Directed by: Jorg Ihle
Starring: Jewel Staite, Marc Bacher, Nikki Griffin, Justin Baldoni, Kellan Lutz,
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 97 minutes
Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars
I understanding marketing but it never seems to aggrevate me. This film is put up to be the Kellan Lutz show, but he has very few scenes and lacks a major role in the film. He is still front and center on the box. The box tagline also states “As twilight sets an epic battle begins”. Now this has zero to do with vampires and the creatures also hunt in broad daylight, so I am clueless. This film should be put up as the Jewel Statite show (who I love BTW), she is the whole film and the main star but gets snubbed. The creatures are ok but end up looking more like hairy men in dreadlocks. The second half of the film is the better half and feels like “The Descent” in the jungle.
Official Premise: A group of friends set out on a luxury yacht for a gorgeous island vacation. But they soon realize that they have veered off-course to a strange uncharted island. After a horrific boat crash shipwrecks them in the dense jungle, it quickly becomes evident that they are not the first to arrive to their new island prison. Instead, an unknown, cannibalistic beast stalks the group from the shadows, picking them off one-by-one.
The sound on the DVD is quite decent packing a nice 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track. The special features are let down as well. There is a making of featurette included, running just over 10 minutes. It is decent but too short. There is also a photo gallery and trailer thrown in. I think if this film just delivered itself for what it was it would delivered for me a much better viewing experience. I guess that is why this has sat on the shelf since it was made in 2009. Horror fans and fans of Staite, this is not the best horror title of the year but she is always a pleasure to watch. Overall, this will appeal only to confused “Twilight” fans looking to get see Kellan Lutz.
Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones
MPAA Rating: R
Disney: Touchstone Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 127 minutes
Film: 4 out of 5 stars Extras: 4 out of 5 stars
I remember counting down the days until the release of “Ed Wood”. After watching Depp/Burton collaborate in 1993’s “Edward Scissorhands”, I became a lifelong fan of both. I was also a big fan prior of “Plan 9 from Outer Space”, despite how “bad” it is. This film was like nothing like I had ever seen at the time. Depp’s performance in the film is honestly one of his best. He completely embodied the role of Edward J. Wood Jr. Although “Ed Wood” didn’t muster up a wide audience and the film wasn’t really given a proper background. In 1994, Depp still wasn’t considered a sure-fire for hits back then. I loved the fact that this film was shot in black-and-White and just screams Tim Burton. Fans of his work and this film should not miss this great HD upgrade. Good job Disney!
The 1080p transfer looks great with this black-and-white film. Cinematographer Stefan Czapsky actually shot the film on black-and-white stock, which is something that is not as widely available in today’s times. The film has it spots here and there of slight noise but I feel that it plays with the film’s indie aspect. The audio track includes an excellent DTS-HD MA 5.1. It features clear dialogue and works well with Howard Shore’s score. Note: this is rare that Tim Burton didn’t use Danny Elfman for his score.
The special features are ports from the 2004 DVD, but are still very impressive. There is a jam-packed commentary track (well sort-of) with Director Tim Burton, Actor Martin Landau, Co-Writers Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander, Director of Photography Stefan Czapsky and Costume Designer Colleen Atwood. These are various interviews complied together into the track. There are five short deleted scenes, all which I enjoyed. There is a music video composed by Howard Shore for the title theme. “Let’s Shoot This F#*%@r!” is a behind-the-scenes look tracked with Depp. “The Theremin” focus on Shore’s score. “Making Bela” shows how Martin Landau transformed into Bela Lugosi. “Pie Plates Over Hollywood” features Tom Duffield discussing about his own challenges on the film. Lastly there is the theatrical trailer included.
MPAA Rating: PG
Distributed by: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Running Time: 193 minutes
Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars
I am a sucker plain-and-simple any kind of shark documentary. “Shark Divers” delivers some decent entertainment for any shark lovers. If you are looking for some hardcore documentary, this may not be for you. But it is a fun mix and facts with entertainment factor. Mill Creek’s delivers overall a nice collection of documentaries including the following: “The Shark Divers”, “Shark Business”, “Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants” and “Giants of San Benedicto”.These are film taking advantage of the high-def underwater photography and are developed by Danny Mauro. He has worked on over 100 programs about the marine environment, including “The Blue Realm”. So you know that these docs have a lot of love going into them.
“The Shark Divers” – Sharks are BIG business in adrenaline eco-tourism. And some thrill seekers deliberately pursue close encounters with deadly sharks – without the protection of a cage. The bigger and more dangerous the shark, the better. But have we taken this risky sport too far? “Shark Business” – Shark Business unravels some of the mysteries surrounding sharks with controversial behaviorist Dr. Erich Ritter. You’ll witness divers testing the limits of shark-human interaction outside of cages with dangerous sharks such as lemon, bull and even Great White sharks!
“Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants” – Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants introduces us to this amazing creature through scientists who are racing against time to save the species. Utilizing space-age technology from NASA and the Hubble Telescope, researchers are able to identify, catalogue and track individual sharks.
“Giants of San Benedicto” – You’ll travel to the remote Socorro Islands off Mexico’s Pacific coast and see breath-taking encounters with enormous manta rays. You’re sure to love these majestic giants as you see how they invite human contact, and encourage certain divers to ride them. The film crew also travels to the Bahamas to visit “Bubbles”, a fifteen foot Manta in the world’s largest aquarium, and witness her release back into the ocean.
The Blu-ray release itself looks nice but not stunning within its high definition transfer. Despite the fact that it was shot underwater, it still looks presentable for the format, thought not going to blow anyone away. The audio track included is DTS-HD MA 2.0 is like the video transfer…acceptable. The narration sounds decent and works well with the music in the docs. If you are looking for any additional special features, besides the four documentaries, you will be disappointed. I wouldn’t though have expected much more besides the films themselves.
Directed by: Eli Roth
Starring: Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, Lauren German, Heather Matarazzo, Jordan Ladd, Barbara Nedeljakova, Bijou Phillips, Roger Bart, Richard Burgi.
Distributed by: Mill Creek Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 189 minutes
Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars
Eli Roth hit the horror scene with the amazingly original “Cabin Fever” in 2002. “Hostel” was a perfect follow-up for him, even outdoing his first film. His decision to do “Hostel Part II” himself was a risky but overall turned out pretty well. Both films are also presented by Quentin Tarantino, so that always bodes well for a film. Mill Creek Entertainment has put both of these great films together in this impressive double feature. Both “Hostel & Hostel Part II” include their unrated director’s cut, which is quite a bonus. or a low-cost of less than $10 bucks, this is a must for all horror fans.
“Hostel” is a shocking and relentless film in the tradition of Saw about two American backpackers (Jay Hernandez and Derek Richardson) in Europe who find themselves lured in as victims of a murder-for-profit business. “Hostel Part II” is the shocking and gruesome sequel about the underground torture ring where rich businessmen pay to torture and murder their victims.
Both “Hostel” and “Hostel Part II” look fantastic on this Blu-ray release. They are presented in there own respectively 1080p transfers and are presented in an 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Both films also come with an impressive DTS-MA 5.1 audio track. The film’s score by Nathan Barr sounds impressive throughout both films. Alas, this release is lacking in the special features department. None of the previously released features are included on this set. But like I said earlier for $10 bucks, this is still a sweet deal!
Directed by: Makoto Kamiya
Starring: Matthew Mercer, Dave Wittenberg, Courtenay Taylor, Val Tasso, Robin Sachs, Wendee Lee, Salli Saffioti
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars
“Resident Evil: Damnation” is the CGI animated sequel to “Resident Evil: Degeneration”. I wasn’t a mega big fan of “Degeneration”. I thought they could have done much better with the “Resident Evil” franchises’ first trip to CGI animation. Well “Damnation” is the answer that “Resident Evil” fans have been looking for. It follows the continuing efforts of special agent Leon Kennedy as he tries to reveal Umbrella Corporation evil-doings. My only issue with the film was that it was a perfect specimen for 3D. I have no idea why Sony didn’t put this out as a 3D Blu-ray release, it would have been amazing. Nonetheless, the film is action packed and packed with some amazing effects.
Sony’s official synopsis: “Kennedy sneaks into a small Eastern Europe country to verify rumors that Bio Organic Weapons (B.O.W.s) are being used in war. Right after his infiltration, the US government orders him to leave immediately. Determined to uncover the truth, Leon ignores the order and enters the battlefield to end the chain of tragedies caused by the B.O.W.s.”
Sony’s release delivers a combo pack including the Blu-ray of the film, as well as the Ultraviolet digital streaming version of the film. The 1080p transfer looks absolutely perfect and is presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio. I was literally blown away with the video presentation. But like I said this would have been 10x better it was delivered in 3D. The audio track is also amazing packing a sharp Dolby TrueHD 5.1. The film is major action packed and literally gave my surround sound a run for its money.
The special features are good but not amazing. There is a behind-the-scenes featurette called “The DNA of Damnation”, which dives into the production but is a little short. “Las Plagas: Organisms of War” looks into the creatures that were created in the film. There is a funny gag reel included on English version, I always love it when CGI films show their faux funny side. Lastly there is a conceptual art gallery, which is actually quite impressive since this showed the origin of where these designs started.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Denholm Elliott, John Rhys-Davies, Kate Capshaw, Cate Blanchett, Sean Connery
Distributed by: Paramount Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 18, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 482 minutes
Raiders of the Lost Ark: 5 out of 5 stars
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: 5 out of 5 stars
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 5 out of 5 stars
“Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures” finally hits Blu-ray on September 18th. This collection marks the Blu-ray debut of the “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. This is the first time they have been released in high-def and this release does not disappoint at all. “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” has previously been released on Blu-ray is stunning as well, despite hatred by fans (not including myself). This collaboration between Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford complies the one of the best adventure series to date. You know that there was a lot of love and supervision for this release by director Steven Spielberg and renowned sound designer Ben Burtt. Overall this really is a major upgrade in presentation from the last DVD release. If nothing else this release leaves you with one burning question, “Snakes—why did it have to be snakes?”.
“Raiders of the Lost Ark” is the real star of this release for sure. It has been meticulously restored in order to preserve the original look, sound and feel of this iconic film. They went back to the original negative scanned at 4K and reviewed frame-by-frame so that any damage could be repaired. The sound delivered for this release was Burtt’s original master mix, which had been archived and unused since 1981. When all was said and done this digital restoration was extremely impressive. The other installments in the franchise also look stunning being presented in 1080p high definition, also presented in there 2.39:1 original aspect ratio. Even though “Raiders” got the most attention, “Temple of Doom” and “Last Crusade” really do look very sharp on Blu-ray. Besides the occasional film spots, I was left blown away by these presentations. When you also think about “Indiana Jones”, you immediately start humming that iconic theme song, “Da Da Dah Dahhh Dah Dah Da Da Dah Dahh Dah Dah“. The sound is very important for this to work. They have arrived on Blu-ray with a very impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. It is perfectly balanced and sounds just amazing over my surround sound system.
The special features are literally flowing out of this release and are very impressive. Thought I am very surprised that there are no commentary tracks available for any of the films. There are two newly produced “On Set with Raiders of the Lost Ark” featurettes: “From Jungle to Desert” and “From Adventure to Legend”. Like I said this release is the “Raiders” show, so it gets the best treatment. There are a “Making the Films” featurettes for each film in the series. “Raiders” also includes the original 1981 “The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark” documentary as well. There are a bunch more of additional behind-the-scenes featurettes as well. The first three focus on the most important aspects of the series; “The Stunts of Indiana Jones”, “The Sound of Indiana Jones” and “The Music of Indiana Jones”. They are short but definitely sweet. “The Light and Magic of Indiana Jones” takes use through the the work of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). There is a detailed look into everyone’s favorite scene “Raiders: The Melting Face!”, one of the reasons why PG-13 were initialized.
What is Indiana Jones without its snakes and other creatures in “Indiana Jones and the Creepy Crawlies”, it will have you lifting your feet off the floor. “Travel with Indiana Jones: Locations” takes us through the wonderful locations where these films were shot and details about the shooting. Like James Bond, there are such strong woman in this series and “Indy’s Women: The American Film Institute Tribute” provides a nice nod to them. “Indy’s Friends and Enemies” dives into the other characters in the series besides Dr. Jones himself. The last three features are all on “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”…wait don’t turn it off yet, these are decent features. The first focuses on the “Iconic Props”, which are featured in the last installment. The next one focuses on “The Effects”, even as iconic as the original trilogy is, this film packs some great effects. The last focuses on the last sequel road through “Post Production” and the challenges faced. Lastly there are high definition trailers and teasers for each film to close this great release.
Rob Zombie
“Mondo Sex Head”
Universal
Producer: Jason Bentley
Tracks: 13
Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars
“Mondo Sex Head” is the latest release from musician/director Rob Zombie. The album features 13 remixed Zombie classics which were produced by Jason Bentley. Though the album does not feature any new material per say each of the classic White Zombie/Rob Zombie songs feature new and arrangements that will appeal not only to Zombies core rock fans but also to the ever growing fans of dub step/electronic music.
Opening up the album is the always promising “Thunder Kiss’ 65” which no matter how many times it is remixed and re-re mixed still delivers just as the original recording did in 1992 when it was first released. JDevil aka Jonathan Davis of Korn does an ok job of sampling and layering this hit track as the song has a decent build up to its synth filled drop. Document One showcases a promising version of one of Zombies more heavier songs “Let It All Bleed Out”. The track is slowed down while an eerie track of Rob Zombie talking weaves in and out of the synth slashes and ray gun like zaps. “Mars Needs Women” remixed by Griffin Boice closes out the album and is laced with the often over used clap, clap sound found in a number of Zombies recordings.
When an artist has a long career in the music business the inevitable greatest hits collection or re-mastered catalog is bound to be released. Though “Mondo Sex Head” isn’t really a greatest hits album per say and no real remastering has been done to enhance the recordings quality of these 13 songs it makes me question whether this album is just a quick move to capitalize on a current trend. Or is it something of substance? Sadly I am going to have to go with my first assumption. In fact a similar remix album by Zombie was released in 1996 titled “Super Sexy Swingin’ Sounds” which took a stab at bridging Zombies fans into the ever growing underground rave/dance music movement that was just starting to take off. Yes the remixes on “Mondo Sex Head” are different but in my opinion the concept is the same. “Get unsuspecting kids with black rim glasses and skinny jeans to buy albums”. Fans of Rob and White Zombie love the original songs for what they are and that is “original”. The songs contained on “Mondo Sex Head” took that originality and threw it out the window.
Track Listing:
1.) Thunder Kiss’ 65- JDevil Number of the Beast Remix
2.) Living Dead Girl- Photex Remix
3.) Let It All Bleed Out- Document One Remix
4.) Foxy Foxy- KL Theory Remix
5.) More Human Than Human- Big Black Delta Remix
6.) Dragula- +++ Remix
7.) Pussy Liquor- KL Theory Remix
8.) Lords of Salem- Das Kapital Remix
9.) Never Gonna Stop- Drumcorps Acid Remix
10.) Superbeast- Kraddy Remix
11.) Devil’s Hole Girls- Tobias Enhus Remix (Feat. The Jane Antonia Cornish String Quartet)
12.) Burn- The Bloody Beetroots Motherfucker Remix
13.) Mars Needs Women- Griffin Boice Remix
Tremonti
“All I Was”
Fret 12
Producer: Michael Baskette
Tracks: 12
Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars
“All I Was” is the debut solo release from Creed/Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti. The album is being released via Fret 12 records and was produced by Michael “Elvis” Baskette (Incubus, Stone Temple Pilots). Take everything you know about Mark Tremonti and throw that out the window. Yes Mark is the guitarist for the platinum selling rock band Creed as well as the guitarist for Alter Bridge however his first solo album takes a completely different path from his other projects by going straight for the throat. “All I Was” features heavy guitars and thunderous double bass beats as each track borders on the rock/metal line. Tremonti’s vocals are haunting and surprisingly strong for a guy who has predominantly sung backups until now. Tracks such as “The Things I’ve Seen” and “Proof” run the gambit of melodic metal while the much heavier “Giving Up” and “So You’re Afraid” will get your blood pumping. Producer Michael Baskette can add another great album to his already impressive catalog as the tones contained on this album are crisp and clear while still retaining a great bottom end.
When a guitarist from a successful group or in this case groups steps out on their own for the first time you never know what you are going to get. The end result is generally something very similar to their previous work. This is definitely not the case for Mark Tremonti. The songs featured on “All I Was” have a fresh feel and are packed with solid guitar riffs and great vocals. If you are looking for something that is both heavy and melodic pick up a copy of this album.
Track Listing:
1.) Leave It Alone
2.) So You’re Afraid
3.) Wish You Well
4.) Brains
5.) The Things I’ve Seen
6.) You Waste Your Time
7.) New Way out
8.) Giving Up
9.) Proof
10.) All I Was
11.) Doesn’t Matter
12.) Decay
Author: Jon Klassen
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: October 11, 2012
Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars
I am sorry to say but prior to receiving this book, I was not aware of the bestselling and award-winning “I Want My Hat Back”, by Jon Klassen. Though since reading “This is Not My Hat, I have revisited the first book. Klassen really delivers a simple yet very successful lesson in taking what is not yours. The illustrations are very cute and simple but also effective. They are able to convey the story very well. Even though the book is aimed for kids, the visual humor is very apparent and I found myself laughing out loud by the end.
Premise: From the creator of the #1 New York Times best-selling and award-winning I Want My Hat Backcomes a second wry tale. When a tiny fish shoots into view wearing a round blue topper (which happens to fit him perfectly), trouble could be following close behind. So it’s a good thing that enormous fish won’t wake up. And even if he does, it’s not like he’ll ever know what happened. . . .
Even though the book is titled similar to “I Want My Hat Back”, it’s really only related due to the use of hats. The book is aimed for kids, but includes rather dark ending…but innocent overall (don’t get nervous parents). It is also strange but it is a real page turner, I found myself speeding through the 40 pages to find out the rest of the story. Then going back and enjoying the subtle and splendidly told story and illustrations. It is rare that picture-books are long on the New York Times Bestsellers but like Klassen first book, this one deserves to be up there also.
Director: Mary Lambert
Starring: Denise Crosby, Fred Gwynne, Miko Hughes, Dale Midkiff, Brad Greenquist, Michael Lombard
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Paramount Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 102 minutes
Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars
As Halloween approaches, “Pet Sematary” is one of those films that are a must watch. This film was adapted from author Stephen King own novel and follows the supernatural happenings surrounding a small-town pet cemetery. This still packs some good scares and holds up despite its growing age and high-tech newer horror films. Paramount really delivered the goods on this release and didn’t disappoint and also delivers the film in a nice lenticular case. If you are looking to revisit this film whether it has been a few months or a few years since your last viewing, this is a must purchase. Horror fans should definitely not miss this opportunity.
Paramount’s official synopsis: “[The film] tells the story of Louis and Rachel Creed (Dale Midkiff, The Crow: Salvation, and Denise Crosby, Star Trek: The Next Generation) and their two children, an average family who move into an idyllic home in the countryside to begin what promises to be a perfect new life. Unfortunately, their dream home sits next to a pet cemetery with a horrible and dark secret. When a family tragedy causes Louis to become unhinged with grief, he pays a visit to the cemetery and unleashes an unspeakable evil on the world.”
The Blu-ray looks very sharp in its 1080p transfer and its 1.85:1 original aspect ratio. Paramount did right with this film and gave it a real sharp Blu-ray restore. The audio track included DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, works great with the jump and the film’s wonderful score. The special features included are a little slim but all effective. There is an good commentary track from director Mary Lambert. “Stephen King Territory” follow the author as his dives into both the film’s locations and the origins of his novel. There are two Behind-the-scenes featurettes also included. The first is called “The Characters” and the second is called “Filming the Horror”, both are great if you are a fan of the film.
Directed by: Kimble Rendall
Starring: Phoebe Tonkin, Xavier Samuel, Julian McMahon, Sharni Vinson
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 90 minutes
Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars
Anchor Bay really scored a winner with “Bait 3D”. The film was shot natively shot in 3D and really delivers some great entertainment. I watch many creature films, especially on Syfy. I was hopefully this wasn’t going to be another one of those. Well it was way more than I expected. This is what “Shark Night 3D”, should have been like. “Bait 3D”, really brings the action and very well for that matter. The special effects are very impressive for this film especially with the great white sharks. The story is a little laughable but well-executed. Overall it is one hell of a fun time. Besides being a kick-ass film though, “Bait 3D” also features a stellar ensemble cast including Xavier Samuel (“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”), Sharni Vinson (“Step Up 3D”), Alex Russell (“Chronicle”), and Julian McMahon (TV’s “Nip/Tuck”).
Official Premise: This intense 3D thriller tells the story of a group of survivors in a sleepy beach town who suddenly find themselves trapped inside a submerged supermarket, following a freak tsunami. As they try to escape to safety, they soon discover that there is a predator among them more deadly than the threat of drowning—vicious great white sharks lurking in the water, hungry for fresh meat. As the bloodthirsty sharks begin to pick the survivors off one by one, the group realizes that they must work together to find a way out without being eaten alive.
It is also being released a combo pack with the 3D and 2D version of the film on one Blu-ray and a seperate DVD version of the film. I really recommend this film in 3D though. The effects are fantastic and include some great in your face moments. The 1080p transfer works well with the 3D effects as well and delivers a very sharp video. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also packs some heat and works well with the non-stop action. The special features though are very lacking there is another a gallery of original production storyboards included. I would have love to seen more focus on the 3D, the sharks and the overall production.
Directed by: Josh Stolberg
Starring: Connie Britton, Julie Bowen, Sarah Hyland, America Olivo, Jonathan Silverman, Alan Tudyk and David Arquette.
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed: New Video Group
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Running Time: 97 minutes
Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars
I wasn’t sure what to expect for with “Conception” but I was very pleasantly surprised. The film was sharp, clever and funny…all while having a decent heart. The main draw for me was really it’s amazing ensemble cast including Julie Bowen and Sarah Hyland both from “Modern Family”, Connie Britton (“American Horror Story”, Alan Tudyk (“Firefly) America Olivo (“Friday the 13th”), Jonathan Silverman (“Weekend at Bernie’s”), and even David Arquette (“Scream”) pops in for a sec.
“Conception” is a clever, romantic comedy that proves it takes more than sex to make a baby. From a couple fighting the odds of fertility to young teenagers losing their virginity, the film follows nine very different couples on the night they conceive, showing that sex can sometimes be more neurotic than erotic.
“Conception” is a sexy yet hilarious neurotic comedy that shows the real side of relationships. Overall, it surprised me since I wasn’t expecting much. The DVD does comes with a few special features. There is an interview with Director Josh Stolberg and Producer Leila Charles Leigh, which is presented by American Express. There are a also a few deleted scenes and outtakes included. Overall nothing special but worth checking out if you enjoyed the film.
Directed by: Randall Cole
Starring: Nick Stahl, Mia Kirshner, Devon Sawa
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed: New Video Group
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Running Time: 97 minutes
Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Prior to receiving this DVD, I had never heard of “388 Arletta Avenue”. But the front of the box was a real draw for me since it is from the makers of “Splice” and “Cube”, Vincenzo Natali, whom I am big fan of. This also packs a very impressive genre cast including Nick Stahl (“Terminator 3”), Mia Kirshner (“The Vampire Diaries”), Devon Sawa (“Finding Destination”). The film itself isn’t scary but it is super creepy and very effective. It is was also shot from the point-of-view of hidden cameras hidden throughout the house, the car etc. I really enjoyed the Randall Cole’s fresh take on found-footage horror genre.
On the surface, James Deakin (Stahl) lives a quiet, routine, comfortable life with his wife Amy (Kirshner) in their suburban home. Under the subtle manipulation of a faceless voyeur, however, cracks in their relationship begin to emerge. When Amy suddenly disappears, James is left to wonder if she’s been abducted or simply abandoned him, but their tormentor doesn’t stop there. As the manipulations become more twisted and violent, James desperately tries to identify just who’s doing this to him and why, but his adversary always seems to be one step ahead.
“388 Arletta Avenue” runs a really tight 97 minutes and literally has you sitting on the edge of your seat and trying to figure out the ending. Though, The film doesn’t deliver in terms of special features. There is only one extra, which is cast/crew behind-the-scenes interviews. It is not bad overall and like most Tribeca Film release it is presented by American Express. Randall Cole is definitely on my radar and will definitely keep an eye out for his future films. Overall though, I would definitely recommend this film highly.
Directed by: Taylor Hackford
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron, Jeffrey Jones, Connie Nielson
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 144 minutes
Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars
“Vanity, definitely my favorite sin”. One of my favorite lines any film. Al Pacino gives one of his best roles to date. He is just so fucking evil in this film and yet you still are routing for him to rule. Keanu Reeves also does a great job prior to all his “The Matrix” slow-motion fighting. This film include the Unrated Director’s Cut of the film, though I never really noticed a major difference between the cuts. The film is a ripe 2 hours and 15 mins but it really owns every single minute. I remember sneaking into this film in theaters and running out of the theaters completely in love with it. Well 15 years have passed and I only love this film more. I highly recommend this Blu-ray release, completely worth the upgrade.
The 1080p transfer on the Blu-ray just looks amazing. Warner did up this film right and doesn’t disappoint at all. The audio includes an DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, which works perfectly with the film’s sharp dialogue and of course the amazing score, courtesy of James Newton Howard. Th special features are ports from the 1998 DVD but are still decent. There is a commentary by director Taylor Hackford, decent overall. There are twelve deleted scenes with optional commentary from Hackford (unlike the DVD where it was not optional). Overall, I enjoyed these quite a bit. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included. I wish they would have done a little more to celebrate the film’s 15th anniversary but overall still a nice release.
Kevin Lomax (Reeves), an ambitious, talented young district attorney, joins a powerful New York law firm headed by the mysterious and charismatic John Milton (Pacino). as Lomax faces the intense seduction of success and money, he is increasingly tempted.
Directed by: Michael Rymer
Starring: Stuart Townsend, Aaliyah, Marguerite Moreau, Vincent Pérez, Paul McGann, Lena Olin
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 101 minutes
Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars
“Interview with the Vampire” is a very hard film to follow-up. “Queen of the Damned” had high expectations surrounding it, especially for an Anne Rice adaption. It’s also took a risky move of casting R&B singer, Aaliyah, to lead the film. Unfortunately, then she end dying in a plane crash months before the film’s release, which added to it’s issues. The film is very ambitious and Gothic but it’s overall end product has too many issues. What the film does have doing for it is one of the best soundtracks in a horror film. The film’s music is also created by Korn’s Jonathan Davis and is nothing short of amazing! Not the best film ever but definitely worth the HD upgrade.
Warner’s definitely delivers a very impressive Blu-ray. It’s 1080p transfer comes with a lot of love. It is presented a sharp picture and works well with the dark scenes. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track works perfectly in sync with the score and the heavy metal tunes in the film. The special features are ported from the DVD release and do not disappoint at all. First we have a decent commentary track with director Michael Rymer, producer Jorge Saralegui, and composer Richard Gibbs. Next up, there are 13 deleted scenes that are decent also cut for a good reason. There are three documentaries focusing on the behind-the-scenes aspect of the film. “Creating the Vampires” features cast/crew talking about their roles in the film. “Aaliyah Remembered” is a memorial for the late singer. Lastly “The Music of Lestat” has interviews with composer Richard Gibbs and lyricist Jonathan Davis. To compliment that feature, there are three music videos for Lestat (“Redeemer,” “Forsaken,” “System”), a music video by Static X’s “Cold,” and also extended Lestat’s concert footage. Lastly there is a gag reel, photo galleries and a theatrical trailer for the film.
After years of slumber, the legendary vampire has awakened and found acceptance in a tattooed, pierced and black-clad world. He’s a rock star. And his awesome goth-riffed sound has echoed around the globe…and stirred to life the fearsome Mother of All Vampires. Based on “The Vampire Chronicles” by Anne Rice, whose work previously came to the screen in “Interview with the Vampire.”
