Magnolia Blu-Ray Review


Magnolia Blu-Ray Review


You can purchase this blu-ray online today

Synopsis: Magnolia is a mosaic of American life woven through a series of comic poignant vignettes. Through a collusion of coincidence, chance, human action, shared media, past history and divine intervention, nine people will weave and warp through each other's lives on a day that builds to an unforgettable climax. Some will seek forgiveness, others escape. Some will mend frayed bonds, others will be exposed.

Review: Does fate exist, or are all of the events in life simply random?  No movie that I've seen better portrays this conundrum than Magnolia.  The film, which bombed originally at the box office, has been often overlooked and misunderstood by movie-goers.  Hopefully with this new release to the blu-ray format, new viewers will get the opportunity to experience this great montage of human existance.

The film can be very confusing to some moviegoers.  It gives you bit after bit of these characters lives and you really don't understand how these random events have anything to do with one another, but by the end of the film everything gets tied into one.  Its one of those films that you just need to stick with until the end, even if you get a bit lost.  Its definately worth the payoff!

This is the first time to see the film in high-definition.  The transfer into 1080p really went well.  There is a bit of grain here and there, but overall you get some good skin textures and there is a rather large event at the end of the film and the effects there come of well.  All of the extras on this blu-ray previously appeared on the two-disc 'Platinum Edition' DVD that was released a decade ago, so nothing new there.  Magnolia on blu-ray is a nice addition to any collection.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Video: You can watch a clip from the movie HERE

Links: www.warnerblu.com and www.wbreelnews.com

Highlander Seasons 2 and 3 coming to Blu-Ray!


Straight from Davis-Panzer....These will each be released on April 30th 2010 at a $39.95 price point.

Highlander Season Two on Blu-ray
For Duncan MacLeod, season two is one filled with hope, heroics and heartache. Through it all the mystery of the "Highlander" unfolds and deepens as his incredible story leaps time and emotions to bring us further into the tortured world of the Immortals. In the end, there can be only one.

Exclusive Blu-ray Bonus Features*:

- “Back for Seconds”: A 30 minute documentary on the making of the show, focusing on the episodes and includes never before seen interviews with Elizabeth Gracen, Jim Byrnes, Stan Kirsch, Bill Panzer, and David Abramowitz.
- Photo Montage: An exciting behind-the-scenes look at the crew and actors in action from episodes of Season 2.
- Picture in picture commentaries by Adrian Paul for episodes “Return of Amanda” and “Revenge of the Sword”
Starring: Adrian Paul, Alexandra Vandernoot, Stan Kirsch, Amanda Wyss, Jim Byrnes
Directors: Paolo Barzman, Dennis Berry, Clay Boris, Peter Ellis, Bruno Gantillon
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 1078 Minutes

Technical Specs:
Video
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 720p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1 displayed within 4:3 look
Original aspect ratio: 4:3/1:33
Audio
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1*
Subtitles: None
Disc: 5 50GB Blu-ray Discs
Regions :A /B /C (Americas, Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, India, China, Mongolia, South & Central Asia)

Episodes
  1. The Watchers
  2. Studies In Light
  3. Turnabout
  4. The Darkness
  5. An Eye For An Eye
  6. The Zone
  7. The Return of Amanda
  8. Revenge of the Sword
  9. Run For Your Life
  10. Epitaph For Tommy
  11. The Fighter
  12. Under Color of Authority
  13. Bless The Child
  14. Unholy Alliance, Part I
  15. Unholy Alliance, Part II
  16. The Vampire
  17. The Warmonger
  18. The Pharaoh's Daughter
  19. Legacy
  20. Prodigal Son
  21. Counterfeit, Part I
  22. Counterfeit, Part II

*Subject to change

Highlander Season Three on Blu-ray
The epic Highlander saga hits full stride in Season Three with a gripping collection of tales that introduce some of the legend's most vital characters and most vaunted weaponry. Through it all the mystery of the "Highlander" unfolds and deepens as his incredible story leaps time and emotions to bring us further into the tortured world of the Immortals. In the end, "There Can Be Only One."


Exclusive Blu-ray Bonus Features*:
- “Third Time’s a Charm”: An insightful 30 minute documentary on the making of the show, focusing on the episodes, including interviews with the Production Team as well as Jim Byrnes, Elizabeth Gracen, Peter Wingfield, Stan Kirsch and Adrian Paul.
-Photo Montage: A great montage of the Highlander Production team for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of episodes from Season 3.
-Picture in picture commentaries by various cast and Production Team members from episodes “The Samurai,” “The Cross of St. Antoine,” “Shadows,” “Blackmail,” “Star-Crossed,” “Methos,” “Mortal Sings,” and “Finale Part 2.”

Starring: Adrian Paul, Alexandra Vandernoot, Stan Kirsch, Amanda Wyss, Jim Byrnes
Directors: Mario Azzopardi, Paolo Barzman, Dennis Berry, Charles Wilkinson
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 1078 Minutes

Technical Specs:
Video
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 720p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1 displayed within 4:3 look
Original aspect ratio: 4:3/1:33
Audio
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles: None
Disc: 5 50GB Blu-ray Discs
Regions :A /B /C (Americas, Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, India, China, Mongolia, South & Central Asia)

Episodes:
  1. The Watchers
  2. Studies In Light
  3. Turnabout
  4. The Darkness
  5. An Eye For An Eye
  6. The Zone
  7. The Return of Amanda
  8. Revenge of the Sword
  9. Run For Your Life
  10. Epitaph For Tommy
  11. The Fighter
  12. Under Color of Authority
  13. Bless The Child
  14. Unholy Alliance, Part I
  15. Unholy Alliance, Part II
  16. The Vampire
  17. The Warmonger
  18. The Pharaoh's Daughter
  19. Legacy
  20. Prodigal Son
  21. Counterfeit, Part I
  22. Counterfeit, Part II


*Subject to change

Last Action Hero Blu-Ray Review


Last Action Hero Blu-Ray Review

You can purchase this blu-ray online today

Synopsis: Arnold Schwarzenegger is movie idol Jack Slater in Last Action Hero, which follows the adventures of 11-year-old Danny (Austin O'Brien), whose magic ticket blasts him out of his theater seat and into an action movie. There he teams up with Slater, living his wildest fantasies in a celluloid world where anything is possible.

Review: I think that Last Action Hero is one of the most misunderstood films of the 1990s.  This one came out after Arnold Schwarzenegger's big screen smash Terminator 2.  The entire point of this film was somewhat misunderstood...it was a tongue-in-cheek view of the action film genre.  It was Arnold Schwarzenegger actually poking fun at himself.   I found this to be hilarious, myself.  Movie-going audiences didn't agree....

This film is considered by many to be Arnold's worst.  I think it was his best, because he was actually exploiting the industry that made him so famous.  The cheeky Stallone as the Terminator bit and all of the comedic overkill throughout the film made for a great watch.  I honestly feel that after T2 people just weren't looking for this type of move from Schwarzenegger. 

I can't lie to you..when this one got transfered into 1080p high-definition it left some grain behind.  The audio is great, but the picture does suffer a bit.  This is a fun film and is definately worth owning on blu-ray.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Cliffhanger Blu-Ray Review


Cliffhanger Blu-Ray Review


You can purchase this blu-ray online today


Synopsis: Sarah was an inexperienced climber. She trusted Gabe to rescue her. But something went wrong high above the valley floor...Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, Janine Turner and Ralph Waite star in this high-altitude avalanche of action: a non-stop adventure peak with suspense and capped with heart-quaking terror. For Rocky Mountain Rescue, the mission is almost routine: locate five climbers. With the woman he loves (Turner) and his best friend (Rooker), Gabe Walker (Stallone) braves the icy peaks only to discover that the distress call is really a trap set by merciless international terrorist Eric Qualen (Lithgow). Now millions of dollars and their own lives hang in the balance. Against explosive firepower, bitter cold, and dizzying heights, Walker must outwit Qualen in a deadly game of hide-and-seek.

Review: There were a lot of silly action movies back in the 1990s.  Two of the top silly action flicks have come out on blu-ray this last week!  Sylvester Stallone, a rock climber rescuer takes on terrorists in this homage to action.

The first thing you have to do with this movie is suspend reality.  You're thinking to yourself 'yeah, its a movie of course I need to do that'.  No, but you really, really need to suspend reality.  Firstly, you have Jonathan Lithgow as an international terrorist.  I'm sorry, but I'm not scared of Lithgow.  Its kind of like having Mr. T play the President of the United States.   Also, you get a lot of what are now very outdated special effects and scenery shots while they do battle on these mountains. 

We can get beyond that here at DVD Legion, though.  We love high-octane action flicks and Cliffhanger is one of the tops.  There's a ton of action and some great dialogue.  There are some great death scenes, including being thrown off of a cliff and dying in an avalanche.  I hate it when that happens!  The new blu-ray transfer comes across well, and doesn't have any excess of grain.  If you saw this movie back in the day, and you already make concessions for it, then you'll love this release.  If you've never seen Cliffhanger, well I feel sorry for you, because you won't be able to enjoy it like you would've been able to when it was released.  Still, this is a nice, solid addition to any blu-ray collection.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

BBC Robin Hood: Season 3 DVD Review


BBC Robin Hood: Season 3 DVD Review

You can purchase this DVD online today

Synopsis: The legend continues... With new allies and old enemies, Robin Hood returns for a third series full of thrilling adventures as Robin and his gang continue to outwit the dastardly Sheriff and his forces. As the series begins, the outlaws are in disarray. Marian is dead and Robin has split up the gang and launched a solo mission to avenge her and kill Gisborne. It is only the intervention of the mysterious Tuck that stops Robin joining Marian in an early grave. Which is bad news for Gisbourne and the Sheriff. Under pressure from Prince John, they must take down Robin Hood once and for all. When the prince, tired of their ineffectualness and bad leadership, arrives in Nottingham to reprimand the Sheriff and Gisbourne, it becomes clear that there is only room forone sidekick at his table,but which one?


Review: This isn't your parent's Robin Hood!  No one does it better than the BBC.  The BB--what?  The BBC!  Over in England they green light some fantastic television and Robin Hood is on the forefront.  Inventing a new show and characters like LOST is fine and dandy, but to take existing characters that you already have some investment in and making them edgy and interesting in this day and age is amazing.

The show had run a great course throughout seasons 1 and 2 (if you haven't seen it then we recommend picking up the DVDs!), but what to do, so that Robin Hood doesn't get dull?  Why......

--SPOILER ALERT--

.....You kill off Maid Marian, of course!  Thats right at the end of season two thats precisely what they did.  No bolder move could have been taken.  My fear is that this move will doom the series to be done..and the buzz around the net is just that, there may be no season four for Robin Hood.  That would make this the third and final season of the show.  I know that I like to collect DVDs of a series once its all over with, so that I can view it all the way through.  Now you can do that with Robin Hood.  To make it three seasons on the BBC is fairly difficult as it is, so that shows you the fantastic quality of this fantasy series.

The action is great and the characters are well developed.  You care about Robin..  You hate the Sheriff.  Nottingham is done in such a fun way that it makes the epic Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves movie seem like an after-school special!  I recommend this for anyone that enjoys period pieces, fantasy or just plain good programming.

This DVD set includes some fantastic special features:

-A Legend Reborn (behind the scenes feature)
-A New Look (behind the scenes look at costuming)
-Trebuchet: Creating Chaos
-Character Profiles
-Video Diaries

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Video: Watch a clip from the show HERE

Links: http://www.BBCAmerica.com

ER: The Complete Twelfth Season DVD Review


ER: The Complete Twelfth Season DVD Review

You can purchase this DVD online today

Synopsis: Look who's checked in at County General: Dr. Victor Clemente arrives with a motor mouth, a load of talent, and a questionable past. Imposing, no-nonsense Eve Spellman takes charge (and almost takes over) as the new nurse manager. And hunky paramedic Tony Gates proves he's more than a guy on the make. Season 12 also brings spiraling drama and suspense to the lives of ER veterans. Abby and Kovacs share unexpected news. Gallant comes home from Iraq to be with Neela. Pratt goes to Darfur to work with Carter. And burn victims, stabbing victims, gunshot victims, assault victims--young and old, male and female, grateful and combative--keep the ER on edge. And sometimes over the edge.

Review: My wife made me watch ER every Thursday on NBC.   When I say that she made me I mean to say that...well, she made me.  I've never been much on the medical drama, but this one really started to grow on me.  This was my issue with the show..shell out some money and keep a cast member for more than three seasons.  After awhile it just got crazy, because to watch a show I have to be invested in the characters..its not the ER itself that I care about, so why keep switching it up on me?!  That being said, ER was a phenominal show.

In season 12 they added one of my favorite actors, John Leguizamo, as Dr. Victor Clemente.  This most definately saved this season for me.  They did something very topical and sent Carter to Darfur.  This move split the show between two locations, which in retrospect worked very well and added depth and scope to the show, but when it aired I was annoyed.  I really liked Carter and I could feel that this drastic creative move signaled the beginning of the end for him.  It was obvious to me that the actor was interested in more interesting writing for his character and he wasn't going to stay long.  Low and behold, he didn't.  Thats neither here nor there now that the show isn't airing new episodes anymore. 

I'm complaining a lot here, but honestly season 12 was FULL of great moments and tons of dramatic storytelling.  The Leguizamo story arc alone was both shocking and exciting.  I was sad to see him go.  It was sad to see how Gallant and Neela related after his military service.  This is a must-have for any ER fan and if you never saw the show, what better time than now.  Get this on DVD and get caught up.  The great part about ER changing it up so often is that you can jump in at any time and get caught right back up..you don't need to watch seasons 1-11 to get season 12. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Video: You can watch clips from the show HERE

Links: www.ertv.com

Super Friends Season 1, Volume 1 DVD Review



Super Friends Season 1, Volume 1 DVD Review
You can purchase this DVD online today!


Synopsis: SUPERMAN, BATMAN, ROBIN, WONDER WOMAN,  AQUAMAN, and the rest of the DC SUPER HEROES squad, team up again to protect the world as Warner Home Video (WHV) and DC Comics release on DVD SUPER FRIENDS! Season 1 Volume 1 on January 5, 2010 for $26.99 SRP.  Available for the first time since its debut on ABC in 1973, this highly-anticipated Two-Disc Collector’s set features eight one-hour adventures starring America’s favorite DC SUPER HEROES.

SUPER FRIENDS! Season 1 Volume 1 showcases some of the greatest DC SUPER HEROES of all time including SUPERMAN, BATMAN, ROBIN, WONDER WOMAN, and AQUAMAN as they combine their special powers to save the world. The Fab Five along with the help of hero trainees Wendy, Marvin and WONDER DOG must focus their abilities on saving lives and stopping unthinkable disasters by the hands of evil villains. SUPER FRIENDS! Season 1 Volume 1 also features memorable appearances by PLASTIC MAN, THE FLASH and GREEN ARROW! Each exciting hour is packed with timeless adventures as these comic book heroes pave the way for a brighter future. 

The Two-Disc Collector’s Edition also features:
·Over 20 minutes of bonus content complete with extra footage of the SUPER FRIENDS! series!
·An interactive trivia game featuring everyone’s favorite DC SUPER HEROES.

“Warner Home Video is thrilled to release the latest edition in the SUPER FRIENDS! collection with SUPER FRIENDS! Season 1 Volume 1,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Partner Brands Marketing.  “SUPER FRIENDS! has remained a pop culture sensation for over 35 years and now fans have an opportunity to relive the hit series’ unforgettable first season for the first time on DVD.”

SUPER FRIENDS! Season 1 Volume 1 includes eight action-packed episodes:

Disc I
The Power Pirate
The Baffles Puzzel
Professor Goodfellow’s G.E.E.C
The Weather Maker

Disc II
Dr. Pelagian’s War
The Shamon “U”
Too Hot To Handle
The Androids

Review: I have a lot of Super Friends on DVD.  Everything from the Challenge of the Superfriends to Galactic Guardians.  I've been waiting, as many fans have, for the original 1973 series to hit DVD.  You remember the one..it had Wendy, Marvin and the Wonder Dog!  Lots of color and bellbottoms.




The show is painful.  I'm not going to mince words here.  Its a painful show and its hard to watch sometimes.  On that same note, the show is also nostalgic and fun.  This is where it all began for a lot of Batman fans.  I watched some of the 1980s re-runs and new versions of the series and that was my first introduction to animated Batman.  We didn't have the luxury of Batman: The Animated Series and the rest of the 'Timmverse' when I was growing up...Super Friends was it!  This DVD release has 8 of the original 16 episodes, so a second volume will be rounding out this specific series soon.  Off the top of my head I think that the only other Super Friends show yet to make it onto DVD is the 'World's Greatest SuperFriends' show, but the experts can correct me if I'm wrong.

This set also includes a fun extra...its a Super Friends DVD trivia game.   The game can be done by one or multiple players.  You pin the options and you're asked a question about say Superman or Wonder Woman trivia.  This trivia isn't necessarily limited to the show, but the characters at large.  Its definately fun.



This is an essential piece to round out a Super Friends collection.  The entire series is nearly on DVD now!  This is obviously where it all began and its still fun to watch.  A must for any serious Batman fan.




Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Links:
Visit the Super Friends fansite on Legions of Gotham

Winnie The Pooh: A Valentine for You Special Edition DVD Review


You can purchase this DVD online today

Synopsis: Get ready to fall in love with this timeless Special Edition of Winnie The Pooh's beloved Valentine's Day classic! Join Pooh and his pals as they set off on an exciting adventure to find the Smitten (love bug) they think has bitten Christopher Robin. Brimming with magic and delightful songs, A VALENTINE FOR YOU reminds us that there's room in our hearts for both old and new friends! Then, enjoy extra fun and laughter with two more charming tales: Un-Valentine's Day and My Hero. It's a sweet treat for the entire family!

Bonus Features include: My Hero New To DVD! From THE NEW ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH, Catch The Love Bug Game Flying Love Bugs are On The Loose In The Hundred Acre Wood, And It's Up To You To Catch As Many As You Can.

Review: I love Winnie the Pooh.  Probably too much for a thirty year old man, but I do have three kids to hide behind at least, right?  Disney has been doing this great bit of re-releasing old Pooh specials onto DVD with extra features and including pack-in collectibles.  I love pack-in collectibles too!  This time around you get six exclusive Valentines with your DVD.  How fun is that?!  Thats something that is great for kids and collectible for adults.  Everyone wins.

This DVD is essentially a re-release of the old Pooh special Un-Valentine's Day.  I have this on VHS.  I bought it before I had kids!  Thats right.  Anyway, this release features: "A Valentine for You", "UnValentine's Day", "Three Piglets" and "My Hero". 

A Valentine for you was a 1999 Valentine's Day special where Christopher Robin gets sick with the love bug.  Un-Valentine's Day, Three Piglets and My Hero are all episodes from the very under-rated Saturday morning cartoon 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh'.  I'm really hoping that show gets a full DVD release someday.  It was really outstanding.   The My Hero episode is part of the special features on the DVD, along with a love bug game that the kids had a lot of fun playing.

The video transfer on those 'New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' episodes is a little fuzzy, but it actually looks just like I remember it on TV, so thats kinda fun and kids honestly don't seem to care!  I highly recommend this release this Valentine's Day for every family!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Southland Finds New Life on TNT!

Southland Finds New Life on TNT!



Its not often that a show jumps networks. It happened to Scrubs from NBC to ABC after that nasty last season with the writer's strike. And now, its happened to Southland. The show made the mistake of debuting on NBC the year before they decided to move forward with their now tragic Jay Leno Show experiment. Now that Leno has effectively trashed network TV and driven primetime viewers to cable tv, the brilliant folks at TNT have opted to pick-up the cop drama.



Whats that? Missed this one the first time around? No worries. They're going to air all seven episodes
and six NEW episodes all in the first half of 2010!
We had the opportunity to view the extended pilot and final NBC episode to catch me up to the series.  I hadn't seen it on tv when it aired originally.  I'm honestly glad that I didn't, because now I can watch it the way that it was meant to be seen by the show's creators.  They've added in SIX extra minutes to the pilot alone.  We're talking grittier situations, more language...lets face it any good drama belongs on cable and the freedoms that come along with that.  I'm going to be tuning in for certain.  I've found a great new cop drama to help fill the void that NYPD Blue left in my viewing schedule.  Law and Order is so dry and unoriginal at this point..and I never got into that CSI garbage.  Southland..this is the way that cop shows were meant to be.   I highly recommend tuning in tomorrow night, so that you can keep up with this series.  Its so good that they not only moved it to TNT, but they produced new episodes.  How can you say no to that?

Southland...Beginning with the Extended, Commercial-Free Premiere Tuesday, Jan. 12, Only on TNT at 10/9c.

Find more information on this series at: http://www.tnt.tv/series/southland

Big Love: The Complete Third Season DVD Review


Big Love: The Complete Third Season DVD Review

You can purchase this DVD online today

Synopsis: As if juggling three wives weren't tricky enough, Season Three of Emmy®- and Golden Globe®-nominated 'Big Love' finds modern polygamist Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton) tackling problems outside his three-house suburban home. Bill a practicing polygamist who lives in suburban Salt Lake City with his three wives and seven children. An independent businessman who runs a growing chain of hardware stores, Bill faces a myriad of challenges in meeting the emotional, romantic and financial needs of his wives Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn), Nicki (Chloe Sevigny) and Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin).

Review: If you haven't seen Big Love before, then you're in for a whole big pile of creepy.  The show follows the Hendrickson family as they try to live a daily life in the midst of polygamy.  Bill Hendrickson (Bill Paxton) has three wives and seven kids amongst them.  I know that having many women can be a male fantasy, but perhaps Big Love will deter a bit.  The complications of not one wife, but three are outstanding.

The one issue with this show is that it may have run its course after this season.  The storylines are getting a bit redundant and there are only so many different situations that you can put these characters in before you drastically change up the scenery.  Big Love could take a lesson or two from Weeds, who has done a great job of constantly changing up the show.

If you're a fan of this show, then season 3 will definately please.  You can watch the family as they've left the church, yet still have to contend with them, neighbors and the ever creepy Roman Grant.   Definately pick this one up and add it to your collection.  If you haven't seen the show, you should check it out.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

TV Preview: Leverage is back on TNT!




The folks at TNT were kind enough to send us a screener for the second part of season 2 of Leverage.  There are a total of six new episodes airing throughout January and February, beginning this Wednesday at 10pm Eastern/ 9pm Central time.  We had the chance to preview the first two episodes in this six episode run....

The show aired some episodes last summer and by the end of that run in September, Sophie (the grifter) had left the team!  This was devastating to us, since she's one of our favorite characters, and not terrible to look at to boot!  At the close of that summer finale we found out that Jeri Ryan (Star Trek Voyager) was sent by Sophie to con her way into the team and help them out while she's gone.   Having watched Leverage from the beginning, we could call that she was trying to con them right away, but it was still a fun watch.  This new batch opens up with her as a member of the team.  Firstly...Sophie fans can breathe a sigh of relief...she is still in the credits and Ryan is listed only as a special guest star.


Now, the show trucks on with its mold that honestly doesn't need changed.  They can do the same thing over and over and it just keeps bringing us back.  Why?  Two words...character development.  This show has without a doubt one of the best ensomble casts that we've seen.   In the same way that the Oceans 11 movies rope you in with the great personalities and banter, Leverage has managed to dominate cable tv as the most character driven drama.

"The Runaway Job' premieres this wednesday.  The gang takes down a sweatshop owner and in the process gets mixed up in the fashion world and battles the Chinese Triads.  Its not a good situation and Ryan is really put to the test.  Whether the team can trust her or not is really called into question.

"The Bottle Job" brings us back to Nate's old neighborhood.  He tries to save a pub owner that he knew as a kid and things get interesting.  It was a great bit for Nate's character to see where he came from and learn a little about his father.  And fans beware...he takes a drink!  We all know what that can lead to!


LEVERAGE - All-new starting Wednesday, Jan. 13, Only on TNT at 10/9c.

Video Links: The Runaway Job -  The Bottle Job

Links: http://www.tnt.tv/series/leverage/

Spaceballs: the Totally Warped Animated Adventures DVD Review


Spaceballs: the Totally Warped Animated Adventures DVD Review

You can purchase this DVD online today!

Synopsis: May the farce be with you! Modern filmdom and popular culture get lampooned at ludicrous speed as “Spaceballs: The Totally Warped Animated Adventures!” comes to DVD December 29 from MGM Home Entertainment. Re-introducing the art of ridiculous satire to the small screen, the animated half-hour episodes pick up where the cult-classic feature film left off, showcasing rollicking parody of pop culture for a new generation of fans, including hilarious imitations of James Bond, Harry Potter and the video game “Grand Theft Auto.” Executive produced and Co-Created by Academy Award winner Mel Brooks* (The Producers, Young Frankenstein), “Spaceballs: The Totally Warped Animated Adventures!” reprises the roles of the original Spaceballs cast, including Joan Rivers (“The Joan Rivers Show,” Shrek 2) as the droid Dot Matrix, Daphne Zuniga (“Melrose Place,” “One Tree Hill”) as the lovely Princess Vespa and Brooks as the comic sage Yogurt. Joining the fight against the evil Dark Helmet are unforgettable characters Captain Lone Starr and his half-human-half-canine sidekick, Barf.

Special Features

  • The Moron’s Guide
  • Episode I – “Outbreak”
  • Intermission – “Satisfied Customers”
  • Episode II – “Skroobinator”
  • Intermission – “Thanks For Your Order”
  • Episode III – “The Deep Ship”
  • Intermission – “Sing Along With Skyroob”
  • Episode IV – “Grand Theft Starship”
  • And That’s Not All
  • One More Goodie
Review: Who doesn't love Spaceballs?   Its one of the all time best spoof movies.  Now the animated adventures are an entirely different story.  I'd only heard negative comments made about the four episode run of this animated spin-off.  It has a great voice cast, including Brooks himself, but I'd heard that it was terrible, so I was a little apprehensive going into it.  I have to say that the negative reviews are far overblown.

When I popped this one in I found a charming cartoon that definately provided some laughs.  The animation comes off more like a net flash cartoon, but the voice acting was well-done and there were a lot of PG-13 jokes and sexual innuendos.  The characterizations weren't spot-on from the film and some details were changed, but Mel Brooks made this, I think he can be given room to do whatever he wants with his own franchise, right?   It comes off a lot like the Drawn Together series from a few years back.

Bottom line, I wish this show wouldn't have been cancelled.  With some more time it could've hit a great stride and become a regular show.  I definately recommend this DVD for any Spaceballs fan.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

The Marine 2 Blu-Ray Review


The Marine 2 Blu-Ray Review


You can purchase this blu-ray online today

Synopsis: relaxing five-star holiday turns into an all out battleground for Marine recon sniper Joe Linwood when a group of local rebels seize control of the hotel taking the billionaire owner, and a group of guests, including Joe's wife, hostage. With the victims in danger of being brutally murdered, Joe takes matters into his own hands in order to save his wife from certain death.

  • Audio: English: 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio / Spanish & French: 5.1 Dolby Digital
  • Language: Dubbed & Subtitled: English, French & Spanish
  • Aspect Ratio: Widescreen
  • Forced Trailers: Hitman 2, Jennifer's Body, Family Guy Presents: Something Something Something Dark Side, Gentlemen Broncos
  • Feature Commentary with Ted DiBiase and Roel Reine
  • Feature Commentary with Roel Reine
  • Extended and Deleted Scenes
  • Deleted Scenes Montage
  • Behind the Scenes/Making of Features
  • BD +
  • BD Live Ready Boot strap

Review: The WWE has been searching for their next big star.  They had Stone Cold Steve Austin, John Cena and of course Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as break-out stars that crossed over media.  Their latest offering to cinema is Ted DiBiase Jr., who is the son of classic wrestler 'The Million Dollar Man'.  Ted Jr.'s acting ability isn't exactly DeNiro, but he does an alright job.  We've come to expect a lesser grade of acting in action films.  I mean hell, we watched Schwartzenegger and Stalone, right?

This is truly an atypical action film.  An evil crime boss kidnaps our characters girlfriend and he goes on an explosive quest to get her back.  The film is rather predictable, but if you enjoy action films, then its plenty of fun.  The cinematography is great and it really comes off like a big-budget film.

The blu-ray transfer looks fantastic at 1080, but there is a little grain in the nighttime scenes.  The audio is fantastic.  I definately recommend picking this one up on blu-ray, its worth it for the explosion scenes!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Glee: Season 1, Volume 1 DVD Review


Glee: Season 1, Volume 1 DVD Review


You can buy this DVD online today!


Synopsis: Give a cheer for TV’s hottest, funniest and most talked-about new series when “Glee” Season 1: Road To Sectionalsdebuts on DVD December 29 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  Filled with beloved characters and sensational musical numbers, “Glee” Season 1: Road To Sectionals is an electrifying, pitch-perfect winner.  William McKinley High School once had a champion glee club, but now they are floundering.  That is when an idealistic Spanish teacher (Matthew Morrison, Music & Lyrics) takes up their cause, vowing to transform the rag-tag group of singers and dancers into champions.

From Ryan Murphy, the creator of “Nip/Tuck,” “Glee” also stars Jane Lynch (The 40 Year Old Virgin), Jessalyn Gilsig (“Nip/Tuck”) and a slew of talented newcomers including Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Chris Colfer.  Featuring the first 13 episodes, “Glee” Season 1: Road To Sectionals DVD will also include the Director’s cut of the pilot episode; exclusive behind-the-scenes featurettes; audition videos from the talented cast and the hit music topping the charts at iTunes such as cast versions of Queen’s “Somebody To Love,” Heart’s “Alone,” Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Céline Dion’s “Taking Chances,” Rihanna’s “Take A Bow,” Carrie Underwood’s “Last Name,” Jazmine Sullivan’s “Bust Your Windows,” Kanye West’s “Gold Digger” and REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling.”.  “Glee” Season 1: Road To Sectionals will be available on DVD for the suggested retail price of $39.98 U.S/$49.98 Canada. Prebook date is December 2.

DVD Content: (Catalog #2264367)
Disc One
    •    Episodes
        o    Pilot – Director’s Cut
        o    Showmance
        o    Acafellas
        o    Preggers
Disc Two
    •    Episodes
        o    The Rhodes not Taken
        o    Vitamin D
        o    Throwdown!
        o    Mash-Up
Disc Three
    •    Episodes
        o    Wheels
        o    Ballads
        o    Hairography
Disc Four
    •    Episodes
        o    Mattress
        o    Sectionals
        o    Special Features

Review: I saw the previews for Glee all summer and I wasn't quite sure it would be my cup of tea.  I don't generally get into happy things.  I know that sounds gloomy, but its true.  Honestly this show appeared a bit too happy go lucky for me.  I decided to try it out with an open mind, though.  What did I find?  I found a show that has a surface of..well....Glee, but underneath there is a stream dark humor and an almost sly and coy jab at itself.

Jane Lynch is weird.  Thats just a fact..and we love her for it.  She always plays a twisted role, whether it be on Boston Legal as a sexual surrogate or the store manager in the 40 year old virgin, she is always entertaining.  When I saw that she was in the show, it gave me hope.  You don't hire Jane Lynch unless you want a darker tone to your gleeful cast.  She's always blunt, ackward and disturbing...this show is no different.  While the musical numbers are very campy, the show does deal with some relevant social issues like homophobia, drugs, bullying etc.  The show has lots of rivalry and viciousness that keeps the drama alive and definately entertaining.

This set is the first volume of the season.  Fox opted to give the show nine more episodes for 2010 to add to season one given the popularity of the show.  They are planning on releasing the complete season one still in late spring, but if you can't wait for that, this would be a great fix.  Also, if you are behind on the show and coming in late in the game like I am...well, this is perfect for you to get caught right up!

Video:


Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Halo Legends Video Clip!


Halo Legends, an all-new, CG and traditional anime PG-13 experience
that presents enthralling new stories from one of the world’s most
popular video game franchises, will be distributed February 16, 2010
by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition 2-disc version on DVD and
Blu-Ray™, as well as single disc DVD, On Demand and Digital Download.

Produced by 343 Industries, a part of Microsoft Game Studios, Halo
Legends is a seven-story anthology – told across eight spectacular
episodes – that explores the origin and historical events of the Halo
universe and its intriguing characters. Halo Legends has been created
in the same breakthrough format as The Animatrix and Batman Gotham
Knight with each individual episode imagined by a cutting-edge,
renowned Japanese anime director/animator.

Below you will find links to an action-packed 44-second clip from
within an episode entitled “The Package,” which was animated by Casio
Entertainment under the creative supervision of Shinji Aramaki
(Appleseed) from a script by writer Dai Sato (Cowboy Bebop).

Click HERE to watch the clip!





“The Package” finds Master Chief and four specially-selected Spartans
launched out of a stealth cruiser and into the heart of a giant
Covenant fleet in a bid to recover a valuable intelligence asset. The
episode is a showcase for the Spartans’ impressive fighting
capabilities, whether it be hand-to-hand combat, ground assaults, or
in zero-G while piloting never-before-seen light attack vehicles.

10 Things I Hate About You Blu-Ray Review


10 Things I Hate About You Blu-Ray Review

You can purchase this blu-ray online today!

Synopsis: The classic comedy that launched the careers of Academy Award winner Heath Ledger (2008, Best Supporting Actor, THE DARK KNIGHT) and Julia Stiles celebrates its ten-year high school reunion with 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU: THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION. This special edition is packed with a million things to love, including an exclusive sneak peek at Heath Ledger's screen test. New kid in school Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is smitten with the beautiful Bianca (Larisa Oleynik). The problem is that Bianca isn't allowed to date unless her surly older sister Kat (Stiles) does. Cameron's only hope is to enlist the help of Patrick (Ledger), the school troublemaker with a reputation as nasty as Kat's. This special edition brings back the love-struck high school classmates of '99 with a treasure trove of never-before-seen footage. Also featuring a retro soundtrack of memorable nineties tunes, 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU is a comedy you can count on.


Review: This is hands down a chick flick of the highest order.  I don't mean that as an insult, just a matter of fact.  When I first saw this film Heath Ledger hadn't yet turned in his epic performance as the Joke in the Dark Knight, so I wasn't as wild about him as I am these days.   This was a nice movie, though.  It came together well and it was a good watch, so when this blu-ray was solicited I thought hey, why not check it out.

Unfortunately, this release suffers from what I now call the Ghostbusters effect.  Its full and I mean FULL of grain.  Its hard to watch, almost like you're watching a staticy television.  I really wish that the studio had taken the time to clean up the film better or had just released it at 720p instead.  Its a shame, because the release has great bonus features (seen below) and really did deserve better.  I wish I could recommend the blu-ray here, but honestly you're better off with the DVD.

Bonus Features include:10 Things I Love About 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU 10 Years Later Take A Look Back And Remember Why Everyone Loves This Classic Teen Comedy. This New Documentary Features Interviews With Director Gil Junger, Co-Writers Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah Lutz, Never-Before-Seen Casting Footage, Cast Interviews, And More, Deleted Scenes, Writers And Cast Audio Commentary 

Video Clips: Meeting in the Bookstore and the Trailer for the release

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Iron Man: Armored Adventures Volume 2 DVD Review


Iron Man: Armored Adventures Volume 2 DVD Review

You can purchase this DVD online today!

Synopsis: Join the Adventures of teenage prodigy Tony Stark, and his alter ego Iron Man, as he uses his technological inventions to battle villains and save the world! When new villains like Living Laser and Madame Masque bring their own brand of chaos, it’s up to Iron Man to answer the call! Suit up and get back in action with Tony and his best friends, Rhodey and Pepper, as they risk it all to defeat evil and save the day using the latest technology and a little teamwork. Enjoy 6 action-packed new episodes filled with bigger challenges, more secrets and more high-tech showdowns. Prepare to blast off with Iron Man: Armored Adventures Volume 2!

Review: We reviewed Volume 1 of this show last year.  My kids and I have been anticipating the release of Volume 2 ever since.  Our entire family is getting geared up for Iron Man 2 to hit theaters and the Armored Adventures series is the perfect way to do it.

This next volume includes 6 more episodes from the Marvel animation series. This series is really kicking into high-gear.  Now that we've been through volume one we're well aqainted with the tone of the show and the characters within it, so we were excited to see them progressing in their battles against evil.  The action and the technology are upgraded and things really progress well in these episodes.  I highly recommend this for any super hero, Iron Man, Marvel or comic book fan! 

The Special Features include: The Super Hero Squad Show "A Day In The Life", Iron Man Armored Adventures Trailer, Wolverine and the X-Men trailer.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Cheaper By The Dozen 2 Blu-Ray Review


Cheaper By The Dozen 2 Blu-Ray Review


You can purchase this blu-ray online today


Synopsis:Tom Baker (Steve Martin, Father of the Bride) and wife Kate (Bonnie Hunt, Jerry Maguire) bring their clan together for a memorable summer getaway. But their dream vacation turns into an outrageous competition with the overachieving, overzealous family of Tom’s long-time rivals, Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy, American Pie) and wife Sarina (Carmen Electra, Scary Movie).  Featuring all the original Baker kids, including Hilary Duff (A Cinderella Story), Tom Welling, (“Smallville”) and Piper Perabo (Coyote Ugly), this super-sized comedy is fun for the whole family!  With a range of fun special features for families of all sizes, the Cheaper By The Dozen 2 BD will include feature commentary by director Adam Shankman (The Pacifier) and featurettes “Camp Chaos,” “A Comedic Trio,” and a Casting Session presented by Fox Movie Channel.  The Blu-ray Disc will be available for the suggested retail price of $29.99.

Review: I really have a lot of respect for Steve Martin as an actor.  He has managed to make some fantastic film in his day and he seems to float flawlessly between the mainstream family film and dark independant work.  This is a great achievement as an actor.  In the Cheaper by the Dozen films they re-make a black and white classic film that I really loved growing up.  I used to watch a lot of classic film (one of my favorite all-time movies is Bing Crosby's Holiday Inn!).  They did a great job in modernizing this classic in the first film and the second one just carries on the chemistry for an enjoyable time.


One of the nice things about this film is the cast.  Stars include Eugene Levy, Bonnie Hunt, Tom Welling, Piper Perabo, Carmen Electra and Hilary Duff.  A young Taylor Lautner (who stars as Jacob in the immensely popular Twilightfilm series) plays Eliot Murtaugh of the Murtaugh family, the long-time rivals of the Baker clan.

The transfer to high-definition did well for Cheaper by the Dozen 2.  I was nervous that it'd be all grainy, especially with the nature shots, but it really turned out well.  Don't get me wrong the color doesn't pop or anything, but its a solid transfer that is enjoyable to watch.  The blu-ray also offers a nice, clean DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.

Cheaper by the Dozen 2 isn't a fantastic movie, but its a good one.  A solid watch and its family approved fun, which I appreciate in my old age.  I definately recommend this one on blu-ray, its worth the buy.


Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

The Circuit DVD Review


The Circuit DVD Review

You can own this DVD today

Synopsis: A father and his estranged daughter rev up their engines and go head-to-head in the exciting drama, The Circuit, arriving on DVD January 5 from Vivendi Entertainment and RHI Entertainment. Michelle Trachtenberg (“Gossip Girl,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) stars as racing protégé Kylie Shine; she’s got beauty and brains, matched only by her skill on the racetrack.  The child of legendary racecar driver Al Shines (Billy Campbell; “The O.C.”), Kylie is a star on the rise; only her father will not acknowledge it.  When Al is dropped from his racing team, Kylie is given the ultimate chance to prove herself when she is asked to fill her father’s shoes.  Caught up in the fast-paced world of racing, boys and being a teenager, Kylie is on the verge of losing herself while trying to become the best. An ABC Family original movie,The Circuitwill be available on DVD for the suggested retail price of $14.93.

Review: The Circuit is a film about the relationship between father and daughter.  The car racing is really just a backdrop.  The basic premise of this film is that the main character Kylie is a new rising star in the racing world.  Her father abandoned her to her aunt after her mother passed away, so they have a very strained relationship and haven't even spoken in two years.

Kylie becomes more and more involved in racing and at a very seemingly convenient moment her father shows up with advice.  Kylie ignores him and presses on.   We find out quickly that the promoter is trying to expolit Kylie and her father, but her father will have nothing to do with it.  He's trying to do right by his daughter for once.   In the midst of this Kylie also falls for a teammate and some romantic sparks begin to fly.

This is a nice, albeit predictable, film that does entertain. It was a nice watch and actually turned out better than I thought it would.  I would recommend, especially for tweens and above.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Toy Story and Toy Story 2 coming to Blu-Ray in March!



The “Toys” Are Coming To Life -- Like Never Before!

Disney•Pixar Present For the Very First Time In Blu-ray™ High Definition
Fantastic Blu-ray Debuts Allow Fans to Experience the Hilarious Adventures of the “Toy Story” Gang with
Blu-ray’s Eye-Popping Picture and “Buzz”-Worthy Sound!

Releases Include Exciting Sneak Peeks of This Summer’s Eagerly Anticipated Toy Story 3

Toy Story BD & DVD Combo Pack and Toy Story 2 BD & DVD Combo Pack
Available March 23, 2010 at an SRP $39.99
Direct pre-book: 1/26/10
Distributor pre-book: 2/09/10

Also Available: Toy Story Special Edition DVD and Toy Story 2 Special Edition DVD
Available May 18, 2010 at an SRP of $29.99
Direct pre-book: 3/16/10
Distributor pre-book: 3/30/10

TOY STORY BD & DVD COMBO PACK *ALL NEW* BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:
• The Story: An Exclusive Sneak Peek at Toy Story 3
• Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: Blast Off
• Paths to Pixar: Artists
• Studio Stories: John’s Car
• Studio Stories: Baby AJ
• Studio Stories: Scooter Races
• Buzz Takes Manhattan
• Black Friday: The Toy Story You Never Saw
• Plus BD-Live movie chat, movie mail, movie challenge and more! (Only Available on the Blu-ray Disc)

TOY STORY 2 BD & DVD COMBO PACK *ALL NEW* BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:
• Characters: An Exclusive Sneak Peek At Toy Story 3
• Director Commentary
• Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: International Space Station
• Paths to Pixar: Technical Artists
• Studio Stories: Toy Story 2 Sleep Deprivation Lab
• Studio Stories: Pinocchio
• Studio Stories: The Movie Vanishes
• Pixar’s Zoetrope
• Celebrating our Friend Joe Ranft
• Plus BD-Live movie chat, movie mail, movie challenge and more! (Only Available on the Blu-ray Disc)

Toy Story and Toy Story 2 ‘Special Edition’ DVDs include all the above special features, except for the BDLive Portal Features.

All About Steve Blu-Ray Review

All About Steve Blu-Ray Review


You can purchase the blu-ray online today

 Synopsis:Treat yourself this holiday season and fall in love with the witty romantic comedy All About Steve when it debuts on Blu-ray Disc (BD) and DVD December 22 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Golden Globe-nominee* Sandra Bullock (The Proposal) and Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) star in this off-the-wall comedy about a blind date gone hilariously wrong. When eccentric, but lovable, Mary gets set up with Steve, a news channel cameraman, she falls hard. He does not. Mary decides to follow Steve on a cross-country hunt for breaking news and soon finds herself entangled in the story. But despite the media storm surrounding her, Mary may just discover her true place in the world... and the man of her dreams!

Blu-ray Disc Special Features:
Disc One
Commentary by writer Kim Barker, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Haden
Church, Bradley Cooper, Ken Jeong and director Phil Traill
All About All About Steve
Take A Stab At Vocab!
Gag Reel
Crew Snapshots To Mary’s Rap
Fox Movie Channel Presents Casting Session
Disc Two
Digital Copy of All About Steve

Review: I was interested in this movie due to the cast.  It has two alumni of the Hangover (this next generation's Animal House as far as I'm concerned) and Sanda Bullock, who has been a favorite of mine since Demolition Man.  Yeah, thats right...Demo Man.  Anyway, I was excited to see what they'd do with this film. 

Sandra camps it up playing a complete loser that latches onto Bradley Cooper's character after one "date".  This very ackward Napoleon Dynamite type girl decides to get her shot at a normal life by going on a blind date.  She then jumps on him before they even leave her parents house.  He realizes quickly that she must be nuts and gets away from her and the rest of the movie is her following him around and acting erradic. 

Parents - beware there are is a good amount of cursing and sexual references in the film, along with a rather graphic (for a comedy) groping scene in the first part of the film when Sandra jumps on Bradley Cooper.  This

This is a new blu-ray, so there isn't much to say about the transfer.  It looks great in 1080p high definition.  I can't fault the sound quality or the video its all in order as you'd expect from any new release in 2009.  The film wasn't well recieved by critics or movie-goers, but I enjoyed it.  I liked how nuts Sandra's character was and I enjoyed a lot of the humor throughout.  I timidly recommend it ..comedy is so hit and miss.  It all depends on what you think is funny.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Friday: the Complete Animated Series DVD Review


Friday: the Complete Animated Series DVD Review

You can purchase this DVD online today

Synopsis: Craig and Smokey are back at it! FRIDAY: THE ANIMATED SERIES, based on Ice Cube’s successful Friday film series, is an urban comedy about the misadventures of the dynamic duo. Similar to the film, Craig and Smokey struggle to survive family, friends and life in South Central L.A. The series includes many of the popular characters from the Friday movies, including Deebo and Craig’s dad, Mr. Jones. Relive the hjinks all over again in FRIDAY: THE ANIMATED SERIES.

Review: I'm a fan of animation in general and I'm always looking for an interesting show.  I had no idea that there was a Friday Animated Series until this DVD arrived in the mail.  I enjoyed the first Friday film.  After that, I kinda lost interest.  I'm not really into it anymore.  I think a lot of liking it had to do with the time it came out and where I was in life (a teenager). 

The teenager in me wanted to check this DVD out, though.  I needed to see if it was something that was still funny to me.  I wasn't terribly impressed.  The animation is fine, once you get used to it and the situations are typical of what you'd see in a continuation of Friday...but something is just lost in this concept now to me, I don't know what it is.

The bottom line is this..if you enjoy the Friday movies, then you'll enjoy this animated series.  The characterizations are spot-on and the humor is right in line with the film franchise.  The voice actors are not the actors from the film, but they do a great job of immitating.  This is one of those funny cartoons for adults.  WARNING PARENTS - this one is for adults.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Family Guy: Something, Something, Something Darkside DVD Review

Family Guy: Something, Something, Something Darkside DVD Review


You can purchase this DVD online today!

Synopsis: The story of The Empire Strikes Back is retold. Darth Vader (Stewie) is hunting the rebel Luke Skywalker (Chris) and his troops relentlessly across the galaxy. On the ice planet Hoth, Luke has a vision of his late mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi (Herbert), telling him to go to the Dagobah system to learn the ways of the Force under Jedi Master Yoda (Carl). Meanwhile Princess Leia (Lois) finds herself taking a shine to the scruffy pilot Han Solo (Peter) and, against all odds, the two soon fall in love. But an encounter with Han’s old friend Lando Calrissian (Mort) lands them in the clutches of the Empire. Envisioning this, Luke chooses to forgo his Jedi training to save his friends. It all comes to a head in a climactic confrontation with Darth Vader himself… 

Review: This is the second time that Family Guy takes on the Star Wars saga.  It begins with the family watching tv when the power goes out...so they decide to have storytime...I didn't watch the first one (Blue Harvest), but I was interested in checking this one out.    I don't like Family Guy.  I don't watch it..its usually too juvenille and obvious for me.  That being said, its had a few funny moments, but I generally stick to the Simpsons.  I do love a good Star Wars satire, since I adore it so.   I know I'm in the minority in not liking Family Guy, but that makes this review all the more potent.

This really turns out to be much less about Family Guy and all about Star Wars...and I love a good Star Wars satire. Heck, I love a satire of anything that I enjoy.  What I thought might happen is a lack of material.  A lot of spoofs that you watch have some funny moments, but you have to wait through a lot of boring space to get to them.  Not so in this film.  Its almost non-stop laughs.

One highlight right off the bat is the George Takei reference!  Hilarious.  Peter rides a don-don (a ton ton with a Don Knotts head...again made me laugh).  A random juicy fruit commercial in the middle of the hoth scene is a gut buster too, at least for me.  It goes on and on.  I'm surprised by my saying this, but I highly recommend this one . Its going to stay in my collection.


Rating: An unexpected 5 out of 5 Stars

Kyle XY: the third and final season DVD Review!

Kyle XY: the third and final season DVD Review!


You can purchase this DVD online today

Synopsis: Action, mystery and suspense reach an all-new level in ten stunning original episodes of Kyle XY. Go to the next stage as Kyle (Matt Dallas) and Jessi (Jaimie Alexander) begin to work as a team and uncover the secrets of their origin. Kyle’s world is turned upside-down when his powers suddenly disappear, and he’s in for another surprise when Amanda (Kirsten Prout) comes home with an unexpected question. As one woman in Kyle’s life arrives, another must say goodbye – though Jessi assures him they will always be connected. Meanwhile, the prom is fast approaching, and Kyle wants his night with Amanda to be perfect. After a dance neither of them will ever forget, Kyle comes face-to-face with the ultimate mystery. Experience every twist and turn on three discs, including never-before-seen bonus features. You don’t know the whole story until you’ve seen Kyle XY: The Complete Third and Final Season.

Review: I had heard of Kyle XY in passing over the years.  When it first came out we were sent some press releases and such, but I never really gave it a chance.  It just looked too teen oriented for me.  I already watch Smallville, thats enough youthful angst, I figure.   So, when we came upon this DVD I decided to give it a good chance, because honestly most of my favorite shows keep getting cancelled and I need new ones!

Its been referred to as Smallville meets Dawson's Creek and I really found that to be the case.  The relationships in this world take the first chair, and after that comes the sci-fi elements.  This caught me by surprise, because Smallville has really balanced the two very well and this show is definately more love drama than action/sci-fi.  Its still a cool show and definately worth checking out, but don't expect straight sci-fi.

The bonus features on the DVD include Kyle XY: Future Revealed – A look at what would have happened in Season 4, Deleted Scenes and Audio Commentaries.  This DVD set is your chance to wrap-up this cool show and complete your collection!  We even get a look into what would have happened with this series if Fox had graced it with a fourth season.  Honestly, on Fox it was lucky to get three, they're so cancel-happy (we still miss the Sarah Connor Chronicles!).  The story could have been more involved and the acting isn't always top shelf, but this is a cool show and worth getting into.

Video: Click HERE to view the trailer

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Secret Life of the American Teenager Volume 3 DVD Review



The Secret Life of the American Teenager Volume 3 DVD Review

You can purchase this DVD online today

Synopsis: The teen drama that has everyone talking is more exciting than ever in Volume Three. Rediscover all the drama and emotion of THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER, the critically acclaimed original ABC Family series. It's a whole new world for Amy as she tries to juggle motherhood, school, work and family. Meanwhile, Grace and Jack take their relationship to the next level. Experience all 12 episodes of Volume Three, complete with exciting bonus features -- including a behind-the-scenes look at the cast -- only on DVD!

Review: It seems like television is hard pressed to go without its teen dramas.   Whether its 90210 or this newer shot, The Secret Life of the American Teenager.  This ABC Family show, often called simply 'Secret Life' is a huge hit.  It even beat out Gossip Girl at times in the ratings.

The show has released two previous seasons and this newest one is full of great situations and the crazy kind of drama that teens not only enjoy, they seem to need.  Secret Life delves into all types of issues, even centering around teen pregnancy, amid much controversy.  Its great to see a television show dealing with a real life issue like that, most shows like to pretend it doesn't exist.


This third volume shows the characters dealing with the struggles of teen motherhood, trying to juggle work, school and the baby, plus the in-depth and complicated relationships of the other characters.  The show will be staring up again in 2010, so catch up now with these great DVDs.  You'll definately need them to catch up on the drama!


Video: Another Pregnancy?!  Click HERE



Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Extract Blu-Ray Review

Extract Blu-Ray Review 

 You can purchase this blu-ray online today!


Synopsis: The creator of OFFICE SPACE, writer-director Mike Judge (BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD), moves from cubicles to the assembly line with EXTRACT his outrageous return to workplace comedy, featuring a hilarious ensemble cast of quirky characters. About to sell his successful flavor extract company, life is almost sweet for Joel (Jason Bateman) until a freak on-the-job accident happens. Add to that his bored wife (Kristen Wiig), his laid-back best friend (Ben Affleck), a sexy con artist (Mila Kunis) who blows into town with dollar signs in her bedroom eyes, and a dumb gigolo -- and life as he knows it turns sour. Filled with laugh-out-loud one-liners and raunchy comedy, EXTRACT is 100% pure hilarity.

Review: I was a big fan of Office Space, another film by Mike Judge, which serves as a close brother to Extract.  I did go back and watch the film recently and it just wasn't as interesting to me.  Extract really brought me back into Judge's universe, though.  The highlight of this film is Kristen Wiig.  I'm going to go on record as saying she is one of the funniest and most underrated women in film today.

The story of the film isn't quite as interesting as the banter.  This is something that Judge's writing has in common with Kevin Smith.  This isn't Clerks 2 quality humor, but its still funny.  The characters are full of life and have some great lines and observations.

The only way to own this one is on blu-ray disc!  Thats not to say that they don't offer it on DVD, but there is no point to wasting your money on DVD anymore if a blu-ray option is available to you!  The high-definition and amazing sound isn't to be missed.

Bonus Features include: Exclusive To Blu-ray Deleted Scene, Exclusive To Blu-ray Extended Scenes, Mike Judge's Secret Recipe Featurette The Ingredients For A Classic Mike Judge Film

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

 

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