Grandfather. I mean firstly who doesn’t love heroes like Superman, The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet? Not today’s flashy reboots but the classics serials. I remember the classic cliffhangers, “Tune in tomorrow to see…” George Reeves is always who I think of first when I think of Superman. I always love going to Walt Disney World’s Sci-Fi Diner to see “Rocket Man” still blazing on the big screen. These serials aren’t as showy as today’s films but they have that certain charm of what it was like in the good ‘ole days.

Official Premise: The movie serials came to be known as Cliffhangers because time and time again, the chapter close would find the hero or heroine literally hanging off a cliff or caught in the jaws of death — only to be continued the following week, where he or she would accomplish a daring and miraculous escape. Many serials of the 30s and 40s served as inspiration for modern-day epic films such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones. This compilation features segments of some of the best serials starring western and superheroes alike including Batman, Superman, Flash Gordon, The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet, Rocket Man, John Wayne and so many more!

Legend Films is releasing this 1992 special, which is basically a collection of trailers and excerpts  showcasing some of these classics.  It starts off with a narration but then jumps right into the trailers and let’s them do the talking. As described above there is a little bit for everyone here whether you were a fan of superheros, westerns, or sci-fi. I would have loved to see a few actual full serial episodes included, but still though the trailers are quite fun.  They also reminded me of sitting in the drive-in cars at Walt Disney World’s Sci-Fi Diner. So if you are a fan of these serials then you will get a kick out of seeing them again and together on this DVD.

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DVD Review "Gumby's Best Episodes: The Original Adventures"

Created by: Art Clokey
Voices of: Dallas McKennon and Art Clokey
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Legend Films
DVD Release Date: February 26, 2013
Run Time: 90 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

As I am a child of the 80’s, I came to love “Gumby” during his revival in the late 1980’s. I remember it also being my first reveal with claymation or stop-motion animation besides the Rankin/Bass holiday specials. I don’t know what it is but I have always had a special place for this green clay hero and his little dog Pokie. There are way over 200 episodes spanning from this series dating back to the mid-1950’s. So since I doubt we will ever get a complete series release, the closest we ever came was with Rhino’s 7-DVD boxed set with over 100 episodes from 2002, I am excited to see that Legend Films is giving this series some love. I hope that this release is the first of many volumes of this series.

Official Premise: Legend Films is proud to offer this collection of the best episodes from Gumbys Original Adventures series. See Gumby and Pokey as they find adventure and learn valuable lessons along the way. Watch Gumby as he attempts to sneak away for fun with Pokey by setting robots to do his chores in Yard Work Made Easy, see a wonderful masterpiece of music and animation in Gumbys Concerto, and find out how Gumby helps the poor King save his only daughter with a 25 cent toy in Sad King Otts Daughter. These claymation masterpieces are just as heartwarming and charming today as they were at their beginning — more than fifty years ago! Its perfect entertainment fun for the entire family!

The 16 episodes included here are: “Tree Trouble”, “Lion Drive”, “Yard Work Made Easy”, “Sad King Ott’s Daughter”, “The Block Heads”, “Gumby’s Concerto”, “The Glob”, “Baker’s Tour”, “The Black Knight”, “The Kachinas”, “In a Fix”, “The Witty Witch”, “The Groobee”, “Gumby Racer”, “Rain for Roo” and “Hidden Valley”. There is a nice combination of episodes from the 50’s and 60’s run of this show. I still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing the first time I saw the episode “Gumby Racer”. That really brought back some fun memories. The episodes are old and aren’t restored at all here but it is great to see them like I remember. Here is a fun fact for horror fans the episode of “Gumby” titled “Clay Play” (not on this release) appeared in an episode of “Freddy’s Nightmares” titled “The End of the World”, also from the 80’s.

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Blu-ray Review "Grave Encounters 2"

Actors: Richard Harmon, Sean Rogerson, Leanne Lapp, Dylan Playfair, Stephanie Bennett
Directors: John Poliquin
Rated: Unrated
Studio: NEW VIDEO GROUP
Release Date: March 12, 2013
Run Time: 98 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

I watch a lot of crappy horror movies and I am a fan of “Grace Encounters”, which was not one of them.  So when I heard that there was a second film in the works, I was thrilled.  “Grave Encounters 2” takes what was good about the first film and then really builds on its success. This film really takes a cool and unique approach to the story and comes packed with bigger scares and some great twists. The first film was written and directed by The Vicious Brothers, click here for our interview with them, but on this film they stepped aside from directing and focused on writing. This was a good move as the film is much smarter. Even though, this didn’t really leave me with the same “WTF” feeling watching it a second time, it is still a blast and a must watch for any fans or hater of the first film!

Official Premise: “Grave Encounters” was a found-footage horror phenomenon that many people believed was just a movie. Film student Alex Wright is out to prove them wrong in “Grave Encounters 2″. Alex is as obsessed with the first film, as the 20 million people who viewed its viral trailer on YouTube. While he and his friends research the events and visit the real psychiatric hospital depicted in the original film, they find themselves face-to-face with unspeakable evil, banking on the hope that their knowledge of the original film will help them survive the sequel.

This release comes as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.  The 1080p transfer works well with the darkness of the film but you have to remember this was shot handheld and made to look raw. So it’s not perfect but is sharp and delivers with the way it is meant to look. At least New Video released “Grave Encounters 2” on Blu-ray since they only gave the first film a DVD release. The special features are a bit of a let down. The only thing included is “An Interview with The Vicious Brothers, Presented by American Express”. Having spoken with these guys, they are very entertaining and fun but I would have loved to seen a commentary track or some featurettes. Either way I am still counting down the days till “Grave Encounters 3″! Bring it on!

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DVD Review "Curandero: Dawn Of The Demon"

Actors: Sergio Acosta, Gizeht Galatea, Carlos Gallardo
Directors: Eduardo Rodriguez
Rated: R (Restricted
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: March 12, 2013
Run Time: 92 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

A curandero is “a traditional Native American healer or shaman in Latin America, who is dedicated to curing physical or spiritual illnesses” (thanks Wikipedia).

“Curandero: Dawn Of The Demon” was made back in 2005 and I have no idea why it sat unreleased almost for almost 10 years. This supernatural horror pic is a quite impressive with no shortage of gore and some decent action as well. Be sure not to blink though as some of the “grisly images” are gone in a flash but they will stick around as nightmares. “Curandero” also comes presented by Robert Rodriguez (“Sin City”, “Machete”, “Planet Terror”), who wrote and co-produced this film. This is must watch for horror fans and fans of Robert Rodriquez.

Official Premise: “Curandero: Dawn of the Demon” is an action-packed horror flick that takes a couple on a horrifying journey through the deepest bowels of the Mexican underworld. When beautiful federal agent Magdalena calls upon the local curandero (Gallardo) for his services to purify a police station, the two of suddenly find themselves immersed in a satanic cult’s blood-thirsty battleground.

Fans of Robert Rodriquez’s “El Mariachi” will be glad to see Carlos Gallardo in the title role. He is a long time collaborator with Rodriguez also on “Desperado” and “Planet Terror”. I am proud to say that I picked him out right away. Eduardo Rodriguez, no relation to Robert, did a very nice job directing. He is also the director behind last years “Stash House” and this year’s upcoming “Fright Night 2”. So this guy knows his horror and is becoming a force to reckon with quickly.

Lionsgate is releasing this film only on DVD. There is an option of either English or Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks. I prefered the Spanish since the English dub is extremely laughable. This release also comes with an Ultraviolet Digital Copy and only comes with the Spanish version, which is good. But I was unable to redeem at time of review since the webpage stated on the coupon is not accessible. The only special feature here is a audio commentary track with director Eduardo Rodriquez and director of photography Jaime Reynoso. Decent and worth checking out but I would have loved to seen more including some featurettes or cast interviews.

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Blu-ray Review "BBC Earth: Africa – Eye to Eye with the Unknown"

Narrator: David Attenborough
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 26, 2013
Run Time: 360 minutes

Series: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

Ever since “Planet Earth”, I have been a nature documentary series junkie.  I can’t help it.  BBC releases some of the highest quality programming and consistently as well.  I love “Life” and “Frozen Planet”.  I can never seem to get enough. “Africa” is yet another breathtaking series that not only educates, it also leaves you stunned. The series is Executive Produced once again by “Mike Gunton” and he should be giving numerous awards for this work on these shows. This 6-part series will really takes you through Africa in a way that no documentary series has every shown you. The cinematography is beyond gorgeous and it is blended well and made entertaining as well with their fantastic stories of survival in place on our planet that has the most diverse animal life anywhere on our planet. Be sure not to miss this series!

Official Synopsis: 553 cameras. 100 days on horseback. 6,526 anti-malarial tablets. Just under 50 tons of kit carried. Executive producer and Primetime Emmy-nominee Michael Gunton and his team of dedicated filmmakers utilized all of this and more to bring you Africa. Four years in the making across 27 countries, Africa is the latest landmark Discovery Channel/BBC co-production to combine groundbreaking technology and dedicated filmmaking to produce a view into this mystifying continent as you’ve never seen it before. Narrated by renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, this extraordinary series takes you to epic, never-before-seen locations and captures the incredible new behaviors of the creatures that struggle to survive in a ever-changing continent.

“Africa” is perfectly narrated by the amazing Sir David Attenborough. When this aired on the Discovery Channel they ended up using Forest Whitaker and that is the main reason why I chose not to watch it.  If you are a fan of these series then you should know who Sir David Attenborough is, I wish they kept it the same as the international UK broadcast.  Nonetheless, this Blu-Ray contains the correct narrator like I said and also the original uncut broadcast taking us through Kalahari, Savannah, Congo, Cape, Sahara, and The Future.  Again the Discovery Channel cut out various scenes for commercials, so sad.  When I was a kid, I would have never believe you if you would have told me that I I would enjoy and also learn a lot from a series like this.  But again, they didn’t have amazing product like this when I was a kid.

Let’s get to the high definition 1080p transfer for these episodes. I know I should say more but I really feel that “WOW” really sums it up. Is that enough? Well I can’t say enough great things. The colors are so pristine and the landscapes are perfectly presented and looks crystal clear. Even if you watched this show in HD on the television it is usually only 720p at the most, so this is a real step up and it’s worth the purchase of the Blu-ray alone. BBC Home Entertainment not only delivered perfect video but also perfect audio. This releases comes with a killer DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track. I know mostly it is used for David Attenborough’s narration, which sounds amazing, but if you really listen you can hear the grass bend and the beautiful songs of the river, deserts and of course the animals. Ace job here!

So you think that the amazing episodes are enough to keep you satisfied with this release? Well that’s great if you are because the rest is all topping then.  There are some really great special features included for this release.  There are over 30 minutes of extra exclusive Interviews with Sir David Attenborough, Executive producer Mike Gunton, series producer James Honeyborne and cameramen Martin Colbeck and Richard Matthews. You want behind-the-scenes featurettes? Good, because there is over an hour included as a bonus feature. Each episode has one and they are a fantastic look into this fantastic production. There are a few additional scenes including exclusive unseen footage from the Harenna Forest in Ethiopia also with commentary by director Matthew Wright and director Nick Easton respectively. Lastly there are about five minutes of Outtakes with the BBC Natural History Unit crew.

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Blu-ray Review "Dragon Ball Z Kai: Seasons One-Four"

Actors: Justin Cook, Christopher Sabat, Sean Schemmel, Sonny Strait, Mike McFarland and Colleen Clinkenbeard
Directors: Yasuhiro Nowatari
Rated: Unrated
Studio: FUNimation
DVD Release Date: S1: October 18. 2011, S2: May 22, 2012, S3: September 11, 2012, S4: March 12, 2013
Run Time: Season 1-3: 625 minutes, Season 4: 525 minutes

Seasons: 4 out of 5 stars
Extra: 1.5 out of 5 stars

“Dragonball Z” is one of the most recognizable anime series in history. How is “Dragon Ball Z Kai” different? It takes the classic series that aired 1989-1996, which consisted of 291 episodes and complies it into a tighter 98 episodes. This was done to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show and also bring the series closely to Akira Toriyama’s 26 volume “Dragon Ball” manga. I know it is hard to be cool with loosing that much content from your beloved anime series, but I really dig it. All fans of the show know that there was quite a bit of fluff added and pacing issues with the original episodes. “Kai” feels a lot tighter and epic and represented well on Blu-ray, thanks to Funimation.

“Dragon Ball Z Kai” really gives “Dragon Ball Z” a feel face lift. If you are a fan of this series, you will bee shocked at how good this series looks. It features high def remasters from Toei Animation’s original source material. They have been really touched up and have never looked better.  But “Dragon Ball Kai” is not just “Dragon Ball Z” remastered for HD, it is a literally a frame by frame digital clean-up, which includes brand new created animation added in which replaces entire segments from the original series. The new segments though are blended perfectly with the original footage and makes the show flow very smoothly.

Season one aka the Saiyans Saga contains episodes 1-26. Here is the official premise: Goku – Earth’s greatest champion – bravely defends humanity against an invading race of warriors known as the Saiyans. When the mighty hero falls, his young son Gohan rises up to face the very villains who murdered his father. The battle rages through space to Planet Namek, where Gohan and his overmatched allies risk their lives to defeat the Saiyan warlord Vegeta – and the monster known as Frieza!

Season two aka the Frieza Saga contains episodes 27-52. Here is the official premise: The nonstop action continues with a furious flurry of flying fists that will leave heads spinning! Krillin and Gohan test out their new powers in a battle with Vegeta, the Ginyu Force shows off their deadly moves, and Goku races through space on a collision course with Frieza! As the epic slugfest approaches a standstill, the Putrid Purple Fiend forever silences Goku‘s closest friend – sending Earth’s hero into a super-saiyan rage that threatens to obliterate them both!

Season three aka the Androids Saga contains episodes 53-77. Here is the official premise: In the aftermath of the battle between Goku and Frieza, both fighters have vanished, and the Earth has a new set of problems. A mysterious stranger known as Trunks has arrived from the future with a warning: The androids are coming – and they’re not alone! The monster known as Cell blazes a trail of death and destruction in pursuit of his horrifyingly perfect form. Should the hideous creature succeed, not even the power of a super Saiyan will be enough to save humanity!

Lastly season four aka the Cell Saga contains episodes 78-98. Here is the official premise: Cell has finally reached his perfect form, and he won’t rest till civilization falls! Only a herculean effort by Earth’s heroes can stop Cell’s rampage, but a superhuman slugfest of unprecedented brutality leads to Goku‘s shocking retirement! Young Gohan alone must now battle the monster and his miniature minions. The outlook appears bleak, but somewhere Goku lurks, waiting to lend his strength to Gohan for one final Kamehameha Wave. Will it be enough to save the world!?

You have to remember that this show originally aired from 1989 – 1996, so this show might not really be screaming high definition. But like I said the HD 1080p transfers for each episode looks fantastic.  The colors are very crisp and pop right off the screen. Also the show’s aspect ratio is also preserved with its original 1.33:1 presentation. The audio presentation for these seasons are just as impressive as the snazzy video upgrade.

“Dragon Ball Z Kai” comes with newly recorded tracks for both the Japanese and English versions. Most of the original cast have returned to deliver a very sharp and clear. The Japanese track is presented with a Dolby TrueHD 2.0 track, decent but I have to say I am a bigger fan of the English tracks here.  The English audio comes with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track which includes the most accurately translated subtitles to date from the original Japanese scripts.  This is a real update for the show unlike what was done for the English dub in “Dragon Ball Z”, which is always debated. So with these newly recorded voice tracks, I have to say that the English track really take the cake.

As much as I absolutely love these series, I really don’t love the extras on each season. I would have love FUNimation to include a few audio commentary tracks from the new U.S. cast. Also I am sure they could have scrounged up some featurettes or better interviews with the cast/crew on the restoration. But what we get is the Opening theme song (“Dragon Soul” by Takayoshi Tanimoto) and the closing theme song (“Yeah! Break! Care! Break!” also by Takayoshi Tanimoto) for each season. Season three also includes an extra closing theme song “Kokoro no Hane” by Team Dragon from AKB48. Season two attempts an interview extra but it is far too short. “Interviews with members of the US Cast”, cats with Justin Cook, Christopher Sabat, Sean Schemmel, Sonny Strait, Mike McFarland and Colleen Clinkenbeard. Lastly there is a collection of trailers for FUNimation releases included with each season.

Dragonball Z is still going strong all these years later. “Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods”, which is the 14th “Dragon Ball Z” movie and hits Japanese theaters on March 30, 2013. It has been 18 years since “Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon”, the 13th movie was released in Japan. So this film is a long time coming. So U.S. fans get ready because you know that FUNimation will be bringing this over to us as well. Also “Dragon Ball Z Kai” was suppose to end with this season but it was reported by Krillin‘s Japanese voice actor Mayumi Tanaka last year that the cast is recording new episodes for what would be considered season 5 aka the Majin Buu Saga. So stay tuned.

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DVD Review "Men at Work: The Complete First Season"

Created by: Breckin Meyer
Starring: Danny Masterson, Michael Cassidy, Adam Busch, James Lesure
Number of discs: 2
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 26, 2013

Series: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Men at Work” is one of the newest gems that has come out of TBS last year. TBS’ tag line is “Very Funny” and this show is the reason why they have that tagline. The series was created by Breckin Meyer (“TV’s “Franklin & Bash”) and stars Danny Masterson, Michael Cassidy, Adam Busch and James Lesure. We had the privilege of interview the whole cast, click on their names about for each one. The show is a simple comedy but there is tons of wit and creativity spewing out of it.  The jokes are laugh-out-loud and memorable. The show ended its July 2012 and yet it is March 2013 and I am still quoting it. “BOOM! That is a truth bomb!” The other thing I respect about this show is that creator Breckin Meyer was on the set every day, according to the guys busting his ass and making sure that the show was as good as it could be.  Check this DVD out for sure and get ready to have fun.

Official Synopsis: Man up with the guys from TBS’ original series MEN AT WORK – the bold new sitcom following four friends navigating their ways through work, friendship and women. Danny Masterson (TV’s “That ‘70s Show”), Michael Cassidy (TV’s “The OC”), Adam Busch (TV’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Meredith Hagner (TV’s “Royal Pains”) and James Lesure (TV’s “Las Vegas”) star in this edgy series’ freshman season, which introduces Milo just as he breaks up with his longtime girlfriend. But rest assured his three closest buddies are right there to help him get back in the game, and no matter what mischief ensues, these friends have each other’s backs.

The only bad thing about this show is that it is only 10 episodes.  With all the shitty shows on TV that gets 26 episodes a season, I would have loved to had more but at least with this show…every single episode is gold. The show is about relationships and the guys just get into nothing but trouble.  Some of the crazy shit they do is get into include a “devil’s threesome” (watch the show to find out), fight over a toilet bowl and only speak in song titles during work meetings.  That is only the tip of the iceberg here.  The DVD contains the 10 episodes from the first season and also a bunch of very funny deleted scenes and outtakes, which are a must see for fans of the show. I would have loved to seen some commentary tracks from the cast but either way. I am still left very satisfied here. I am literally counting down the days and can’t wait for season two, which airs on TBS on April 4, 2013.  So be sure to be tuned and spread the word about this great show!

 

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DVD Review "The Mob Doctor: The Complete Series"

Actors: Jordana Spiro, William Forsythe, Floriana Lima
Created by: Josh Berman, Rob Wright
Number of discs: 3
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 12, 2013
Run Time: 566 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“The Mob Doctor” is one of this year’s victims of TV network fast pacing. The show was canceled after its 8th episode but was allowed to air all 13 episodes. The series was based on the book: Il Dottore: The Double Life of a Mafia Doctor by Ron Felber. The Complete Series releases contains all 13 episodes in a three-disc DVD set. Even though the show was short lived it packed a very strong cast including by Jordana Spiro (TV’’s ““My Boys””), William Forsythe (TV’’s “Boardwalk Empire”, “Dick Tracy””). It also had some strong guest stars including Michael Rapaport (“Cop Land”), Michael Madsen (“Kill Bill”) and Jennifer Beals (“Flashdance”). I have always been a huge fan of Forsythe, the guy is brilliant he deserves the attention. He fully committed to this show and rocked it, yet the network didn’t back it.

Official Premise: Dr. Grace Devlin (Jordana Spiro, TV’s “My Boys”) is a promising young surgeon working in Chicago’s most pre-eminent hospital. Still, she can’t escape her Southside roots. With her kid brother facing a mobster’s wrath, Grace makes a deal and agrees to work “off book” for the infamous Chicago Outfit. As Grace’s “day job” forces her to take on emotionally compelling cases – a convict determined to donate his heart to his estranged daughter, a whole family injured in a horrific hit-and-run – she is also forced to deal with mob-related tasks, doing emergency medical procedures in back rooms, treating mobsters hiding from the law and even working on a stolen thoroughbred only hours before he’s due to race. Through it all, Grace fights to keep her dual life a secret…except from the one man who knows Grace best – Southside mob boss Constantine Alexander (William Forsythe, TV’s “Boardwalk Empire”), whose relationship with Grace is more than it seems.

The series was created by Josh Berman and Rob Wright (TV’’s ““Drop Dead Diva””). They really captured the essence of a mob TV show. The show was very sharply written. It has great suspense and drama weaved within. I would have liked to see this show get a little time to mature and gets its legs. I have a feeling this could have been something special. The talent was present with a great cast and get minds behind the screen. “Drop Dead Diva” was a very popular show and the creators know how to make a successful show. But as Fall shows come and go, this one was not giving a chance. At least thanks to Sony Home Entertainment, we are able to still enjoy the show at home.

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DVD Review "Street Sharks – The Complete 40 Episode Series"

Actors: Lee Tockar, Matt Hill, Andrew Rannells, D. Kevin Williams, Tony Wike, Terry Berner, J. Michael Lee, Pam Carter, Jim Hogget
Created by: David Siegel and Joe Galliani
Number of discs: 4
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 19, 2013
Run Time: 887 minutes

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

DIC Entertainment was responsible for much of my TV “babysitting” time when I was growing up with shows like “The Real Ghostbusters”, “The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!” and “G.I. Joe”. “Street Sharks” always interested me since I have been a lifelong fans of anything related to sharks.  Of course they show is very silly and far-fetched…but aren’t all cartoons.  This show turns four regular guys turned into sharks due to “gene-slamming” from..you guessed it…any evil scientist. Ripster was always my favorite being a great white shark.  Jab was a hammerhead. Streex was a tiger shark. Last but not least was Big Slammu, who was a whale shark. Do you really need more that that to draw you in…nope! The show is simple, very colorful and just brute action-packed fun.  This wasn’t the best thing to come out the 90’s but still worth checking out on DVD, especially for the cheap price of under $10 bucks for all 40 episodes! No brainer!

Official Synopsis: Shark N’ Roll with all 40 episodes of your favorite fresh water sharks! When an evil genetic-engineer, Dr. Paradigm illegally experiments with an untested DNA genetic formula, four brothers are accidentally transformed into monstrous half shark – half humans! Delighted with his success, the diabolical madman seeks to alter nature and tailor all humanity into sea creatures of his own design and control! The Bolton brothers – John, Bobby, Coop and Clint – team up to stop Dr. Paradigm and his deadly Seaviates from transforming the citizens of Fission City into mutants with no free will. So hold onto your fins as the heroic Street Sharks kick some serious fin as well as satisfy their voracious appetites in ALL 40 Jawsome Episodes!

Mill Creek Entertainment did a nice job with the casing and delivery of the release.  The episodes haven’t gone under a 4K restoration or anything but they look and sound good enough for me, especially on DVD. Honestly, I am just glad to be able to own this complete series for the first time on DVD. The only special features on this DVD release is a bonus episode include for the short lived 1988 series “C.O.P.S.” aka (Central Organization of Police Specialists). The episode included is called “The The Case of the Boy Who Cried Sea Monster” and aired originally all the way back in October of 1988 (which I actually remember…feeling old).  If you were a fan of “Street Sharks” in their original run, then you would recognize this show more as “CyberCOPS” when it re-aired back in 1993. Not really relevant as an extra, I would have thought that “Extreme Dinosaurs” would have been a better fit but still cool to see this show again after all these years.

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Film Review "21 and Over"

Starring: Miles Teller, Justin Chon and Jonathan Keltz
Directed by: Jon Lucas and Scott Moore
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 31 mins
Relativity Media

Our Score 1.5 out of 5 stars

The first thing I did when I walked out of “21 and Over” was go double check the movie poster in the lobby. No, I hadn’t misread it. In big letters it proclaimed that “21 and Over” was “FROM THE WRITERS OF ‘THE HANGOVER’” I thought for a few minutes…maybe it’s the writers of the 1973 Swedish film, “Hangover.” Or perhaps it was written by the fine people that created the 1950 Van Johnson/Elizabeth Taylor film “The BIG Hangover.” But no, next to “written by” are the names Jon Lucas and Scott Moore (they also direct). Those are the names of the men credited with writing the very funny 2009 “The Hangover.” Wow. Looks like they used up all of their funny four years ago.

The story, as it is, consists of three friends getting together after some time apart to celebrate the 21st birthday of one of them. Miller (Teller) is the obvious “fun” one, Randy (Keltz) more laid back. Both of them have come to visit pal number three, Jeff Chang (Chon). I should point out here that Jeff Chang is always referred to as Jeff Chang, even if it’s obvious that he’s the only “Jeff” or, for that matter, “Chang” in the room. While Miles and Randy want to party, Jeff Chang (damn it, now I’m doing it) begs off, citing a very important job interview he has in the morning. It seems that Jeff Chang’s father has set up the interview and has insisted his son not embarrass him. After much persuasion Jeff Chang agrees to go out for “just one beer.” Yeah, right.

I can’t remember the last time I laughed at the trailer of a film more then the entire film itself. You may have to go all the way back to “Schindler’s List” for that to have happened. Though, in my defense, I should point out that I was laughing at a story a friend of mine told before the “Schindler’s List” trailer ran, not the actual trailer itself. When I say “21 and Over” is uneven that’s pretty much the best I can offer it. What it basically is is a jumble of unfunny jokes and circumstances strung together with really no rhyme or reason, nor common sense. As their night progresses Miles and Randy learn that Jeff Chang, who’s in pre-med, gets tutoring in basic science, has been kicked out of his dorm for attempted murder and is currently carrying a handgun. Wow. You’d think that real friends would stop the partying and find out what’s been going on in Jeff Chang’s life, not playing beer pong or infiltrating an all-Latin sorority house.

The characters themselves are also too broadly drawn to care about. Teller, who was the best part about the remake of “Footloose” (he was Willard) seems to be trying to channel John Cusack, circa 1985 here. It doesn’t work. Keltz is equally at a loss as Randy. Only Chon get’s off lightly, mostly because he’s unconscious for parts of the film and doesn’t have to perform. I don’t blame the actors, I blame the script. Perhaps Lucas and Moore should have given Todd Phillips a chance to work some magic with it like he did on “The Hangover.” Oh well, guys, better luck next time.

 

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Blu-ray Review "Border Run"

Actors: Sharon Stone, Billy Zane
Directors: Gabriela Tagliavini
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: February 26, 2013
Run Time: 96 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

I am not going to lie right off the bat, Sharon Stone and Billy Zane…count me in.  I know they are not A-list big draws but they are enough to get me interested.  “Border Run” is inspired by true events and focuses on current issues that we are dealing with today.  The film is being pitched as a gritty drama but it really falls more into the thriller department.  It has takes a little while to get its feet off the ground but it is overall entertaining and gripping, along with some decent twists. Stone gives a great performance, a nice change of role for her. I would say that this is a least worth a rent to check out.

Official Premise: Sharon Stone stars as Phoenix television reporter Sofie Talbert, a hard-nosed right-wing journalist who exposes liberal politicians soft on illegal immigration. But when her relief-worker brother (Zane) goes missing in Mexico, Sofie’s own south-of-the-border investigation traps her in a deadly underworld of migrants, smugglers and cold-blooded murder. Here, nothing is what is seems. Nobody should be trusted. And when one woman crosses the line, there can be no turning back.

Anchor Bay delivers a decent 1080p transfer within its 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The image is clear and very sharp.  The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio surround track works very well with the suspense and adds to the film’s drama. Overall impressive audio and video for a low-budget title.  Alas, there is zero special features included which is a bit disappointing.  Since this film is based on true events, I could see that there would be room for some featurettes and commentary tracks.  I feel that this is a little big lazy and would have given this a bit more weight behind the film itself.

 

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DVD Review "Eaters"

Actors: Alex Lucchesi, Guglielmo Favilla, Claudio Marmugi
Directors: Marco Ristori, Luna Boni
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Entertainment One
DVD Release Date: March 5, 2013
Run Time: 95 minutes

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

When I read the words “Italian zombie flick”, I was interested in “Eaters”.  I have a big respect for classic Lucio Fulci and Ruggero Deodato films. This film is presented by Uwe Boll (“House of the Dead”, “Bloodrayne”), so I started with a little extra respect for it since I enjoy his work quite a bit. This film features some solid gore and zombie effects for a low-budget horror flick. The film also features a decent soundtrack by Steve Sylvester, founder of black metal band Death SS. May not be the best zombie flick but it is worth checking out if you are looking for some gore and walking dead fun.

Official Synopsis: After the devastation of the Great Epidemic, the world is overrun by hordes of living dead. Two zombie hunters and a scientist set out to find the cause of the obliteration of the human race and a cure for the epidemic, all while trying to stay alive amidst the growing number of ferocious zombies, including neo-Nazis and the daughter of the feared plague-spreader.

Since this film is an Italian zombie film, the film is available to watch in 5.1 Italian Dolby Digital. That would be the way to watch this film if you don’t might subtitles. The other option would be the horribly dubbed, stress horrible, English 2.0 Dolby Digital track.  It is good for a laugh since it is so terrible (have I mentioned that aspect yet?) The only special feature included on the DVD is a behind-the-scenes making of featurette.  Decent extra but runs too short. That is all she wrote in terms of bonus features.  No trailer or commentary tracks included.

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DVD Review "Strange Frame"

Actors: Tim Curry, Claudia Black, Tara Strong, Ron Glass, Cree Summer
Directors: GB Hajim, Shelley Doty
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Wolfe Video
Release Date: March 19, 2013
Run Time: 98 minutes

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

What the fuck? No really. What the fuck? I must have said that at least twenty times while watching this crazy, visual trip of a film.  This bizarre sci-fi lesbian rock musical animated film is like nothing I have ever seen before. Through the rich and very colorful CG rendered animation, this film tells the story of transformative power of love between two women in a world of space pirates, indentured slaves and genetic mutations. The film feels like a really messed up dream or a hallucination. If you are tripping on acid, this might be the film to watch while you are doing so. It is not for everyday viewing but I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen and will be tuning in again for repeat viewings (and no I was not under the influence).

The voice cast for this film is unbelieveable including Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Picture Show), Claudia Black (TV’s “Stargate SG-1,” “90210”), Ron Glass (TV’s “Firefly,” “Barney Miller”), Juliet Landau (TV’s “Green Lantern: The Animated Series”), Tara Strong (TV’s “Ultimate Spider-Man,” “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic”), George Takei (“Star Trek” franchise), Cree Summer (TV’s “The Spectacular Spider-Man,” “A Different World”), Claudia Christian (TV’s “Babylon 5”) and Dawnn Lewis (TV’s “Futurama,” “A Different World”). There is also a voice cameos from impressive talent like Alan Tudyk (“Firefly”, “Wreck-It Ralph”) and Michael Dorn (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”).  I mean for a film that I have never heard of, they sure didn’t skimp on getting talent to be apart of this project.

Official Premise: Set at the end of the 28th century, the human race has long since abandoned a desolate earth. In order to survive, humanity has been using genetic engineering to adapt to otherworld environments, to the point where changing one’s skin color or gender has become commonplace. On the moon Ganymede, saxophonist Parker (Claudia Black) and guitarist Naia (Tara Strong) develop a close relationship. The two embark on their new relationship and form a new band — but they also must fight for their freedom from the evil Mig (Tim Curry).

The main aspect that I was very disappointed about this release is that it is only on DVD.  This film would have honestly looked and sounded 100% better on Blu-ray or even converted to 3D Blu-ray.  Now that would have been a trip. I hope that they are considering this somewhere down the line after this DVD is release because I would be very interested to see that. The special features includes two behind-the-scenes featurettes: “Claudia Black: On Strange Frame, Sex Scenes and Sci-Fi” and “In the Studio with Claudia Black, Tara Strong, Ron Glass, Cree Summer, Juliet Landau, Michael Dorn and George Takei”, as well as a deleted scene.  If you enjoyed this film then you should definitely check out these extras.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: dvd, frame, review, strange
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