Book Review “The Brain Eater’s Bible: Sound Advice for the Newly Reanimated Zombie”

Author(s): J.D. Ghoul with Pat Kilbane
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: October 2, 2012

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When you see a book that is titled, “The Brain Eater’s Bible”, you can’t help but to pick it up just out of curiosity. This unique book is a field manual and manifesto for the reanimated dead. The hardcover book is packed with over 200 photos, diagrams and anatomical drawings.  Personally I like the cover art better for Mythodrome’s 2011 release of this book but this edition is about 10 pages longer. Overall this will definitely get some great laughs to any fans of the horror genre.

If you are a newly reanimated zombie, this book is definitely for you as well.  It answers such important questions like there is no need to season human brains since they taste delicious as is and that is it best to hunt in packs.  You can tell that this book tells it as it is since author J.D. McGhoul is himself a reanimated zombie due to the PACE virus infection.  He giving his times that have helped him cope with his situation.  If are looking for more,  “The Brain Eater’s Bible” iPad app included the content of the book  plus an additional “gallery mode” with bonus content for every page! There is zoomable photos and dozens of interactive videos and animations.

I am very interested to see what McGhoul has planned next, this is a fun book and not only visually enticing but also very education for when that zombie apocalypse comes.  If you enjoyed Max Brooks’s “The Zombie Survival Guide”, this book definitely aims to please the similar audience. St. Martin’s Griffin has also delivered a very high quality book, the pages are beautifully printed and are extremely colorful and crisp. Plus, when you have praise from John Rosso, the writer of “Night of the Living Dead” and Kevin Smith.  How can you possibly go wrong. Highly recommended.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Chained”

Actors: Vincent D’Onofrio, Jake Weber, Eamon Farren, Julia Ormond
Directors: Jennifer Lynch
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Run Time: 94 minutes

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

When you hear about a film named “Chained”, you can only expect it to be one hell of a brutal film.  Well it definitely leaves you feeling very uncomfortable, which is it’s purpose obviously.  Vincent D’Onofrio is such an amazing actor and really gives himself over to the role and is extremely disturbing. Director Jennifer Lynch (“Boxing Helena”) delivers one-hell of an intense thriller and leaves you biting your nails trying to cope with what is going on.  The film was originally rated NC-17 for a one scene, which was “too shocking”, though it is included as a deleted scene.  If you are looking for a disturbing film with great performances, look no further than “Chained”.

From Anchor Bay’s official synopsis: “Coming home from a routine trip to the movies, eight-year-old Tim (Bird) and his mother, Sarah (Julia Ormond, Mad Men: Season Five) are picked up by a psychopathic cab driver named Bob (D’Onofrio). It ends up being their last ride together. Bob murders the young boy’s mother and keeps Tim as his unwilling protégé, making him clean up the mess following each murder he commits. After a couple of aborted escape attempts, Bob chains Tim – now renamed Rabbit – allowing just enough length to move freely within the house. As the years pass, Bob starts instructing Rabbit, teaching him anatomy and human behavior. Now a teenager, Rabbit (Eamon Farren, The Pacific) is slowly being pressed by Bob to start his own homicidal spree. Slowly but surely, he must soon choose whether to follow in Bob’s serial killer footsteps or make one final, desperate attempt to break free.”

I also love about Anchor Bay how most of their films come in Blu-ray/DVD combo packs. This film is presented in its 2.39:1 original aspect ratio with a 7.1 Dolby TrueHD audio track. I was very impressed with the audio track, especially for a low-budget film like this. I just got the new Indiana Jones Blu-ray set and even that didn’t have 7.1 tracks. The special features are decent but nothing special. There is a commentary track by writer/director Jennifer Lynch and actor Vincent D’Onofrio. If you liked the film you will like this. The alternate, more graphic version of “Mary’s Murder” scene is not really impressive either just a little more blood. Lastly there is the original theatrical trailer included.

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Blu-ray Review “Portlandia: Season Two”

Directed by: Jonathan Krisel
Starring: Carrie Brownstein, Fred Armisen
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Video Services Corp.
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Running Time: 220 minutes

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

Between me and you (and all of our readers), I was never a big fan of “Portlandia”.  I am a big fan though of sketch comedy series (besides “SNL”, sorry Fred).  This show is  created, written by and starring Fred Armisen (“SNL”) and Carrie Brownstein (“Wild Flag”, Sleater-Kinney vocalist/guitarist). I though the first season really delivers more laughs and better skits.  But I still like the idea of these character-based shorts all taking place in this dreamy and absurd rendering of Portland, Oregon raining with 90’s culture and political correctness.  This season new guest stars include Jeff Goldblum, Sean Hayes, Penny Marshall, Tim Robbins, Andy Samberg, Amber Tamblyn, and Kristen Wiig.

Season two synopsis: Some of Portlandia’s most loved and notable characters from Season One return for Season Two including Portland’s trusty but sometimes misguided Reggae bass playing Mayor (Kyle MacLachlan), Peter and Nance, an overly eco-­conscious couple caught up in the organic and local food movement; Bryce Shivers and Lisa Eversman, an arty, obsessive couple who find a new trend to explore; and Toni and Candice, the former activist shopkeepers of the feminist bookstore Women and Women First. New residents have also moved in for Season Two including Doug and Claire, a couple whose lives spin out of control when they run out of new episodes of “Battlestar Galactica” and a struggling band who finds itself with an all too enthusiastic fan.

The Blu-ray comes in a very slim paper case with a slip sleeve. It seems very easily to be crushed and I am not a big fan. The video looks sharp enough though it is a indie comedy series. The audio track also works well with the dialogue and music. The special features are impressive and should satisfy fans. There is a behind-the-scenes Portlandia Live tour footage, which I never knew happened (would have been cool to attend). There are various commentaries from the creator of the series, There is a bonus scene surrounding the feminist bookstore, “Brunch Village: The Director’s Cut”.  There is an excerpt from the new book “Portlandia: A Guide for Visitors”.  Lastly, there is a documentary special called “Inside Portlandia”.  All around very impressive, which the season could have wowed as much.

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Blu-ray Review “Magic City: The Complete First Season”

Directed by: Mitch Glazer
Starring: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kelly Lynch, Danny Huston
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 419 minutes

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

“Magic City” is a fresh new series thanks to STARZ. It was created by writer and executive producer Mitch Glazer (“The Recruit”, “Scrooged”). Fans of the series can rejoice since the second season of “Magic City” is set to air on STARZ in 2013. Anchor Bay Entertainment is behind this great release, which includes all 8 memorable episodes of this sizzling mob drama. “Magic City” also packs an impressive cast with Jeffrey Dean Morgan (“Watchmen”), Danny Huston (“30 Days of Night”) and Kelly Lynch (“The L Word”). The show has a really impressive sets, some amazing cinematography and one hell of a score. I can’t wait to see where this show goes with its second season.

Dangerous and decadent, “Magic City” begins in 1959, in Miami’s Miramar Playa Hotel where hotelier Ike Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Watchmen, Texas Killing Fields) is conjuring up ways to finance his dream. He has essentially sold his soul to the devil: mob boss Ben “The Butcher” Diamond (Danny Huston, The Kingdom). Ike’s wife Vera (Olga Kurylenko, Quantum of Solace), a former showgirl, and his three children think he is an honorable man, but he just can’t break his pact with the most notorious criminal in town. So Ike’s life is a façade: his home and his business must be kept separate – but does he have the sleight of hand to pull it off?

The Blu-ray presentation both look and sound amazing for this show and really shines. The special features are very impressive for this season release. The features include various behind-the-scenes featurettes. The first is a basic all around production featurette “Starz Studios: MAGIC CITY”. Next up “The Cars of MAGIC CITY”, explores the period cars used for the show. “The Style of MAGIC CITY” looks into the shows fashion. “Building An Empire” looks into the show’s set design. “The Golden Age of Music” dives into the shows period’s music. Lastly, in “Miami Beach: The Real MAGIC CITY” takes a look at the real city and the filming locations.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Dark Shadows”

Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 113 minutes

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

When I heard that Tim Burton was directing Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins in “Dark Shadows”, I almost fell out of my chair. I am a big fan of the original series and low the duo’s past collaborations. This film was a bit disappointing and has a lot of story and pacing issues. Johnny Depp is brilliant in the film that otherwise feelings cloudy and claustrophobic. The screenplay is from Seth Grahame-Smith, author of “Pride & Prejudice and Zombies” and “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”. This was also the last film that was produced by Oscar® winner Richard D. Zanuck (“Jaws”). Besides Depp, this also has a great supporting cast including Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green (my second favorite) and Chloë Grace Moretz. Upon second viewing this film improved a bit but not even close enough to make this one of my top 20 of the year.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack features a high-definition Blu-ray and standard definition DVD copy of the film as well as an UltraViolet digital streaming copy. The 1080p transfer looks nearly perfect and really shines. The colors in the film are absolutely sharp and works well with light and dark situations. The audio is also nearly perfect with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The film relies heavily on its score and themed 70’s music and it comes with very clearly with this track. The special features are decent but lacking any commentary tracks, which I would have liked to seen with this release.

The special features are primarily made up with nine behind-the-film Focus Points. The first is called “Becoming Barnabas”, which takes us through Depp’s transformation. “Welcome to Collinsport!” takes us on a trip through the created town. “A Melee of Monstrous Proporitions” looks into the plans for the final battle sequence. “Angelique: A Witch Scorned” is a character profile with Johnny Depp and Eva Green chatting about their plot-relationship. “Reliving a Decade” takes Collinsport into the music of the 70s. “Dark Shadowy Secrets” brings us into the mind of Tim Burton for the films props and special effects that bring this world alive. “The Collinses: Every Family Has It’s Demons” looks at the rest of the Collin family with Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and their co-stars. “Cooper Rocks Collinsport!” is a party featurette with Alice Cooper and cast on the roof of Collinsport Manor. “Vampires, Witches and Werewolves, Oh My!” examines the twists behind Burton’s plans to include his favorite classic movie monsters in the gothic universe of Dark Shadows.

Synopsis: From the wonderfully warped imagination of Tim Burton comes the story of Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), a dashing aristocrat who is turned into a vampire by a jilted lover and entombed for two centuries. Emerging from his coffin into the world of 1972, he returns to his once-majestic home, only to the few dysfunctional descendants of the Collins family who remain. Determined to return his family name to its former glory, Barnabas is thwarted at every turn by his former lover – the seductive witch Angelique (Eva Green).

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Blu-ray Review “Annie: 30th Anniversary – Sing-Along Edition”

Director: John Huston
Starring: Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Tim Curry, Bernadette Peters, Ann Reinking, Aileen Quinn
MPAA Rating: PG
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 127 minutes

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

Who doesn’t love little ole’ Annie and her wonderful songs like “Tomorrow,” “Easy Street,” “It’s the Hard-Knock Life”.  This wonderful Blu-ray release from Sony celebrates the film’s 30th Anniversary with its very impressive Sing-Along Edition.  This film was adapted from the smash Tony Award®-winning musical comedy based on the “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip.  It also packs one of the best musical casts including Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Aileen Quinn, Bernadette Peters, Ann Reinking and Tim Curry.  I remember the first time I saw this film with my then girlfriend (now wife) many years ago.  This musical still brings a smile to my face and has you singing along with little Annie and her friends. Highly recommended!

SYNOPSIS: The charismatic little orphaned Annie’s (Aileen Quinn) luck changes for the better when billionaire Oliver Warbucks (Albert Finney) arrives at the orphanage looking to take one of the children for a short time. Annie soon charms the billionaire with her lively warm nature and together they set out to search for Annie’s parents. With the mean head of the orphanage, Miss Hannigan (Carol Burnett) attempting to hinder their plan, Annie’s search will prove to be quite a heartwarming journey.

This 30th Anniversary Blu-ray both looks and sounds amazing.  The 1080p transfer really brings out the color in the film and looks very sharp.  It’s DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works perfectly with the sounds and sounds just amazing!  This release also comes with an Ultraviolet digital streaming copy.  The special features are not amazing but still good.  Exclusive to the Blu-ray is “Sing-Along with Annie”, which allows fans to sing along to all their favorite songs.  There is also a musical performance of “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” by pop group Play. There is only one production featurette called “My Hollywood Adventure with Aileen Quinn”, short but worth checking out. Lastly, the Blu-ray also includes the original trailers and TV spots from the film.

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Blu-ray Review “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2”

Director: Tobe Hooper
Starring: Bill Moseley, Dennis Hopper, Caroline Williams, Bill Johnson, Lou Perryman, Chris Douridas
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 101 minutes

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

Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was released in 1974 and is still one of the most disturbing films I have ever seen. It has had three direct sequels, a remake and two sequels to that remake with the latest “Texas Chainsaw 3D” coming in January 2013. “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” is one hell of an ambitious big-budget sequel to a very small horror film. It might not have been the best idea for Hooper to go so mainstream in the sequel but is has become one of horror best sequels. Bill Moseley gives an amazing and cult classic performance as Chop-Top. The last Dennis Hooper is such a nut as Lefty. Of course Caroline Williams nails the role of Stretch, which is also such an iconic role in horror genre.

This sequel is not only more horrific but also funny as well. It follows Lefty (Hooper), who is a Texas Ranger looking to seek vengeance against the flesh-eating family from the first film. He also goes head-to-head in one of the most notable high-octane chainsaw showdowns with the legendary Leatherface. Radio deejay, Stretch, (Caroline Williams) is kidnapped and brought in between this battle and the family’s madness.

The Blu-ray presentation looks great with its restored 1080p transfer and original aspect ratio: 1.85:1. The audio track is decent but could have used a little extra umph with its DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. The special features are very impressive with the ported extras from the 2006 DVD edition. There is a commentary with Director Tobe Hoooper and David Gregory, director of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Shocking Truth”. This is a little dull but still worth-wild for fans. There is another commentary track with actors Bill Mosely and Caroline Williams and special effects makeup creator Tom Savini. This one is the best and most recommended. There are six deleted scenes in “The Cutting Room Floor” mostly dealing with an abandoned story dealing with the Sawyers going hunting in the city. “It Runs in the Family Documentary” is an amazing 90 minutes documentary covering every aspect of the production. Lastly there is original Theatrical Trailer included.

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DVD Review “Barricade”

Directed by: Andrew Currie
Starring: Eric McCormack, Jody Thompson, Conner Dwelly, Ryan Grantham
Distributed by: WWE Studios
Release Date: September 25th, 2012 (Exclusively at Walmart)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 83 minutes

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

I love the fact that WWE Studios is branching out with its films. I was surprised to see that Eric McCormack was starring in this film and not a wrestler but he was well-cast. The film has more horror and terror than a bunch of recent “horror” films I have seen this year combined. It is fast, intense and packs a hell of a bunch. It also aims to play a lot of tricks with your head. Even though the film runs just over 80 minutes it is non-stop and plays perfect to the genre and delivers a really fun-time.

Terrance Shade (Eric McCormack) takes his children on a holiday getaway to a cabin in the woods. But when a blizzard buries the house, the family finds themselves trapped and without communication. As the storm surges on outside, a sinister presence materializes. Unable to explain it, and unable to escape it, they quickly realize that maybe they haven’t locked the evil out…instead they’ve just locked it in.

The film looks and sounds great even though it is on DVD. It’s DTS-HD Master Audio track works perfectly with the suspense and delivers it very well. The special features are also fantastic and a great compliment to the film itself. “Blueprint to Fear: The Cabin” takes us on a tour inside the film’s haunted house. “Whiteout” focuses on creating the special effects and the blizzards. “Breaking Type: Eric McCormack” showcases his characters transforming into madness. Lastly “Manning Park” takes us through how they transformed a ski resort into the film’s set. After really enjoying the film, the features just aided my appetite for more.

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Film Review “Trouble with the Curve”

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake
Directed by: Robert Lorenz
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 51 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

If you don’t count his spot-on impression of Grandpa Simpson at this past months’ Republican National Convention, it’s been four years since Clint Eastwood has appeared on screen. It’s also been almost twenty years since he worked for another director besides himself. What could have brought Clint back for this amazing twin surprise? Loyalty. Director Lorenz has worked for Eastwood for almost two decades, serving as everything from assistant director to producer. Now, with “Trouble with the Curve,” he gets to show Eastwood everything he’s learned.

Gus Lobel (Eastwood) is a baseball scout. Though we’re told he’s signed every great Atlanta Brave from Rico Carty to Dale Murphy to Chipper Jones, we’re also aware that he’s much older than the other scouts he sits with as he travels North Carolina watching high school baseball and looking for the next great player. Gus is baseball through and though. He continues to speak with his late wife during visits to the cemetery (her head stone reads: “May the Lord Grant You Extra Innings.” His daughter (Adams) is a lawyer with the first name of Mickey. As in Mantle. Gus realizes that his eyesight is getting worse and, upon the request of the Braves, finds himself watching THE NEXT BIG THING with Mickey at his side and a rival agent and former pitcher (Timberlake) with eyes for both the ball player and Mickey.

A great companion piece to last year’s “Moneyball,” “Trouble with the Curve” is an earnest film whose major drawback is that it’s ending is telegraphed to the audience less than 30 minutes after the film starts. That being said, if you don’t spend a lot of time analyzing things it’s an enjoyable debut project for director Lorenz, thanks in great part to a committed cast. Eastwood’s Gus could be a cousin to “Gran Torino” senior citizen Walt. Gruff on the outside but with a soft, syrupy middle, Gus is content with his life on the road. Adams shines as Mickey, who slowly resumes the love for the game her father never knew existed while at the same time juggling an important legal presentation she must present in order to make partner at her firm. Timberlake continues to do solid work as a supporting character, continually learning what makes both Gus and Mickey tick. Also notable are John Goodman as Gus’ closest front office friend, Matthew Lillard and Robert Patrick as Braves execs and George Wyner and Bob Gunton as the leaders of Mickey’s firm.

Director Lorenz obviously studied Eastwood well on previous sets. His direction is simple and fluid, concentrating more on character than action. He also manages to catch brilliant glimpses of the North Carolina countryside as well as the sounds of baseball being played for fun.

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Film Review “End of Watch”

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena and Anna Kendrick
Directed by: David Ayer
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 41 mins
Open Road Films

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

A high speed pursuit leads to a deadly shootout with a quartet of gang bangers, captured clearly on the police car’s video camera. Just another day in Los Angeles.

Several weeks later we join police officers Brian Taylor (Gyllenhaal) and Mike Zavala (Pena) as they return to duty. Currently enrolled in college and taking filmmaking as an elective, Taylor introduces himself by way of a monologue he records before starting his shift. The first day back is also going to be the first day of the rest of he and Zavala’s lives, though even they aren’t aware of that fact.

Told in an often startling documentary style, “End of Watch” is a gritty police drama that benefits from another in a string of outstanding performances by both Gyllenhaal and Pena. Writer/director Ayers is no stranger to the police or South Central L.A., having written such tough urban thrillers as “Training Day” and “Harsh Times.” Here he includes the true camaraderie between the officers that is more like brothers than co-workers. “If anything happens to you I will take care of your children” we hear one partner tell another. And they mean it.

The story starts and ends big with a large slow gap in between. Through happenstance both Taylor and Zavala find themselves in situation that puts them I direct contact with members of a Mexican drug cartel beginning to make their move in America. These are easily the two most exciting cops in L.A. as their duty days progress and they find themselves doing things that most police officers do in an entire career. The characterizations are strong, as is the cast. It’s really only the plot, which seems to come and go when the need serves, that keeps this from being an outstanding film.

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Blu-ray Review “Daimajin – Triple Feature Collector’s Edition”

Directors: Kimiyoshi Yasuda, Kazuo Mori, Kenji Misumi
Starring: Riki Hashimoto, Miwa Takada, Yoshihiko Aoyama, Kojiro Hongo, Shiho Fujimura, Hideki Ninomiya
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
DIstributed by: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 240 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Mill Creek Entertainment is one of favorites. They are the studio that brought “Gamera” to Blu-ray. They really aim to give fan-favorites back to the fans and present them for the first time in gorgeous high definition. “Daimajin – Triple Feature Collector’s Edition” takes us traveling back to 1966 and includes “Daimajin”,”Return of Daimajin” and the rarely-seen “Daimajin Strikes Again”. The the trilogy also boasts a newly produced English dub for “Daimajin Strikes Again”. I have always been a fan of anything that came out of Daiei and these films are just glorious in HD. The special effects looks great back them and then look even better now.

Official Synopsis: In 1966, the Daiei Motion Picture Company – the studio behind Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon and the Gamera series – released a trilogy of films that combined elements of the popular daikaiju (giant monster) and jidaigeki (period drama) genres. Set during Japan’s “Warring States” era, the Daimajin movies told the story of Majin, a giant statue of an angry god that would come to life in times of desperation to punish evildoers. But when Majin’s rage was unleashed, it could be directed at both the wicked and innocent, alike. Acclaimed for their serious tone and spectacular special effects, DAIMAJIN, RETURN OF DAIMAJIN and the rarely-seen DAIMAJIN STRIKES AGAIN present a unique take on a monster who is both savior and devil.

This release isn’t just a lazy HD upgrade, this included brand-new high definition transfers from the original film elements. Mill Creek really did a great job and since this films are from 1966, they still look amazing. The audio tracks also just sound great, it reminds me of the early classic “Godzilla” films. The film is labels that the new English language track for “Daimajin Strikes Again” is a special feature for nonetheless it is very cool. There are also interviews with cinematographer Fujio Morita. Overall this is a fantastic release and highly recommended.

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Blu-ray Review “The Tall Man”

Director: Pascal Laugier
Starring: Jessica Biel, Stephen McHattie, Jodelle Ferland, William B. Davis
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
Release Date: Sep 25, 2012
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 106 minutes

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

I was really looking forward to this film, especially after French director Pascal Laugier’s last film, “Martyrs (2008)”. Well it wasn’t even on the same plain at all. “The Tall Man” is being labeled as a horror thriller but it is more horrible than horrific. After getting about 40 minutes into the film, I realized that I kept checking the clock. The next hour dragged and dragged. The film tries to be shocking by letting out revealing secrets, which just made it worse each time. The only good part of the film is that it stars Jessica Biel, but boy what is she doing in a film like this. Not even recommended for the most amateur of horror fans.

Official Synopsis: In an isolated, slowly dying mining town, children are vanishing without a trace – abducted, the townsfolk whisper, by a mysterious entity known locally as “The Tall Man.” Town nurse Julia Denning (Jessica Biel) seems skeptical…until her young David disappears in the middle of night. Frantic to rescue the boy, Julia lives every parent’s darkest nightmare in this twisting, shock-around-each-corner thriller.

The Blu-ray comes in collectible “O-card” packaging, but that doesn’t wow me much. The 1080p transfer does look sharp, especially in dark scenes. The audio includes a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which works with whatever suspense there is in the film (which is little). The special features are very disappointing just like the film itself. There is one 9 minute deleted scene that deserves to stay deleted. There is also a visual concepts gallery, which is a waste of time unless you absolutely love this.

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DVD Review “Sea Level”

Directors: Aun Hoe Goh
Starring: Diong Chae Lian, Gavin Yap, Kennie Dowle, Christina Orow, Jay Sheldon
MPAA Rating: PG
Distributed by: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 92 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Sea Level” could be a cute movie but just feels a little two dimensional.  The characters are cute as well but the voices are horrendous.  All the great voice talent at there and we get a shark that sounds like Yogi Bear? Really?  The animation is very cool looking though.  I like the shading on the characters and the underwater environment is well rendered.  Lastly the baddies are also pretty bad-ass looking, maybe too bad for some little kids.  Nonetheless though the film deals with some very adult issues like poachers and as sweet as the film is it has a bit of a darker edge. For a kid though, it is colorful, funny and action-packed. So they will be entertained but then probably screaming to watch “Finding Nemo” or something better.

Official Synopsis: Pup, a bamboo shark, discovers egg sacs while playing around the ocean with his friends. When he sees human poachers stealing the eggs from his reef, Pup makes it his mission to save them. As he leaves the sea and enters the beautiful, yet dangerous, world of humans he’ll prove he isn’t too small to save his family.

Lionsgate only delivered this film on DVD but I have a feeling it would have looked ever better on Blu-ray or even 3D Blu-ray, since there were a few scenes calling for it.  The audio track sounds nice on DVD with its 5.1 Dolby Digital track.  The special features are also decent overall.  There is an interesting, yet short, Behind-the-Scenes featurette.  There is a feature on the Sculpture Design and also the Concept Art.  It really shows how much work went into this film.  Lastly there is a trailer gallery included.

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DVD Review “Séance: The Summoning”

Directed by: Alex Wright
Starring: Chris Olivero, Bobby Campo, Nazneen Contractor
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 89 minutes

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

When Halloween comes each year, there is always a flood of new horror pics.  Some are good but most are crap.  “Séance” kinda falls right in line with the crap.  It’s main pride is that it is from an executive producer of “Hellraiser”.  The film suffers from some really bad “grade D” acting. I mean when girls scream should it be scary-like and not annoying as hell? If you are looking for a good exorcism flick from this year, check out “The Possession”. I literally had a really hard time even just finishing this film.  Not to mention that the cover has zero to actually do with the film itself.

Official Synopsis: Four friends decide to break into the city morgue and record themselves holding a séance after Joey (Campo) accuses the other of being a fake psychic medium. When the group summons a demon by mistake, Joey breaks the circle of protection and causes himself to be vulnerable. Once possessed they will have to find a way to drive the demon out of their friend before it destroys them all.

Lionsgate delivers a nice DVD presentation, though in today’s times…why no Blu-ray? The audio track included is a 5.1 Dolby Digital, which sounds good for DVD. The only extra included on this release is the featurette is “The Making of Séance: The Summoning”.  It is worth checking out if you enjoyed the film and looking for just a little more.  Since that is really all you get, overall it is too short.  Lastly there is a trailer gallery included.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: dvd, review, séance, summoning

Blu-ray Review “Judge Dredd”

Directed by: Danny Cannon
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Diane Lane, Armand Assante, Jurgen Prochnow, Rob Schneider
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Hollywood Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 96 minutes

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

“I am the Law!” – Easily one of the best quotes in any film.  Even better since it is said by Sylvester Stallone, so perfectly.  This film was not a big success as it was deemed too cartoonish for the character of Dredd.  This was also released during the decline in the Stallone’s popularity.  I personally have always been a fan of this film.  It has a lot of problems but overall it is a fun film…yes even though Rob Schneider is in it.  Disney to choosing to re-release this film on Blu-ray now to time it with the release of Lionsgate’s “Dredd 3D”. If you are a fan of this film though, then this is a no-brainer purchase.

Even though this film was a big-budget release, it never really seemed like high quality production.  The 1080p transfer though looks very impressive and definitely one of the best of the recent Disney catalog releases.  The audio track includes a nice DTS-HD MA 5.1. It does its job very well.  It is very loud and delivers a punch like Mr. Dredd himself. There is a lot of action in this film and overall it sounds very impressive. Alan Silvestri’s score also sounds very impressive with the track.

The special features are not as impressive though.  Basically the only feature is a short 20 minutes featurette called “Stallone’s Law: The Making of Judge Dredd”. It techincally is a new feature but not newly produced.  It is a this made-for-TV promotional piece from 1995,though it was not included on 1998 DVD of “Judge Dredd”. Lastly there is the theatrical trailer and opens with a short narration by James Earl Jones.  Overall the extras could have used a little amping up in the content area but Disney still delivered a great release overall.

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