Synopsis: The top rated series from HISTORY returns to DVD!

There is no better example of today's pawnbrokers than the Harrison family's Gold and Silver Pawn shop on the outskirts of Las Vegas the modern day Mecca for people in need of quick cash. Three generations of Harrison men clash with friendly camaraderie over items from classic cars to samurai swords. Here, everything has a history, and everything has a price. And you never know what's going to walk through the door. PAWN STARS: VOLUME 5 features 16 episodes never-before-released on DVD including the usual assortment of oddities for the Harrisons to consider like a 31-ton car-crushing Robosaurus, a mandolin that could be worth over $100,000 and an authentic Batmobile.

Review: We love Pawn Stars here at the Legion.  We collect toys and antiques ourselves, so its a blast to watch this show.  We usually learn something and its great to watch the boys in the shop be mean to each other.  Always a good time.  This new volume provides us with some more season four episodes. 

DISC 1: Darth Pawn / Put Up Your Dukes / Pawn Illustrated / Striking a Chord / Harrison For President / Wise Guys / Robosaurus / Ah, Shoot!

DISC 2: Going Postal / Chummobile / Evel Genius / Pablo Pawncasso / Sub for Sale / Missile Attack / Not on My Watch

Synopsis: Now this is a smackdown, ancient-myth style. No octagonal steel
cage. No rules. No surrender. It's Hercules vs. Samson in a brawl to outdo them
all, hurling spears, heaving chunks of pillars and, in the clinches, bending
thick iron rods around each other. Hercules had set out to find Samson and
deliver him to the Philistines in exchange for the imprisoned Ulysses and other
Ithacans. Samson, of course, fights rather than submits. But in the course of
the titanic Herc-Sam clash, something happens. The two rivals develop a mutual
respect and decide to join forces against their common foes: the Philistines.
From an enduring filmmaking tradition that unites monsters (Frankenstein Meets
the Wolf Man), desperados (Return of the Badmen) and superheroes (The Avengers)
comes a not-to-be-overlooked film that brings together Hercules, Samson and
Ulysses. Strap up your sandals' calf-high leather laces and get ready to rumble.

Review: This vintage fantasy film is from the era of biblical and greek style action.  In this one Hercules, played by Kirk Morris, is mistaken for Samson and has to take on the Philistines!  This one is full of non-stop action, which is very well played off and a great performance by Morris..his Hercules is phenominal.  I found this one to be very entertaining, moreso than a lot of the "accurate" biblical era dramas like Ben Hur or the Ten Commandments.  This one is a great vintage film and its finally on DVD! 

Interest Range: Vintage Film

Synopsis: No matter the odds, they've got each other's back! Guy Williams, TV's Zorro, plunges into sword-fighting fury in the classic Greek tale Damon and Pythias. Williams plays Damon, a devil-may-care outlaw with a gleaming blade in one hand and a seductive woman in the other. When Pythias arrives in the city of Syracuse, Damon - of course - sets out to lighten the newcomer's coin pouch. But the would-be foes become brothers in combat when faced with the cruelty of Dionysius the Tyrant. Together, they brawl, battle, scale walls and elude the Tyrant's troops in a breathless chase pitting their rumbling, rickety cart against thundering horsemen. The steel of their friendship soon matches the steel of Damon's blade, shaping a bond so strong that when Pythias is captured and condemned to death, Damon offers to take his friend's place. Williams' charisma and action chops carry the excitement through to a thrilling race-against-time ending. 

Review: This early 1960s American/Italian film is based on the greek legend of Damon and Pythias, a tale of friendship and devotion.  The film does a great job of staying true to the legend and includes some fantastic costumes and backrounds...even some good battles.  The story that Pythias travels over hell and high water to save his dear friend from certain death.  This is a heartwarming and fun film.  Its great to have it on DVD!

Interest Range: Vintage Film

Synopsis: The shaggy-maned idol rips into his song – and the audience screams with excitement. Some ecstatic fans storm the stage, wanting simply to touch him. Some want to bear his child. One adoring woman announces she already has. And outside the hall, a horse-drawn carriage waits to whisk the performer away. Meet Franz Liszt (Roger Daltrey), rock star, circa 1840. And great ready for all the glitter, groupies and gaudy good times of Lisztomania. The incredible list of frenzied delights goes on and on in this splendiferous extravaganza from writer/director Ken Russell, whose works include Women in Love, Altered States and Crimes of Passion. He takes you where no one else does. Or dares. Brace yourself for Lisztomania. Viewers expecting a polite gathering of people neatly posed on Louis XVI furniture are going to be blown out of their chairs, but good!

Review: A precursor to Amadeus, this 1970s film focuses on the first real classical pop star, Franz Liszt.  The film features the lead singer from the Who as Liszt with an appearance by Ringo Starr as the Pope!  This fantastic foray into decadence was all but lost on home video until now!  The Warner Archive has brought it back with a great new DVD release.  This one one of those fantastic slightly dark, slightly decadent and lot trippy films from the 70s that we've been missing! 

Interest Range: Vintage Film

Penumbra DVD Review

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Two and a Half Men: The Complete Ninth Season DVD Review

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Synopsis: To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking, TITANIC: 100 YEARS IN 3D combines stunning 3D HD imagery of the wreck with powerful untold stories of passengers and crew, letting audiences experience the real life drama of Titanic in a way never before possible. In 2010, an unprecedented expedition by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and RMS Titanic, Inc. went on location to document the entire wreck site of Titanic, using high-resolution optical video, sonar, acoustic imaging, and 3D HD video and acoustic modeling. These incredible visuals will be accompanied by the untold stories of people who were on the ship, narrated in voice-over by actors. Each person's story will be linked with one or more recovered artifacts that connect to that passenger or crewmember. These haunting artifacts and unforgettable personal stories of average people take viewers back in time, making the history of Titanic as vivid as it was yesterday.

Review: We're enthralled with the legend of the Titanic here at the Legion, as are many history buffs.  The History Channel has finally hooked us up with our first 3D look inside the wreckage of the RMS Titanic!  This is where our 3D TV and Blu-Ray player purchases really come in handy!  I've seen a lot of 3D films, but most fall short.  This one...oh my god.  The 3D is amazing!  There is zero ghosting and the 3D technology is used generously.  We get a lot of up-close shots in 3D that bring out the beauty of the ship.  There aren't many wide angle 3D shots, unfortunately, but I was pleased with what I saw.  The familiar story is pieced together by interviews and narrations and really ties together this fantastic 3D Blu-Ray for the viewer.  We recommend this for anyone that is into the Titanic.  Remember, this is a 3D Blu-Ray, but it will also play in 2D format in standard blu-ray players, so you can invest in this one, even if you don't own the 3D technology yet.

Synopsis: From great figures come our most noteworthy inventions, from the telephone to the theory of general relativity. But no great leader is perfect. H2 digs into the scandals and family secrets you won't find in textbooks in the special 10 THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT. Observing the lives of renowned leaders, brilliant scientists and notorious criminals, viewers get an inside peek into their unknown pasts, from Ben Franklin's nefarious history to Albert Einstein's hidden family drama.

Review:  We love documentaries and, well pretty much everything they air on the History Channel.   This show is a fantastic look that goes inside famous figures throughout history and tells you the more unknown and interesting side stories and facts.  This series digs deep into reality to shed light on people that are regarded as rather mythological at this point and brings a human perspective back into their lives.  We cannot recommend this one enough for history buffs.

DISC 1: Benjamin Franklin / Abraham Lincoln / John F. Kennedy / J. Edgar Hoover / The OK Corral / The Roosevelts / The Mormons

DISC 2: Pablo Escobar / George Patton / Caligula / Adolf Hitler / The Rat Pack / Bonus

Interest Range: TV Shows, History Channel

Synopsis: Eight months after a disastrous hit job in Kiev left him physically and mentally scarred, ex-soldier turned contract killer Jay (Neil Maskell) is pressured by his partner Gal (Michael Smiley), into taking a new assignment. But as they descend into the bizarre, disturbing world of the contract, Jay's reality begins to unravel until fear and paranoia send him reeling towards a horrifying point of no return. From director Ben Wheatley (Down Terrace), KILL LIST is a mind-blowing psychological horror film that plunges into the heart of human darkness.

Review: The Kill List is a great psychological thriller that focuses on the difficulties one might encounter in being a professional hitman.  This IFC feature has some great acting and a lot of great characters.  The plot is somewhat predictable, but that doesn't keep this film from being a great watch.  This one has a lot of cool action and some dark themes that entertain.  We definately recommend it.

Synopsis: Sara (Scottie Thomson) and Lily (Madeline Zima) are two sisters from a small, lakeside town that lead two different lives: Sara, a successful, Los Angeles attorney and Lily, a local art teacher who never left home. But when the father of the two sisters unexpectedly dies, Sara returns to Virginia to help settle his estate. Through the guidance of their father's spirit, the two women and their mother, Vivian (Jane Seymour), will finally discover what being a family truly means. Ben Savage (''Boy Meets World''), Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers), Richard Riehle (Office Space) and Sean Patrick Flanery (The Boondock Saints) co-star in this heartwarming story about trust, forgiveness and confronting the past to embrace your future.

Review: The Lake House is a touching family drama that explores a theme that a lot of people struggle with...being a true and whole family.  These sisters and parents are rather separate, until their father dies and they all unite to get through the loss and help their mother settle the estate.  The situation helps to bring them all together and show them what real family is.  This one is a great watch with some fantastic acting.

Interest Range: Drama

Synopsis: On the verge of his 30th birthday, Jonathan (Daniel Dugan) is torn between the domestic comfort of his life with Raul (Adrian Gonzalez) and the torrid pleasures of an affair with his super sexy ex-boyfriend Troy (uber hot Murray Bartlett). One of the steamiest gay movies of the year, August sensitively unfolds this triangle of desire and emotion in the midst of a classic Hollywood heat wave. An irresistible gay romantic drama!

Review: August is a very steamy film, but it may not be what you're expecting.  This one is a gay film.  Its sad that we have to preface that...if this were a lesbian film, we wouldn't need to, but that may turn some viewers off.  Those that are more evolved will definately enjoy this one.  It explores a theme that a lot of people get caught up in, especially as they leave their 20s and are starting to settle down...they still desire the lust and the passion of a romatic affair, but the consequences on their established lives can be profound.  This one is a great film..very steamy and a fun watch.

Interest Range: Drama

Synopsis: In the Southern Chinese city of Guancheng, during the Ming Dynasty, there lived four families, each of them faithful keepers of martial arts. Anyone who wants to establish a new form or technique of kung fu has to fight their way through the families' gates. But when one man's request is rejected, he will be put through a series of fights, determined to prove that his sword is invincible.

Review:  The Sword Identity is a great Chinese film that explores one man's quest to validate his fantastic weapon.  The man is suspected as being a Japanese infilatrator and must pass a series of tests.  This film has a slow build that requires a little bit of patience from it's audience..its not non-stop action.  The film has a mixture of light comedy, drama and action.  I found it to be very enjoyable and I think any fan of Chinese cinema will enjoy it.

Synopsis: Cop Land: Action star extraordinaire Sylvester Stallone headlines James Mangold's Director's Cut of this edgy crime thriller that explodes with an all-star cast - including Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel and Ray Liotta. Freddy Heflin (Stallone) is the sheriff of a small and seemingly peaceful town populated by the big-city police officers he's long admired. But when he uncovers a massive, deadly conspiracy among these local residents, he is forced to make a dangerous choice between protecting his idols and upholding the law. which explodes with nonstop excitement! 

FIrst Blood: He never fought a battle he couldn't win--except the conflict raging within his own soul. Academy Awardr nominee Sylvester Stallone stars as war hero John Rambo. An ex-Green Beret haunted by memories of Vietnam, he was once the perfect killing machine. Now he's searching for peace, but finds instead an overzealous small-town sheriff who's spoiling for a fight. All hell breaks loose when an unjustly imprisoned Rambo escapes and becomes the target of a massive manhunt. Now he must use all his cunning, combat skills and weapons training to stay alive and outwit his pursuers. Costarring Brian Dennehy and Richard Crenna, FIRST BLOOD is an explosive action-thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final, powerful frame. Lock Up: "This is hell and I'm going to give you a guided tour!" With these chilling words, the warden (Donald Sutherland) welcomes Frank Leone (Sylvester Stallone) to Gateway Prison, a nightmare jail where every minute is hard time. The warden wants vengeance for the past; Leone wants only to survive the present. Their explosive battle of wills is the electrifying heart of one of Stallone's most heroic thrillers, 

LOCK UP. Stallone gives a monumental performance as Leone, a convict driven to break his own cherished code by a warden who will stop at nothing to get him. Sutherland portrays the sadistic prison head in this riveting white-knuckle ride to hell and back.

Review: This is the summer of action and with the Expendables 2 in theaters, now is a great time to brush up on your Stallone!    This blu-ray set includes three films from back in the day...including Lock-Up, Rambo First Blood and Cop Land.  All three of these movies are varied and great examples of Stallone's work.  Cop Land is a little more dramatic, while Rambo is all 80s action.  Lock-Up is a great mix of the two.  All three films look phenominal on high-definition blu-ray.  This is a great set for any fan of Stallone and a great value.

Green Lantern: Animated Series - Season One Part 1 DVD Review

Volume One - Volume Two

Volume One Synopsis: Join the Samurai Rangers when their ongoing conflict with Master Xandred reaches epic proportions as he sends more dangerous Nighlok monsters to finish the Samurai once and for all. It's up to Mentor Ji and Gold Ranger Antonio to uncover the secrets of a legendary black box that will morph the Rangers into SUPER SAMURAI! By combining their extraordinary power symbols and Megazords to create new and incredible combinations, the Samurai become better and stronger. But will that be enough when a new villain surfaces, determined to defeat the Rangers once and for all? Includes 4 Megazord-powered adventures! 

Volume Two Synopsis:  Get ready for more Super Samurai showdowns with Jayden, Kevin, Mia, Emily and Mike in their ongoing quest to keep the city streets safe from Master Xandred, Serrator and more menacing Nighloks! When a young guardian accidentally releases the ancient and dangerous BullZord, the Rangers must work together to tame the Bull into becoming a powerful new MegaZord! And after Antonio and Mentor Ji get kidnapped, the Rangers must face a daunting army of Moogers to save their friends. Jump aboard the Samurai Battlewing for these four adventures morphing with unstoppable action and mega mayhem!

Review: The Power Rangers is one of the longest running kids franchises around.  They've been on the air in some form or another since the early 1990s and are still going strong.  Now, with these two volumes, we get a total of eight episodes from the Super Samurai brand.  Super Samurai is the re-branded name for the second season of Power Rangers: Samurai.  These volumes collect almost half that season.  The storyline follows the Power Rangers: Samurai as they continue to battle their enemy, Master Xandred.  This show is a lot of fun and still great for kids of all ages.

Synopsis: Season Three of the electrifying, award-winning series finds the Gleeks headed for the Nationals - and graduation! As younger members join New Directions, others are about to begin exciting, if uncertain, lives outside it. Featuring some of television's most enthralling song and dance numbers, including memorable hits from the legendary Michael Jackson, Glee continues to earn its place in the hearts of viewers around the world.

Review: This blu-ray release collects the entire third season of the pop culture phenom, Glee.  The show is still going strong as we get to see some of the original cast ready to graduate!  The season also follows the club's travels on the way to Nationals in Chicago.  The characters all wrestle with relationships and sexuality, but to be honest this season is more of the same.  If you love Glee, you'll love this season, hands down.  Plus, you get to see Rachel, Mike, Quinn, Finn, Kurt, Mercedes, Santana and Puck graduate!  Its a must have for any Gleek! 

Synopsis: You’ve seen him roast celebs from Pamela Anderson to Charlie Sheen; but now “Roastmaster General” is coming for you; America. In this one-hour special; Ross roast his way across the USA; one city and one group of masochistic volunteer roastees at a time. Traveling through cities including Seattle; Toronto; Las Vegas; Miami and Madison; Ross roasts a statue of Abe Lincoln in Washington D.C.; gets roasted by John Rich in Nashville; and in Minneapolis; brings an old friend onstage to tell a very intimate story the way only Jeff Ross can. It all adds up to an incredible hour-long tribute to these United States; and the people that inhabit it.

Review: This DVD represents Jeff Ross's first big North American tour.  He makes his way through the country from club to club, roasting foolish groups of normal people.  What makes Ross funny is his quick wit and sharp tongue.   You've seen him on the roasts...now see him in action live.  This DVD does not disappoint, its hilarious and vicious.

Filled with mysterious and deadly creatures, the ‘Dark Forest’ is one of the most dangerous places in the kingdom. Dare to read further as we take a look at some of the most intimidating and scary forests in films, such as The Blair Witch Project, Wrong Turn and Cabin Fever.

Friday the 13^th

This classic horror film is one of the first to kick-start “camp” as the perfect setting for a slasher film. A group of teenagers want to re-open Camp Crystal Lake despite the locals’ claim that it is cursed. One by one, the camp counselors are attacked throughout the grounds with all traces leading back to the shores of the lake. And from this very lake is the birth of the Friday the 13^th franchise.

The Blair Witch Project was released in 1999 and created a stir of debate as to whether it was a film based on true events or fiction. The main characters get lost in The Black Hills, which is an actual location in Maryland. As they go deeper into the woods, they experience a lieu of horrific events they believe are caused by the legendary Blair Witch. These events are presented as “recovered footage”, leaving the audience with the feeling they are in on all of the action, fearfully wandering in the Black Hills.

The young, ambitious investigator Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) goes to Sleepy Hollow, New York to uncover the truth behind a mysterious murder case in Tim Burton’s 1999 film Sleepy Hollow. The clues lead him into the Western Woods where he discovers the murderer known as the Headless Horseman. The nighttime slayer is able to travel through two realms – reality and the supernatural – via the gnarled Tree of the Dead. Officer Crane devises a plan to send the Horseman back to Hell indefinitely, leaving the Western Woods free from more violent murders.

Not all forests in movies are home to human or supernatural murderers. In Eli Roth’s 2002 debut film Cabin Fever, a flesh-eating disease is the virulent killer. A group of college students stay in a remote cabin in the woods for spring break. Their vacation is ruined when their friend drinks water from a contaminated lake. The disease spreads amongst the group, resulting in a blood-filled struggle for their lives.

A remote forest in West Virginia is home to a group of terrifying cannibals in the 2003 slasher film Wrong Turn. A group of hikers and a passerby unfortunately take a road that leads them directly to this forest. Consequently they become the next item on the menu for the disfigured clan. They are held captive at a cabin deep in the woods and fight for their lives in hopes of escape.

Synopsis: Johanna Spyri’s best-loved children’s classic, Heidi, is affectionately retold in this colorful, full-length animated musical motion picture. The famed story has been supplemented with three new, unforgettable sequences: a musical review, The Nightmare Ballet, in which Heidi meets the mountain creatures of the Wunderhorn; a dream fantasy in which Clara, Heidi’s wheelchair confined friend, meets her Prince Charming at a fantastic ball; and Ode to a Rat, in which a band of evil but clownish rats, led by King Rat, are roused into attacking Heidi in a dark cellar. Voices are provided by Lorne Greene as Grandfather, Margery Gray as Heidi and Sammy Davis, Jr. as King Rat. Sixteen original songs were written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Burton Lane. Heidi’s Song has all the elements to make a thoroughly enjoyable film that children will cherish a lifetime.

Review: In the tradition of fanciful, but somewhat dark, 1980s animated films, 1985's Heidi's Song is a wonderful children's tale of love, devotion and friendship.  This all but lost animated feature hasn't been seen on home video since the mid-80s VHS release!  Now, the Warner Archive has brought it back for a new generation to enjoy and for we that are now adults to relive.  There were a lot of animated features back in the 70s and 80s that pushed the bar and could now be considered a little creepy....a little twisted.   While this one doesn't top that pile, it certainly falls into the realm.   The video transfer on the DVD is phenominal...the film looks better than ever and it was great to see it again after all these years.

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The Viral Factor Blu-Ray Review

 

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