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Synopsis: The series follows the exploits of “the gang,” a group of self-centered friends who run Paddy’s Pub, a relatively unsuccessful Irish bar in South Philadelphia.

Review: I started in on It's Always Sunny on Philadelphia in the fourth season, so I came in rather late in the series.  Boy, was that a mistake. I  had no idea how hilarious this ensemble cast comedy is.  It can only be described as raw, disturbing and inappropriate.   If you enjoy comedy that pushes the boundries of decency and societal norms, It's Always Sunny is for you!

The fifth season is so strong, maybe the best yet.  The episodes are limited to about 12 or 13 each season to keep the quality high and it works.  This is a MUST own!  Its best on blu-ray, so go pick one up today!

The special features on this release include:

 You can own this DVD today

Synopsis: This is the thinking of Christopher Chance, a mysterious security agent for hire who assumes different identities, at times literally becoming a human target on behalf of his clients. Using the popular DC Comics title as a springboard for riveting and intelligent action and adventure, Human Target provides a thrill ride with no clear boundaries. Resourceful, driven and compelled by a force known only to him, this take-charge antihero will barter his services for an aged bottle of scotch, much to the chagrin of his shadowy associates. If someone is threatened or a life is in danger...leave it to Chance.

Review: The FOX television show Human Target was based on a comic book series from DC Comics.  When I heard this, there was no way I wasn't going to tune-in!  I think that comic book stories have proved in recent years that they have what it takes to entertain, from Sin City to the Dark Knight and X-Men!  

Human Target is full of great action sequences, fight scenes, snarky line delivery and almost hilarious situations.  Its certainly no comedy, but there are plenty of moments that make you laugh out loud!  Overall its a fantastic show and well worth the watch!

The special features on the DVD include: Two making-of featurettes, Pilot commentary and a Gag reel

Synopsis: When things get rough on Wisteria Lane, the Housewives band together like never before. Relive the passion, the laughter, and the mystery of television’s celebrated dramatic comedy with The Complete Sixth Season of Desperate Housewives.

The neighborhood is jolted with the arrival of Angie Bolen (Drea de Matteo) and her family, and it soon becomes clear that they are hiding something. But what is their secret, and what are their true intentions? Meanwhile, a plane crash on Wisteria Lane causes everyone to reflect on their lives and the choices that have made them who they are.

Experience every juicy episode, and get inside access to your favorite show with never-before-seen bonus features. Find out more on DVD with this spectacular 5-disc set. It’s the perfect addition to your Desperate Housewives collection!

Review: Desperate Housewives can only be described as a cultural phenomenon!  The show has changed the way that we watch television.  The seventh season is about to start and the show is still going strong! 

The show is still in the flashforward 5 years reality where we see the gang on Wysteria Lane in the future.  Now, we have a new family and with them comes trouble!  Citizens are being attacked and a lot of people are lurking around town.  The Scavos are pregnant with twins, much to Lynette's dismay.  The drama is unfolding and you cannot miss it!  The new season is about to premiere, so this DVD set will get you caught up if you missed anything last season or refresh you if you do keep up with the show.

The special features on this DVD set include: Bloopers, Deleted scenes, Cherry Picked, Desperate Housewives Master Class – Behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with cast and crew to learn more about what it takes to be an actor on one of the most popular and critically acclaimed shows on television today and Miss Piggy Takes Wisteria Lane –  Miss Piggy, accompanied by her producer Pepe, will meet the ladies one on one to find out “their story”. How did each of them become part of the sexiest cast on the hottest television show in America?  Miss Piggy wants to know EVERY single detail 

Interest Range: Drama

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Synopsis: Join the club and bring home the fun with Glee Karaoke and Glee Jukebox— available only on DVD! A talented group of high school misfits transforms into a performing sensation with the help of a dedicated teacher. Through laughter, tears, irreverent humor and unforgettable music, they learn to follow their hearts and chase their dreams.

Review: One of the hottest shows on television right now is one that I wouldn't have picked out of a line-up.   Glee is a strange mix of dark humor, drama and music that seems to really appeal to people, so we thought we'd check it out for ourselves with this new blu-ray release of the complete first season.

The show is very well written and the character development is really on the money.  The music didn't start to outweigh the story until the end of the season.  Jane Lynch is definately a stand-out performer on this show, she is wicked and hilarious as always.  Overall, a cool show and now anyone like us that hadn't seen the full season can pick this up and experience the entire thing.  Fans of the show will love the disturbingly HUGE list of extras....

The extras on this release include:

All four discs have Glee music jukeboxes. The fourth disc also has:
Glee Sing-Along Karaoke
Staying in Step With Glee
Sue's Corner
Bite Their Style: Dress Like Your Favorite Gleek
The Power of Madonna
Making of a Showstopper
Welcome to McKinley!
Glee Music Video
Full Length Audition Pieces
Fox Movie Channel Presents Casting Session
Deconstructing Glee with Ryan Murphy
Dance Boot Camp
Jane Lynch A to Glee
Meet Jane Lynch
5 Things you don’t know about Jayma
7 Things you don’t know about Cory
6 Things you don’t know about Amber
7 Things you don’t know about Chris
Video Diaries

Synopsis: Fantasy, magic and fun are all brewed together in Disney’s legendary adventure The Black Cauldron. Created from a new digital master this 25th Anniversary Edition features vibrant picture presentation and  includes exciting new bonus features!

Whoever releases the mysterious Black Cauldron’s power will be invincible! The fearsome Horned King will do anything to possess it, but he is challenged by the most unlikely adversary: a young assistant pig keeper named Taran, who dreams of doing heroic deeds. With a motley team of the brave Princess Eilonwy, a minstrel named Fflewddur Fflam and Hen Wen, a remarkable pig who can predict the future, Taran embarks on a quest to stop the Black Cauldron’s evil once and for all. Will he have the courage to succeed?

Now with The Black Cauldron- 25th Anniversary on DVD, you can share more magical adventures with your family

Review: Disney is known throughout the world for their amazing animated features.  In their library you have the classics..the Princess movies and the greats like the Lion King and Toy Story, but there are a few lesser-known and often overlooked films.  One of those is the Black Cauldron.  It is often misunderstood and labeled a failure, when in all honestly its a fantstic movie.

I think what pushed people away from the Black Cauldron was the fact that it does contain a few scenes that are perhaps too scary for very little ones.   I can tell you that watching it as an adult is quite the experience.  Its really fantastic and fanciful and full of life, just what you expect from something with the Disney name on it!

New bonus features include: Deleted scene: The Fairfolk: Join Taran, Fflewddur Fflam, Gurgi, and Princess Eilonwy as they travel into the depths of the earth, and meet the Fairfolk, The Witches’ Challenge Game: In order to defeat the dark powers of the Horned King, you must get the magical sword. The sword is held by the Witches of Morva. Solve their riddles and the sword is yours

Plus classic DVD features:
• Still frame gallery – Gallery of behind-the-scenes artwork and photos
• Theatrical trailer: Original theatrical trailer
• Quest For The Black Cauldron: Race to reach the Black Cauldron before the evil Horned King does in this trivia game
• Trick Or Treat: Donald Duck cartoon from 1952

Interest Range: Disney Classics, Animation, Kids Cartoons

Video:

Synopsis: Expect more competition, more doctors, and much more drama as Seattle Grace merges with a competing hospital in Grey’s Anatomy’s celebrated Sixth Season. Relive every moment in this sensational 6-disc set.

Meredith, Derek, Izzie, and the rest of your favorite characters face a brand new challenge with the arrival of doctors from Mercy West. Battle lines are drawn and rivalries reach new heights in an unforgettable year at Seattle Grace.

Commit yourself to one of primetime’s most popular shows, complete with exclusive bonus features – including two extended episodes available only on DVD. It’s the perfect addition to your Grey’s Anatomy collection!

Review: Grey's Anatomy is one of those shows that keeps you tuned-in.  The character-driven show is so dynamic that you can't help but consider them family after awhile.  They truly ilicit an emotional reaction to the story.  You feel for them, you cry for them and you're happy for them.  Its kind of a ridiculously good show.

The sixth season started out a little slow, but damn did it end with a bang (no pun intended).  If you haven't see the finale for this show, I suggest that you stop reading now and just go buy the DVD set, because spoilers will be discussed.

The new season premieres this week and we get to see the aftermath of Derek being shot and Meredith working through that miscarriage. Not to mention the re-kindled romance between Yang and her guy and Karev being shot in the side!  McSteamy wasn't too happy to see Little Grey fawning over Alex, now was he?  Kali and Arizona are going to have 10 kids and they're back together..it just seems to be perfect.  I'm guessing the chief will take back over in Derek's absence too.   This season is a must-own, as are all of the seasons of this show. 

The DVD extras include: Dissecting Grey's Anatomy - Unaired Scenes, In Stitches: Season Six Outtakes, Extended Finale, Chandra Wilson: Anatomy of a Talent and Seattle Grace: On Call - 6 Webisodes

Interest Range: Drama, Medical Drama, Romance

Synopsis: After being orphaned, young Maria Merryweather leaves her luxurious home to live with her eccentric uncle at Moonacre Manor. There, she discovers a magical world inhabited by outlandish characters and mythical beasts. Now, Maria must unearth the secrets of her past before the 5000th moon rises and Moonacre Manor disappears into the sea forever.

Based on the classic novel by Elizabeth Goudge, The Little White Horse, which J.K. Rowling has called “my favorite childhood book.”

Review: The Secret of Moonacre is loosely based on the classic children's book "The Little White Horse" by Elizabeth Goudge.   There is admittedly a lot of dramatic license taken, so staunch fans of the book beware.  The film is a fantastic and epic fantasy tale that really brings fairly tales to life!  The film includes everything from romance and magic to feuds and deception.

The cast is wonderful, and Tim Curry is as exquisite as ever!  This very british and very true to heart film is a joy for all ages.  There are great lessons to be learned and a fantastical story to enjoy.

The special features on the DVD include: Making-of featurette, deleted scenes, cast/crew interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

Interest Range: Fantasy

Synopsis: Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Wrath. Pride. Lust. Envy. Two cops (Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman) track a brilliant and elusive killer who orchestrates a string of horrific murders, each kill targeting a practitioner of one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Gwyneth Paltrow also stars in this acclaimed thriller set in a dour, drizzly city sick with pain and blight. David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) guides the action – physical, mental and spiritual – with a sure understanding of what terrifies us, right up to a stunning denouement that will rip the scar tissue off the most hardened soul.

Review: Any film that is sandwiched in by musical tracks from Nine Inch Nails and David Bowie should garner instant attention!  Seven (or Se7en as its known) was a much needed film that really hit audiences at exactly the right time.  It was the mid 1990s and Industrial music had taken over with its darker tone and bands like Nine Inch Nails were on regular radio-play, while Marilyn Manson was just emerging as the next shock rocker.  It was post-grunge and there was a large interest in all things dark, especially serial killers. 

The blu-ray book release of this film is absolutely epic.  The package presentation is beautiful and the accompanying book is fun to flip through.  Its the blu-ray transfer that is the real story here, though.  The color palet on Se7en is rather dark with heavy amounts of shadow and black, but the transfer into high-definition really makes the picture pop!  The gritty details are all there and crystal clear for the first time.  There is a complete lack of grain and noise on the image..its smooth and clean and clear.  This is a beautiful transfer.  This one is a must-own!

Note - be warned..I saw a version of this at wal-mart that did not include the booklet, so be careful what you purchase!

Links: www.warnerblu.com

Interest Range: Mystery, Suspense, Cult Classics

 You can own this on DVD and Blu-Ray today

Synopsis: From J.J. Abrams (Lost), Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci – the team behind Star Trek and Alias – and executive producers Jeff Pinkner, J.H. Wyman and Bryan Burk, Fringe returns for a second thrilling season and continues to explore the unexplained phenomena and terrifying occurrences linked throughout the world – known simply as "The Pattern“ – in pursuit of a larger, more shocking truth. Set in Boston, the FBI's Fringe Division formed when Special Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) enlisted the help of institutionalized "fringe" scientist Walter Bishop (John Noble) and his son, Peter (Joshua Jackson), to save her partner and lover from a mind-bending death. Through unconventional and unorthodox methods, the Fringe team imagines and tests the impossibilities while investigating unbelievable events, macabre crimes and mystifying cases involving teleportation, reanimation, genetic mutation, precognition, artificial intelligence and other fantastical theories. When the unimaginable happens, it's their job to stop it.

Review: Fringe is without a doubt my favorite show on tv right now.  I kept glued to my seat through season one to find out what the mysteries events were leading up to..who the bald man was and what William Bell was really up to!   Then, at the end of season one we see Olivia cross over to the alternate universe!  It was jaw-dropping!  The anticipation for season two was high and it delivered!

Season Two of Fringe was epic!  We got to see so many details of the alternate universe and learn the answers to some very important questions!   We even had a finale with the crew crossed-over and a huge reveal at the end.   I won't spoil it for those that haven't watched yet and I would advise them to stay offline until they do!  This show is all about the initial surprise.  Then, after that there are so many sneaky things in the episodes that you miss unless you watch them multiple times, you'll want to own all of the seasons.

Season 3 is about to start, so pick up your copy of season two to get caught up or refresh now!  The bonus features alone are worth the price for any Fringe fanatic!

The special features include: The Unearthed Episode, The Mythology of Fringe , Fringe: Analyzing the scene sidebars on six key episodes, In the lab with John Noble and prop master Rob Smith, Commentary on four episodes by series stars and creative team, Unusual Side Effects: Gag reel, Dissected Files: Unaired scenes 

The show is mind blowing in blu-ray, but DVD is great for those that don't have the new technologty as of yet.  Either way, you have to get in on Fringe!

You can own this Blu-Ray today

Synopsis: “Movies. Now more than ever!” That’s the motto of the movie studio where fast-tracking exec Griffin Bell (Tim Robbins) works. But rumor has it a power play could push Bell out. And a rejected writer who’s sending anonymous death threats could push him under. Robert Altman directs this acclaimed and satiric love/hate valentine to Hollywood, and from the bravura opening tracking shot to the spot-the-star cameos (60+!) to the inside skinny of studio life to the gleeful finale, you’re in good, knowing hands. The Player. Now more than ever!

Review: The Player is one of those films that was highly overlooked in it's day.  It did well and all, pulling in just over 21 million, which back in 1992 when it was released was a really good haul!  Its one of those films that hasn't developed a large staying power.  You don't see it re-run on television a whole lot and no one really talks about it in passing, but it was a really great film that should be deemed a Hollywood cult hit.

The film looks great on blu-ray!  The high definition transfer really took well!  Its wonderful to see so many films actually getting a respectable transfer after so many misses early on.  The Player is definately a great film to add to your library.  You can rest assured that the upgrade to blu-ray is fantastic.

Links: www.warnerblu.com

Interest Range: Drama, Satire

Synopsis: The world's nerdiest secret agent is back in the one-hour action-comedy series Chuck. Zachary Levi stars as Chuck Bartowski, the Buy More electronics store computer geek who unwittingly becomes the government's most vital secret agent. At the end of last season, Chuck was transformed into the Intersect 2.0 after receiving another data download into his brain. This time, however, he not only knows government secrets, he is also equipped with the knowledge and coordination of deadly fight skills. Chuck finally has the potential to become a real agent. There's just one problem — his emotions. Can Chuck keep his emotions in check as he assumes his new role as the Intersect 2.0? His handlers will still be there to protect him, but they also must help him become the agent he is destined to be.

Review: Chuck is one of those rare shows that has really flown under the radar in many ways.  Its well-known, well-produced and of great quality, and yet it isn't the phenomenon that I feel it should be.   Chuck is one of those great cast-driven shows that entertains every time.  The story arcs are interesting and full of twists that keep you riveted and the cast is hilarious.   The show has comedic value, but isn't a completely slapstick show, its a great mixture of various genres. 

The third season of Chuck has really found it's voice.   A lot of times by the third season a show will start to stagnate and run out of ideas.  Not Chuck!  No, this show is finally so comfortable in its own shoes that it runs smoothly and really hits the mark on every episode!

The special features include: Chuck-Fu... and Dim Sum: Becoming a spy guy, The Jeffster Revolution: The definitive mockumentary, Declassified scenes, Gag reel 

Links: www.chuckdvd.com

Interest Range: Action, Drama, Comedy

Synopsis: In the spirit of the Pirates Of The Caribbean trilogy, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films transport you to the mystical lands of Persia for this wildly entertaining, epic action-adventure. It's a race against time when a rogue prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) reluctantly teams up with a rival princess (Gemma Arterton) to safeguard a magical dagger that gives its possessor the power to reverse time and rule the world. Filled with death-defying escapes and unexpected twists at every turn - Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time is a fun-filled adventure that will keep your pulse pounding long after the credits end.

Review: The latest live action release from Disney is something a little out of character.  The Prince of Persia is a video game series that deals with action, adventure and mystery.

Jake Gyllenhaal turns in a characteristically suberb performance as Dastan.  His good looks will certainly interest a lot of the viewing audience, while his accessibility and vulnerability make him a likeable actor.   He's a great choice for a leading role.  The choice of the great Alfred Molina as an almost comic relief as the greedy shiek is phenominal.

The film isn't perfect, it harbors a little bit of editing that cuts short some of the best scenes, but overall it is definately a success!  This one is Indiana Jones-style fun for the entire family!

Blu-ray Bonus features:
• CineExplore: The Sands Of Time - Take control of the dagger and use it to unlock secrets behind your favorite scenes! Turn back time and uncover over 40 spellbinding segments - Including "Walking Up Walls", "Filming In Morocco", and "Ostrich Jockey Tryouts" - with this exclusive interactive feature. Blu-ray puts you in control! [exclusive to Blu-ray in Combo Pack]
• Deleted scene: The Banquet: Garsiv Presents Heads

DVD Bonus feature:
• An Unseen World: Making Prince Of Persia

Video: Watch a clip from this release HERE.

Interest Range: Action/Adventure, Fantasy

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Synopsis: Forbidden Planet is the granddaddy of tomorrow, a pioneering work whose ideas and style would be reverse-engineered into many cinematic space voyages to come. Leslie Nielsen plays the commander who brings his spacecruiser crew to Planet Altair-4, home to Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), his daughter (Anne Francis), a dutiful robot named Robby…and to a mysterious terror. Featuring sets of extraordinary scale and the first all-electronic musical soundscape in film history, Forbidden Planet is in a movie orbit all its own.

Review: Forbidden Planet is a classic sci-fi feature film from 1956.   Its the precursor to a lot of shows that would later become legendary, like Star Trek and Lost in Space.   Its basically a sci-fi adaptation of the Tempest by William Shakespeare.  The bottom line on this film...its one of the best examples of the 1950s vintage sci-fi movement.

Its an odd move by WB to put a film like this on blu-ray, but I'm not complaining.   I was a little skeptical about how the picture would look, but its actually really cool.  The high-definition transfer comes through on the detail and there is a smooth look to the film that is very enjoyable.  This one is a must for any serious sci-fi fan.

Links: www.warnerblu.com

Interest Range: Sci-Fi, Retro Film

 

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Synopsis: The family Robinson is in hiber-sleep, soaring into deep space. Their mission: establish a colony that will become home for a dying Earth’s inhabitants. But sabotage jolts the Robinsons awake, sending them--and an often troublesome robot--off course and into amazing adventures where the question is not just where they are, but also when. A fine cast (Gary Oldman, William Hurt, Matt LeBlanc, Heather Graham and more) sets just the right tone of heroism and fun in an imaginative sci-fi voyage based on the ’60s TV series and featuring cameos by some of the TV stars. “Danger, Will Robinson!” And amazement too.

Review: Lost in Space is a cult classic sci-fi television show from the late 1960s.  It was on the air when Star Trek and the old Adam West Batman show aired.  When graphics got better in the late 1990s they decided to do a re-make movie tribute to the old show, and we get this film.  Lost in Space is finally being released in the blu-ray format.  The question is whether it really holds up!

Lost in Space boasts over 750 graphics and a huge for the time 70 million dollar budget.  The blu-ray release actually does look very good!  I was worried that it might not hold up, but I am pleased to report that its definately worth the buy for any fan of the film.

Links: www.warnerblu.com

Interest Range: Sci-fi, Space Drama, Retro Re-Makes

Synopsis: A chilling exploration of the future is also a compelling examination of the present in George Lucas’s THX 1138, starring Robert Duvall as a man whose mind and body are controlled by the government. THX makes a harrowing attempt to escape from a world where thoughts are controlled, freedom is an impossibility and love is the ultimate crime.

Review: We all know of Star Wars, the epic films that made George Lucas a very wealthy man and a famous director (even though he only directed the first of the original trilogy,but whatever!).  THX 1138 is his lesser-known 1971 film debut.  Its based on a short film he did for film school.  The film is very jarring and experimental, you can tell it was made in the same era that gave us a Clockwork Orange.  

THX 1138 is basically a sci-fi epic about a future controlled by machines with no soul and the sterile world around us.  The characters struggle to exist in this new world.  There are plenty of allusions to the dangers of technology and our curiousity getting the best of us.  Many of these ideas would later be explored by the Terminator film and tv franchise.   I must admit though, my favorite part of THX 1138 is the fact that the band Nine Inch Nails sampled the film in the beginning of the song "Mr. Self Destruct".   

This one is a great sci-fi cult classic, and it actually looks good on blu-ray.  The natural palet of the film is absent of most colors other than whites and silvers, but it still looks great!

Links: www.warnerblu.com

Interest Range: Sci-Fi, George Lucas, Nine Inch Nails, NIN

 You can own this Blu-Ray today

Synopsis: Set in a not-too-distant future where America has lost its "war" on drugs, Fred, an undercover cop, is one of many people hooked on the popular drug, Substance D, which causes its users to develop split personalities. Fred is obsessed with taking down Bob, a notorious drug dealer, but due to his Substance D addiction, he does not know that he is also Bob. Based on a classic novel by Philip K. Dick. Starring Keanu Reeves ("Constantine," "The Matrix" trilogy), Academy Award-nominee and Golden Globe-winner Winona Ryder ("Girl, Interupted," "Mr. Deeds"), Academy Award and Emmy-nominee and Golden Globe-winner Robert Downey Jr. ("Good Night, And Good Luck" "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang"), and Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominee and Emmy-winner Woody Harrelson ("North Country," "The People vs. Larry Flynt"). Directed by Academy Award-nominee Richard Linklater ("Before Sunset," "Dazed and Confused"). Filmed in live-action, and then animated using the same critically acclaimed process that Linklater used in his previous film, "Waking Life."

Review: A Scanner Darkly is one of those films that had some good build-up, but due to some delays back when it came out, it ended up kinda flying under the radar.  It was before Robert Downey Jr.'s big comeback with Iron Man and I think honestly, people are tired of seeing Keanu  Reeves in sci-fi films at this point.

This film is destined to become a cult classic in the near future.  Its like a sci-fi Fight Club and it has the attitude to match in its own way.  The film was run through a filter that you now see used quite a bit, but was revolutionary at the time.  The entire way of doing this film was experimental, which is one of the most charming parts of the whole thing.  It was destined to be on blu-ray.  The transfer looks fantastic and crisp.  This is definately the way you should enjoy this one.

Links: www.warnerblu.com

 You can own this Blu-Ray today

Synopsis: AWAKE, EARTHLINGS! It’s later than you think. Don’t miss the hilarious frenzy as Tim Burton directs – and Mars Attacks! SEE! Stars that shine across the galaxy. Jack Nicholson (in a dual role), Glenn close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito and a dozen more! SHRIEK! At mean, green ivaders armed with insta-fry ray guns, endowed with slimy, humongous brains – and enlivened with state-of-the-art special effects. GASP! As the U.S. legislature is overwhelmed. (Don’t fear, we still have 2 out of 3 branches of the government working for us.) THRILL! As Earth fights back with an unexpected weapon. Take that, Martians!

Review: Tim Burton is a genius.   The man has given us a wide variety of films, every one of them more entertaining than the last.  In Mars Attacks, a lesser known Burton masterpiece, he explores the often campy and crazy world of UFOs and Sci-Fi that was prevalent in the 1950s and early 1960s.  The cast alone should show you something!

I had a copy of this on VHS (yeah, we still have hundreds of those too!), so I was excited that the film was coming out on blu-ray.  Then, it hit me...what if we get another Ghostbusters or Beetlejuice?!  I can't take another grainy and pointless release.  Did WB live up to the hype?

The short answer is HELL YEAH!  Mars Attacks is one of many cool sci-fi blu-ray releases this month from Warner Bros (check out the site for more reviews of the other five, including the Matrix Reloaded!).  The picture is vivid, the colors pop and there isn't an ounce of grain that I could find.  I was very impressed and relieved that a true high-definition version of this Burton classic could now be obtained!  I highly recommend!

Links: www.warnerblu.com

 You can own this DVD today

Synopsis: Professor Grover is the teacher in preschool and Elmo is his helper for today's counting lesson! But when silly Professor Grover starts to have trouble remembering what each number is, can Elmo and the class help him out? Featuring number and counting themed stories and songs, "count" on having lots of fun with furry friends Grover and Elmo in a real preschool. After all, preschool is cool!

Review: We love Sesame Street here at the Legion.  Whenever a new Sesame Street DVD comes on the market we have to check it out!  I also have little ones, so its of particular interest to me.  

This new DVD focuses mostly on counting.  You know..the basics, but with our favorite muppets doing the teaching!  Nothing focuses a kid better than Elmo.  The DVD also delves into some light math and skip counting, which may be advanced for some kids, but its a great advance into what they teach them in 1st and 2nd grades!

This is a fantastic DVD...great for any parent..also good if you plan to homeschool.  Every tool helps!

Interest Range: Preschool, Sesame Street, Educational

Synopsis: Relive every moment of ABC’s hit drama Private Practice: The Complete Third Season – from the Golden Globe-winning creator of Grey’s Anatomy. The challenges that Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) and her co-workers at the Oceanside Wellness Group face every day have bonded them into a tight knit family, but big changes may be just around the corner.

An all-star cast including Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman, Audra MacDonald, Tim Daly, Paul Adelstein, KaDee Strickland, and Chris Lowell is tested at every turn by the moral and ethical dilemmas that accompany their clinic’s unique medical cases. Addison learns a huge secret about her past while dealing with new feelings for a friend, Sam and Naomi receive a life-changing announcement from their daughter, Copper’s personal life is affected when Charlotte joins the practice, Dell struggles to raise a daughter on his own, and Violet realizes she has an important decision to make regarding the well-being of her baby.

Own all 23 episodes of Season Three in this 5-disc DVD collection, along with never-before-seen bonus features including bloopers, deleted scenes, and Kate Walsh’s personal favorite moments. With a prescription for a healthy dose of romance, drama, and heartwarming moments, Private Practice makes perfect.

Review: Private Practice is the sister show to Grey's Anatomy.  The character of Derek's estranged wife Addison went over to this show to give it a start-up and its been going strong for three seasons, and about to start their fourth. 

Season 3 saw a lot of changes in the Practice, not the least of which was a few break-ups and a teen pregnancy!  The finale was shocking and full of surprises, which I won't mention here for spoiler's sake, but there is a death very close to the cast.

This show is fantastic and it only keeps getting better.  We highly recommend this DVD set and the past two seasons of the show.  Its a great watch.

Interest Range: Drama, Medical Drama, Romance, Grey's Anatomy

Synopsis: She's funny. She's edgy. She's the one-and-only Janeane Garofalo (TV's 24, The Larry Sanders Show). And now, in her first solo special in over a decade, this Emmy nominated stand-up superstar digs into the many myths we all live by and casts her unique insights and hilarious riffs on life, culture and politics. Filmed live before a sold-out audience in Seattle's Moore Theater, it's a virtuoso hour-long display of Garofalo’s uniquely outrageous takes on everything from the trouble with twitter, to the truth about rehab, to the end of sex as we know it, to the vaguely disturbing perfection of Natalie Portman's... anatomy. Intrigued? Then prepare yourself, if that's possible, for the extreme comedy of JANEANE GARFALO: IF YOU WILL!

Review: We love stand-up comedy here at the Legion.  One of our favorites of all time happens to be Janeane Garofalo!  The big question is....where did she go?!  Janeane was a comedy and movie star in the 1990s.  In fact, you couldn't get away from her back then!  So, what happened?  She explains in her new comedy blu-ray.   Basically, she doesn't use a computer, and as we all know if you don't have an online presence, you may as well not have a presence at all!

Garofalo is still hilarious.  She is as edgy as ever with her takes on social issues, sex and religion.  She never disappoints and her new comedy blu-ray will show you just how good she still looks in high-definition!  Discover what you've been missing by not catching her in a club, Janeane Garofalo is definately back!

Synopsis: A comic force, multi-Emmy® nominee Bill Maher (Real Time with Bill Politically Incorrect ) is in his true element — stand-up comedy — in this freewheeling, no-holds-barred performance before a packed house in Raleigh, North Carolina. In this live show, Bill fearlessly and hilariously lets loose on a comprehensive set of unique insights and controversial topics: the“Great Recession,” fake patriotism, President Obama, Michael Jackson, the drug war, health care, the Tea Party movement, reverse racism, religion, and much more — including the first-ever burka fashion show. Incisive wit, social observer, political provocateur, Maher proves to be one of today’s most brilliant comedy minds.

Review: I've been watching Bill Maher on television since I was a kid.  The guy has always been funny, but I feel like he becomes more and more relevant as time goes on.  His show was cancelled from the networks after his comments on 9-11.  He is still controvertial and hilarious in an age where we are almost numb to politics, he actually manages to make us angry still.  His stand-up is fantastic and thought provoking.  This new DVD is no exception.  If you enjoy Maher's comedy at all and you love extreme opinions on topics like celebrities, politics and religion, then this is definately the DVD for you!

Interest Range: Comedy, Social Commentary

Synopsis: After the head of his order of priests dies, Alex Bernier (Ledger), is sent to Rome to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death. The body bears strange marks on the chest that may be the sign of a Sin Eater, a renegade who offers absolution, last rites and a path to heaven outside the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church. Alex enlists the aid of an old comrade Father Thomas (Mark Addy, The Full Monty) and of a troubled artist (Shannyn Sossamon, Our Family Wedding) for whom he once performed an exorcism, only to find himself plunged into a mystery that brings him to the very brink of hell.

Review: The Order stars the late Heath Ledger as Alex, a rebellious priest.   When Alex's mentor is mysteriously excommunicated and then murdered, he sets off to investigate and uncovers a horrible truth.

The movie is rather dark and full of religious backdrop.  It went under the radar when it was released, but now fans of Ledger get a chance to see it in blu-ray high definition.  The picture quality looks fantastic, it transfered quite well.   The film re-unites the director and two main stars from 'A Knight's Tale', though don't look for humorous overtones in this one! 

The special features on the blu-ray include: Commentary by Director Brian Helgeland, Deleted scenes with optional Director’s commentary: Father and the Nuns, Father Bernier gives last rights to George, William Eden visits the nursery, Father Bernier and the Nuns / Mara meets Father Garrett, Club Inferno outtake, Nightingales. Father Garrett’s end. Dailies and the Theatrical Trailer

Synopsis: Filled with more assets than Bud Fox’s portfolio,Wall Street exposes more than ever before with a Special Insider Trading Edition DVD arriving on September 7 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Yielding a high return on investment, the two-disc DVD features Wall Street trivia and facts that run along a Fox News Style ticker at the bottom of the feature, a Fox Movie Channel Special, a sneak peek of Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and movie money good towards a ticket to the sequel debuting in theaters September 24, and more.
 

Directed by two-time Academy Award* winner Oliver Stone, the film provides a fascinating look at corruption and deception set in the money-hungry world of the New York Stock Exchange. Earning Michael Douglas (The Sentinel, Traffic) the Best Actor Oscar® in 1988 for his performance as Wall Street Legend Gordon Gekko, the film takes a behind-the-scenes look at big business in the 1980s as an ambitious young broker Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen; “Two and a Half Men”) is lured into the illegal, lucrative world of corporate espionage. Seduced by the power, status and financial wizardry of Gekko, the newbie soon discovers that the pursuit of overnight riches comes at a price that’s too high to pay. With supporting performances from Daryl Hannah (Kill Bill), Martin Sheen (The Departed), James Spader (“Boston Legal”) and Terence Stamp (Elektra), Stone’s story about the overall power of money rocked the financial district.

Review: We're used to seeing Michael Douglas as a powerful, yet morally bankrupt man.  He often portrays tyrants and bastards, hopping from one gorgeous woman to the next.  I think he's so good at these roles that many of us question the eithics of the real-life man!   I think his role in 'A Perfect Murder' is my favorite example of these roles...next to his role as Gordon Gekko, that is.  

Wall Street is a now cult classic hit starring Michael Douglas as a wicked wall street trader.  Isn't that redundant?   Its now more relevant than ever with the economic struggles and Wall Street scandles of recent years. 

The extras on this new special edition DVD include: Wall Street Fact Exchange Scrolling Trivia Track,  “Fox Movie Channel Presents” Fox Legacy With Tom Rothman and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps – A Conversation 

Interest Range: Drama, Cult Classic