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Book Review: “Lonely Boy: Tales of a Sex Pistol”

“Lonely Boy: Tales of a Sex Pistol”
Author: Steve Jones
Da Capo Press
Hardcover 308 pages

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“Lonely Boy: Tales of a Sex Pistol” recounts the life and times of Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones. Through the nihilistic songs, amphetamine-fueled music, and influential fashion that turned a one-time street urchin into a founding member of a genre-defining band “Lonely Boy” offers a truly in-depth portrait of one of punk’s founding fathers.

For anyone with even the smallest bit of knowledge related to Steve Jones and his band The Sex Pistols I don’t have to tell you what to expect from “Lonely Boy”. Sex, drugs and rock and roll it’s all here told directly from the man who lived and breathed it. Throughout the books 308 pages Jones takes the reader on a cringe worthy ride that starts off with detailed accounts of Jones traumatic childhood which was rout with abuse and neglect. As the book progresses the reader is treated to firsthand accounts of the early incarnation of The Sex Pistols and how it morphed into what the world would see as the band were made into the poster boys of punk rock for generations to come.

Not just your everyday run of the mill biography. “Lonely Boy” delves much deeper than other books in the genre. Jones forges straight on into rough waters as he recounts the events that would shape who he has become today. From the ups and downs his band The Sex Pistols created to his struggles with severe drug addiction this book is not for the queasy as it probably as real as one can get. At times I found the stories to wander and be a bit lengthy however pushing through there was always light at the end of the tunnel as each chapter blended nicely into the next. Also worth noting are the photos which are included in the book. Many of them were ones I had not seen before only adding to the books unique story and making “Lonely Boy: Tales of a Sex Pistol” is a must read for any and all music fans.

4K Ultra HD Review “The Girl on the Train”

Actors: Emily Blunt, Haley Bennett, Rebecca Ferguson, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, Édgar Ramírez
Directors: Tate Taylor
Format: 4K
Rated: R
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: January 17, 2017
Run Time: 112 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
4K Ultra HD: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

“The Girl on the Train” is the perfect film for Emily Blunt. She literally rocks this film! I could have sworn I would swear she would win awards for the role but it never really caught traction. She is truly amazing. Also Haley Bennett has a solid 2016 return with this film and “The Magnificent Seven”. The film has me staring without blinking for about 3/4 of the movie until the end reveal when it lost it almost completely. I wasn’t thrilled with the ending but overall I did enjoy the movie if not just for the performances.

Official Premise: The Girl on the Train is based on Paula Hawkins’ bestselling thriller that shocked the world. Rachel (Emily Blunt), devastated by her recent divorce, spends her daily commute fantasizing about the seemingly perfect couple who live in a house that her train passes every day. Everything changes when she sees something shocking happen there, and becomes entangled in the mystery that unfolds.

“The Girl on the Train” was released in a 4K Ultra HD combo pack with Blu-ray and Digital HD copy included. The 2160p 4K looks good but really doesn’t blow me away at all. If you compare the Blu-ray disc, I almost thought it looked better. There wasn’t anything in the 4K transfer that really stepped up the game. Not bad by ANY means just was hoping for more” The included DTS:X soundtrack (which ends up working as a 7.1 mix) sounds great and work well with the suspenseful score.

The special features are decent and worth checking out for sure if you enjoyed the film. The audio commentary features director Tate Taylor giving a lot of in-depth information on the film. There are nearly 20 minutes of Deleted and Extended Scenes included. Lastly there are two featurettes. The first is “The Women Behind The Girl” features author Paula Hawkins talking about the film. The other is “On Board The Train” looks deeper into characters and more behind-the-scenes.

Blu-ray Review “Come and Find Me”

Actors: Aaron Paul, Annabelle Wallis, Garret Dillahunt
Directors: Zack Whedon
Rated: R
Studio: LIONSGATE
Release Date: January 17, 2017
Run Time: 112 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Aaron Paul shines out of the shadow of “Breaking Bad” and delivers a great performance on a film that no one will see. Zack Whedon, brother of Joss, is making his directorial debut on this film and delivers a solid drama with an cast that including Whedonverse regular, Enver Gjokaj (“Dollhouse”). I loved Annabelle Wallis in “Annabelle” and she was also great in this! Worth checking out if your a big fan of Paul’s work or curious to see brother Whedon take a shot (and score) with directing.

Official Premise: David and Claire’s idyllic relationship comes to an abrupt and mysterious end after Claire disappears without a trace. Devastated but incapable of letting go, David follows her trail down a frantic and increasingly dangerous path. Shocked at discovering that Claire was living a double life, he’s forced to risk everything if he ever wants to see her again.

“Come and Find Me” comes as a combo pack with Blu-ray and Digital HD copy. the 1080p transfer looks great with the way that Whedon shot the film. The special features are not a whole lot but what is included is great. There is a behind-the-scenes featurette called “Unravelling the Mysteries of Come and Find Me”. There is a great audio commentary with Writer/Director Zack Whedon and Producer Chris Ferguson. Definitely worth checking out for some cool insight.

Film Review: “Trespass Against Us”

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Brendan Gleeson, Sean Harris, Lyndsey Marshall, Rory Kinnear
Directed By: Adam Smith
Rated: R
Running Time: 99 minutes
Film4

Our Score: 3 out of 5 Stars

For a man seeking a quiet life, Chad Cutler drums up an awful lot of trouble in Adam Smith’s rural family drama, Trespass Against Us. Set deep in the English countryside, the feature debut from Smith can be tonally uneven but boasts enough solid performances and pops of quality car chases to recommend it.

Michael Fassbender stars as Chad Cutler, the heir apparent to a family of thieves in a caravan park. His father is the blustery Colby Cutler (Brendan Gleeson) who preaches only what his father taught him. In between sending his son and their gang out on robberies, Colby interferes with Chad’s young son Tyson (Georgie Smith) getting an actual school education. It’s a life Chad wishes to escape as he sets his eyes on moving into an actual house with Tyson and his wife Kelly (Lyndsey Marshal). Unfortunately Colby’s infamy looms large over the local population, often stifling Chad’s ambitions. Also impeding his progress? Chad himself. Chad is a caring father, but his whole world has been crime and he’s great at it. Despite his illiteracy, he’s the most intelligent of his crew as well as the best driver–crucial for their hit and run robbery jobs in the neighboring towns. The entire trailer crew becomes endangered when Colby sends them unknowingly to invade a local judge’s mansion.

Fassbender isn’t often cast as the family man (Steve Jobs was hardly the best example) and here it works well. Him and Smith share some touching scenes and I also got a kick out of Chad’s chastising of Tyson at a chip stand. More importantly Fassbender skillfully conveys the simmering conflicts within Cutler. His shark-like grin when dealing with his cohorts is equal parts charming and threatening, belying his frustration with his continued position in this dim gang. Conversely Chad clearly enjoys the thrill of the car chases when he is persuaded to work. Most of the persuasion here carried out by Gleeson’s formidable Colby who growls his way through some good scenes.

The English countryside makes for an unconventional crime story background and Smith does quite a lot with it. The car chases through the village then out into the woods are well shot and thrilling despite their relatively small scale. I’d never seen cows incorporated into a manhunt quite like they are here! At times, the local population can skew too quirky (Sean Harris as a perpetually filthy yokel is a bit much) but the familial drama central to the story keeps things grounded thanks to the strong performances of Fassbender, Gleeson, Marshal and newcomer Smith.

Trespass Against Us is now out in theaters as well as on DirecTV

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Filed Under: Film Headlines, Film Reviews, Movies Tagged With: Adam Smith, brendan gleeson, film review, Michael Fassbender, review, Trespass Against Us, ...

Film Review: “20th Century Women”

Starring: Annette Bening, Elle Fanning and Greta Gerwig
Directed by: Mike Mills
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 59 mins
A24

Our Score: 3 out of 5 Stars

In 2010, writer/director Mike Mills penned a film loosely based on his father called “Beginners,” with Christopher Plummer taking home an Oscar for his work. This week Mills has turned his pen towards his mother, with Annette Bening shining through in a performance that could end up the same way as Plummer’s did with Oscar gold.

Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) is a 15-year old boy being raised by a less then orthodox mother. We learn from Jamie that his mom Dorothea (Bening) wanted to be a pilot but instead now holds a high position with a major company. Dorothea is 55 and divorced. She doesn’t date much and, when she does, it doesn’t last long. Her world is Jamie. Or so she thinks. Her world also consists of Abbie (Gerwig), a boarder dealing with the possibility of having cervix cancer, William (Billy Crudup), a former hippie with a knack for fixing cars and pottery bowls, and Julie (Fanning), a neighborhood girl that Jamie is helplessly in love with. As their stories intertwine, it’s hard to see who the mature member of the “family” is and who the child is.

Set in 1979, the film makes great use with its pop culture references. Musical acts like the Raincoats and Black Flag dot the soundtrack while references to President Ford falling down the stairs of Air Force One or President Carter addressing the nation and it’s “crisis of confidence” – now referred to as “the Malaise Speech” – help set the tone of the on-screen action. As someone who remembers these events, and the “groovy” clothes from the period, it triggered some fond memories of my youth.

The film does have some problems with its pacing, but the energy jumps up when any of the three female leads are on screen. Fanning and Gerwig are both solid, especially since neither one of them were born in the time the film takes place. But it is Bening, one of our most overlooked talents, who shines here. She mines her emotional depths as she tries to find ways to connect with her son while still trying to maintain a lifestyle she has reluctantly become accustomed to. It is one of her finest performances and one I sincerely hope the Academy recognizes this year.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews, Movies Tagged With: 20th, 20th century women, annette benning, billy crudup, century, elle fanning, ...

Blu-ray Review “The Accountant”

Starring: Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Tambor, Cynthia Addai-Robinson
Director: Gavin O’Connor
Rated: R
Studio: Warner Brothers
Release Date: January 10, 2017
Run Time: 128 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Ben Affleck has been a busy guy in 2016. With his cameo in “Suicide Squad” and filming “Justice League” and also recently releasing the less reclaimed “Live By Night”. “The Accountant” is one of great successes. Outside of playing Batman, Affleck has delivered some epic films like “Argo” and “The Town”. I really enjoyed “The Accountant” and it is jam packed with Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Tambor along side Affleck. Probably not a film I can re-watch over and over but surely enjoyed this as a one timer.

Official Premise: Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is a math savant with more affinity for numbers than people. Behind the cover of a small-town CPA office, he works as a freelance accountant for some of the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations. With the Treasury Department’s Crime Enforcement Division, run by Ray King (J.K. Simmons), starting to close in, Christian takes on a legitimate client: a state-of-the-art robotics company where an accounting clerk (Anna Kendrick) has discovered a discrepancy involving millions of dollars. But as Christian uncooks the books and gets closer to the truth, it is the body count that starts to rise.

Warner Brothers is releasing “The Accountant” as a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD UltraViolet combo pack. The 1080p transfer is gorgeous. I would love to see how it transferred into 4K resolution. You have two choices for audio with both 5.1 and 7.1 soundtracks, both are encoded in lossless DTS-HD MA. This film is more dialogue led but both sounds great. The special features are honestly, disappointing. There are three rather quick/short featurettes. The first is “Inside the Man” with cast/crew discussing the character of Christian Wolff. The second is “Behavioral Science” with which brings in technical aspects and lastly “The Accountant in Action” looks at the films stunts.

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

Blu-ray Review “The Monster”

Actors: Zoe Kazan, Ella Ballentine, Scott Speedman, Aaron Douglas
Directors: Bryan Bertino
Rated: R
Studio: LIONSGATE
Release Date: January 24, 2017
Run Time: 91 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

I was excited for the film, “The Monster” due to the use of practical monster effects, which is always exciting for me. “The Monster” is much more than just a creature feature. It is a store of suffering and healing. I honestly missed that the first time seeing this film making it hard to enjoy. But this film redeemed itself for me during second more open minded viewing. The acting is superb from Zoe Kazan and Ella Ballentine. The creature effects did not let down at all providing an original rather terrifying design. Worth taking a look.

Official Premise: Acclaimed horror filmmaker Bryan Bertino (The Strangers) wrote and directed this suspenseful and scary film, in which a divorced mother (Zoe Kazan) and her headstrong daughter must make an emergency late-night road trip to see the girl’s father. As they drive through deserted country roads on a stormy night, they suddenly have a startling collision that leaves them shaken but not seriously hurt. Their car, however, is dead, and as they try in vain to get help, they come to realize they are not alone on these desolate backroads — a terrifying evil is lurking in the surrounding woods, intent on never letting them leave.

This Blu-ray/Digital HD combo pack fails not in its technical merits but in it’s special features. There is only one featurettes called “Eyes in the Darkness”. I would have hoped so much more in the creatures design and the atmosphere, score and director’s commentary on this film. I feel like I could have enjoy aspects of the film more if I got a in-depth discussion of the film and its focused story.

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

Blu-ray Review “USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage”

Actors: Nicolas Cage, Matt Lanter, Thomas Jane, Tom Sizemore
Directors: Mario Van Peebles
Rated: R
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: January 24, 2017
Run Time: 131 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Whenever I think about the story of the USS Indianapolis, I go straight to Quint’s legendary speech from the 1975 film “Jaws”. It is a scary and grim story of courage and strength. Unfortunately, in short, this film neither captures that courage of strength at all and quite bores you with this adaption. There is definitely a cast of character who show up in this film including Nicolas Cage, Matt Lanter, James Remar, Tom Sizemore and Thomas Jane. But no talent can spare us from the slow motion scenes to the cheap CGI.

Official Premise: Based on a true story of survival and bravery, USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage stars Cage as the captain of the USS Indianapolis, a boat tasked with a top-secret mission at the end of World War II. With remarkable production value, the film tells the harrowing tale of real life American heroes shipwrecked in shark infested waters in the waning days of World War II.

The Blu-ray/Digital HD combo pack for “USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage” has no major issue with it’s technical merits. The 1080p does what it can with the film’s cheap production value and use of digital effects. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track works with the action but didn’t overly wow me either. The only special feature included is a featurette focusing around “The Making of USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage”.

Event Review: Monster Jam @ Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

I cannot even remember the last time I went to Monster Jam. I would think it has to be nearly 20 years by now at least. I have always been yearning to go back though and this year was the year! I have always been a huge Grave Digger fan and I remember cars like Big Foot that are no longer around. So I think it was about time for me to revisit this action packed event. This year Monster Jam headed back to the Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL on January 13th and it was one hell of a time! This definitely just became a yearly event for me again! Let’s just say that!

The event featured more than 12 trucks and drivers including: Grave Digger driven by Dennis Anderson; Son-uva Digger driven by Ryan Anderson; Team Hot Wheels driven by Scott Buetow; Monster Energy driven by Coty Saucier; Jester driven by Matt Pagliarulo; Xtermigator driven by JR McNeal; Rage driven by Cory Rummel; Barbarian driven by Devin Jones; OVER Bored, Bounty Hunter, Knucklehead, Madusa and Wrecking Crew.

Like I mentioned I have always loved Grave Digger (I mean seriously who doesn’t). He is just bad-ass. I mean the guy loses a damn wheel on his first go-around and still managed to come back and get second place at the end. During this event there were a few spotlight trucks who really just nailed every run! Monster Energy ended up winning the night, hands down! Their freestyle had me on my feet screaming! Wrecking Crew also tore up the stadium for sure! The audience was literally on their feet the entire event!

The part just wasn’t at the Stadium though! We arrived hours in advance and had an awesome time tailgating and enjoying the big open field. They also had the “Party in the Pits”, which was an additional $10.00 but gives a good opportunity for fans to get up close and personal to the Monster Jam trucks and drivers. They also had ramps setup with bikers doing tricks hourly. So very cool event for sure! Family fun! Plenty of families gathered at this event to show this wonderful event together and I will be one of those families for sure moving forward!

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Filed Under: Art/Theatre Tagged With: event, fl, jam, james, monster, raymond, ...

Theatre Review: Wicked @ Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando FL

“Wicked” opened on Broadway in New York back in 2003 and has since com “a cultural phenomenon” according to Variety and called “the best musical of the decade” by Entertainment Weekly. “Wicked” has been performed in over 100 cities in 14 countries around the world being translated into six languages and is the winner of over 100 international major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards. And this month it is in Orlando, FL at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts’s Walt Disney Theater from January 11 – 29, 2017.

If you have never seen or heard of “Wicked” here is a quick premise: The surprising tale of an unlikely friendship between two women in the Land of Oz, Wicked tells the untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, long before Dorothy dropped in. Elphaba, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. Glinda is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. The remarkable odyssey of how these unexpected friends changed each other’s lives for good has made Wicked one of world’s most popular musicals.

This show was simply outstanding. Simply outstanding! I grew up in New York and visit the theatre district many many many times and have seen hundreds of plays. I loved the grand scale of it all. The sets, the cast, the music! It was all so amazing to me. When I moved to Florida in 2010, I thought I wasn’t going to be able to see that scale of amazing again in the theatre…and that was true until I found the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts’s Walt Disney Theater. These people put on shows like I have never seen. “Wicked” was so just epic and breathtaking that I feel like I have to see it twice to soak in all the magic that it was!

I am sure that Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth were amazing in their original roles on Broadway. No doubt. But these two leads in Orlando were absolutely breathtaking! Their voices really pick you up and take your through this amazing story behind “The Wizard of Oz”. The talent on this production overall is just A+. With all the shows I’ve seen I have to admit this was in no question of the best in recent year! Must see this show at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts or at least during its North American tour.

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Filed Under: Theatre Reviews Tagged With: arts, center, dr, fl, orlando, performing, ...

Blu-ray Review “Deepwater Horizon”

Actors: Kurt Russell, Mark Wahlberg, James DuMont, Douglas M. Griffin, Joe Chrest
Directors: Peter Berg
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: January 10, 2017
Run Time: 107 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Deepwater Horizon” is the latest team-up between director Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg, last being “Lone Survivor”. It is based on a true story and features a top notch supporting cast including Kurt Russell, John Malkovich, Dylan O’Brien, Kate Hudson and Gina Rodriguez. Honestly though, just not a film for me. I remember the events back in 2010 but I never thought to myself, “Damn, this will make a great movie”. Great acting and at points action packed for sure as Berg knows how to deliver but just not interesting enough topic to lock me down.

Official Premise: On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, igniting a massive fireball that kills several crew members. Chief electronics technician Mike Williams (Mark Wahlberg) and his colleagues find themselves fighting for survival as the heat and the flames become stifling and overwhelming. Banding together, the co-workers must use their wits to make it out alive amid all the chaos.

Even though “Deepwater Horizon” is not my favorite film of the year, it does pack a solid Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p transfer works perfectly with the film’s epic scale. In fact, I would have loved to watched the 4K presentation of this film. I can imagine that the action sequences would love outstanding for sure. The audio track included is an outstanding Dolby Atmos (mixed down to Dolby TrueHD 7.1), which really showcases the action perfectly. Literally wall-shaking!

In terms of special features, there is no shortage here at all. In fact, there is around two hours of content included. First up there is an hour-long five-part series “Beyond the Horizon,” which features cast discussing the film behind-the-scenes. There are three all-new featurettes, the first being “Captain of the Rig: Peter Berg”, which puts the director front and center. The other two included are “The Fury of the Rig” and “Deepwater Surveillance”, which dives behind-the-scenes on this difficult production. Lastly there is a real-life tribute in “Work Like An American”.

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

Concert Review: Kings of Chaos, Verona, NY

“Kings of Chaos”
Kings of Chaos, Franky Perez
Thursday, December 22th 2016
Turning Stone, Verona, NY

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Rock’s Ultimate Super group Kings of Chaos made a rare appearance in the Upstate New York area on December 22 where they performed for an intimate crowd within the Turning Stone Casino. The group consisting of Matt Sorum, Chester Bennington, Robin Zander, Billy Duffy, Robert DeLeo, Steve Stevens and Billy Gibbons performed a variety of hits from each of the member’s careers making for a unique concert experience.

Opening up the night was Apocalyptica front man Franky Perez who along with his solo band performed a blend of rock infused blues that helped set the tone for the night. Though the crowd was a bit slow to respond Perez and company forged on and by the end of their forty minute set had the crowd primed and ready for the night’s headliner. After a minimal set change the night’s headliner hit the stage running as they launched into Stone Temple Pilots “Vasoline”. With Linkin Park/STP vocalist Chester Bennington at the helm the band also performed Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” and The Cult’s “Fire Woman”. Bennington would then make way for Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Robin Zander to perform a handful of Cheap Trick songs which were then followed by a few ZZ Top songs song by none other than the one and only Billy Gibbons who’s gravelly voice permeated every nook and cranny of the venue. Zander, Bennington and Gibbons would alternate in the lead vocalist spot throughout the night as they performed hit after hit from each of the members groups culminating with all of the members performing at the end of the night on “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers”, “Going Down” and the Led Zeppelin classic “Whole Lotta love”.

Though the nights set was absent of any Linkin Park or Guns N’ Roses numbers there certainly was still a solid mixture of songs pulled from the members impressive back catalogs. Each player looked to be performing at their best making it very hard to pick out one performance over another. Everyone definitely brought their A game and appeared to be working very well together despite minimal interactions with one another. Getting to see just one of the members in this group let alone seven is sure to bring a nights worth of entertainment but when the Kings of Chaos are all together in one spot it truly is a special occasion and one you won’t want to miss.

Kings of Chaos Set list:
1.) Vasoline
2.) White Wedding
3.) Fire Woman
4.) Hello There
5.) Surrender
6.) I Want You to Want Me
7.) Waitin’ For the Bus
8.) Sharp Dressed Man
9.) Tush
10.) The Flame
11.) Edie (Ciao Baby)
12.) Interstate Love Song
13.) Jesus Just Left Chicago
14.) Ace of Spades
15.) Sex Type Thing
16.) Love Removal Machine
17.) Rebel Yell
18.) Dream Police
19.) La Grange
20.) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
21.) Going Down
22.) Whole Lotta love

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Music Tagged With: casino, chaos, concert, kings, ny, review, ...

Blu-ray Review “Train to Busan”

Starring: Yoo Gong, Ma Dong-Suk, Yu-mi Jeong, Woo-sik Choi, Sohee, Soo-an Kim
Director: Sang-ho Yeon
Distributed by: Well Go USA
Running Time: 118 min
Release Date: Jan 17, 2017

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

I came across the film, “Train to Busan”, purely by accident and I am really glad I did. This is literally one of the best zombie films I have seen in a long time! It is action packed and really well done. It does run a little long and could have been cut down a bit for pacing but otherwise, I thought this film was a wild ride. If you are looking for something to fill your “Walking Dead” void while it is on hiatus, definitely check this film out!

Official Premise: A mysterious viral outbreak pushes Korea into a state of emergency. The government declares martial law just as divorced Seok-woo and his daughter catch the KTX bullet train from Seoul to Busan to see her mother. But someone on the journey has been recently infected sending the hurtling carriages into complete chaos. As the living dead transform the voyage into a nightmare excursion, father and daughter and a small group of uninfected passengers must fight for survival. Get on board to stay alive!

Well Go USA is behind this release, so this Blu-ray does not come as a combo pack or include a digital HD copy. I would love to see this company get behind digital format and include it with their Blu-rays. It will be available on Ultraviolet, I am sure when it is released so why not throw in a code as an incentive. The 1080p transfer works for the scope of the film, which at times get very epic. The DTS-HD Master Audio track also works well with the action. the track is Korean with English subtitles. There are only two special features included, which are two generic “Behind the Scenes” looks into the production as well as “That’s A Wrap”.

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

Blu-ray Review “31”

Actors: Malcolm McDowell, Elizabeth Daily, Meg Foster, Sheri Moon Zombie, Daniel Roebuck, Judy Geeson
Director: Rob Zombie
Rated: R
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: December 20, 2016
Run Time: 103 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of stars

I have been following this project from very closely from before it was even filmed and even got daily updates from Rob Zombie himself during production. I had REALLY high expectations for this film but was honestly let down quite a bit. I am a huge fan of Rob Zombie’s previous films “House of 1000 Corpses”, “The Devil’s Rejects” and even “The Lords of Salem”. This film just felt kinda bland and didn’t really draw me in. I got the whole plot idea and it is cool but it felt like it needed something more, like a hook to snag you. If you enjoy Zombie’s previous work you may did this but other than that audience, I do not see this crossing over or pulling in a cult following anytime soon.

Official Premise: From the visionary mind of the man who brought us House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects and Halloween comes the horrific story of five carnival workers who are kidnapped the night before Halloween and held hostage in a large compound. At the mercy of their captors, they are forced to play a twisted game or life or death called 31. For the next 12 hours they must fight for their lives against an endless parade of homicidal maniacs.

Lionsgate Films delivered this film to Blu-ray as a combo pack with a Digital HD copy. The 1080p transfer presented with an aspect ratio of 2.40:1. I love the way that Rob Zombie shoots his films, he has a very unique perspective in his films and I really enjoy it. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track worked well but honestly, I wasn’t a huge fan of the score and music used in this film as I have been in the past especially speaking of “The Devil’s Rejects”. In terms of special features, there are only two extras but they are spot on and worth checking out. Rob Zombie gives a great audio commentary track. “In Hell Everyone Loves Popcorn: The Making of 31” is an insane two plus hour in depth set of featurettes that follows the entire production, so if you enjoyed the film this is a must watch.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: 31, bluray, review

Blu-ray Review “Blair Witch”

Actors: James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez, Brandon Scott, Valorie Curry, Corbin Reid
Directors: Adam Wingard
Rated: R
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: January 3, 2017
Run Time: 89 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

“Blair Witch” was previously known as “The Woods”. This movie was a big surprised when it was revealed as the long awaited third “Blair Witch” film. Right away the haters came out for this film without even seeing it and trashed it, which is not fair because this film is an awesome and honestly quite terrifying follow up to the original film. I loved everything about it. I would have liked some more questions answered but I am sure it was saved for another film. Unfortunately, due to the power of trolls and the internet, I doubt that will be happening now. Either way, if you feel like being open minded this is a rad flick and had me biting my nails and sitting on the edge of my chair.

Official Premise: A group of college students venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to uncover the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of their friend’s sister, who many believe is connected to the legend of the Blair Witch. At first the group is hopeful, especially when a pair of locals offer to act as guides through the dark and winding woods, but as the endless night wears on, the group is visited by a menacing presence. Slowly, they begin to realize the legend is all too real and more sinister than they could have imagined.

Lionsgate Film is delivering this film in a combo pack including a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD copy. The films 1080p transfer is solid enough but remember it is hand shot by the actors not winning any cinematography awards. The sound though is a huge winner delivering an epic Dolby Atmos (which at base is Dolby TrueHD 7.1), which creeped the hell of out me. Especially since this film relies on subtle sounds to scare you. Very effective track!

The special features are jam-packed! There is a fantastic audio commentary track with horror duo Director Adam Wingard and Writer Simon Barrett. Love this one. “Never Ending Night: The Making of Blair Witch” is an epic 6-part documentary that is a must watch for anyone who enjoyed the film! There is focus on the story origin, the cast, shooting style, editing as well as music and sound design. Lastly there is a featurette “House of Horrors: Exploring the Set”, which gives some cool insight into how they came up the house.

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

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