DVD Review “Monster Squad: The Complete Series”

Actors: Fred Grandy, Henry Polic II, Buck Kartalian, Michael Lane, Julie Newmar
Directors: James Sheldon, Herman Hoffman
Number of discs: 2
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: VCI Entertainment
DVD Release Date: September 18, 2012
Run Time: 312 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Not to be confused with the 80’s movie of the same name, “Monster Squad” was a campy Saturday morning kid’s action adventure series. It was created by the same team that was behind the 1960’s “Batman” series and has the exact same camp feel. Thanks to VCI Entertainment, all 13 episodes of this cult classic series are available again on DVD after being out of print for a long time. They are fully restored and are a great way to experience this 1976 series again on DVD. The episodes are still very fun…and did I mention they are campy?  This is a must own for all horror fans and lovers of classic monsters.

Official Premise: Originally screened on Saturday mornings on NBC in the late 70s The show stars Fred Grandy (The Love Boat) as Walt, a criminology student working as a night watchman in a wax museum. To pass the time, Walt built a prototype “Crime Computer”. When Walt plugged in his Crime Computer, the “oscillating vibrations” brought to life three legendary monsters. Dracula, The Werewolf and Frankenstein. These creatures hated and feared for centuries are now determined to make up for their past misdeeds by using their unique abilities to fight crime and bust super villains wherever they find them. Together they are the Monster Squad!

All 13 episode are included over two discs, the first disc includes 1: Queen Bee, Episode 2: Mr Mephisto, Episode 3: The Tickler, Episode 4: The Ringmaster, Episode 5: Music Man, Episode 6: No Face, Episode 7: The Astrologer.  The second disc includes – Episode 8: Ultra Witch, Episode 9: The Wizard, Episode 10: The Skull, Episode 11: The Weatherman,  Episode 12: Lawrence of Moravia and Episode 13: Albert/Alberta. Each episodes does look quite nice for a show that is over 35 years old. There is a little grain throughout but still impressive. There are really no special features on the release but to be fair, there is a stills gallery included. Lastly, there is an episode Synopsis on the inside of the DVD case.

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Blu-ray Review “A Christmas Carol (1951)”

Actors: Alastair Sim, Kathleen Harrison, Jack Warner, Mervyn Johns, Hermione Baddeley
Directors: Brian Desmond Hurst
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: VCI Entertainment
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Run Time: 86 minutes

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

When you think about “A Christmas Carol”, you think about Alastair Sim portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge.  It is one of the times and will always be one of my personal favorites.  The Charles Dickens’ story in general is my favorite Christmas tale, in general though.  Thanks to VCI, yet again, for keeping this classic alive and delivering a release that complements this wonderful film. This Blu-ray edition has been digitally restored with a new 1080p, 24fps high definition transfer master produced from the 35mm negative and fine grain.  The film couldn’t look any better.  There are two audio tracks included. The original LPCM Mono track, which I prefer and then the upgraded LPCM 5.1, which I feel doesn’t really suit the film and its time.  I look forward to sharing this film with my daughter as she grows and she will get to experience it in it’s wonderful presentation here.

Official Synopsis: Alastair Sim’s tour-de-force performance as the ultimate miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, has almost single-handedly made this beloved version of Charles Dickens’ story into one of the best-loved Christmas films of all time. Some of Britain’s best filmmakers united behind Sim, who was joined by a delightful cast of accomplished and acclaimed English actors; creating what many today believe to be the best and most faithful production of Dickens’ immortal tale. Cranky and curmudgeonly Scrooge learns the error of his unkind ways and is taught the true meaning of the holidays when he is visited by the ghost of his late business partner and the spirits of Christmas past, present and future.

This 2012 release comes in a combo pack with both the Blu-ray and DVD of the film.  The film is packed with some wonderful extras on both the Blu-ray and DVD. Let’s start with the DVD, which besides including the film in standard definition includes exclusive extras which are not on the Blu-ray.  The first is “Campbell Playhouse: A Christmas Carol”, which is the original 1939 radio dramatization that is narrated by Orson Welles and stars Lionel Barrymore.  This is a real treat for sure.  Lastly, there is a Biblographic Essay from Fred Guida on the film, which has such a vibrant history.

The special features on the Blu-ray are also extremely impressive and all presented in HD (which is shocking). There is an decent length introduction from Leonard Maltin. “Dead to Begin With: The Darker Side of a Classic” is a 30-minute feature with commentary by Sir Christopher Frayling talking about the production during the post-World War II era. “Scrooge by Another Name: Distributing A Christmas Carol” is look into the life of Richard Gordan, the distributor for Renown Pictures. “The Human Blarney Stone: Life and Films of Brian Desmond Hurst” is career retro wiht great-great nephew Allan Esler Smith. Alastair Sim Version: Too Good to be Shown only at Christmastime” is a chat about the film with Fred Guida, author of “A Christmas Carol and it’s Adaptions” Lastly, “Silent Dickens” is a collection of Dickens’ silent work from 1922 now in HD, “Scrooge” and “Bleak House”. There are some features missing from last year’s 60th Anniversary release including the trailers, a featurette “Scrooge Revisited”, the commentary track from Marcus Hearn and George Cole and the Reproduction of the American Pressbook insert.

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DVD Review “Dark Night of the Scarecrow (Deluxe Collector’s Edition)”

Actors: Charles Durning, Tonya Crowe, Larry Drake, Lane Smith
Directors: Frank De Felitta
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: VCI Entertainment
DVD Release Date: September 11, 2012
Run Time: 96 minutes

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

If you are a fan of horror, then you surely know about “Dark Night of the Scarecrow”.  The film has never had love from studios and was only just finally released on DVD for the first time in late 2010, thanks to VCI Entertainment.  It is hard to believe that this was a made-for-TV movie back in the day. Even for a TV movie, the film is still extremely disturbing and unsettling.  If it wasn’t for VCI, this film might still be missing and might have never seen the light of day. This Deluxe Collector’s Edition includes some great new special features and worth the purchase you don’t already own this.  There are certain horror films that have stood the test of time and this is certainly one of them.  Thanks to VCI, the film was given a wonderful restoration for the DVD release and really looks amazing.

Official Premise: When young Marylee Williams (Tonya Crowe) is found viciously mauled, all hell breaks loose in her small rural town. Officious postmaster Otis P. Hazelrigg (Charles Durning) leads a gang of bigots in pursuit of the suspect: her mentally challenged friend Bubba Ritter (Larry Drake). Finding him hiding inside a scarecrow, they exact brutal mob “justice”…only to discover a tragic mistake! Now a strange apparition stalks the land seeking each of them out, as the legend of the Scarecrow begins.

This DVD comes with two fantastic audio tracks, a Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono & 5.1 Surround track.  I prefer the 2.0 since it feels original but the later is very well-done.  Like I mentioned above, the transfer is very sharp and the colors look brand new and not from 1981 at all, especially within its original aspect ratio – 1.33:1. There special features are a nice improvement from the 2010 release.  There is a commentary track from director Frank De Felitta and writer J.D. Feigelson.  There are two trailers including the Original CBS World Premiere Trailer and CBS Rebroadcast Trailer.  There is also a great Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery included.  The new features include “Bubba Didn’t Do it: 30 Years of the Scarecrow” (2012 Extended Version) it is directed by Daniel Griffith and produced by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures.  It includes a new video interview with composer Glenn Paxton.   There is also the “DNOTS Cast Reunion Q & A” -that was recorded at the 2011 Frightfest Film Festival in Louisville, KY.

 

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Film Review “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part II”

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner
Directed by: Bill Condon
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Summit Entertainment

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

It’s over. Finally. The epic vampire meets girl, girl meets vampire, wolf-boy takes his shirt off a lot adventures known as “The Twilight Saga” has reached its end with “Breaking Dawn: Part II.”

For those of you that may have missed the story: Bella (Stewart) is a high school girl living in a remote town in Washington state. One day she catches the attention of Edward Cullen (Pattinson), whose skin is pretty pale, even for someone living in the Pacific Northwest. Bella also has a friend, Jacob, (Lautner) who would like to be more than friends. Seems Edward is a vampire, Jacob a wolf and Bella confused. After four films and a lot of bad special effects, featuring characters running fast and turning into wolves, Bella and Edward are married and Bella has a bun in the oven. Because the baby is half vampire Bella has some complications during birth. In order to save her Edward turns Bella into a vampire. I’ve just save you 490 minutes of your life.

As “BD:II” begins, it’s been a few days since Bella gave birth. Still unsure if she can control her newfound blood lust, her family has kept her from seeing her baby daughter, named Renesmee. To ease her hunger Bella has taken to chasing down deer in the woods as well as well as other forest creatures. But what should be a happy time turns downright tragic when the Volturi, one of the lead groups of vampires, learns of Renesmee’s existence and believes, incorrectly, that the baby has been turned into a vampire the old fashioned way. Joined by vampires sympathetic to their cause, the Cullen clan gathers themselves for what could be one hell of a battle.

There are so many things wrong with this film that I’m not sure where to start. Actually, I do. What may have been an engrossing series of novels is really reduced to scene after scene after scene of bad clichés, including making sure that the vampires from Ireland have red hair and freckles. Too bad they couldn’t make them drunks as well. The special effects (moving along quickly, transforming into wolves) are horribly rendered. You would think for a film series that has grossed over a billion dollars that they could have found a decent special effects house by now. But the biggest problem is Renesmee. No, not her name (when Jacob calls the child “Nessie” Bella is outraged – “You nicknamed my daughter after the Loch Ness Monster?”). For reasons I haven’t yet figured out the production appears to have gone to a CGI baby and youngster to stand in for Renesmee. With its creepy facial features and dark eyes the baby looks nothing like her supposed mom and dad. As the child gets older her face begins to take on hard angles that makes her look like older but, again, computerized. I may not be a doctor but believe me there is no way that Stewart and Pattinson would ever produce a baby this ugly.

Finally, a word of warning to parents with younger children. Somehow this film managed to obtain a PG 13 rating despite featuring no less than a dozen incidents of people having their heads violently ripped off. Maybe the ratings board feels that vampires aren’t really people so it doesn’t matter what happens to them. Some of the younger girls in the screening I attended were visibly upset by the on screen images so use your judgement.

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Film Review “Lincoln”

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 2 hours 29 minutes
Dreamworks

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

January 1865. Having just won re-election to a second term as president, Abraham Lincoln is greeting soldiers, black and white, at an encampment. The black soldiers ask Lincoln if there will ever be a black soldier made an officer. Another asks him how tall he is. The white soldiers claim to have seen Lincoln that fateful day in Gettysburg. But what all of the soldiers have in common is that they all have memorized Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Proudly they recite it, line after line, making it quite clear that they know exactly what they’re fighting for. But no one knows the battles going on behind the battle.

Told with the touch of a master painter, “Lincoln” is an epic canvas on which our 16th president comes alive before our eyes. Played with great skill (and an almost uncanny resemblance) by Daniel Day-Lewis, Abraham Lincoln is shown to be a man of great compassion. While he and his wife Mary (Sally Field) continue to mourn the death of their young son, Willie, the president struggles to bring an end to the Civil War while at the same time trying to get a constitutional amendment passed outlawing slavery. And while he earns assurances that the Republican members of the House of Representatives will support the amendment he will also need the help of several Democrats. To this end he is not above making deals and promising jobs to the Democrats who will soon be out of work as the Republicans won a majority of seats in the last election. He may not always be “Honest Abe” but his goals are admirable.

As one of this generations greatest actors, two time Oscar winner Day-Lewis is a shoo-in for a chance at a third trophy. He has given Lincoln a soft, high pitched voice, though one that has been called quite accurate by historians. Gentle of disposition most of the time, Lincoln only wants to bring his country back together…but on his terms. Field, another double Oscar winner, breathes life into Mary Lincoln, making her more interesting then the way history has painted her (grieving mother needing institutionalization). And Gordon-Levitt bounces back from the mistake that was “Looper” to portray oldest Lincoln child Robert, who feels guilty he’s at school and not in the army fighting to bring his father’s dream to life. Director Spielberg has also filled the cast with some of the greatest character actors around including David Strathairn, Hal Holbrook, John Hawkes, James Spader, Tim Blake Nelson and Tommy Lee Jones.

Spielberg has won Oscars in the past for directing historical dramas like “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan.” Here he allows his camera to sit among the men of history and let the audience feel a part of the action. As usual, his long time musical collaborator John Williams sets the mood with another great score.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups”

Actors: Cheryl Ladd, Kaitlyn Maher, Josh Feldman, Danny Woodburn, Richard Kind
Directors: Robert Vince
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 20, 2012
Run Time: 88 minutes

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

The Disney Buddies franchise has been non-stop, ever since “Air Bud” in 1997. This series just keeps expanding, though this latest edition “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups” is definitely one of the cutest.  I was also a big fan of this past Spring’s “Treasure Buddies”, which was also a lot of fun.  But I have to admit, I am sucker though for the Christmas-themed installments. Did I mention this was cute? I am looking forward to watching this again with my wife and daughter, while getting into the holiday mood.  I was just left with such a nice smile on my face and in a great mood after watching this. I have become a big fan of this series and I look forward to the next installment “Super Buddies”  due out Fall 2013. But Disney if you are reading this, I want more “Santa Paws”  sequels as well!

Dad’s if you are wondering why Mrs. Clause is so smoking hot…that is became it is played by Cheryl Ladd aka Kris Munroe from “Charlie’s Angels”.  “Santa Paws 2” also features “The Search for Santa Paws” co-stars Danny Woodburn and Kaitlyn Maher (“Treasure Buddies”) reunite in this latest installment. Kaitlyn is really the cutest thing on the planet and sings beautifully. Which brings me to the original music in the film, which was really cheerful and great. Thanks in that department have to go to Brahm Wenger, who also worked on “The Search for Santa Paws” and “Treasure Buddies”. I think the addition of music to this franchise has really benefited it, especially the holiday installments.  I found myself humming the tunes…but where’s the soundtrack?

Official Premise: he North Pole has a new litter of playful pups. However, when the frisky foursome—Hope, Jingle, Charity and Noble—practically destroy Santa’s Workshop with their mischievous gamboling, they realize the best way to prove that they’re responsible enough to become Santa’s helpers is to show how well they can spread the Christmas spirit all by themselves. With help from a magic crystal, they start granting everyone’s wishes. But their good intentions backfire when one unhappy boy asks that Christmas go away forever! With his wish impetuously fulfilled, and the joyous spirit quickly disappearing from the planet, Mrs. Claus and the pups have to find a way to reverse the spell—or risk losing Christmas forever.

“Santa Paws 2” comes in a combo pack with Blu-ray and DVD disc. The 1080p transfer is sharp and works well the very colorful Christmas town that is created.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also complements Wenger’s music very well. The special features are a little light for Disney but kids will still enjoy.  There is a fun featurette where the pups take over the radio station from the film in “Santa Pups Music Mash-Up”, featuring clips from the film’s songs.  “Blooper Scooper” is some funny outtakes and other on-set Antics from the production.  Lastly, there are some great trailers for upcoming Disney Blu-ray trailers for “Return to Neverland” and “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh”, which we can expect in Spring 2013. Hooray! Can’t wait for both of those releases!

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Blu-ray Review “The Day”

Starring: Dominic Monaghan, Shawn Ashmore, Shannyn Sossamon, Ashley Bell, Michael Eklund, Cory Hardrict
Director: Douglas Aarniokoski
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: November 27, 2012
Run Time: 84 minutes

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

I have seen a lot of post-apocalyptic movies and they never seen to get it right. “The Day” was very satisfying in that department. It packed a great cast delivering strong performances, as well as some fantastic gore. The film was obviously on a low-budget so the apocalyptic part is implied but still works well. The film has this black and white tone to it except when there is bloodshed…and their is quite a bit of that. It also reminded me of “Sin City” in that sense. WWE Studios, that’s right the wrestling company, is behind this film and like it’s recent film “Barricade”, read my review here, they are picking some great titles to stand behind!

Official Premise: A group of five survivors, armed with shotguns, axes and machetes, wander the back roads of a ravaged landscape looking for refuge in The Day, a terrifying look into a post-apocalyptic future. As war ravages humanity, destroying civilization and most of life on earth, the survivors realize they must do whatever it takes to stay alive. Lost, starving, and exhausted, they seek shelter in a seemingly safe abandoned farmhouse. However, while searching for food and resources, they unwittingly set off a trap signaling to their ruthless predators lying in wait to begin their deadly attack. With food and ammunition dwindling, the group must make a desperate final stand—over a 24 hour period—battling for their ultimate survival.

Even though this is a low-budget film it still has a fantastic young cast including Shawn Ashmore known best for Bobby Drake / Iceman in “X-Men Trilogy”, Ashley Bell from “The Last Exorcism”, Cory Hardrict  from “Battle Los Angeles”, Shannyn Sossamon from “One Missed Call” and “40 Days and 40 Nights” and lastly, Dominic Monaghan from “Lost” and “The Lord of the Rings Trilogy” pops in but let’s just say he doesn’t last long.

“The Day” is being released as a combo pack including both Blu-ray and DVD discs. The 1080p transfer works well with the color and shading, as described above. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track is also very impressive, which adds great atmosphere into the film.  The only special features though is an audio commentary with executive producer/director Doug Aarniokoski, producer Guy A. Danella and writer Luke Passmore. It is good if you are a fan of the film, since there is a lot of technical talk.  I would have loved to seen more production aspect featurettes and maybe even a cast commentary track.

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Blu-ray Review “The Watch”

Starring: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, Rosemarie DeWitt, Will Forte, Richard Ayoade
Director: Akiva Schaffer
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Run Time: 102 minutes

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

“The Watch” is raunchy hilarious comedy with a nice sci-fi/action twist.  When this film was released in theaters, I literally had zero interest in seeing it.  The marketing on the film was terrible and it just sort of came out of nowhere.  Also it wasn’t sure if it was a comedy or a sci-fi film.  I think they should have just went full alien, “Men in Black”-style.  I wasn’t sure what to expect but this film was a whole shit load of fun.  It was completely over-the-top and offensive but it really delivers a lot of funny moments. This may not be the best film of the year but it was completely overshadowed by superheroes this summer and deserves to be given a chance.

Ben Stiller is great but he is overshadowed by the rest of the cast, who completely out-comedy him. Vince Vaughn is the star of the show and really tears up the jokes. The nesting doll scene is priceless. Every word his says was simply magic.   I can only imagine there were many many multiple takes on the lines.  After “@1 Jump Street”, I was a become a member of the Jonah Hill fan club (no, not literally) but this film just sealed the deal.  I wasn’t familiar with Richard Ayoade prior to this film but he really nailed some good one-liners playing Jamarcus. Will Forte cracked me up as  Sergeant Bressman and R. Lee Ermey has a nice cameo.  Lastly, well known creature-actor Doug Jones plays the role of the alien.

Official Premise: Four everyday suburban guys come together to form a neighborhood watch group, but only as an excuse to escape their humdrum lives one night a week.  But when they accidentally discover that their town has become overrun with aliens posing as ordinary suburbanites, they have no choice but to save their neighborhood — and the world — from total extermination.

“The Watch” comes with a three disc combo pack, with a Blu-ray, DVD and digital copy. The film looks awesome with its 1080p transfer.  Even though there isn’t a lot of special effects in the film, the finale looks sweet.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track also delivers for the mix of sci-fi and comedy.

The special features are good but not great since the main extra are 12 deleted scenes that fun about 25 minutes. They are unrated and definitely where the “Caution: Ruder, Cruder and Lewder” comes from on the box cover. There is a four minute gag reel that has me literally crying. “Jonah Alternate Takes”  includes various improved takes on Franklin’s lines. “Watchmakers” is a decent making-of behind-the-scene featurette. “Alien Invasions and You” has the cast talking about a real alien invasion. “Casting the Alien” is an faux interview with the “alien” who played the alien. Very funny. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Lawless”

Starring: Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Guy Pearce, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, Shia LaBeouf
Director: John Hillcoat
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Release Date: November 27, 2012
Run Time: 116 minutes

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

When I first heard of “Lawless”, a film about bootlegging brothers in a Prohibition-era Virginia, I wasn’t completely sold.  Then I found out about this all-star cast including Shia LaBeouf (“Transformers” franchise,) Tom Hardy (“The Dark Knight Rises”), Gary Oldman (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”), Mia Wasikowska (“Alice in Wonderland”), Jessica Chastain (“The Help”) and Guy Pearce (“Prometheus”), and I was instant sold.  The performances in this film are honestly Oscar worthy.  Tom Hardy is amazing, as is Gary Oldman and Guy Pierce.  All three of them are having a great year with “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Prometheus”. This is easily one of my favorite films of the year with a hell of a wild-kick ass showdown. Highly recommended.

Official Premise: They were brothers who became outlaws, and outlaws who became heroes… The three Bondurant boys (Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke), along with their sultry new hire (Jessica Chastain), command the most lucrative bootlegging operation in Franklin County, Virginia. The locals consider them “indestructible.” But the law — in the form of a corrupt special deputy (Guy Pearce) — wants a cut of their action, at any cost. When youngest brother Jack (LaBeouf) gets a taste of power with a deadly gangster (Gary Oldman), the whole business blows sky high. Based on the astonishing true story, the Bondurant brotherhood is the stuff of legend.

The film is releases as a Blu-ray combo Pack.  It comes a Blu-ray, a DVD and a digital copy disc.  The Blu-ray resolution looks sharp with its 1080p transfer and it’s original aspect ratio: 2.39:1.  The sound is also sharp with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track.  The bullets are literally flying by your head and the period music sounds great.  The special features include an audio commentary with Director John Hillcoat and Author Matt Bondurant; two featurettes: “The True Story of the Wettest County In The World” and “Franklin County, VA: Then and Now”; Willie Nelson’s “Midnight Run” music video; and deleted scene.  Overall they are very impressive and are a nice compliment to the film.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure”

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin, Dan Shor, Tony Steedman, Rod Loomis
Director: Stephen Herek
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: MGM
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Run Time: 90 minutes

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

I remember seeing this film in the theaters and going crazy.  Well nothing has really changed in over 20 years.  Every time that watch this film it just seems to get better and more funny.  This is the first time that this film has been been released on Blu-ray and I highly recommend it.  I can’t wait to share this film with my daughter (in a few years since she’s only five months now).  Overall, it is totally excellent and will satisfy all fans of the film.  One question though…where is “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey”? Hint-Hint!

Official Synopsis: Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) have spent so much time forming their rock band that they’re flunking history. Ted’s dad threatens to send him to military school if he doesn’t pass. Luckily, Rufus (George Carlin), a guardian angel from the future, has a time-traveling phone booth to take them into the past to learn about the world. Their journey through time turns out to be a blast…but will they learn enough to pass their class and keep their rock band together?

The Blu-ray looks and sounds great.  The 1080p transfer with its widescreen 2.35:1 aspect ratio holds up well and deliver the goods. The film also sounds great since a lot of the film is music based.  This is given an excellent DTS-HD-MA 5.1 surround track. The special features are decent but nothing new for this release.  They are extras from the 2005 DVD release which have been ported. First, we have a featurette focusing on the writers Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson.  I think this was the film (music inspiration was from Rush) that made me want to air guitar, so the tutorial here is always fun. There is an episode of the animated “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures”, which is a nice features.  Lastly there are some radio spots and also a theatrical trailer.  All around decent.

Click here for a totally excellent Bill and Ted infographic!

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Book Review “Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion”

Author: Mark Salisbury
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: November 27, 2012

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When I first saw Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s “Dark Shadows”, I have to say I was a little let down.  I am very familiar with the 70’s Soap Opera series and I thought this would have been a perfect collaboration for them.  After my second viewing of the film, I enjoyed it a bit more.  Honestly after reading this visual companion, I am feeling very compelled (vampire…get it?) to watch this film again. This book literally takes you through every aspect of the film from the characters to the score.  If you have your doubts about this film, I suggest you check out this book it will easily convince you to give the film a chance.

“Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion” is wonderful produced by Titan Books, yet another gem. Author Mark Salisbury was in close cooperation with Tim Burton and the production team during its creation.  It includes a very nice foreword by Depp, an Introduction by Burton and an afterword by the late producer Richard D. Zanuck.  I really enjoyed Zanuck’s words, it is sad that this was his last film but at least from his what he said it seems like he really enjoyed the experience.  Mark Salisbury is the former editor of Britain’s magazine, Empire, and has worked with Burton before including “Alice in Wonderland: A Visual Companion” (one of my favorites) and also on “Burton on Burton”.

Like the film itself, this book really took two going throughs in order to really wow me.  I did my usual quick flip through to see what catches my eye and I though it looked good but not great.  But when I really dug into this book, I realized that it was in fact a great visual companion, as it is titled.  It is jam packed with wonderful photos, concept drawings and production designs.  You really get to learn about the characters and their part in the film.  There are also some great interviews with the cast and crew.  All that would normally be good enough for me but there is still more.  They touch on the visual effects, creating the town of Collinswood and even the score from Danny Elfman.  There is not a detail left out here.  So if you whether you are a fan of this film or a curious party, I highly recommend picking this up.

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Book Review “Bear in Love”

Author: Daniel Pinkwater
Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand
Reading level: Ages 2 and up
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Candlewick
Release Date: August 14, 2012

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Bear in Love” could have been a cute title to release around Valentine’s Day. Our friendly bear finds that he might have a secret friend that is leaving him surprises. The story is very sweet and funny as well, thanks to the notable authro Daniel Pinkwater. Will Hillenbrand’s subtle yet effective illustrations really deliver. I will be highly recommend this book to all the family’s I know, since it is a must have!

Premise: “One morning, the bear finds something just outside his cave. It is orange and long and pointy and has bushy green leaves at one end. And it’s sweet and crunchy! Where did it come from? Did someone leave it for him? Then there are two more of the sweet crunchy things the next morning! The bear knows that someone nice is leaving him these treats. If only he could discover who it is! Should he leave something tasty in return?”

I hope that this is the first in a series of books with Bear, hint hint Daniel! I feel that he is a alternative to Disney’s Pooh and just as cute. I will be keeping an eye out for more of Hillenbrand’s illustrations since I was a big fan. I could see some of the drawnings blown up and frame even! Candlewick delivers yet another fantastic children’s book and thanks to them to reference “Jaws”, my daughter is going to need a bigger book shelf.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: bear, book, love, review

Blu-ray Review “Doctor Who: Series Seven, Part One”

Starring: Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Alex Kingston,
Number of discs: 2
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Run Time: 225 minutes

Episodes: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

“Doctor Who” is one of my favorite series on television. I have been a hardcore fan since the first series and have been watching it grown into this now worldwide phenomenon. It is very trending in the US now amongst us nerds or as we are called “Whovians”. Series six was a very tough act to follow, its story line was the most epic yet, which encapsulated the whole series. Matt Smith has really grown on me quite a bit since series five. He is quickly becoming a fav of mine as well. Karen Gillan was a terrific companion for the Doctor in the last two seasons and, get ready “SPOILERS”, if you don’t know this is also her’s and Arthur Darvill’s (plays Rory) last. I am sure that BBC will be releasing a complete series seven at the end of this run but I recommend this release for this who are looking to section it as a turning point in the show. If you are a fan of Doctor Who, this will hold you over till the Christmas 2012 episode and get you psyched for what’s to come in part two.

Official Premise “Join the Doctor, his companions Amy and Rory (aka the Ponds) and numerous friends on their latest escapades through space and time where they puzzle an unexpected invasion of Earth, save a spaceship full of dinosaurs, don Stetsons in a Wild West adventure and are even kidnapped by the Doctor’s oldest foe. The explosive series concludes with Amy and Rory’s heart-breaking farewell a race against time through the streets of Manhattan. Will the Doctor really lose the Ponds forever? There’s only one way to find out.”

Episodes included are: “Asylum of the Daleks”, “Dinosaurs on a Spaceship”, “A Town Called Mercy”, “The Power of Three” and “The Angels Take Manhattan”. “Asylum” was a good season kick-off. I do love me some Daleks. I do not feel that it as epic as season 6’s opener but you can’t always kill the Doctor. “Dinosaurs” was campy and very funny. Great visuals on this one. “A Town Called Mercy” was a fun Western spin the series but with cyborgs. “The Power of Three” was my least favorite of the five and is a big slow paced, cool idea with the cube’s planning a slow invasion but it was a little too slow for me. “The Angels Take Manhattan” was amazingly epic and probably one of my favorite episodes ever. I love the Angels and they literally scare the shit out of me. I also loved Amy and Rory and this is where there story ends.

Jenna Louise-Coleman will joining on as the Doctor’s new companion starting with the Christmas 2012 Special. She was well-placed in “Asylum of the Daleks”, playing Oswin Oswald. I actually really liked her and though she was fun, so I am excited and opened-minded to see where Steven Moffat, the Lead Writer, will take this show in the second half of this season. Moffat was quoted saying that the reason for choosing her what that “she worked the best alongside Smith and could talk faster than him.” Classic reasoning!

The episodes look and sound stunning on Blu-ray. BBC America has finally upgraded to HD (or 720p on TV), so at least now it is watchable but they look even better with their 1080p transfers, and presented in their original aspect ratio: 1.78:1. There are some great special features included in “Doctor Who: Series Seven – Part One”. There are five-part mini-adventure prequel to series seven called “Pond Life”, which puts the Doctor in more situations when attempting to visit AMy and Rory on Earth. There is a “Asylum of the Daleks Prequel” included where the Doctor receives a message from a mysterious hooded woman called Darla Von Karlsen. “The Making of The Gunslinger” shows us the origin of The Gunslinger in “A Town Called Mercy”. Lastly, “The Science of Doctor Who” and “Doctor Who at Comic Con” are great BBC America specials.

Lastly I must give a future nod to an upcoming “Doctor Who” release from BBC. On Nov.20th, the “Doctor Who: Limited Edition Gift Set” is hitting the stories. It comes packed with over 70 hours of “Doctor Who” spread over 41-discs. It is the perfect gift for all Doctor Who fan’s this holiday season. It includes the complete series one-six featuring Christopher Eccleston (the ninth Doctor), David Tennant (the tenth Doctor) and Matt Smith (the eleventh Doctor). It also includes hours and hours of bonus features including three new Doctor Who Specials coming to DVD for the first time ever, a collectible eleventh Doctor Sonic Screwdriver, three original art cards and the comic book, “Doctor Who at Comic Con.” If you are wondering how all this can fit on to one gift set just remember that it’s bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside 😉

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, doctor, part, review, series

Book Review “Awakening: The Art of Halo 4”

Author: Paul Davies
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: November 6, 2012

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

When it comes to video games, “Halo” is definitely the master chief of them all.  “Halo” has become such an iconic franchise over a short period of time.  “Halo 4” is the latest blockbuster installment, which is set to change history and re-define gaming. The story is set in the aftermath of “Halo 3”, it marks the beginning of a new trilogy as the Master Chief confronts an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe. In this book we get a glimpse into the beginning of this new trilogy within a stunning array of concept art, character sketches and much, much more. If you are a “Halo” fan, this is the holy grail of kick-ass books that you need to own for sure.

From the minute I opened this book, I was flooded with colors and amazing images.  It is one of those books that you literally cannot put down once opened.  Every page – every chapter is better than the next.  “Awakening: The Art of Halo 4” will satisfy all give gamers, whether they are hardcore or novice.  This book contains an in-depth look at the behind-the-scenes of how the stunning worlds of “Halo 4” were created. Fans of the series don’t fret since this book is also packed with some great commentary from the art director and game designers, so there is plenty of insider goodies.  We mentioned concept art and character sketches above, that is one the tip of the iceberg.  There is very detailed environments layouts, as well as an additional section on the forthcoming multiplayer game.

Author Paul Davies is definitely the right man for this job.  He is a crazy Halo fanatic (just like us) and has worked in gaming journalism for twenty years, where he has written and edited magazines and websites including Official Nintendo and Computer & Video Games. He wrote this book as a fan and therefore fans are going to really did it.  I read a lot of “art of” books and this one literally jumps off the pages.  Titan Books has deliver probably one of their best to date.  The quality of this book is just very high and it is aimed to satisfy the hardest gamers out there.  And if you are not the biggest “Halo” fan and just looking to see what all the fuzz is about this book will make you run to the store, trip the person in front of you and buy this game ASAP!

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: 4, art, awakening, book, halo, review, ...

Blu-ray Review “FCA! 35 Tour: An Evening with Peter Frampton”

Starring: Peter Frampton
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Eagle Rock Ent
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Running Time: 189 Minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I remember the first time that my father introduced me to Frampton’s “Do You Feel Like We Do” in the early 90’s.  Since then I have been a fan of not only the song but all of this work. Frampton celebrated the 35th anniversary of his multi-platinum selling live album Frampton Comes Alive in 2011 and kicked off a world tour.  This Blu-ray contains footage from shows at New York City’s Beacon Theater and Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater. It is split into two parts.  The first is “Frampton Comes Alive!” performed in its entirety, while the second part focuses on tracks from recent albums such as “Fingerprints”, “Now” and “Thank You Mr Churchill”.  If you have never seen Grammy winning guitarist Peter Frampton live, I highly recommend it. He is one of rock’s most iconic guitarists and gives on hell of a live performances.  This concert captures that quite well.  A must for all fans!

Eagle Rock is behind this impressive release. “FCA! 35 Tour: An Evening with Peter Frampton” has been put up with a super nice 1080p (yes, 1080p) transfer, which is rare for Eagle Rock, and presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio. There are two audio tracks included, obviously the first is my favorite.  There is a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, as well as an uncompressed LPCM 2.0 stereo. I am a big fan of Frampton’s classics like “Show Me The Way” and “Do You Feel Like We Do” and they sound simply awesome on this release.  There are no other special features includes in this release. I should note that the release doesn’t come in a standard Blu-ray casing.  It is hard-stock paper fold book like case.  It is very thin and surely space efficient.

Track Listing:
Disc One
1. Somethin’s Happening
2. Doobie Wah
3. Lines On My Face
4. Show Me the Way
5. It’s A Plain Shame
6. Wind of Change
7. Penny For Your Thoughts
8. All I Wanna Be (Is By Your Side)
9. Baby, I Love Your Way
10. (I Wanna) Go to the Sun
11. (I’ll Give You) Money
12. Shine On
13. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
14. Do You Feel Like We Do
15. Asleep at the Wheel
16. Restraint
17. Float
18. Boot It Up
19. Double Nickels
20. Vaudeville Nanna And The Banjolele
21. Road to the Sun
22. I Don’t Need No Doctor
23. Black Hole Sun
24. Four Day Creep
25. Off the Hook
26. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

 

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: 35, bluray, evening, fca, frampton, peter, ...
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