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CD Review: Jimmy Buffett “‘Tis The SeaSon”

Jimmy Buffett “‘Tis The SeaSon”
Released: October 28, 2016
Genre: Christmas
Length: 39:31
Label: Mailboat Records
Producer: Mac McAnally, Robert Utley

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

In our house if Jimmy Buffett’s music is not playing then something must be wrong. With the holidays coming, that is still no excuse to get in the mood. For the last 20 years, we have spent each season listening to Jimmy Buffet’s first Christmas album, “Christmas Island”. It is a must listen every Christmas season. So now finally after 20 years of waiting, Jimmy has released his follow-up to that album with “‘Tis The SeaSon”. I have to admit, I was hoping that it wasn’t going to disappoint especially how high “Christmas Island” was held in our household but it delivers nothing but non-stop holiday cheer and smiles all around. Definitely a perfect way to get into the Christmas mood.

Some highlights for the album definitely have to be the very funny “The Twelve Days Of Christmas” with its Parrothead version of the classic track. It is a must listen. I think I almnost have it down pat to repeat after numerous listens. “What I Didn’t Get For Christmas” is a great track written by fellow Coral Reefer, Mac McAnally, who also produced the album. Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” is easily one of my favorite Christmas songs and Jimmy has taken it and made it better!

Jimmy Buffett, the usual suspects also appear on the album including Robert Greenidge, Jake Shimabukuro and the lovely Nadriah Shakoor dueting with Jimmy on the classic “Baby It’s Cold Outside”. This entire album is done in true Margaritaville fashion and I literally loved every single second of it! These are classics taken my Jimmy and giving such a perfect island “Jimmy Buffett” feel to them. If you are looking for something new this holiday season, then look no further, this album has it all! Merry Christmas!

Track listing:
1. Wonderful Christmastime
2. Jingle Bell Rock
3. All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
4. Drivin’ The Pig (Manejando El Cerdo)
5. The Twelve Days Of Christmas (Parrothead Version)
6. What I Didn’t Get For Christmas
7. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
8. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
9. Santa Stole Thanksgiving
10. Mele Kalikimaka (Feat. Jake Shimabukuro)
11. Winter Wonderland (Feat. Robert Greenidge)
12. Baby It s Cold Outside (Feat. Nadirah Shakoor)
13. White Christmas

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Blu-ray Review “Don’t Breathe”

Actors: Dylan Minnette, Jane Levy, Stephen Lang, Daniel Zovatto
Directors: Fede Alvarez
Rated: R
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 29, 2016

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

I had really solid expectations for the film “Don’t Breathe”. The director Fede Alvarez blew me away with his remake of “Evil Dead” and because a director to watch out for. This film is definitely creative and shows off his style but overall, I got bored really quick with this one. The pay off/twist for me didn’t wow me either. I thought it was very stretched out and after a while I found mind wandering waiting for something new to happen. Stephen Lang was definitely a force to be reckoned with and shows off his amazing acting chops again but he wasn’t enough to save this movie for me.

Official Premise: “Don’t Breathe” follows a group of thieves who break into a blind man’s home thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime. When the blind man reveals a dark side, the trio quickly discovers they were dead wrong. Stars Jane Levy (Evil Dead), Dylan Minnette (Goosebumps), Daniel Zovatto (It Follows) and Stephen Lang (Avatar).

The Blu-ray of Don’t Breathe comes with a solid 1080p which works well since most of the film is quite dark. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track works with the suspense scenes. The special features are decent, especially the audio commentary with Director Fede Alvarez, Co-Writer Rodo Sayagues and Actor Stephen Lang. I enjoy this actually cause it has great insight. They had some deleted scenes includes along with the director’s commentary, which I feel like some of these could have worked well in the film. Lastly there are five short featurettes looking at the behind-the-scenes with cast/crew.

Blu-ray 3D/4K Ultra HD Review “The Secret Life of Pets”

Actors: Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate, Ellie Kemper
Directors: Chris Renaud
Rated: PG
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 6, 2016
Run Time: 91 minutes

Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 5 out of 5 stars
3D: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

From the moment I saw the first teaser for “The Secret Life of Pets“, I knew that Illumination Entertainment had another hit on there hands. The characters are amazing and the film is filled with laughs from beginning to end. It has jokes for kids and parents as well. In fact, my family (no lie) quote this film AT LEAST once a day since the first time that we have seen it. It packs a really solid voice cast including Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart and many others. I hope that they have some sort of plans to follow up with this series because they really have a winner here! Can’t wait to see what Illumination, home of the Minions, does next!

Official Premise: Comedy superstars Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, and Kevin Hart make their animated feature-film debut that finally answers the question: what do your pets do when you’re not home? When their owners leave for the day, pets from the building gossip with their friends, satisfy their sweet tooths, and throw outrageous parties. But when a pampered terrier (C.K.) and his unruly new “roommate” from the pound (Stonestreet) get lost in the urban jungle of New York City, they must put aside their differences to survive the epic journey back home.

Universal released this film in in various formats i.e. Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and 4K Ultra HD. The animation and colors are so vivid and vibrant and this film looks extraordinary with it’s 4K transfer. I was blown away with this presentation. The 3D presentation on this film was also top notch. As we are whizzing through the streets of New York as well as close up encounters with fellow characters like Viper, the effects are spot on! If you can watch this film in either of those formats, I highly recommend it for sure! The audio tracks also are epic with a revolutionary Dolby Atmos track as well as wall shaking Dolby TrueHD 7.1. Universal delivered for sure with A/V presentation here for sure!

The special features are all short and sweet and worth checking out if you enjoyed this flick. Kids can enjoy as well. There are three mini-movies included. One we saw before the film in theaters “Minion Mowers”, which is hysterical. There are also two new ones set within the world of “The Secret Life of Pets”. First is NormanTV, which features the gerbil from the film crawling through the buildings vents. The last one is an animated musical tale of the hot dog brand that Max and Duke end up at. These are a great addition to the film itself and are also available if the film is redeem digitally as well, so that’s a nice bonus.

Next up, we have “The Humans That Brought You Pets” which feature interviews with Producers Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, Directors Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud, and Writer Brian Lynch. “Animals Can Talk: Meet the Actors” are speed chats with the cast talking about their roles. “All About the Pets” features cast joking on set with animal trainer Molly O’Neill. “Hairstylist to the Dogs” features Duke’s voice actor Eric Stonestreet talking grooming with Stylist Jess Rona. “How to Make an Animated film” and “Anatomy of a Scene” go behind-the-scenes. Lastly there is a nice collection of “The Best of Snowball” and some sing-alongs and trailers.

Blu-ray Review “The BFG”

Actors: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall
Directors: Steven Spielberg
Rated: PG
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: November 29, 2016
Run Time: 118 minutes

Film: 1 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

Urgh, “The BFG”. I have been dreading watching this film since I saw the especially awful trailers. Before any of that I was quite excited I figured that Spielberg could have some fun with adapting Roald Dahl’s The BFG but it was just a failure from then on out. The visual effects are good but I really just was bored with it at the same time. I feel like so much more could have been done with this except it was just bland and full of missed opportunities. Filled with not funny fart jokes throughout (and trust me I usually fall hard for a good fart joke) but this was a complete failure in my book.

Official Premise: “The BFG” unites the talents of three of the world’s greatest storytellers – Roald Dahl, Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg – to bring to life the classic tale of a courageous little girl named Sophie (newcomer Ruby Barnhill) and a gentle and charming Big Friendly Giant (Oscar-winner Mark Rylance) who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country.

“The BFG” is a big flop of visual effects. They are transferred well though on Blu-ray. The 1080p transfer does give the visual effects some justice, even though boring. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 works well with the films score and action sequences. The special features are rather bland like the film. There is only one that stands out amongst the rest. “Bringing The BFG to Life” runs just under 30 minutes and feature cast/crew discussing all aspects of the feature behind-the-scenes.

“The Big Friendly Giant and Me” is a super short animated version of the film in a nut shell. “Gobblefunk: The Wonderful Words of the BFG” goes into the giant’s very strange language and use of words created by Dahl. “Giants 101” is a casting feature for the nine giants in the film. Lastly “Melissa Mathieson: A Tribute” is a feature in memory of the late screenwriter. There is a DVD included along with the Blu-ray as well as a Disney digital copy to round out this release.

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Blu-ray Review “The Hollars”

Actors: Anna Kendrick, John Krasinski, Richard Jenkins, Margo Martindale, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Directors: John Krasinski
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 6, 2016
Run Time: 88 minutes

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

I literally had no idea what “The Hollars” was before watching it. It was a movie that got rather swept under the carpet, but it deserves some praise for sure. I would go as far as even saying that I loved this flick. The acting from Anna Kendrick, John Krasinski, Richard Jenkins and especially Margo Martindale was literally award worthy. I found myself sniffing out of control. The drama was very real and it just really won me over. This is usually not a film that I would ever watch but with the talent attached to it, I was intrigued to give it a try…and I was not let down. PLEASE watch this movie just make sure to have some tissues handy.

Official Premise: A struggling NYC artist, John Hollar (John Krasinski), is forced to return to the small, middle-American town he left behind after learning about his mother’s illness. Back in the house he grew up in, John is immediately swept up in the problems of his dysfunctional family, high school rival and an over-eager ex-girlfriend as he faces impending fatherhood with his NYC girlfriend (Academy Award Nominee Anna Kendrick, 2009, Best Supporting Actress, Up in the Air). John Krasinski’s second feature as a director is a poignant look at the bonds of family and friendship.

There are some decent special features included. I particularly loved the audio commentary track that features both John Krasinski and Margo Martindale. Simply love both of them! There are two features included. The first is “The Family Trust: Inside The Hollars” and second is “Persistent Vision: Margo Martindale”, both features cast/crew talking behind-the-scenes about the project. Lastly there is the LA Film Festival Q&A featuring Anna Kendrick, John Krasinski and Margo Martindale.

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CD Review: Avenged Sevenfold “The Best of 2005-2013”

“The Best of 2005-2013”
Avenged Sevenfold
Warner Brothers
Tracks: 18

Our score: 2 out of 5 stars

Warner Brothers has recently released a new “Best Of” double album featuring Avenged Sevenfold. The album titled “The Best of 2005-2013” features select tracks from the bands four albums with the label (City of Evil, Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare and Hail to the King) along with three cover tracks and two previously unavailable songs from the bands eight year run with the famed label which are spread across two discs.

Having seen dozens and dozens of ”Best Off” albums come and go with little to no fan fair I was sort of hoping for a little more from Warner Brothers in regards to Avenged Sevenfold. However knowing the relationship between WB and the band was coming to an end in a not so pretty way we have this rather lackluster piece. Pretty quickly I noticed something sounded a little off with the tracks as they all seemed a bit thin and not as powerful as each track sounded on its original release. At first I had thought maybe it was just my speakers however re-listening to the album on a different system yielded the same results. Disc one of the set features three tracks from “City of Evil”, five tracks from “Avenged Seven Fold”, three from “Nightmare” and two from “Hail to the King”. Basically they stripped away some of the more unique pieces on the bands catalog and went straight for all the radio friendly stuff listeners have heard a million times over by now. What fans of the band might enjoy most is disc two of this release as it features three cover tracks pulled from two tribute records the band was a part of along with the tracks “Carry On” which was featured in the video game “Call of Duty: Black Ops II” and “Not Ready to Die” featured in the “Call of the Dead” video game. These two tracks along with “Walk”, “Flash of the Blade” and “Paranoid” were certainly the shining stars as they are not tracks heard as often as those found on disc one.

I would have thought that with the invention of ITunes and other digital media services that greatest hits releases like this would be a thing of the past or at-least reserved for late night info-mercials. Yet there are still handfuls of them released year after year where they are doomed to take up shelf space. Avenged Sevenfold “The Best of 2005-2013” seems to be another one of those releases as it really offers little to longtime fans of the band. Yes you get a hardcopy of a few rarer tracks but, how many people out there are rocking a Discman these days or don’t have some sort of mobile hook up for the media player where they would really need a hard copy? My advice, skip this release as all these tracks can be found on various streaming and download sites. You will not be missing anything by not purchasing a hardcopy of this release as even the packaging is a simple as it can be offering nothing new or original to fans of this era of Avenged Sevenfold.

Track Listing:
Disc 1
1.) Bat Country
2.) Beast and the Harlot
3.) Seize the Day
4.) Critical Acclaim
5.) Almost Easy
6.) Afterlife
7.) Dear God
8.) A Little Piece of Heaven

Disc 2
1.) Nightmare
2.) Welcome to the Family
3.) So Far Away
4.) Hail to the King
5.) Shepherd of Fire
6.) Walk (Pantera Cover)
7.) Flash of the Blade (Iron Maiden Cover)
8.) Paranoid (Black Sabbath Cover)
9.) Carry On
10.) Not Ready to Die

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Filed Under: CD Reviews, Music Tagged With: 20052013, avenged, cd, review, sevenfold

CD Review: Metallica “Hardwired…to Self-Destruct”

“Hardwired…to Self-Destruct”
Metallica
Blackened Recordings
Producer: Greg Fidelman, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
Tracks: 12

Our score: 5 out of 5 stars

Rock and Roll Hall of famers Metallica are back with a brand new full length album titled “Hardwired…to Self-Destruct”. The album (the bands 10th studio release) is being released via the bands own imprint Blackened Recordings and features 12 brand new tracks from the heavy metal legends which were produced by Greg Fidelman, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich.

With the “Death Magnetic” era of Metallica long since past fans of the band (myself included) have been clamoring for some new material from the one of the biggest bands to come out of the early eighties thrash music scene. We all have heard the phrase “Be careful of what you wish for” and that couldn’t be more than true with “Hardwired…to Self-Destruct”. The albums 12 tracks capture the band firing on all cylinders and sounding stronger than ever. Tracks like “Moth Into Flame”, “Halo On Fire” and “ManUNkind” all feature the groups blend of ballad like lyricism mixed with the crushing guitars and drums we have all come to love while tracks like “Atlas, Rise!”, “Confusion” and the Lemmy tribute track “Murder One” go straight for the jugular as each track blazes through your speakers with reckless abandonment and aggression. Hetfield and company appear to be at the top of their games both lyrically and instrumentally making this one of the bands most powerful releases in the past twenty years.

Coming off an eight year lapse between records Metallica surely could have gone a number of different ways with their latest offering however, “Hardwired…to Self-Destruct” is a solid mixture of the bands signature classic sound with just enough newness to make you take notice while not completely alienating the listener. “Hardwired…to Self-Destruct” is a near perfect blending of all things Metallica as it flawlessly mixes both old and new while providing listeners with what could possibly be one of thee best releases of 2016.

Track Listing:
Disc 1
1.) Hardwired
2.) Atlas, Rise!
3.) Now That We’re Dead
4.) Moth Into Flame
5.) Dream No More
6.) Halo on Fire

Disc2
1.) Confusion
2.) ManUNkind
3.) Here Comes Revenge
4.) Am I Savage?
5.) Murder One
6.) Spit Out the Bone

Blu-ray Review “War Dogs”

Actors: Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas
Directors: Todd Phillips
Studio: Warner Brothers
DVD Release Date: November 22, 2016
Run Time: 120 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

This film had such potential going in. The director of “The Hangover” mixed with great talent of Jonah Hill and Miles Teller, but it didn’t really all come together well. I enjoyed it but I don’t see myself remembering this film after a few months. I do love Jonah Hill and Miles Teller together though, they seem to work very well. Worth a rent if your bored and can’t find anything else to watch just for the cast.

Official Premise: With the war in Iraq raging on, Efraim Diveroli offers childhood friend David Packouz a chance to make big bucks by becoming an international arms dealer. Together, they exploit a government initiative that allows businesses to bid on U.S. military contracts. Starting small allows the duo to rake in money and live the high life. They soon find themselves in over their heads after landing a $300 million deal to supply Afghan forces, a deal that puts them in business with some very shady people.

The Blu-ray also includes a digital HD copy of the film. The special features are much more of a disappointment than the film. There are three short featurettes. The film “General Phillips: Boots on the Ground” is an extended EPK with cast/director. “Access Granted” includes interviews with actual people that the film was based on. Lastly “Pentagon Pie” is a super short animated look at the film…but with singing rats…a little lost with this one.

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Blu-ray Review “Mechanic: Resurrection”

Actors: Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones, Michelle Yeoh
Directors: Dennis Gansel
Rated: R
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: November 22, 2016
Run Time: 105 minutes

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

“Mechanic: Resurrection” is the sequel that no buddy asked for. Hollywood is trying so hard to make Jason Statham a big action star ever since “The Transporter” series but he really never hit is super big. He’s in a lot of big movies but they really don’t make big money. The first “Mechanic” film he stared in was not a huge hit at all, which is why this sequel is a shock. Not a terrible movie, just a brainless action flick with a solid cast including Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones and Michelle Yeoh. Not holding my breath for “Mechanic 3” for sure.

Official Premise: Arthur Bishop (Statham) returns as the Mechanic in the sequel to the 2011 action-thriller. When the deceitful actions of a cunning but beautiful woman (Alba) force him to return to the life he left behind, Bishop’s life is once again in danger as he has to complete an impossible list of assassinations of the most dangerous men in the world.

The Blu-ray presentation is solid on this release. The 1080p transfer would well with the film’s scale which was bigger than I expected. The Blu-ray does score though with the Dolby Atmos audio track which really delivered with the action sequences. In term of special features there are five featurettes that take us behind-the-scenes on the film from the development to the scoring the film to a breakdown of the Malaysian prison break sequence along with in-depth interviews with Michelle Yeoh and Jason Statham.

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Blu-ray Review “Hands of Stone”

Actors: Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramírez, Usher Raymond, Ellen Barkin
Directors: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Rated: R
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: November 22, 2016
Run Time: 105 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

Normally, I am not a huge fan of sports films. Just not my thing, but I decided to check this out due to the talent. Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramírez, Usher Raymond, Ellen Barkin all deliver great performances. I enjoyed the film but it is what I calla a one-timer, I don’t ever see myself revisiting this one and I have a feeling that people are going to forget it as well quite quickly if not already.

Official Premise: Hands of Stone follows the life of Roberto Durán (Edgar Ramírez), the Panamanian fighter who, with the help of his trainer Ray Arcel (Robert De Niro) made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16 year old and retired in 2002 at the age of 50. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher Raymond) to capture the WBC welterweight title, but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in their November rematch, famously saying the words ‘no más’ (‘no more’).

The “Hands of Stone” Blu-ray comes with a Digital HD copy. The 1080p transfer is sharp and packs as punch as does the DTS-Master Audio 5.1 track, which worked with the boxing. The special features are nothing special either. There is a featurette going behind-the-scenes on the star boxer in “Roberto Durán: A Boxing Legend, a Nation’s Pride”. Other than that, there are only a few deleted scenes, and two lyric videos.

DVD Review “Game of Thrones: The Complete Sixth Season”

Starring: Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams
Number of discs: 5
Studio: HBO Studio
DVD Release Date: November 15, 2016
Running Time: 590 minutes

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

When season 5 ended of “Game of Thrones” I was head over heels with this show. But I am not sure what happened but I really lost a lot of buzz for season six. I just wasn’t interested in it for the first time. Maybe it was all the bullshit about whether Jon Snow was alive that got annoying but I wasn’t in a rush to watch this season. Don’t get me wrong cause I did really enjoy this season once I watched but I now feel that maybe this show has finally jumped the shark, as they say, and has lost its spark for me. Season 7 should be a good one after the events of this season.

Official Premise: The most-watched series in HBO history and a worldwide TV phenomenon, Game of Thrones returns with another power season. This year, after the shocking developments at the end of Season 5 – including Jon Snow’s bloody fate at the hands of Castle Black mutineers, Daenerys’ near-demise at the fighting pits of Meereen, and Cersei’s public humiliation in the streets of King’s Landing – survivors from all parts of Westeros and Essos regroup to press forward, inexorably, towards their uncertain individual fates. Familiar faces will forge new alliances to bolster their strategic chances at survival, while new characters will emerge to challenge the balance of power in the east, west, north and south.

The DVD release contains must less special features than the Blu-ray and NO digital copy either. I mean how hard would it be for them to include this? “The Battle of the Bastards” is an an in-depth look at all aspects of this season. “Recreating the Dothraki World” looks into creation of Vaes Dothrak and its importance. “18 Hours at the Paint Hall” follows the three shooting units from this show as they showcase a day in the life with “Game of Thrones”. This DVD has the most commentaries recorded for the series and covers every single episode with all cast/crew. Definitely a treat and a perfect way to revisit this season.

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Blu-ray Review “Black Sails: The Complete Third Season”

Actors: Toby Stephens, Ray Stevenson, Zach McGowan, Luke Arnold, Jessica Parker Kennedy
Number of discs: 3
Rated: NR
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: November 8, 2016
Run Time: 549 minutes

Season: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

Black Sails is a great show that really hasn’t been giving proper credit since it aired. The show is grand and very epic. The characters are well fleshed out and each season has been improving on the next. The scope of this show is just so huge and it feels like a massive “Game of Thrones” style world…yet the masses have not caught on. Anchor Bay has still been behind giving this show a solid Blu-ray presentation since day one. The 1080p transfer on these episodes are just gorgeous. They make all the work that this show takes to put together and shows it off very well. This release also comes stock with epic Dolby TrueHD 7.1 tracks, which will rattle your bones! Alas, the next season will be the series finale. I am very curious to how how this show cruises to its conclusion in season four.

Official Season Premise: In the wake of the burning of Charles Town, all the New World lives in fear of Captain Flint. But when his campaign of terror crosses over into madness, and new threats emerge to challenge his supremacy, it falls to John Silver to locate the man within the monster, before Flint’s war against the world consumes them all. Meanwhile, on the pirate island of Nassau, it’s a new day. With Eleanor Guthrie facing judgment in London, Jack Rackham sits atop a fortune in Spanish gold, hoping to secure his legacy as a king among thieves. To do so, he’ll have to compete with the return of one of history’s most notorious captains, who holds a different vision for their home, as well as a complicated past with Rackham’s chief ally, Captain Charles Vane. All will be tested when a new opponent arrives to claim Nassau, one the pirates could never have anticipated. It knows them. It understands them. And in the blink of an eye, it will do the one thing they never thought possible… turn them against each other.

The special feature are a little light this go around but some decent content still included. There is a good refresher from what happened last season in the “Season 2 Recap”. The best feature is an episode-by-episode in depth behind-the-scenes look at all aspects of the show in “Inside the World of Black Sails”. The next feature “The Storm” shows how they created the visual marvel in the second episode of this season. “A Pirate’s Last Words” looks into the big season spoiler, which I will not reveal. “Blackbeard: An 18th Century Pirate” focuses on the debut of the legendary character to the show. Lastly “Woodes Rogers” examines one of the season’s newest character. Missing here that would be been amazing would have been some commentary tracks, if you are reading this for season four release Anchor Bay!

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Concert Review: Reel Big Fish “Turn Off the Radio 20th Anniversary Tour”

“Turn Off the Radio 20th Anniversary Tour”
Reel Big Fish, Masked Intruder, Stacked Like Pancakes
Monday, November 14th 2016
The Haunt, Ithaca, NY

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Punk-Ska veterans Reel Big Fish brought the first leg of their “Turn Off the Radio 20th Anniversary Tour” to Ithaca, NY on November 14th where they performed to a near capacity crowd. The tour which celebrates the 20th anniversary of the bands monumental 1996 release “Turn the Radio Off” also featured Madison, Wisconsin pop-punk band Masked Intruder and Stacked Like Pancakes a 7 piece Ska-Rock band from Baltimore Maryland. All three bands were at the top of their game this evening which was packed with plenty of energy and fun for the college town crowd.

You never know what you are going to get with Monday night show performances. Questions like will the band be into it? Or, what will the crowd be like? Began to flood my mind as I made my way to the small lake side venue for a night of reliving my teenage years. Both of these were answered almost immediately as I could tell by the looks of the parking lot that I was going to be in for something special. Things kicked off promptly at 7pm with Stacked Like Pancakes taking the stage first. The group wasted no time at all launching in to their energetic performance which was a mixture of Ska infused rock which ignited the dance floor almost instantly. The groups 30/40 minute set was highlighted by a spot on big band infused rendition of the classic Blink 182 song “Dammit” which was unlike any other version of that song I have heard. Taking the stage next would be the masked hoodlums known as Masked Intruder. The group who’s sound is reminiscent of early Ramones with a twist seemed to be having some issues with the venues PA system at first as the vocals were getting lost in the overall mix however after a song or two everything came together and the band settled in as they poked fun at the crowd and themselves while delivering their unique high energy brand of punk rock. Having first been made of aware of this band this summer during the Warped tour is was great to be able to catch them again in a smaller setting where they seemed to be at home. Reel Big Fish would follow to close out the night by performing the entire “Turn Off the Radio” album from front to back. They even included the albums hidden track “I’m Cool” complete with a brief break before starting back in to close out the night. Though the group with the exception of front-man Aaron Barrett are different from the band that played on the album the latest incarnation of the Reel Big Fish sounded just as good if not better than the album they were celebrating making for a great overall concert experience.

When a band that has been around as long as Reel Big Fish has it’s great no matter what to be able to still them live. When it really becomes special is when all the bands on the bill bring their A game which was definitely the case in Ithaca, NY on November 14th. I highly recommend catching this tour when it resumes in February. Though it will feature a different lineup I feel pretty confident in saying that it will surely be just as good of a concert experience making a show you won’t want to miss.

Reel Big Fish Setlist:
1.) I Want Your Girlfriend to Be My Girlfriend Too
2.) The Kids Don’t Like It
3.) Another F.U. Song
4.) Your Guts (I Hate’Em)
5.) Sell Out
6.) Trendy
7.) Join the Club
8.) She Has a Girlfriend Now
9.) Snoop Dogg, Baby
10.) 241
13.) Skatanic
14.) All I Want Is More
15.) Nothin’
16.) Say “Ten”
17.) I’ll Never Be
18.) Alternative, Baby
19.) The Impression That I Get (Mighty Mighty Bosstones Cover)
20.) Beer
Encore:
21.) I’m Cool
22.) Everyone Else Is an Asshole
23.) Where Have You Been
24.) Take On Me (A-Ha Cover)

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Music Tagged With: 20th, anniversary, big, concert, fish, radio, ...

Blu-ray Review “Finding Dory”

Actors: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Hayden Rolence, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy
Directors: Andrew Stanton
Rated: PG
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: November 15, 2016
Run Time: 97 minutes

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

“Finding Nemo” is easily one of my favorite Disney/Pixar films. Pixar has been honestly rather weak though in the sequel department recently (of course outside of the “Toy Story” franchise”). “Finding Dory” was everything I wanted in a sequel and more! The original characters were back and better than ever. Everyone loves Dory but she was really able to carry this movie so well in the lead with some help from some amazing new friends. Destiny, the whale shark and Bailey, a beluga whale, nearly steal the show for me. Just a lot of love went into making this film amazing and every time I watch it it only gets better and better…and BETTER! Let’s hope that Pixar takes some notes from this film and straightens up its game for future sequels.

Official Premise: From the Academy Award(R)-winning creators of Disney-Pixar’s FINDING NEMO (Best Animated Feature, 2003) comes an epic undersea adventure filled with imagination, humor and heart. When Dory, the forgetful blue tang (Ellen DeGeneres), suddenly remembers she has a family who may be looking for her, she, Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (Hayden Rolence) take off on a life-changing quest to find them…with help from Hank, a cantankerous octopus; Bailey, a beluga whale who’s convinced his biological sonar skills are on the fritz’ and Destiny, a nearsighted whale shark!

I saw this film in 3D and I wasn’t really thrilled with the way it turned out. But the film 2D alone just looks so amazing. If you watch “Nemo” and “Dory” back to back you can see so much how the latter has improved on the first film. The 1080p transfer is simple gorgeous and compliments so well by the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 audio track as well, which is perfect. Disney also jam packed this Blu-ray set with special features spanning over two discs. Additionally, there is a DVD copy of the film included (if anyone actually still uses these) as well as and a Disney digital copy voucher.

On disc one of “Finding Dory”, the special features start off amazing with the beautiful short film “Piper”, which better win the Oscar this year! There are some vintage (looking) Marine Life Interviews with characters from the film. “The Octopus That Nearly Broke Pixar” focuses on “the most complicated character” Pixar has ever created. “What Were We Talking About?” focuses on Dory as a character and how she returns in this film. “Casual Carpool” takes us on a ride with Director Andrew Stanton and some voice cast. “Animation & Acting” focuses on voice work in the film. “Deep in the Kelp” features Jenna Ortega, from Disney’s Stuck in the Middle, as she hosts on the research for the film. “Creature Features” has cast discuss their characters. Lastly there is a fun and informative audio commentary with Director Andrew Stanton, Co-Director Angus MacLane, and Producer Lindsey Collins.

Disc Two jumps right into the good stuff with a huge five part behind-the-scenes feature. The first part is “Skating & Sketching with Jason Deamer”, which features the Character Art Director discusses his work on the film. “Dory’s Theme” features a discussion about the music with Director Andrew Stanton, Composer Tom Newman, and Music Editor Bill Bernstein. “Rough Day on the Reef” is a sort of gag reel of computer glitches, so is the other feature “Fish Schticks” featuring funny moments. “Finding Nemo As Told by Emoji” is what the title says it is…cute. ” “Living Aquariums” is an awesome addition as sporting a collection of four themed digitally animated “fish tanks” designed for ambient enjoyment. Hours of entertainment here! Lastly there is a WHOPPING 50+ minutes of deleted scenes with intro from the director and some trailers included.

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

Book Review: “Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock’s Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout”

“Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock’s Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout”

Author: Laura Jane Grace w/ Dan Ozzi
Hachette Books
Hardcover 320

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Tranny” is the intimate story of Against Me!’s enigmatic founder, weaving narrative of the band’s history, as well as Grace’s, with dozens of never before seen entries from the piles of journals Grace kept. More than a typical music memoir about sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll “Tranny” is an inside look at one of the most remarkable stories in the history of rock.

Like the in your face title suggests “Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock’s Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout” pulls no punches and is direct and extremely real in its approach. First time Author Laura Jane Grace paints a gritty picture of her unique journey not only through her transition from male to female but also the path her and her band mates took as they navigated a completely different type of transition being that of moving from small independent records labels to the major label markets. From an outsider looking this may seem like a no brainer however Grace does a great job of describing the bands hardships as it clearly was not all big checks, fancy cars and massive notoriety.

“Tranny” is a real life account of two very different types of transitions. The two run parallel with one another providing an interesting continuity which keeps the reader’s attention page after page. The realness taken from Grace’s journal entries do a tremendous job and showcasing the inter turmoil she felt not only as an artist in a changing music market but also on a direct personal level as it relates to her own internal and external transformation from male to female. You will be extremely hard pressed to find another story like that of Laura Jane Grace’s “Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock’s Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout”.

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