Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Quest for the Crystal Mickey DVD Review


click the title above to read the full review...


Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Quest for the Crystal Mickey DVD Review


 Synopsis: There's no time to lose after greedy Plunderin' Pete snatches the legendary Crystal Mickey statue from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Without this sparkly statue's magic, the Clubhouse will disappear forever! Can the world's most extraordinary hero, Mickey, get the magical statue back in time?

Only with your help - and the right Mouseketools - can Mickey journey across the Sandy Desert, brave the Rushing River and make his way through the Hidden Jungle. But watch out for Pete's trickiest traps!

 Review: I remember a time, not too long ago, when I thought that the Mickey character was dead in the water.  He wasn't really used anymore and was more of an aged symbol of the Disney brand.   Then, something magical happened...the Disney Channel started airing Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, a CGI based cartoon, and all of a sudden Mickey and friends gained new legs!  My three year old is Mickey CRAZY.  This DVD features the great Quest for the Crystal Mickey feature and an additional four episodes.  This one is wildly entertaining, fun and kid friendly.  We cannot recommend it enough!

Includes the additional episodes "Donald Of The Desert," "Donald The Genie," "Goofy's Coconutty Monkey," and "Goofy's Giant Adventure." 


Interest Range: Animation, Disney Channel

Howl's Moving Castle (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) Review


click the title above to read the full review...

Howl's Moving Castle (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) Review


Synopsis: For the first time on Blu-ray, Disney proudly presents a remarkable Studio Ghibli film from Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki (best animated feature, 2001, Spirited Away). Howl’s Moving Castle soars like never before with a new HD digital transfer, and perfect picture and sound!

Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl’s magnificent moving castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell. Featuring the voice talents of Christian Bale and Billy Crystal, Miyazaki’s artistry comes to life with inventive characters, unique storytelling, and richly detailed animation. Your whole family will love this epic fantasy on Disney Blu-ray!

Review: No one does Japanese anime like Miyazaki.  Fortunately, thanks to John Lasseter being the head of Disney animation they are importing Miyazaki's fantastic and moving films.  This is the debut of Howl's Moving Castle on blu-ray high-definition!  The film, at it's heart, is a love story.  Its extremely dynamic and visually stunning.  We cannot recommend it enough.

Interest Range: Animation, Anime

My Neighbor Totoro (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) Review


click the title above to read the full review...

My Neighbor Totoro (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) Review


Synopsis: Disney presents a Studio Ghibli film about the magic of friendship and sisterhood from Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki (Best Animated Feature, 2001, Spirited Away).  Celebrate the 25th anniversary of My Neighbor Totoro – available for the first time on Disney Blu-ray, with a new HD digital transfer and perfect picture and sound! 

Follow the adventures of Satsuki and her four-year-old sister Mei as they discover their new neighbor is a mysterious forest spirit named Totoro who can only be seen by the eyes of a child.  As Totoro introduces the girls to his extraordinary friends, they embark on the journey of a lifetime.  Featuring the voice talents of Tim Daly, Lea Salonga and real-life sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning, My Neighbor Totoro is an amazing animated adventure the whole family will fall in love with.

Review: I had no idea what was going on with this film.  My sister brought it over ages ago and introduced my daughter to it.  Since then, she has raved about Totoro.   She even has a Totoro themed hat that she wears in the winter!  I'd heard that he was kind of like a Japanese Winnie the Pooh, but I felt like this new release was a great time to see what all the fuss is about!

The film is very fanciful and interesting.  Not surprising for a Miyazaki anime.  It centers around these two sisters, who are very close.  Their mother is in the hospital, so their dad takes them to this new home.  There, they meet the spirit of the forest, Totoro.  He takes them on magical journies and cares for them while their mother is away.  Its a very touching and wonderful story.

The film is finally available on blu-ray, which will please anime fans!  The movie looks amazing in high-definition. This one is a great addition to your collection!

Interest Range: Animation, Anime

Stand-Up Guys Blu-Ray Review


click the title above to read the full review...

Stand-Up Guys Blu-Ray Review



Synopsis: STAND UP GUYS stars Academy Award winners Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin as retired gangsters who reunite for one epic last night. But one of the friends is keeping a dangerous secret - he has to kill his friend, and his time to find an acceptable alternative is running out. As the sun rises on the guys' reunion, their position becomes more and more desperate and they finally confront their pasts once and for all.

Review: If you're looking for a film that has three legendary actors..this one is for you!  This film is half life drama and half dark comedy.  The film is dominated by Walken and Pacino, who both do great, but the real highlight of the film is Alan Arkin, who is a favorite of mine.  The film is a great aftermath to the criminal buddy flick..we get to see what happens to aging criminals, with a very gratifying conclusion.  I highly recommend this one!

Interest Range: Drama, Action

Captain America: Collector's Edition Blu-Ray Review


click the title above to read the full review...

Captain America: Collector's Edition Blu-Ray Review



Synopsis: Long ago, Steve Rogers (Matt Salinger) was a true American hero, a brave super soldier created by scientists to help the Allied Forces fight for freedom in World War II. But during a battle with the sinister Red Skull (Scott Paulin), he was lost, entombed in ice. Decades later, his body has been found and revived and Steve must again don the mantle of Captain America to help save the President of the United States (Ronny Cox) , and the world, from his arch-nemesis once and for all.

For the first time, director Albert Pyun’s cult classic is presented in widescreen and in astonishing high-definition!

Review: This is what Shout Factory does best. They bring us things sometimes forgotten...sometimes for the better, but to many of us b-movie enthusiasts films like this are the best!  Think back to a time before the X-Men films..before Spiderman..the Dark Knight..The Avengers..remember when comic book movies were awful more often than not?  Captain America falls into this category.  Its 1990s comic book movie at its worst.  That being said, its also a huge guilty pleasure, and I honestly think Red Skull looks better in this version than the modern one!  This is a must have for any comic book or b-movie fan.  The movie looks great in high-definition for the first time!  This release also includes a
brand new interview: Looking Back At Captain America With Director Albert Pyun.

 Interest Range: Action, Marvel Comics

LEGO Batman: The Movie - DC Super Heroes Unite Blu-Ray / DVD Review


click the title above to read the full review...

LEGO Batman: The Movie - DC Super Heroes Unite Blu-Ray / DVD Review

Synopsis: When Bruce Wayne receives the man of the year award, fellow billionaire Lex Luthor becomes jealous and decides to run for President. To create the atmosphere for his type of fear-based politics Lex recruits the Joker to perfect a Black LEGO Destructor Ray which wreaks havoc on Gotham. As Lex destroys Batman's tech, Batman reluctantly turns to Superman for help.

Review: The first thing to note is that this comes in a blu-ray / DVD combo pack, which is fantastic as a parent and collector.  I keep the blu-ray and the kids can borrow the DVD.  It works out great.  The box set also includes an exclusive Clark Kent Lego mini-figure!  A great bonus....although I'd rather have had a Bruce Wayne personally.

Whats Good About this Film

The film credits open with Danny Elfman's classic Batman theme from 1989 and a mimic of the opening credits, with the Batman symobol forming out of Lego.  Definately a good move and a great way to get fans into the mood!   Batman and Superman continue their long time rivalry.  Supes shows up in the nick of time to the tune of his classic John Williams composed movie theme.  The typical arrogant boyscout, his every word and movement annoys Batman to the upteenth degree.  The entire Justice League gets involved in the film, along with a huge portion of Batman's rogues gallery.

Whats GREAT About this Film

The voice cast is full of experienced voice actors of the highest quality, including two classic Ninja Turtles alum, Townsend Coleman and Rob Paulsen.  The highlight, however, is Clancy Brown reprising his long-time role as Lex Luthor.  He brings a dignity and presence to the character that is unmatched.

What to watch for

The film is full of a fantastic mixture of action and humor.  The tongue in cheek comedy is one of the best parts of the Lego films, from Star Wars to Batman. The film even ends with the hint of a sequel, which would be wonderful in this reviewer's opinion!

Bonus Features

This set includes some great bonus features, including a fun feature about the Lego stop motion animator bringing some kids into his studio and teaching them about animation.  Also, we get a few episodes of Brave and the Bold and a Teen Titans episode to watch.  Then, we get the finalists from the Batman Lego stop motion animation contest.  Tons of fun stuff to watch.

Links: www.legionsofgotham.org 

Interest Range: Dc Comics, Animation, Lego

Win a copy of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Quest for the Crystal Mickey on DVD!


click the title above to read the full review...


To enter to win this great new Disney DVD just email your entry to us at dvdlegion.com @ gmail.com.  Good luck!

Win a copy of Fringe: The Complete Fifth Season on Blu-Ray!


click the title above to read the full review...


For a chance to win simply email us at dvdlegion.com @ gmail.com and you're entered.  Good luck!

Face 2 Face DVD Review


click the title above to read the full review...

Face 2 Face DVD Review



Synopsis: Face 2 Face is a feature length documentary that follows the 11,000 mile cross country adventure of Emmy Award winning filmmaker, Katherine Brooks (Loving Annabelle, Waking Madison). After major surgery, Katherine found herself feeling isolated and alone. Spending her days on Facebook, Katherine noticed she had 5,000 virtual friends, but had not had a hug in over a month. Struck with the idea that it takes more than a friend request to be a friend, she posted the status update: the first 50 people who say YES...I m coming to your city to meet you face to face. Within 9 minutes, Katherine had her 50. Funded solely by 846 backers on Kickstarter, in the summer of 2011, Katherine set out on a journey that would change her life and those around her. DVD BONUS FEATURES Slideshow Deleted Scenes Trailer More from Wolfe

Review: This documentary is a phenominally interesting journey from Kat Brooks from a dark place in her life to a more positive one.  The documentary also serves as a great commentary on our modern social media frenzy.  She travels to 50 of her facebook "friends" to visit them face to face.  This one is a very unique documentary, unlike anything we've seen.  It has a great vision and a very positive message, without being preachy.  Its a great watch.

Interest Range: Documentary

Revenge For Jolly DVD Review


click the title above to read the full review...

Revenge For Jolly DVD Review
 


 Synopsis: Harry (Brian Petsos) is having a very, very bad day. He returns home from an all-night drinking binge with his cousin Cecil (Oscar Issac), to discover that his little dog Jolly...Harry's one true love and the source of light in his dark, solitary life-has been murdered. Brokenhearted and beyond consolation, he vows to track down the dog's murderer at any cost. Armed with a stockpile of firepower in the trunk of his car, he and Cecil embark on a frenzied, alcohol-fueled wild-goose chase, leaving a bloody path of destruction in their wake.

Review: There are so many films out there, from action to romantic comedy, that are just cookie cutter copies.  None of them have an original thought in their entire being, much less a fun or new tone.  Revenge for Jolly isn't the best made film I've ever seen and the base theme of revenge isn't terribly new, but the tone and the quality of the film is a breath of fresh air.  The film reminds of the originality in dialogue and tone that Tarrantino brings to the screen.  This movie was ultra-violent, moody and a ton of dark fun.  We highly recommend.

 Interest Range: Dark Comedy

The Oranges Blu-Ray + DVD Review


click the title above to read the full review...

The Oranges Blu-Ray + DVD Review
 


 Synopsis: Fresh-squeezed laughs and sexy fun sweeten this critically-acclaimed comedy with an all-star cast, including Leighton Meester, Hugh Laurie, Oliver Platt and Catherine Keener. What does it take to be truly happy? Two suburban families are about to find out when the Ostroffs' rebellious daughter Nina (Meester) returns home and starts an adulterous affair with long-time family friend David Walling (Laurie.) The outrageous scandal reaches a hilarious new heights during the holidays and makes these New Jersey neighbors tear apart more than just wrapping paper. Love is a wrecking ball headed straight for The Oranges...and it may just change all of their lives forever.

Review: The Oranges is a romantic drama that involves a quiet town and two families that have known each other forever.   One family's wild daughter returns home and falls into an affair with the father of the other family, who is incidentally her own father's best friend.  This sends all of their lives into what is seemingly a downward spiral, but is truly a path of discovery.  Through the discovery of the affair and the inevitable aftermath all people in question have to examine their lives, for better or worse.  This was a great indie film and it really touches on a lot of suburban and life issues that we should all face.   We definately recommend it.

 Interest Range: Drama

Private Practice: The Complete Sixth Season DVD Review


click the title above to read the full review...


Private Practice: The Complete Sixth Season DVD Review


 Synopsis: Prepare yourself for the stunning no holds barred final season of television's most seductive medical drama from the creator of Grey's Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes. Feel the passion and relive the heartbreaking moments from every episode of ABC's Private Practice: The Complete Sixth Season. The tight knit family at Seaside Health and Wellness is in for a huge shakeup as a new doctor arrives in the wake of a devastating loss; meanwhile, Addison makes a heart-wrenching choice between Jake and Sam; and more changes are in store for Cooper and Charlotte who discover that life's biggest events come in threes. Lastly, Sheldon finds true happiness in the midst of a traumatic personal challenge. Experience all 13 episodes complete with never-before-seen bonus features on ABC's Private Practice: The Complete Sixth Season!

Review: Private Practice is the spin-off of Grey's Anatomy that took off like a fire.  Often times spinoffs don't do so well, Frasier being the exception.   This show managed to spin-off of an already running TV show and even enjoyed the occasional crossover.  It had a different tone, being set in a more loose and hip California backdrop, but the essential drama was the same in tone as Greys.  The cast was always phenominal and the situations never ceased to amaze.  The show dealt with all kinds of tough issues from death, abortion and rape to relationships, teen pregnancy and others.  They pretty much covered everything, but in a very fluid and great way for the storytelling and character development.  This final season gave us 13 episodes and a fantastic wrap-up for our characters!  This one is not to be missed.

 Interest Range: Drama

Win a copy of Private Practice: The Sixth and Final Season on DVD!


click the title above to read the full review...


For your chance to win, just email us at dvdlegion.com @ gmail.com.  Good luck!

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh coming to Blu-Ray!


click the title above to read the full review...


This August, return to the Hundred Acre Woods with The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh on DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital Copy!  Enjoy this Disney classic now digitally restored and remastered and loaded with extras including 5 new "Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" shorts and much more!

Beloved Original Animated Classic Debuts for the First Time on
Blu-ray™ and HD Digital - August 27, 2013

Broken City (Blu-ray / DVD + Digital Copy) Review


click the title above to read the full review...

Broken City (Blu-ray / DVD + Digital Copy) Review



Synopsis: Seven years after being forced to resign as a New York police officer, private detective Billy Taggart (Wahlberg) takes on his toughest case yet: following the wife (Zeta-Jones) of the city's hard-nosed mayor (Crowe), who's convinced she's cheating on him. But by the time the mayor reveals his true intentions, Billy is already in too deep. Now, with his freedom - and quite possibly his life - on the line, Billy will risk it all in a desperate bid to expose the truth, and seek redemption in a city where second chances don't come cheap.

Review: Broken City, at first glance, appears to be the type of politicial / police corruption film that you might have seen before.  In some ways, that may be true.  There are few twists that you can't see coming in this one.  However, what makes this film so enjoyable is the ride that the amazing cast takes you on.  From Russell Crowe to Catherine Zeta-Jones, this is a dream cast with some great drama to enjoy.  This one is a really fun watch.

Interest Range: Action

Koala Kid DVD Review


click the title above to read the full review...


Koala Kid DVD Review


 Synopsis: Journey down under and meet a whole new breed of hero in this laugh-filled, action-packed animated adventure with an all-star voice cast, including Rob Schneider, Tim Curry, and Alan Cumming. Johnny (Schneider) is a rare white koala bear who just wants to fit in and make friends. But when a twist of fate mistakenly transforms him into a fearless protector of animals, called "Koala Kid", Johnny finds himself in over his head on a thrilling trek across the outback. With help from his hilarious new sidekicks, including a crafty Tasmanian devil, a lovable lizard and a boomerang-flinging female koala, Johnny may just outwit a villainous crocodile named Bog (Cumming) and become a true hero after all.

 Review: There are a few films that come out each year in the animation genre, which aren't produced by Disney or Dreamworks, that catch our eye.  Koala Kid is one of them.  This one is a Walmart / Sam's Club exclusive item, but its worth hunting down.  The all-star cast is phenominal and really lends a great quality to this kids adventure.  We found the film to be fun and good spirited.  My kids from ages 3 to 10 all enjoyed it.  We definately recommend.

 Interest Range: Animation

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
 

DVDLEGION.COM Copyright © 2009-2013 The Legion Fan Network. DVD Legion is your home for DVD Reviews, Blu-Ray Reviews, DVD News and Blu-Ray News.
Visit the other sites in our network Legions of Gotham, Toy Legion, Ghostbusters Collector and Toy Story/Pixar Collector