Blu-ray Review “Hannibal: Season One”

Actors: Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Hettienne Park, Laurence Fishburne
Directors: David Slade, Guillermo Navarro, James Foley, John Dahl, Michael Rymer
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Run Time: 561 minutes

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

There has no shortage of Hannibal Lecter in films over the last 25 years including, “Manhunter”, “The Silence of the Lambs”, “Hannibal”, “Red Dragon”, “Hannibal Rising”. Brian Cox, Anthony Hopkins and Gaspard Ulliel have all played the role of Hannibal over the years but I got to tell you Mads Mikkelsen really nails this character. He really does a great job and seals this show as a must watch. Laurence Fishburne is a beast and an awesome presence to the show. I wasn’t too familiar with Hugh Dancy but I am huge fan now as he also killed (pun intended) with this role. The show’s style is just so mesmerizing from the colors to the tone. I was in love with every episode. It is also quite brutal and may not be for those with a lack of stomach. Can’t wait for season two coming back sometime in 2014.

Official Premise: FBI Agent Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) hunts the most notorious serial killers. Graham is both gifted and cursed with an extraordinary ability: he can think like his prey, seeing what they see and feeling what they feel. What he doesn’t know is that his new partner is the most notorious serial killer of all. While pursuing an especially troubling, cannibalistic murderer, Special Agent Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) teams Graham with a highly respected psychiatrist – a man with a taste for the criminally minded: Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen). Dr. Lecter tests Graham every step of the way, toying with him and playing a game all his own, while they work to unravel the mystery and catch the killer. Like only Lecter can, he twists Graham’s mind, daring him to question everything he knows about others…and himself.

Lionsgate Films really delivered an awesome Blu-ray presentation here. Besides the season’s 13 episodes, this three disc set also includes an episode that never aired and a “Producer’s Cut” versions of five others So it is a must revisit for fans of the series just for that alone. The episodes are gorgeous with their 1080p transfers in 1.78:1. Like I mentioned the style of the show, I just love the way it was shot and detail in this show just translate so well on this high def Blu-ray, especially Will’s “recreations” of the crime scenes. To accompany the video, the shows DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also hits a home run, especially with the very creepy and moody score from Brian Reitzell.

The special features are just as great as the first season. They are split over the three Blu-rays. Disc One includes an audio commentary track with Bryan Fuller, David Slade and Hugh Dancy on the pilot “Aperitif”. Must listen for sure. Also included are Pilot Episode Storyboards. Disc Two includes “Hannibal Reborn”, which is a cool featurette on the series with interviews including Martha De Laurentiis, the Executive Producer. “A Taste for Killing” is a fun look at the cannibalistic subtext of the character. Lastly there is a gag reel for those who can’t take the gory moments, or just a collection of spoofs.

Disc Three is another great audio commentary track with Bryan Fuller, David Slade and Hugh Dancy on the episode, “Savoreux”. Like the first pilot, also very enjoyable with some fava beans and a nice chianti ;-). “A Symphony for the Slaughter” is a great piece on the series’ composer, Brian Reitzell. “The FX of Murder” looks into the amazing visual and design effects from this show. Lastly there is a short deleted scene included. So that wraps it up and it left me feeling very satisfied even though we have to wait a few more months before we can get some new episodes. Almost forgot to mention that Lionsgate also delivers by included an HD digital download of this series, which can be redeemed on Ultraviolet sites.
 

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Blu-ray Review “Nashville: The Complete First Season”

Starring: Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, Charles Esten, Eric Close, Clare Bowen, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio, Robert Ray Wisdom and Powers Boothe
Created by Callie Khouri
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: September 17, 2013
Run Time: 903 minutes

Season: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

I have to admit, I was drawn to “Nashville” due to my love to country music but I was immediately pushed back by Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere. I am really not a fan of either of these actresses. So due to that I kind of steered clear from this show during its first season. It received some success from critics and fans, which made me consider checking it out on DVD. It is a decent show, certainly not the best thing on television. Besides just country music, I consider myself a music buff and I enjoy shows that add that extra factor within the normal (and sometimes boring) drama. Overall after watching this show, I will not be setting the DVR for season two but I am glad that I checked it out for sure.

Official Premise: Behind the music of Nashville lies a captivating web of betrayal, heartbreak and rivalry. Rayna Jaymes is the reigning Queen of Country, yet hot young diva Juliette Barnes is poised to knock her off her throne. Adding more fuel to the fire is Rayna’s rich, scheming father, whose political ambitions for Rayna’s husband hide sinister ulterior motives. Surrender to a seductive mix of music, intrigue and passion with “Nashville: The Complete First Season,” including all 22 tantalizing episodes.

One thing I have to give this show is the music, despite my like of the cast, the show still has some pretty good music. In fact, if you are a fan of this show then you will know this already, they even released two albums with “The Music of Nashville” with 11 songs on each. So I like it when a show break out of just being a show and expands its grips, sort of like “Glee”. I am a country fan, so the music appeals to me but it may not appeal to everyone, as a main selling point

The special features are decent but lacking any commentary tracks, which would have a nice bonus. “Nashville” Comes to Nashville is a tour of the city and its historical locations with the cast. “On The Record: The ‘B’ Side” is an inside scoop of the stories from the writers and musicians who create the show’s music. “The Stellas Go On ‘Tour'” looks into the show with Lennon Stella (Maddy) and Maisy Stella (Daphne). There are a few Deleted Scenes including some compelling drama from the hit series. Lastly there are never-before-seen outtakes from the set.

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Blu-ray Review “Haven: The Complete Third Season”

Actors: Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant, Eric Balfour
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Entertainment One
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Run Time: 572 minutes

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

Syfy’s “Haven” is based on Stephen King’s “The Colorado Kid”. The show has since expanded so much from the novella that it has become its own entity. Season three was actually my favorite season to date from this show. I thought they went very deep into the mythology behind the show and really answered some long-wanted questions and even dug up a few more. The cliffhanger finale was a major turning point for the show and it really set up for an explosive fourth season, which premiered on September 13.

Official Premise: Season three of Haven picks up immediately following the events of the gripping season two finale with Audrey (Emily Rose) having been brutally kidnapped; Nathan (Lucas Bryant) warned against pursuing a romantic relationship with Audrey; and Duke (Eric Balfour) seemingly engaged in a fight to the death with Nathan after he discovers his family lineage is to kill Haven citizens with troubles.

The cast in “Haven” is really key.  It is a real all-star cast with everyone giving their A-game! In fact, we did a full cast interview series for this season, click here to check it out. The trio of Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant, Eric Balfour really are great this season and each of their characters really get some fantastic new arcs. There is also some great reveal for our favorite duo Dave & Vince Teagues (John Dunsworth & Richard Donat). WWE Superstar Aaron “Edge” Copeland joins on the show as reoccurring cast this season as well. Bree Williamson (“One Live to Live”),  Iain Glen (“Game of Thrones”), Claudia Black (“Farscape”, “Stargate SG1”) and Nolan North (“Uncharted” game series) all have guest stars as well.

Entertainment One has delivered “Haven: The Complete Third Season” on Blu-ray with a great presentation like they have with the first two seasons. The 1080p transfer in 1.78:1 comes with a very impressive high definition presentation. Having only watching this show on TV’s “high def”, it looks so much crisper on this release. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track works well with the show’s dialogue and action. Also included in this release is a very cool exclusive 16-page comic, called “After the Storm”, which gives a sneak into the next season. A must read for any fan of the series.

The special features on the show are as impressive as the season itself. The six great audio commentaries, which are a nice reason to revisit the show. On “Stay” and “Over My Head”, we get commentary from Gabrielle Stanton and Matt McGuinness. On “Sarah” we get Nora Zuckerman and Lilla Zuckerman. With “Last Goodbyes with”, we get commentary from Brian Millikin and Shernold Edwards. On “Reunion”, the commentary is from Gabrielle Stanton and Brian Millikin. Lastly with “Thanks for the Memories”, the commentary is from Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn.

There is a great behind-the-scenes look into the season with “The Haunting Truth About Haven”, which runs about 45 minutes and features some great interviews. “Haven Panel from New York Comic Con” is a fun panel with stars Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant, Eric Balfour, Adam Copeland, Co-Creators and Executive Producers Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn, Consulting Producer Charles Ardai, Writers Shernold Edwards and Brian Millikin with Moderator Tiffany Vogt. If you want more interviews, there is an additional 30 minutes of interviews with Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant and Eric Balfour; Iain Glen; and Nolan North and Emily Rose.

Also included is the complete webisodes form the series “Escape to Haven”, which aired online and gives more backstory about the Troubled. There are eight videos included with each one running about one to three minutes  and are narrated by Jordan McKee or Dwight Hendrickson. There are about 10 minutes of additional Deleted/Alternate Scenes. There is another short Behind-the-Scenes Reel, showing more footage from the production. Lastly there are Season 3 Trailers and a Season 4 Teaser included.

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Blu-ray Review “Homeland: The Complete Second Season”

Actors: Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Morena Baccarin, Jackson Pace, Morgan Saylor
Directors: Daniel Attias, David Semel, Guy Ferland, Jeremy Podeswa, John Dahl
Number of discs: 3
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: September 10, 2013
Run Time: 629 minutes

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

I have to admit, I was not aware of “Homeland” until it cleaned up the Emmy’s last year with six wins.  After that I took an interest in the show.  I watched the first season and enjoyed it but wasn’t going around bragging how much I loved it. “Homeland” though is not the typical type of show that I would watch normally.  It does have a A+ cast though leading with Claire Danes (“My So Called Life”), Damian Lewis (“Life”), Morena Baccarin (“V”). I found the cast to be the main draw for me to keep watching.  It is not that I didn’t enjoy the season, the second season is actually a decent improvement over the first and our characters have development our well. It is definitely packed with great drama, exciting episodes, and smart writing but it is not my cup of tea. The show is already in its third season, which I have to admit does look promising, and no signs of slowing down.

Official Premise: “Homeland” makes its triumphant return after winning six Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actress for Claire Danes, Outstanding Lead Actor for Damian Lewis and Outstanding Drama Series. Marine Sgt. Nicholas Brody (Lewis) is now a U.S. congressman, and former CIA agent Carrie Mathison (Danes) has returned to civilian life. But when a new and potentially devastating terrorist threat emerges, Brody and Carrie’s lives become intertwined once again and they resume their delicate dance of suspicion, deceit and desire.

20th Century Fox delivered us with a very sharp Blu-ray presentation.  The 1080p transfer looks quite amazing with its aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The show was shot in HD and it reallu benefits from this aspect. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is also quite impressive, especially with the dialogue heavy moments of this series. In terms of special features, they really don’t blow me away.  There are a few short deleted scenes on each of the three discs. “Returning to the Homeland: Filming in Israel” is short feature on location shooting. “The Border: A Prologue to Season Three” is another short sneak peak. “A Super 8 Film Diary by Damian Lewis” is a fun feature with a home video feel. Lastly “The Choice: The Making of the Season Finale” looks into the shows cliffhanger ending.

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“New Girl: The Complete Second Season” DVD Giveaway [ENDED]

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CHECK BACK EACH WEEK FOR NEW GIVEAWAYS!

“New Girl” is easily one of the best comedies on television.  The show starts its third season this month. To celebrate the release of “New Girl: The Complete Second Season”, Media Mikes would like to giveaway the season on DVD. If you would like to enter for your chance to win one of these great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email with your favorite one-liners from the second season. Check some of the great one-liners below or be creative or choose others since there are tons. This giveaway will remain open until October 4th at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to all fans of Media Mikes in US and Canada only! One entry per person, per household. All other entries will be considered invalid. Media Mikes will randomly select winners. Winners will be alerted via email.

The Best One-Liners from Season 2 Available on DVD October 1

Watching an episode of New Girl without laughing is pretty much impossible. With Schmidt’s crazy antics and Jess’ perky personality there’s bound to be at least a few good one-liners in each episode. Although it’s hard to narrow down the options, below are the ten best quotes from season two.

The romantic tension between Jess (Emmy® Nominee Zooey Deschanel) and Nick (Jake Johnson) escalates in the hilarious, quirky second season of “New Girl” — but will they ever hook up? Meanwhile, Schmidt fails to be hip, Winston isn’t “prepared” for a hot date, and Nick faces a death in his dysfunctional family. While Jess does her best to replace Cece on a modeling job and a drunk Elvis impersonator at a funeral, Schmidt and Winston hope to rearrange Cece’s arranged marriage. Relive all 25 outrageous episodes featuring guest stars like Jamie Lee Curtis, Rob Reiner and Dennis Farina, and enjoy fun bonus material — including the extended version of the hugely popular “Virgins” episode — only available on the DVD.

Jess: “I am throwing Cece’s surprise bachelorette party here tonight, and the only males invited are strippers, so oil up or get out, guys.”

Schmidt: “Please take that off, you look like a homeless pencil.”

Nick: “I’m just trying to figure out the level of Elvis impersonator we can afford. I think a white one is out of reach.”

Schmidt: “Maybe none of us should go to this funeral. The early buzz on this thing is it’s gonna be a real drag.”

Jess: “I don’t want to kiss and tell, but I ruined my dresser during intercourse. Will you go to Ikea with me?”

Nick: “I can’t believe I’m the sober one. That’s actually never happened before in my life.”

Jess: “You’re dating a stripper, I’m dating a tall handsome doctor. We’re kinda living the dream.”

Schmidt: “You are a gynecologist and a lesbian. This makes you a vagenius.”

Jess: “If any of you cross me, I’m gonna kick the testicles clean off your bodies! Clean off! You’ll look like Ken dolls down there!”

Nick: “If you were a hat, you’d be a top hat, but like a really big Monopoly one. And I say that with deepest compliments.”

 

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DVD Review “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Complete Season 8”

Cast: Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, Danny DeVito
Rated: Unrated
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: September 3, 2013
Run Time: 220 minutes

Season: 5 out of 5 Stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 Stars

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia continues to be one of my favorite comedies on TV and revisiting its eighth season just as the ninth has begun this month (on new network, FXX) only reinforces this.

When we left Dee, Charlie, Mac, Frank and Dennis in the finale of season seven, they’d been very publicly rejected by all of their peers at a disastrous high school reunion. Consequently, either by accident or design I feel like many highlights of season eight saw the Paddy’s Pub crew in isolation facing their own twisted internal conflicts and the episodes were stronger for it. Putting each character separately under a microscope in my personal favorite, “The Gang Gets Analyzed,” for example was a genius way of checking in on where they all stand. From Dennis’s sociopathetic drive to control those around him (he gets worse every year and Howerton is amazing to watch as he just barely keeps Dennis’s mania in check) to Mac’s “reverse body dysmorphia”, the psychiatrist only has to scratch the surface to expose all of these characters’ neuroses. The finale as well sees the gang holding their own trial in “Reynolds Vs Reynolds: The Cereal Defense” which began over a simple rear-ender and yet somehow spirals into theological debate complete with charts. Escalation is something Always Sunny does best.

By far however, season eight will most likely be remembered for standout episode “The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre” which has Dennis’s disgusting ex-wife from season six marrying into the even-more-disgusting McPoyle clan. Told in flashback from an interrogation room, it’s the only episode lacking the traditional Sunny credit sequence and goes into full on zombie horror mode. It also features a hysterical cameo by Guillermo Del Toro (apparently he asked for a part while directing Day on Pacific Rim) as a cannibalistic McPoyle. As if that family could get any worse.

The extras include commentaries on four episodes that are not particularly enlightening, though fun for die-hard fans. The cast here also gets a chance to vent a bit about twitterverse complaints, particularly in regard to the episode aptly titled “The Gang Recycles Their Trash.” The answer’s in the name, folks. Personally, I had fun with that cleverly constructed episode, catching some references only upon repeat viewing. There’s also a blooper reel, a fully produced cheesy sitcom featuring Mac and Charlie’s mothers inhabiting a Golden-Girls-like sitcom universe and a brief moment of “In Memoriam” to Fat Mac to acknowledge actor/creator Rob McElhenney’s sixty pound transformation between seasons.

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Blu-ray Review “The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Sixth Season”

Actors: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar
Number of discs: 3
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 10, 2013

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

When season five ended with Leonard going to space, I thought it would make for an interesting season six, but I was wrong.  The first few episodes season six were quite weak, as they seems to have lost direction with that story line. But they really make up for it in the following episodes as the season got some steam, it delivered some of the shows funniest episodes, especially towards the end. Even Raj, who desperately needed some kick, got a great new arc this season and his character will change forever. The only note I have to the writers is to give Penny a new story line cause she is getting a little bland. Nonetheless, I think I can honestly say that this is one of the funniest shows on TV right now and shows no sign of slowing down either. I am counting down the days until season seven starts.

Official Premise: Whether on or above Earth, hilarity is outrageously universal in TV’s most popular comedy featuring four forward-thinking but socially backward geniuses. Fun discoveries multiply: Leonard learns jealousy is bad for a relationship (with Penny) but science is good for seduction (of Penny). Howard finds life in the International Space Station life is no escape from terrestrial turmoil between his mom and his new wife Bernadette. Raj meets someone special who may be a good match, if he can keep her from fleeing mid-date. And then there’s Sheldon. He learns what not to say after facing harassment charges or competing for tenure at work and how Dungeons & Dragons can be the icebreaker his relationship with Amy needs. For those who need laughter with scientific regularity, this 24-episode Season Six set of The Big Bang Theory will rock your cosmos.

“The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Sixth Season” includes a great Blu-ray presentation like all past season releases as well. The 1080p on each of the 24 episodes are sharp and look great, same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which works well with the jokes. Besides the Blu-ray, Warner’s also includes a DVD and an Ultraviolet copy included. In terms of great special features, they are fantastic on this release. “The Big Bang Theory: The Final Comedy Frontier” is a fun featurette, which goes behind-the-scenes with the cast talking about Howard’s space mission. “Houston, We Have A Sit-Com” is a neat live Skype call from the cast to Astronaut Joe Acaba while he circles the earth in the International Space Station. “The Big Bang Theory at Paley Fest 2013” is the panel from the event with cast and executive producers. “Electromagnetism: The Best Relationship Moments in Season 6” is a four-part feature looking into each of the characters from “Leonard & Penny”, “Sheldon & Amy”, “Howard & Bernadette” and “Raj”. Lastly there are some fun deleted scenes and a gag reel included.

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DVD Review “Castle: The Complete Fifth Season”

Actors: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Tamala Jones
Number of discs: 5
Studio: ABC Studios
DVD Release Date: September 10, 2013
Run Time: 1032 minutes

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

Man, do I love “Castle”! It is easily my favorite show on television. The show is so amazing and has shown such amazing growth over its five seasons. I have watched plenty of procedural cop shows and there are literally none of them come close to this show. The writing is like no other show that I have seen on television, the dialogue is so sharp and witty. We have been watching these characters now for the last five seasons and I love where they are taking each of them as each episode progress.  The scales of the episodes are also so large and epic. You would think that a show going into its fifth season would get lazy and repetitive but this show never ceases to surprise you.

The chemistry between Beckett and Castle are amazing, especially this season since they finally get together after four seasons of tension. In fact season five is easily my favorite of season to date. We all know that we want to see Beckett and Castle together, we have been teased with that over the last four seasons. In season five we were delivered that relationship and also given what a cliffhanger. Is Beckett going to take the job in Washington or get married to Castle and stay in NYC.  Seriously, I am getting chills just typing those words.  I can’t wait to see what direction they are going to take this show in the sixth season. Keep up the great job guys!

Official Premise: Together at last! After four seasons of sparring and heated banter, TV’s dynamic crime-solving team finds romance in ABC’s Castle: The Complete Fifth Season. Relive all 23 unforgettable episodes, complete with never-before-seen bonus features only available on DVD, in this spectacular five-disc set. Now that Castle and Beckett (“Caskett”) have finally given into their true feelings for each other, how will it affect their work together? As they try to keep their new relationship under wraps from their co-workers, the unlikely duo must track down the murderer of Beckett’s mother, find the perpetrator of a major conspiracy, and untangle a line of investigation that links Castle to a ritualistic killing. The action and passion heat up like never before in the brilliant fifth season of ABC’s Castle!

ABC Studios has delivered impressive DVD releases for this show ever since season one, though I am always disappointed that it has never been given the Blu-ray treatment like other ABC show’s “Once Upon a Time”. This five disc set includes the amazing 24 episodes of season 5 along with the tons of amazing special features.  Also for an extra bonus we get trading cards for the seasons three and four, which are set to be released this Winter and a special card you can used with the recently released Castle Detective Card Game. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the card game it is amazing and a must have for any “Castle” fan.

The special features are just as epic as this season. There are four amazing audio commentary tracks included. The first on the episode “The Final Frontier” which features Nathan Fillion, Director Jonathan Frakes and costume designer Luke Reichle. This episode is amazing and the commentary is just as good. Fillion is always a blast when he gets the microphone. Next up, is “Target” with Molly Quinn, Susan Sullivan, Executive Producer/Writer David Amann and Director Bill Roe, which is also a must. The next episode commentary is on “Hunt” with Executive Producer/Writer Andrew W Marlowe and Director Rob Bowman join Nathan Fillion and Molly Quinn. The last commentary track is on the 100th episode “The Lives of Others” and includes writers Andrew W Marlowe and Terri Edda Miller as well as editor Marta Evry and composer Robert Duncan.

If those commentary tracks aren’t enough, there is still more.  There are some great deleted scenes included and the bloopers are a must watch. You can tell that these people really have a great time doing what they do on this show. You can also see how well they all get along. There are some great featurettes including “Lot Cops”, which shows Seamus Dever and Jon Huertas going to cop school. Susan Sullivan takes us through the 100th episode in “Martha’s Master Class” and “Your Home Is Your Castle” looks into the set designs for Castle’s loft and Beckett’s apartment. Lastly there also is an Easter Egg included for “The Final Frontier”.

 

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“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” Season Eight DVD Giveaway [ENDED]

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CHECK BACK EACH WEEK FOR NEW GIVEAWAYS!

Available on Blu-ray and DVD September 3rd

To celebrate the release of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” Season Eight on DVD, Media Mikes is happy to be giving away one DVD to its fans! If you would like to enter for your chance to win one of these great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email with your favorite character from the series. This giveaway will remain open until September 20th at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to our readers in US and Canada only. One entry per person, per household. All other entries will be considered invalid. Media Mikes will randomly select winners. Winners will be alerted via email.

America’s favorite back-stabbing bar owners are at it again in the outrageously over-the-top Season Eight of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia! Join the gang at Paddy’s Pub for more disagreements, divisiveness, debauchery and depravity as Charlie and Dee find love among Philadelphia’s high society, and Dennis crashes his ex-wife’s wedding. Frank loses his memory – and his mind – in a hopeless search for lost treasure, and insanity ensues when the whole gang winds up in therapy. Featuring an all-star cast and loaded to the hilt with hilariously inappropriate and unrated content, Season Eight rules the world!

Special Features:
“Pop-Pop: The Final Solution” Commentary featuring Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton
“Gang Recycles Their Trash” Commentary featuring Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton
“Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre” Commentary featuring Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton and Josh Drisko
“Charlie’s Mom Has Cancer” Commentary featuring Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton
Deleted Scenes
Gag Reel
“Lady House” Featurette
Frank Reynolds’ How To Be A Warthog
Fat Mac: In Memoriam

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Blu-ray Review “Sons of Anarchy: Season 5”

Starring: Ron Perlman, Katey Sagal, Kim Coates, Mark Boone, Jr., Charlie Hunnam, Maggie Siff
Creator: Kurt Sutter
Number of discs: 3
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Run Time: 917 minutes

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

I have to admit, I have not been a fan of “Sons of Anarchy” from day one.  I came onto this show late but had a blast catching up with past seasons. Season five was easily the best season of the show, no question.  It really took us all by surprise and keep you guessing where it was going to hit next. Sutter is really one kick-ass creator, he has a lot of love for this show and it shows with each episode.  This Blu-ray releases comes stocked with some awesome extended episodes for our favorites from this season. This is easily are worth the purchase alone. At Media Mikes, this season we had the priviledge of casting with various of the cast members this season including Ashley Tisdale, Drea de Matteo, Harold Perrineau, Kurt Sutter, Ron Perlman and Attika 7’s Rusty Coones. Read all of them here. I cannot wait to see what Sutter has drummed up for the sixth season, which premieres on September 10th, 2013. This Blu-ray is a great way to hold you off until then!

Official Premise: From creator Kurt Sutter comes the adrenaline-charged Sons of Anarchy, featuring extended episodes and kicking into high gear with its biggest, most explosive season ever! As SAMCRO’s new president, Jax is surrounded by ruthless enemies and gut-wrenching betrayal. With Gemma fighting for control of the family and a bloodthirsty Clay out for revenge, Jax finds himself haunted by the sins of his past. Alliances are forged, friends are murdered, and loyalties are put to the ultimate test. Now, with the truth in sight, Jax must do whatever it takes to secure the legacy of brotherhood and protect his family — even if it costs him everything.

20th Century Fox delivered a very impressive Blu-ray release. Each of the episodes are stunning with their 1080p transfer. It really captures the grittiness of the show. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which delivers in terms of the action, the music and the dialogue very well. The special features are just as impressive as the season itself. There are two commentary track included the first on the episode “Darthy” featuring Peter Weller and the second on “Sovereign” featuring Kurt Sutter, Paris Barclay, Katey Sagal, Maggie Siff and Dayton Callie. “Kurt Sutter: Creating Anarchy” gives us a up-close and personal look at the show with the creator himself. There is featurette on Charlie’s character “Opie Winston”. There is a Fan Concert at The Club House”, which is a fun feature that I would have loved to attend. Lastly there are tons of great deleted scenes scattered over the discs and a Gag Reel included.

 

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DVD Review “Revenge: The Complete Second Season”

Actors: Emily VanCamp, Madeleine Stowe, Gabriel Mann, Henry Czerny, Ashley Madekwe
Number of discs: 5
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: ABC Studios
DVD Release Date: August 20, 2013
Run Time: 924 minutes

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

When I watched the first season of I thought to myself, “Ok the first season was good but how the hell are they going to keep this whole revenge thing going?” But from the moment the second season started I was blown away.  They really have some smart writers on this show and they really know how to create a great story line and keep it sharp throughout the whole season. To top it off, this show really builds on the first season and is actually quite better.  The cast also really comes together as well and gives great performances. Kudos to Barry Sloane, who came into this show this season playing Aiden Mathis and has quickly becoming my personal favorite character. Also what I enjoyed about the second season is that there is much more mystery and secrets revealed. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for the third season, which premiering on September 29, 2013. I can’t imagine how they can top this season!

Official Premise: Emily Thorne returns to the Hamptons with a vengeance. Her enemies may be the same, but her mission now takes on a new, suspenseful twist. Feel the power of television’s most seductive series, as the action and the passion hit new heights in all 22 episodes of Revenge: The Complete Second Season on DVD. Emily will stop at nothing to uncover the secrets of her father’s murder, but the web of deceit is larger than she ever imagined. Now, with her mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) in the picture, even more will be revealed. Watch the sparks fly as Daniel and Ashley begin a torrid romance, while stunning events change the face of Amanda and Jack’s relationship, and new faces mean more trouble for Emily and Victoria, while a mysterious man from Emily’s past adds to her complications. Relive every biting and brilliant episode of Season Two, complete with never-before-seen bonus features that will lure you even deeper into the drama. Revenge: The Complete Second Season on DVD is addictive entertainment that will have you begging for more!

I am not sure why ABC is not getting on the Blu-ray wagon with these season releases. Same thing goes for one of my favorite shows “Castle”. But “Once Upon a Time” does get the Blu-ray treatment, so it beats me. I hope that they go Blu-ray for “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” Anyways back to “Revenge”, the fun doesn’t stop at the episodes since there is tons of great special features included for this season. The DVD special features include audio commentaries on the following episodes including “Illusion”, “Forgiveness” and “Truth – Part 2”. There are two featurettes including “The Sound of Revenge” and “Dressing Miss Davenport”, focusing on the score and the wardrobes used on the show. There are 35 deleted scenes, some are good and others are so-so, but worth checking out if you are a fan on the show. Lastly there is a trailer for “Schooled in Revenge” and bloopers included.

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DVD Review “Eight is Enough: The Complete Fourth Season”

Actors: Dick Van Patten, Betty Buckley, Grant Goodeve, Willie Aames, Dianne Kay
Number of discs: 7
Studio: Warner Archive Collection
DVD Release Date: August 13, 2013
Run Time: 1342 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“Eight is Enough” was a little before my time but I remember it more on the repeats. This fourth season DVD comes split into two parts. The first part DVD comes with 14 episodes and the second part comes with 13 episodes. This season deals with issues like multiple marriages, pregnancy, and a graduation to the ever-expanding family. In terms of rating it was the show’s best rated season since the second, yet still the next season would be it’s last. The show packs an impressive cast including Dick Van Patten, Betty Buckley, Grant Goodeve, Willie Aames, Dianne Kay, Connie Newton, Lani O’Grady, Adam Rich, Susan Richardson and Laurie Walters. The show definitely brought back some memories. I have to admit though, it shows its age but if you grew up with it, it should be worth checking out.

Official Premise: The Bradfords bid adieu to the seventies by ushering in even more changes to the clan dynamic in Season Four. First up, minor league ball player Merle “the Pearl” Stockwell (Brian Patrick Clarke) sweeps Susan (Susan Richardson) off her feet. An engagement soon follows, but there’s one problem – David (Grant Goodeve) has already set THEIR date for HIS wedding while Nancy (Dianne Kay) has a singing telegram gig that day…And first comes marriage, then comes Mary (Lani O’Grady) finding a positive home pregnancy test! Meanwhile, Joanie (Laurie Walters) and Tom (Dick Van Patten) become competing journalists, Nicholas (Adam Rich) curses the family by breaking a chain letter, and Tommy (Willie Aames) runs for Prom Queen! On the more tender side, Abby (Betty Buckley) comes to grips with the memories of her deceased husband, while Tom is forced into a reunion with the father he has not seen in forty years – and he’s about to turn fifty!

“Eight is Enough” is being released on made-to-order DVD, thanks to Warner Archive. It is presented with an aspect ratio of 1.37:1. Concerning the show’s transfer, this DVD has been manufactured from the best-quality video master currently available. So it has not been remastered or restored for this release. They episodes look good but they could most definitely looks better, definitely for a DVD release. The show does with a Dolby Digital audio track, which works well for the comedic timing. There are no additional special features included on this release.

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Blu-ray Review “True Blood: The Complete Fifth Season”

Actors: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley
Creator: Alan Ball
Number of discs: 7
Rated: Unrated
Studio: HBO Home Video
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Run Time: 720 minutes

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

Who doesn’t love HBO’s “True Blood”. The show has been going strong for five seasons now. When you start watching its is hard not to completed get sucked in. This season packs some great storylines i.e. Bill and Eric behind bars, Tara getting used to her new life as a vampire, Alcide turning his back on the wolfpack and a vampire civil war on the horizon. There is no shortage of action and drama this season. In fact this season is one of my favorite to date from the show, besides the first. You would think that after five seasons that this show would lose some steam but it only seems to get more interesting and entertaining. Season five also definitely can be considered a game-changer for the show and it was also creator Alan Ball’s final season. Season six has already started and completed last week and it was such a powerhouse of a season. Brian Buckner stood up to replace Ball as the show’s showrunner and continued without missing a beat, which just proves that this show is a force to be reckoned with.

The fifth season sees the return of our favorite True Blood cast members including Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgård, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley and Sam Trammell…just to name a few. They are all in fine-form and deliver some of their best performances of the series especially Ryan Kwanten, who has a fantastic arc. This season introduces various new cast members including Scott Foley as Patrick Devins; Christopher Meloni as Roman; Valentina Cervi as Salom; and Lucy Griffiths as Nora. I love the storyline surrounding the Authority and their affects on these characters. Each character their own arc, which works well for the most part, this season and the finale really brings it all together quite well.

HBO has delivered a very impressive DigiPack combo pack release for the fifth season of “True Blood”. Thanks to HBO Select, this release offers buyers the choice of three ways to watch in one set – Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy. The digital copy included is redeemable via iTunes, Vudu or Amazon and of course my favorite, UltraViolet. The 12 episodes are well represented with their 1080p transfers. The show has been given consistently impressive releases thanks to HBO and have continued to look very sharp and impressive. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks also deliver the mood for the show very well. I love composer Nathan Barr’s score for this show and as usual it is well represented here.

The special features are sure to leave diehard “True Blood” fans feeling very satisfied. “True Blood Episode Six: Autopsy” is an in-depth look behind-the-scenes with the cast and crew on that episode. “Authority Confessionals” gives you an inside look at the mysterious institution. There is an enhanced viewing option for the series allowing you to tap in Character Bios, Vampire Histories and fun facts while watching the show. There is a Flashback/Flash Forward option that will allow you to travel back through the show’s timeline and relive pivotal moments or Flash Forward to reveal the significance of a certain scenes. Lastly “True Blood Lines” is a fun guide to tap into secrets from relationships past and present.

Next up, the next batch of special features are available on the Blu-rays but are the only extras available on the DVDs. “Inside the Episodes” is an look into various back stories from each episode this season. There are five audio commentary tracks with cast and crew including creator/executive producer Alan Ball, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Denis O’Hare, Carrie Preston and many more! There are also Previews & Recaps from the series, in case you need to play catch up. Lastly you are able to watch these episodes seamless, so they flow really well together especially if you feel like marathoning it.

Thanks to Connect Your Home for setting us up with this great review. Can’t wait for what HBO has in store for “True Blood: The Complete Sixth Season” and also don’t forget that the show has already been renewed for a seventh season, which is planned for Summer of 2014. Keep it coming guys! This show is amazing!

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Blu-ray Review “The Walking Dead: The Complete Third Season”

Actors: Andrew Lincoln, Sarah Wayne Callies, David Morrissey, Danai Gurira, Laurie Holden, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, IronE Singleton, Chandler Riggs, Scott Wilson and Melissa McBride.
Number of discs: 5
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Release Date: August 27, 2013
Run Time: 678 minutes

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

Like the zombies have taken over the world in “The Walking Dead”, the show is taking over TV and pop culture. When this show first started, there were doubts that it would even last longer than one season. Now it is one of the biggest shows on TV and shows no sign of slowing down. I thought that season two was epic with killing off character like Shane, Dale and Sofia but season three definitely took the cake. The show has pounded the idea into our heads that no one is safe. The show itself just really expands outside the world of zombies and introduces us to character like The Governor and the town that he has created. All-in-all this season feels very rounded, all of the characters have great arcs including Rick and Daryl. If you are a fan of this show, I would actually recommend getting the Limited Edition “Zombie Head Tank” release, which is designed by Mcfarlane Toys. Get ready for season 4 of “The Walking Dead”, which premieres on AMC this October. I will be counting down the days!

Official Premise: In this uncertain world, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and his band of survivors must not only fight the dead, but also face a whole new fear: the living. In this 16 episode season, the series Entertainment Weekly called the “greatest thriller ever produced for television”, Rick and his fellow survivors continue to seek refuge in a desolate and post-apocalyptic world and soon discover that there are greater forces to fear than just the walking dead. The struggle to survive has never been so perilous. This season also introduces new characters, including the Governor (David Morrissey) and fan-favorite Michonne (Danai Gurira), along with her zombie pets.

The third season of “The Walking Dead” Blu-ray looks equivalent to the first two and deliver a well rounded solid presentation. I feel that since this season feels much more massive with the town and the prison, all that comes off very well in each episodes 1080p. It has this certain claustrophobic feeling yet it also depicts the show’s large scale. The star of the show on this Blu-ray is easily, the Dolby TrueHD 7.1 surround track. This season has no shortage of action from the military team in the town and the season finale blowout. This track handles at the superbly and delivers every bullet or explosion with precise clarity.

Also like past seasons, this release does have any shortage of special features found on disc five of the release, minus some episode commentary tracks. Speaking of those, they are easily the main draw for this Blu-ray. First off, we have director Guy Ferland and actor IronE Singleton chatting about “Killer Within”. Director/Co-Executive Producer/Special Effects Make-Up Artist Greg Nicotero and Danai Gurira take over the talking on the episode “Say the Word”, great track. Executive Producer/Writer Robert Kirkman, Executive Producers David Alpert and Gale Anne Hurd, and Danai Gurira for “Made to Suffer”, good but not my favorite. ale Anne Hurd and Danai Gurira are together again on the track for episode “The Suicide King”. Lastly Greg Nicotero and Michael Rooker for “This Sorrowful Life”, another great track. So like I said easily worth the purchase of the Blu-ray alone.

So the rest of the extras consist of eight very informative and interesting featurettes. First we have “Rising Son”, which looks at Chandler Riggs’ character and how its changed. “Evil Eye” focuses on the kick-ass role of “The Governor” and the beauty that David Morrissey brings to him. “Gone, But Not Forgotten” looks at the death of the key characters and their effects, which is also similar to the extras “Guts and Glory”. “Heart of a Warrior” looks into the world of Michonne and Danai Gurira’s portrayal. “Michonne vs. The Governor” looks into the face-off of these two characters. “Safety Behind Bars” looks into the sets and location shooting for the season. “Making the Dead” takes into the mind of Nicotero and his zombies. Lastly there are about 15 minutes of deleted scenes from the following episodes ”Walk With Me,” “Say the Word,” “Hounded,” “Home,” “I Ain’t No Judas,” and “Clear”.

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Blu-ray Review “Star Trek: Enterprise – Season Two”

Actors: Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery
Directors: Allan Kroeker, David Livingston, David Straiton, James A. Contner, James L. Conway
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Run Time: 1112 minutes

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

If you are a fan of “Star Trek: Enterprise” then you will know that in season two the show starts to get its legs. The first season was more a transition and them getting their feet wet. We picked up from the “Star Trek” classic cliffhanger ending of the first season with Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) trapped in the 31st century. This season includes some great fan favorites including “Shockwave, Part II”, “Carbon Creek” and “Dead Stop”. There are plenty of connection introduced to original Star Trek series like with Klingons and even a Tribble. Speaking of other “Star Trek” series, there are several episodes this season which are directed by past cast alumni including Next Generation’s LeVar Burton, and Voyager’s Roxanne Dawson and Robert Duncan McNeill. So if you are a fan of this show that you should get ready to continue your journey abroad the Enterprise NX-01 with this impressive Blu-ray season release.

Official Premise: Where no one has gone before! Beginning with season one’s epic cliffhanger, experience the adventures of the Enterprise NX-01 crew as Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and his crew explore the far reaches of space long before the United Federation of Planets was formed. The crew is tested as Chief Engineer Charles “Trip” Tucker III (Connor Trinneer) is abducted while Science Officer T’Pol (Jolene Blalock) struggles with a life-threatening disease. Witness the real first contact of Humans and Vulcans, the return of a familiar Star Trek alien, and the origins of Archer’s early career – all leading up to the explosive finale.

The first season of “Star Trek: Enterprise” looks good and much better than its prior TV release but wasn’t up to the par in terms of the recent “Star Trek: The Next Generation” releases. This second season aimed to improve that and quite succeeded. The show looks great within each the 26 episodes from the series’ sophomore season. The 1080p transfer has issues here and there but ultimately you should be able to enjoy this season with no major issues. It is not “TNG” but still decent. The show goes with a striking DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track, which works with every warp speed jump and the show’s action. It also comes with numerous other languages including German and Italian 5.1 (Dolby Digital), and French, Castilian and Japanese Stereo Surround (Dolby Digital).

Like “Star Trek: Enterprise” season one release, this release comes packed with great mix of new and vintage extras. They are spread out over the six Blu-ray discs. The main star of the special features on the first disc is the newly produced cast reunion feature, “In Conversation: The First Crew,” is moderated by series co-creator/executive producer Brannon Braga and features cast/crew chatting about the show. This runs just over 90 minutes and is a must for any fan of the series. “Uncharted Territory” is another must watch, which is a three-part behind-the scene featurette focusing the show’s production for the second season with cast/crew interviews.

There are several audio commentaries tracks included as well. The first is with co-writer Chris Black and Mike & Denise Okuda for the episode “Carbon Creek”. Next we get a commentary track for the episode “Dead Stop” with co-writers Michael Sussman and Phyllis Strong. Actors John Billingsley and Bonita Friedericy give a great audio track for the episode “Regeneration”. Co-Writers Michael Sussman and Phyllis Strong give their two cents on the episode “Regeneration”. Lastly writer Chris Black and Mike & Denise Okuda breakdown the episode “First Flight”. They were recorded back in 2005 but if you have never heard they are worth giving a listen for these great episodes . There are also two text commentary track for “Stigma” with Mike & Denise Okuda and “First Flight with Mike & Denise Okuda.

There are deleted scenes from six different episodes including ,”Minefield”, “A Night in Sickbay”, “Dawn”, “Stigma”, “Cease Fire” and “The Expanse.” There are some short archival interviews with Brannon Braga, Rick Berman, Jolene Blalock, and Scott Bakula discussing the episode “Stigma”. There are three “NX-01 Files” 04 focuses on Scott Bakula. “NX-01 File 05” look the character Hoshia and “NX-01 File 06” features Anthony Montgomery reflect on his role. There eight “Archival Mission Logs” included spread out over the six disc. They focus on the following topics included “Enterprise Moments: Season Two”, “Enterprise Profile: Jolene Blalock”, “Inside “A Night in Sickbay””, “Future Tense”, “Enterprise Secrets”, “LeVar Burton: Star Trek Director” and Enterprise Outtakes”. Lastly there is a short season two promo and a photo gallery included.

 

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