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DVD Review “Castle: The Complete Sixth Season”

Actors: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Molly C. Quinn
Number of discs: 5
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ABC Studios
DVD Release Date: September 16, 2014
Run Time: 984 minutes

Season: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

“Castle” is hands down my favorite show on television. The show recently finished its sixth season and yet it shows no signs of fatigue and has never been better. The direction of the show has only gotten better since the hooking up of Castle and Becket. Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic are a perfect couple in this show. They are funny as hell when they have to be and pack some serious drama when in a crisis. Jon Huertas and Seamus Dever also deserve a major shout out because these guys are the back bone to this amazing show. They are a fantastic duo and always steal the show. This season left us off with a HUGE cliffhanger on the day of the couples wedding. I am dying to see where this show goes with the new season starting this month. Keep it up guys! This show is fantastic!

Official Premise: After Castle’s stunning romantic proposal to Beckett, what happens next? TV’s magnetic crime-fighting couple faces a whole new set of challenges as they juggle wedding plans and their most intriguing cases yet in ABC’s “Castle: The Complete Sixth Season”. Beckett’s new job with the Justice Department takes her away from the wisecracking love of her life. But Castle’s devotion to his new fiancee — and her fascinating line of work — jeopardizes her career and creates a chain of events that might separate them forever. Back on the home front, Castle is none too pleased to discover his daughter has seemingly been captivated by, and now living with, her new, free-spirited boyfriend.

“Castle: The Complete Sixth Season” comes complete with all 23 episodes and a great deal of never-before-seen bonus features only available on DVD. Disc 1 through Disc 4 has audio commentary tracks for four episodes. The episode “Need To Know” has a clever Character Commentary with Detectives Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan. “The Good, The Bad & The Baby” has a commentary track from Director John Terlesky, Consulting Producer/Writer Terri Edda Miller, Nathan Fillion and Seamus Dever. “Deep Cover” has commentary with Supervising Producer/Writer Terrence Paul Winter, Nathan Fillion, Susan Sullivan and James Brolin (WOW). Lastly, “In The Belly of the Beast” includes a track with Creator/Executive Producer/Writer Andrew W. Marlowe, Executive Producer/Writer David Amann and Executive Producer/Director Rob Bowman. These are all great commentary tracks and a fantastic way to revisit these episodes.

There are various deleted scenes spread out over discs 1, 3 and 4. “Castle Karaoke” is an extended performance of Seamus Dever singing “What I Like About You” in “The Way of the Ninja”. “Castle in a Day with Stana Katic” gives us an inside look into a day in the life of Castle with actress Stana Katic, which happens to be the big the cliffhanger scene of the season 6 finale. “A Few of Our Favorite Things” features Nathan Fillion, Susan Sullivan and Molly Quinn and other cast and crew share telling us about their favorite things about Castle. Lastly there are some very funny Bloopers included. I just wish ABC would be releasing this show on Blu-ray like “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” and “Once Upon a Time”.

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DVD Review “Tickety Toc: Christmas Present Time”

Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: October 14, 2014
Run Time: 68 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Tickety Toc: Christmas Present Time” is a the latest title in the popular “Tickety Toc” series featuring a collection of five winter-themed episodes from the hit Nick Jr. preschool TV series. It also includes the “Christmas Present Time” extended special. If you are a fan of this series, this DVD will be a great way to get you ready for the winter season and into the holiday spirit. Also included with this DVD are some bonus coloring sheets as well as free Tickety Toc boo called, “Welcome to Tickety Town,” from Scholastic. This is a great bonus addition and a real bargain included with the already low-priced DVD.

Official Premise: It’s Christmas time in Tickety Town, and Tommy & Tallulah are determined to make every merry second count! In this all-new collection of adventures including the Christmas Present Time Special the twins find a new way to make snow, build a giant igloo, roll the biggest snowball ever, and even help Santa fix his sleigh in time for Christmas Eve! But when their escapades get out of hand, friends like McCoggins, Pufferty, Madame Au Lait and Tooteroo will help them make things right. It’s time to chime in these exciting winter-themed episodes from the Nick Jr. preschool hit!

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Blu-ray Review “Silent Night, Deadly Night: 30th Anniversary Edition”

Actors: Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick, Eric Freeman, Elizabeth Kaitan, Linnea Quigley
Directors: Charles E. Sellier, Jr.
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Run Time: 85 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

I can honestly say that I feel old celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the horror cult classic “Silent Night, Deadly Night”. I loved this film growing up as a kid (and nothing as changed today). I mean who doesn’t love the idea of a killer Santa Clause. This is the first time that this film has ever been released on Blu-ray but Anchor Bay sadly gives this film no love at all and it will surely just enrage any true horror fan. Recommended only for the very true avid collectors, otherwise stick with your DVDs.

Official Premise: “Silent Night, Deadly Night” is the heartwarming story of little Billy Chapman who was traumatized by his parents’ Christmas Eve rape and murder, then brutalized by sadistic orphanage nuns. But when a grown-up Billy is forced to dress as jolly St. Nick, he goes on a yuletide rampage to ‘punish then naughty’. Santa Clause is coming to town…and this time he’s got an axe!

So I am happy with the fact that this Blu-ray includes the original unrated version, but I am not thrilled that the transfer feels like nothing better than a DVD upscale. Also the uncut scenes are not cleaned up at all and stick out like a sore thumb. This could have easily been cleaned up in the restoration process. The audio included is not terrible boasting a decent Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track.

Then we get to the special features, which are definitely going to let down again. Firstly, they are missing the original trailer which started all the controversy and protecting about the film. There is a new commentary track from Writer Michael Hickey, Composer Perry Botkin, Editor/2nd Unit director Michael Spence and Co-Executive Producer Scott J. Schneid. It is new but is also quite a bore and almost painful to listen to. Lastly there is the unauthorized interview from director Charles E. Sellier, Jr. and Poster and Stills Gallery included.

There is plenty of effort they could have put into this release but you can tell that it is frankly just lazy. Lame special features, mixed with a poor 1080p transfer, I am left shaking my head with disappointment. When you look at what other companies like Scream Factory, Synapse Films and Grindhouse Releasing are doing with there releases, Anchor Bay is falling into the discount bargain bin category. This is definitely not a 30th Anniversary Edition quality release.

Blu-ray Review “Ghost in the Shell: 25th Anniversary Edition”

Starring: Akio Ôtsuka, Atsuko Tanaka, Kouichi Yamadera, Tamio Ohki, Iemasa Kayumi, Yutaka Nakano
Directors: Mamoru Oshii
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Run Time: 82 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 0 out of 5 stars

If you are counting on your fingers wondering if you are going nuts, don’t worry the answer is no. “Ghost in the Shell” did come out in 1995 and it has only been 19 years since its release. This Blu-ray celebrates the the 25th anniversary of the publication of Masamune Shirow’s original manga. If you are scratching your head again wondering how this compares to the 2009 “Ghost in the Shell 2.0” Blu-ray release, you are not alone again, but luckily I will explain. The 2.0 cut was a new version of the film with over 250 reworked scenes, remastered by Mamoru Oshii himself including a new voice cast recording and brand new score from Kenji Kawai. The original theatrical cut has never been released before on Blu-ray, so this is the first time. Honestly though unless you are a hardcore fan, who needs the original cut (which is pretty awesome to have don’t get me wrong), I wouldn’t rush out to pick this up.

Official Premise: Set in the year 2029 and following World Wars III and IV, a Japanese-led Asian block dominates world affairs. The alliance maintains its international supremacy through its elite security force whose cybernetically enhanced operatives tackle an array of hi-tech terrorists and other threats to international security. These augmented agents can “ghost hack” (i.e., download their consciousness) via the now omnipresent internet into other machines and human/machine cross breeds. Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cybernetically augmented female agent, has been tracking a virtual entity known as the Puppet Master with her crack squad of security agents. The shape-shifting Puppet Master, a rogue creation of a rival agency of the security apparatus, has concluded that it is a life form in its own right, “born in sea of information,” and requested political asylum and true physical existence in defiance of its creators.

This 25th Anniversary Blu-ray release includes a HD remaster of the original, unaltered theatrical cut of the film. This version has never been released on Blu-ray before, which is a cool thing but I expected so much more from the “25th Anniversary release” The audio tracks includes are a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 for the English track and only a LPCM 2.0 for the Japanese track. If you recall the 2009 Blu-ray we got DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 for both Japanese and English tracks along with LPCM 2.0 as well for each. This Blu-ray just doesn’t cut it for me in comparison. Plus there are ZERO special features included on this release besides a booklet with an interview from Mamoru Oshii and an article on the “The World of Ghost in the Shell” and “The Impact of Ghost in the Shell”, which makes for a nice read but hardly enough to warrant a re-buy.

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Product Review “VTech InnoTab 3S: The Wi-Fi Learning Tablet”

When I was a kid we never used to have cool gadgets like this. My two year old daughter already knows how to use a iPad fully. She can unlock it, swipe through the pages/apps and open/play her games. This is unbelievable that today’s kids has this knowledge. I used to pretend to be superheroes running around in my backyard, but as they say “Kids these days”. I feel old. Luckily, the VTech InnoTab 3S: The Wi-Fi Learning Tablet is not old…in fact it is brand new and really cool. This device is a tablet and also a learning tool for our kids. It comes with a kid-safe WIFI connection, built-in camera/video recorder, eReader, Games, MP3 Player and Art Studio. It comes stocked with 20 apps that are already installed and it also included an expandable memory up to 32GB (along with the 4 GB of internal memory storage).

The InnoTab 3S: The Wi-Fi Learning Tablet promotes learning and as a parent, I am behind that full force. Only with the 20 apps that come pre-installed you are able to download more than 350 educational games, e-books, music and videos. These are specially developed around each child’s unique stage of development, age and interests. Some of the subjects that are tackles with these apps are reading, math, social studies, science, creativity, problem solving and more. Kids don’t need to panic though, these apps are fun and don’t feel like you are being forced to learn and be taught anything.

I am a IT guy, so the specs of this device are pretty cool. There is an improved 180° 2.0 MP rotating camera with enhanced photo features similar to the Kidizoom camera. There is a Kid Connect communication app, which allows a secure communication between a child’s InnoTab and a parent’s smartphone. Kids are allowed to browse the web with a kid-safe internet browser with VTech pre-selected and parent-approved websites. The display is a solid 5″ color touch screen. All I know is that if I was a kid and they had “toys” like this my life would have been shaped much differently so as a parent, I think that this is really cool to be able to assist in the development growth of my child.

Along with the apps that come pre-installed and are downloadable, you can also purchase themed software packs in the stores. Two of the VTech InnoTab Software packs that we were able to test out are “Minnie’s Bow-Toons” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”. In “Minnie’s Bow-Toons”, it is an e-book that tells the story of the TV episode a “Trouble Times Two”. There are three learning games focusing around teaching numbers and counting, shape matching, colors, and patterns. In “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”, you are able to use the touch screen or the tilt-sensor to play three educational games. There is also a e-book that tells a story of Mickey and Donald playing hide-and-seek around the clubhouse. These games are great and filled with fun Disney characters, music and sounds.

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Film Review “Tusk”

Starring: Justin Long, Michael Parks, Haley Joel Osment
Directed By: Kevin Smith
Rated: R
Running Time: 102 minutes
A24 Studios

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Ah yes, that uncertain feeling of love or hate when walking out of the movie theater. It seems A24 has this knack for finding these bizarre titles that leaving me feeling a bit clueless on my personal opinions and emotions. On one hand, during “Tusk”, I couldn’t stand it and wondered if it would be ethical for me to just get up and walk out of the theater, and still talk be able to with you about it. But on the other hand, some part of me, that watches and giggles during Troma movies, enjoyed this perverse hodgepodge of midnight horror and black comedy.

“Tusk” was an idea born on a podcast (I’m sorry, smodcast) that for some reason became Smith’s return to movies. If you remember, he stated that he was retiring from filmmaking…then said he was going to come back and do “Clerk III” and that would be his last movie…then somewhere along the line “Tusk” happened. Seems like this may have been some kind of last minute idea that was quickly rushed, and at times during “Tusk”, it definitely shows.

Wallace (Long) has the job that’s only possible in movies; he makes his living as a podcast host. He’s the mean spirited man behind the “The Not-See Party” show which provides a string of predictable jokes throughout the movie (Nazi! Get it? OK then…). He plans on going to Canada where he will interview a viral media star and most likely embarrass him for his adoring fans. Much to his selfish dismay, the kid has killed himself, and he doesn’t want to waste his $500 plane ticket, so he takes an ad found in a bathroom that promises a fantastic story/adventure.

He drives to the middle of nowhere to an eerie mansion owned by Howard Howe (Parks). He’s a salty old man that glides from spot to spot in his wheelchair and seems suspiciously excited to tell the inconsiderate Wallace about his lifelong adventures. Among his tales, he spins a story about his encounter with a walrus…the only creature that ever loved him. During his story, Wallace fails to realize that his tea has been drugged. He passes out and awakes to a horrifying scenario. Wallace, through the visually grotesque art of surgery, will turn him into a walrus. Now comes the part of the movie where people might start walking out.

For those who remain seated, Parks never runs out of scenery to chew and it’s a surprise he never gets full off it. Every scene he is in is a joy to watch as he talks like a well-learned aristocrat, but flips on a dime to a walrus obsessed sociopath that would give the creepiest of animal lovers the heebie jeebies. I’m not sure who turned Smith on to this wonderful actor, but he’s definitely been the saving grace now in Smith’s past two movies.

As a comedy, I didn’t chuckle; although the prospect of a disfigured human-walrus hybrid version of Long does make me smile. I almost laughed at the surprise cameo in the third act of the film, but even before the big reveal I had some sneaking suspicion about who it was. He definitely adds a certain flavor to his scenes, but one in particular feels long, dry and unfunny.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Kevin Smith fans will gobble this up like most of his releases and that’s not to say I’m not a fan of his work. One of my biggest concerns is that this is a man that still needs an editor’s input. There’s a couple long winded moments where Smith plays show and tell where just showing or telling would have been perfectly sufficient to explain the scenario. He has progressed as a filmmaker since his incredibly low-budget cult classic “Clerks”, but he seems to playing to his audience more than he’s trying to find something new to do.

As for the final verdict on “Tusk”, it’s still an internal debate as I finish this up. It’s definitely one of Smith’s weaker entries into his catalogue. Its purpose feels misguided, if there is a purpose, and feels lazy in some regards. I think it’s a movie I enjoyed, but it’s definitely not something I can recommend unless you’re a fan of Smith’s work or someone who grew up on Joe Bob Brigg’s Monster Vision and have a “refined” taste for hokey monster suits and over-the-top villain theatrics.

Film Review “This Is Where I Leave You”

Starring: Jason Bateman, Tina Fey and Jane Fonda
Directed by: Shawn Levy
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 43 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Meet the Altman family. Judd (Bateman) just came home early to find his wife (Abigail Spencer) in bed with his boss (Dax Shepard). Oldest brother Paul (Corey Stoll) is doing everything and more to get his wife pregnant. Sister Wendy (Fey) is the family sounding board. And youngest brother Phillip (Adam Driver) is still the kid who has never grown up. When their father dies they are summoned by their mother Hilary (Fonda) to “sit Shiva” for seven days in the family home. It may turn out to be the longest week of all their lives.

An incredibly emotional ensemble piece, perfectly matching laughter and tears, “This Is Where I Leave You” is the first official Oscar contender of the fall. As the siblings spend time in the house they grew up in, their memories of their lives, both with and without their father, overtake them. A vulnerable Judd rekindles a friendship with an old flame (a perfectly cast Rose Byrne) while Phillip shows up driving a Porsche carrying his much older girlfriend – and psychiatrist – (Connie Britton). Paul, who helped his dad run the family’s sporting goods business, is appalled that he must now share it with his siblings while Wendy must deal with an old romance with the boy (Timothy Olyphant) across the street, a former shell of himself mentally due to a car accident. “Is it the whole world or just our family,” Judd asks at one point. Overseeing the brood, Mama Hilary (and her newly augmented breasts) does her best to have the answers to all of her children’s questions even though she has no one to help answer hers.

The cast is spot on perfect. Bateman and Stoll deliver as the two voices of reason while Fey shows a very little seen dramatic side. Fonda shows why she has been a star for almost 50 years (“Cat Ballou” came out in 1965). But the scene stealer here is Driver, who I was only familiar with thanks to small roles in “Lincoln” and “Inside Llewelyn Davis” and has a recurring role in the HBO comedy “Girls.” Every time he is on screen you can’t help but be drawn to his energy. Driver has a top-secret role in the upcoming “Star Wars: Episode VII” and my fingers are crossed that he’s playing Han Solo’s son. He has that roguish quality about him (like Harrison Ford did in the first film) that makes it almost impossible to dislike him.

As fall approaches the weather is changing and so are the films. I hope you take the opportunity to spend some time with the Altman family.

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DVD Review “As Dreamers Do: Amazing Life of Walt Disney”

Actors: Olan Rogers, Travis Tritt, Mark Stuart, Walt Disney
Directors: Logan Sekulow
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Vision Films
DVD Release Date: September 16, 2014
Run Time: 90 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

If you are a Disney fan, than you probably have heard of “As Dreamers Do: Amazing Life of Walt Disney”, which looks into the early years of the man behind the mouse. The film features country singer Travis Tritt as the narrator of the story and Olan Rogers plays Walt Disney, who doesn’t a decent job in the role. The film never really takes off for me (limited by its budget) but it is still rather entertaining for the whole family…especially Disney fans. Worth a rent.

Official Premise: Behind every great mouse there is a man. Armed with an ever-growing imagination and eternal optimism, Walt begins to develop skills as an animator early in life. He overcomes a variety of hardships to become one of the biggest icons in the world: Walt Disney.

In case you didn’t know, this film is not the only film based on the early years of Walt Disney. There is also the upcoming “Walt Before Mickey” coming out, which stars Thomas Ian Nicholas and Jon Heder. I am anxiously awaiting that film since I have heard it is a close adaption to the Timothy S. Susanin’s book of the same title. “As Dreamers Do: Amazing Life of Walt Disney” is available now on VOD, online at Amazon.com and Walmart in stores on September 23rd.

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Film Review “A Walk Among the Tombstones”

Starring: Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, Brian ‘Astro’ Bradley
Directed By: Scott Frank
Rated: R
Running Time: 113 minutes
Universal Pictures

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Liam Neeson has traded in his concussion inducing fists, action film one liners and torture tactics — at least for the time being — for his latest role in “A Walk Among the Tombstones”. Many will be expecting another hit-man seeking revenge action flick, but Neeson shows some quiet restraint as Matthew, a former NYPD cop turned gumshoe. Instead of making grand leaps throughout Europe, Neeson strolls through the grim landscape of Brooklyn, that’s seemingly trapped in a perpetual state of rain. It definitely atches Matthew’s weathered face and grim outlook on life. These are the kind of roles I like Liam Neeson in.

Matthew lives a very minimalist life. It’s shows because he doesn’t have a computer or cell phone. But that’s OK, it’s 1999 in this movie, and there’s still pay phones littered all around the area and people are freaking out over Y2K. He’s recently been hired by Kenny (Stevens), a well to do drug dealer. He’s kind of like the upper middle class in the drug dealing ring. He loves clean modern furniture and doesn’t abuse his product. Kenny hopes Matthew can track down a duo of beasts, that kidnapped his wife, demanded a ransom, and then after receiving their pay day, delivered his wife back in multiple, small, neatly wrapped cocaine bags in the trunk of a car that you would suspect a drug dealer would drive.

These pair of monsters that Matthew is tracking down would make Hannibal Lecter drool with delight, but unlike Lecter, they lack charisma and charm. One appears to derive pleasure from sexual violence and watching his victims squirm while the other assailant simply appears to be in it for the money; sampling the pieces of his partner’s blood lust. They’re a real disgusting pair to watch at work. We come to find out they’re hitting up drug dealers to satisfy both of their appetites and have a decent sized portfolio of potential victims. As the movie goes, so does their descent into darker wants and needs.

“Tombstones” is one of the best made thrillers in recent memory, leaving the motivations and deepest levels of depravity of the villains up in the air, creating a nauseating sense of suspense in the viewer’s gut. The film takes a couple of moments to breathe with the introduction of TJ (Bradley), a homeless African-American child that looks up to Matthew. TJ feels like a speed bump in the pace when he’s first introduced, but it becomes clear towards the latter half that his introduction was to provide Matthew with an outlet to voice his inner demons and find that sliver of hope in his personal pit of despair.

It’s interesting watching the supposed good guy of the film quickly shrug off the protagonist role. While Matthew might not be personally invested in the crime, he’s attached his own path of soulful enlightenment by how he reacts to each step towards solving the mystery and its eventual outcome. Neeson has no problem handling the weighty emotions of Matthew and if these are the kind of roles we can expect from Neeson in the future, count me in.

Blu-ray Review “Batman: Brave and the Bold: The Complete Second Season”

Voices of: Diedrich Bader, John DiMaggio, James Arnold Taylor, Will Friedle, Tom Kenny, Corey Burton
Developed by: James Tucker, Michael Jelenic
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Running Time: 590 minutes

Season: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

Season two of “Batman: Brave and the Bold” really stepped up the ante delivering the series with classics voice talent from the “Batman” franchise returning as guest stars including Julie Newmar (66’s Batman), Adam West (66’s Batman), Mark Hamill (Star Wars, Batman: The Animated Series) along with other greats including. Paul Reubens (Pee-wee’s Playhouse) and Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris). There is also a crossover featuring Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang, who assist the Dynamic Duo in rescuing “Weird Al” Yankovic. Even genre favorite voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy, makes an appearance.

Official Premise: Braver. Bolder. Season two of “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” delivers more of the action you want, as the caped crusader continues to team up with heroes from across the DC Universe in this latest interpretation of the classic Batman franchise from Warner Bros. Animation. Featuring nonstop adventure with a touch of comic relief, Blue Beetle, Green Arrow, Aquaman and countless others uphold justice alongside Batman. Though still based in Gotham, Batman frequently finds himself outside city limits, facing situations that are both unfamiliar and exhilarating. With formidable foes at every turn, Batman must still rely on his stealth, resourcefulness and limitless supply of cool gadgets to bring justice home. With more action-packed antics and characters like Firestorm and Metal Men.

This season consists of 26 episodes including: “Long Arm of the Law!”; “Revenge of the Reach!”; “Death Race to Oblivion!”; “Aquaman’s Outrageous Adventure!”; “The Golden Age of Justice!”; “Clash of the Metal Men!”; “A Bat Divided!”; “Sidekicks Assemble!”; “The Super-Batman of Planet X!”; “The Power of Shazam!”; “Chill of the Night!”; “Gorillas in Our Midst!”; “The Siege of Starro! Part One & Two”;”Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!”; “The Last Patrol!”; “The Mask of Matches Malone!”; “Menace of the Madniks!”; “Emperor Joker!”; “The Criss Cross Conspiracy!”; “The Plague of the Prototypes!”; “Cry Freedom Fighters!”; “The Knights of Tomorrow!”; “Darkseid Descending!”; “Bat-Mite Presents: Batman’s Strangest Cases!” and “The Malicious Mr. Mind!”

If it wasn’t for Warner Bros Archive, this series wouldn’t ever see the light of day on Blu-ray. They are making these are ordered. So they are going to be available for a limited time. If you love this show, I wouldn’t make haste with getting this. The 1080p transfers are solid and really look great. The colors are sharp and the animation is well represented. Each episode also comes with a solid DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 surround track. There are no special features included here. More still to come with “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” since there is still one more season to go! So keep an eye out mid next year since we had to wait about 10 months between the first and second seasons…but hey at least they are coming!

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DVD Review “The Calling”

Starring: Susan Sarandon, Ellen Burstyn, Topher Grace, Donald Sutherland
Director: Scott Abramovitch
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: September 23, 2014
Running Time: 108 minutes

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

“The Calling” is another recent film to get very limited release and yet back a stunning cast including Academy Award winners Susan Sarandon and Ellen Burstyn, along with Topher Grace and Donald Sutherland. The film is based on the popular novel by Inger Ash Wolfe. The acting is great and there are a few decent jumps weaved within this spine-tingling tale of a small town detective on the hunt for a terrifying serial killer with a higher calling. Worth a rent for sure.

Official Premise: Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef (Susan Sarandon) leads a quiet life with her mother (Ellen Burstyn), her painkillers, and an occasional drink. But when she checks on an ill neighbor, she stumbles upon a gruesome murder that shatters her peaceful existence. With the help of a fellow detective (Gil Bellows) and a transfer cop (Topher Grace), she unearths a series of similar killings across the country. When a local priest (Donald Sutherland) suggests a link to an ancient ritual, Hazel focuses her search on a religious madman with a deadly higher calling. Based on the novel by Inger Ash Wolfe, its a journey to the shadowy landscape between faith and fear.

It is kind of a bummer that Sony didn’t give this a Blu-ray release. All we get is DVD here and no digital copy either. There is only one special feature included on this DVD, which till allow thriller fans can go deeper inside the dark mystery of the film with “Divine Intention: Making The Calling”. It gives a unique look into the making of this highly original new serial killer murder mystery.

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Blu-ray Review “Third Person”

Starring: Liam Neeson, Mila Kunis, Adrien Brody, Maria Bello, Kim Basinger, Olivia Wilde, James Franco, Michele Melega
Director: Paul Haggis
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Run Time: 137 minutes

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

A film from the director of “Crash” and starring Liam Neeson, Mila Kunis, Adrien Brody, Maria Bello, Kim Basinger, Olivia Wilde and James Franco”? How did I not hear about this film and why is it basically going straight to Blu-ray. I knew I had to see this since it had to be terrible. Surprising after watching, I was definitely interested in the film the entire time. It follows Haggis’ multiple storylines that are all intertwined but you don’t find out till the end. Worth checking out for great performances but a little too long for me and expect a little head scratching with the film’s big reveal.

Official Premise: “Third Person” tells three stories of love, passion, trust and betrayal, in a multi-strand story line reminiscent of Paul Haggis’s earlier Oscar-winning film Crash. The tales play out in New York, Paris and Rome: three couples who appear to have nothing related but share deep commonalities: lovers and estranged spouses, children lost and found.

“Third Person” is being released as a Blu-ray only, no DVD or Digital Copy, which is uncommon for Sony. The film still looks great on Blu-ray with it’s 1080p presentation. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is also impressive even though the film is very dialogue based. In terms of special features, we have a decent audio commentary track Writer/Director Paul Haggis, Production Designer Laurence Bennett, Editor Jo Francis, Producer Michael Nozik, and Actor Moran Atias. There is a Q&A again with Paul Haggis, which runs just over 30 minutes. There is a quick behind-the-scenes look into “The Making of Third Person”. Lastly there is a trailer included.

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

3D Blu-ray Review “Transformers: Age of Extinction”

Actors: Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Jack Reynor, Nicola Peltz
Directors: Michael Bay
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Run Time: 164 minutes

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

When I saw “Transformers: Age of Extinction” in theaters, I was very optimistic that this was going to “reboot” the franchise. In a sense it did but it also fell right back into the same old thing while doing so. The story like the past “Transformers” films is just chaos. There is so much going on that you just need to dumb down and just watch the action the pretty colors on the screen. That is what I believe will make you enjoy this film. It is also extremely over long. But all that aside, it is still a fun ride. It is also the year’s only $1 billion worldwide blockbuster. So expect a “Transformers 5” real soon.

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” picks up four years after the battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons left Chicago in ruins. Due to this there is an all our war and hunt against the Transformers. The humans are hunting them down under the command of Harold Attinger (Grammer). All Transformers have gone into hiding. We meet Cade Yeager (Wahlberg), a struggling investor, who comes across an old truck while looking for a way to make some money to help save his house and send his daughter (Peltz) to college. What he finds is a very injured Optimus Prime. After fixing him, the race is on to reunite with the remaining Autobots and find out the truth behind the hunt on them.

This review will focus on the Blu-ray features of this release, so if you want more about the film read our film review here. Paramount is releasing this film as a combo pack with a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet digital copy. “Transformers: Age of Extinction” may not be the year’s best film but it is definitely one of the best Blu-rays. The film simply delivers a stunning 3D presentation. I loved this aspect in the theaters and I love it more at home. It is also mixed with a ton of 1.78:1 IMAX footage, which makes it even more cool, last Blu-ray to this was “The Dark Knight”. This is definitely a film that needs to be viewed in 3D and on a nice big screen. This is a very visual film and it is a marvel to watch in this format.

This Blu-ray for “Transformers: Age of Extinction” also comes stocked with the first EVER brand new Dolby Atmos surround track for ultimate presentation. The track is describes with the following “This audio presentation is mixed specifically for Dolby Atmos® enabled receivers and speaker configurations to produce full, multidimensional sound without channel restrictions in the home — even overhead. Dolby Atmos is compatible with current generation Blu-ray players. Also select this option for Dolby 7.1 TrueHD speaker configurations. For Dolby Atmos playback, set your Blu-ray player to bitstream out and disable secondary audio”. All I have to say is WOW just WOW! I spoke with a composer named Steven Price, who just won the Oscar for “Gravity” and he spoke nothing but amazing things for Dolby Atmos and it’s future.

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” also comes stocked with a nothing short of mind-blowing 7.1 TrueHD track. It is just extremely amazing. When I was watching this film, I couldn’t help but say out loud how much I loved this score. Steve Jablonsky did an amazing job of delivering a really epic score for this film. What I loved is that it is seriously go from soft to freaking insane and still blend so very well. Everything from the constant explosions (we all know how well Bay likes to blow shit up) to the transforming. This track is just plain and simple perfect. Make sure that your picture frames are secured cause this one will give those nails a run for their money.

The special features are almost just as awesome as the audio/video presentation. There are over three hours of bonus content here. First up is “Bay on Action”, which is easy enough the director talking about his craft. There is a super epic, eight-part making-of feature called “Evolution with Extinction”. It dives into everything from casting to filming locations to digital effects. It is runs cumulatively around two hours all by itself. “Just Another Giant Effin’ Movie” shows the lighter side of the production. “A Spark of Design” looks into the creation of Grimlock. “T.J. Miller: Farm Hippie” is a funny set visit with the actor. Lastly there are some trailers and fun spoofs with “Kre-O” and “Angry Birds” included.

Here is a clip from the “Rise of the Dinobots” featurette:

Product Review “Epson Expression Photo XP-860 Small-in-One Printer”

Last month, we were given the chance to do a feature review on Epson’s back-to-school printer, Epson Expression Home XP-410 Small-in-One Printer, now this month we step things up a bit with their BRAND NEW latest Epson Expression Photo XP-860 Small-in-One. I was blown away by the XP-410 but wow this XP-860 is absolutely phenomenal. Being in the IT business, I have a lot of exposure to printers and this is easily one of the finest printers that I have recently come across. The XP-410 is definitely still an amazing printer but it is a good option for kids in school etc. This is smart and bold choice for any moderate user.

The Expression Photo XP-860 Small-in-One printer still features that slim space-saving design. It print absolutely stunning, professional-quality borderless photos up to 8″ x 10″ with 6-color Claria® Photo HD Inks. The colors are mind-blowing. I did a comparison between the XP-410 and this one and wow, what a difference. The color is so vibrant and clear. The device comes with a 4.3″ color touchscreen, 30-page Auto Document Feeder, and auto 2-sided printing, copying, scanning and faxing.

I used to have a real snazzy printer back in the day that printed photos right at home, which was new and great…but you used to be able to go out for coffee and dessert before it was done printing…then it had to dry. This crazy amazing printer can knock out 4″ x 6″ photos in as fast as 10 seconds. I am amazed at the speed of this device. With the inclusion of another ink cartridge, the photo quality dramatically increases, while it does not compromise on the features included in the Premium XP-820. It also comes equipped with Epson Connect, which allow access to print and scan documents, photos, emails, and web pages from a tablet, smartphone or computer from literally anywhere in the world.

This device also features a dedicated photo tray, a rear paper feed for specialty media, and direct CD/DVD printing. This allows your the creativity to kick in as you can really do some cool things with these features. One of the coolest features though as to be that the XP-860 enables users to edit, scan and share photos directly to Facebook or the cloud with the touch of a single button. With today’s social media obsession, this is a real amazing feature for anyone with a Facebook account. I am going to make it my duty to spread the word about this printer. If I know anyone that needs a printer, this is going to be the one that I recommend.

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Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: epson, expression, premium, printer, product, review, ...

Product Review “Simon Swipe”

Man o man, I haven’t played the game Simon since the early 90’s. This makes me feel old…but holy cow it is still a ton of fun. In fact, it is much more fan that I even remember despite being in my 30’s. If you know the game of Simon, you will catch up quick. You are challenged keep up with the pace and now the new trick is to also swipe the right combinations. With Simon Swipe you can four games to choose from including classic Simon with 16 levels total. You can swipe solo or get a group and have a party. It’s funny how Simon can still be the life of a party, I have no idea how fun this game would be.

Here is the official pitch “Swipe the lights to conquer the colors! To master this challenging game, you need to tap, swipe, and reverse your way to victory as you try to repeat the pattern of lights and sounds. When you hear the music and see the lights flash, you’ve leveled up and a new pattern will start. If you make a mistake, the buzzer will signal the end of the game and the unit will let you know your score.”

I have to admit, this game was still as challenging. You think it is simple that you just watch the light signal and then copy it. But with this game you can tap, swipe, and swipe and reverse. This game is also still a blast to play the game in the dark with the music and lights, its like a dance party in your house. Since this has four games to choose from there is also tons of challenges to keep you entertained. I warn you though The Extreme Game is quite epic and, to use the title, extremely hard…but still tons of fun. The Party Game was my favorite, which allows you to compete against your friends.

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Filed Under: Game Reviews, Toys Tagged With: product, review, simon, swipe

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Tag: review

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