Army Wives: The Complete Third Season DVD Review

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Synopsis: Experience the unexpected moments in this heartfelt drama that has won the acclaim of fans and critics all across America. Go inside the inspiring lives of five amazing military families with the third season of ARMY WIVES. It's a new year of challenges for the Army Wives as Denise and Frank fight to save their marriage and Claudia Joy discovers a life-changing personal truth of her own. Newly promoted Joan wrestles with a major decision that affects her husband and new baby, while Roland imagines what his life would be like if he had taken a different path. Pamela questions Chase's family commitment after he returns from capture and Roxy encounters unexpected new responsibilities as Trevor explores a new job in the army. Follow the dreams and friendships of four very different women, and one man, as they tackle the real-life challenges of families on the home front with humor, grace and unending loyalty to one another. Experience all 18 episodes of Season Three, complete with the exclusive bonus feature Stationed in the South, the cast's personal tour of Charleston, South Carolina, the city ARMY WIVES calls home available only on this 5-disc DVD set!

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Review: Army Wives is one of those shows that I never had interest in watching from the commercials.  My wife makes me watch re-runs of Grey's Anatomy on Lifetime fairly regularly (even though we own all of the seasons on DVD....I don't get that...) and so I catch the commercials for Army Wives a lot, since that is one of their banner shows.  When this was being released on DVD I figured hey, why not check it out.  I already watch Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Brothers and Sisters, Sex in the City and every other girly drama on tv, why not this one? 

It honestly is a decent show.  It has some good actors, such as Catherine Bell, who stands out as one of the more established and attractive actors in the series.  There is a lot of drama to be had when you're an Army wife, apparently!   The backdrop of a military setting is very relevent for today, and while this show is great, it definately doesn't show the realities of being a military spouse.  Its sensationalized soap opera-type drama with camouflage outfits.  Mind you, thats perfectly entertaining and often very risque fun!

The DVD Bonus Features include: Bloopers, Deleted Scenes, Webisodes Featuring Joan And Roland Burton And Jeremy Sherwood, ARMY WIVES Gives Back Lifetime And The Army Wives Team Up To Surprise Deserving Military Families, Stationed In The South The Cast And Crew Of ARMY WIVES Take Us Behind The Scenes In The Historical City Of Charleston, South Carolina, and Show Us How The City's Scenic Landscape Is Integrated Into The Show 

The fourth season of Army Wives will begin airing on the Lifetime network on Sunday, April 11th at 10:00 PM, EST.  Now is a great time to get caught up on the show with the third season DVD set! 

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Gary UnMarried: The Complete First Season DVD Review

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Synopsis: Funnyman Jay Mohr (JERRY MAGUIRE, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE) delivers the laughs in the award-winning (People's Choice Award For Favorite New TV Comedy 2009) hit comedy GARY UNMARRIED: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON. Newly single dad Gary Brooks (Mohr) is an uncomplicated guy trying to find his way in an increasingly complicated world. Gary's doing the best he can to raise his two kids with ex-wife Allison (Paula Marshall), while just beginning to stick his toe back into the dating pool after fifteen years of marriage...just in time for Allison to drop a major bombshell on him. Experience all twenty laugh-out-loud episodes in this 3-Disc Collection. Packed with never-before-seen bonus features, including a behind-the-scenes visit with Emmy Award-winning director James Burrows (CHEERS), GARY UNMARRIED: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON is the comedy hit about trying to start over while still holding on to the things that really matter.

Bonus Features include: Gary Unhinged: Bloopers From Season One, Tuesday On The Set With Jay Spend A Day On The Set Of GARY UNMARRIED With Jay Mohr, Planet Begley Cast Member Ed Begley Jr. Brings His Eco-Friendly Expertise To The Set Of GARY UNMARRIED, The Chemistry Of Comedy Join The Cast And Crew For An All-Access Tour Of GARY UNMARRIED.

Review: There is a certain formula to sitcom television shows.  The 1990s were the last real era of the situation comedy before reality tv and fake-improv shows like 'the Office' took over.  A few more traditional sitcoms do remain over at CBS, like 'How I Met Your Mother' and 'Two and a Half Men'.  These shows are joined now by the new Gary UnMarried.

This is a fairly traditional concept..its an overweight guy with attractive women in his life.  You've seen this model on shows like the 'King of Queens'.  The twist here is that we are following a divorced father and watching him fumble his way through newly single life.

The show is overall pretty funny.  Its a decent watch.  The second season is going strong, so this is a nice way to get caught up.  There are quite a few recurring characters and running gags that originate from season one.  If you're into the traditional sitcom, this show is a nice throwback for you.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

The Music Man Blu-Ray Review

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Synopsis: Confidence man Harold Hill arrives at staid River City intending to cheat the community with his standard scam of offering to equip and train a boy's marching band, then skip town with the money since he has no music skill anyway. Things go awry when he falls for a librarian he tries to divert from exposing him while he inadvertently enriches the town with a love of music.

Review: The Music Man is a fantastic vintage film.  There was an era when film was really creative and interesting.  The Music Man is one of those classics that never dies.  Unfortunately, when the DVD was released they really destroyed the color and picture.  Does the new blu-ray release correct any of these issues?   ......read on...

It needs to be kept in mind that the film is almost 50 years old, so what can we expect?  Well, I was amazed at the high-quality blu-ray transfer.  The color is all cleaned-up and the edges look great.  The only downside to high-definition is that it makes everything SO clear.  In fact, it does take away some of the movie magic.  The intro scene on the train is very clearly a blue screen shot.

This is a great blu-ray release.  The Music Man is definately one that should be in every collection.  Its family friendly and great for kids. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Links: http://www.warnerblu.com


Video: You can watch a clip from this film by clicking HERE

Dr. Who - The Complete Specials DVD Review

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Synopsis: This stunning collection of Doctor Who specials--The Next Doctor, Planet of the Dead, The Waters of Mars and The End of Time, Part One & Two--is a must own for all Doctor Who fans. The four imaginative, action-packed specials are the farewell to star David Tennant, and Russell T Davies, the mastermind behind the rebirth of the modern Doctor Who. The specials culminate in the dramatic regeneration of the Doctor, giving fans their first glimpse of the eleventh Doctor, played by Matt Smith. The specials are packed with a terrific lineup of guest stars including Michelle Ryan (Bionic Woman), David Morrissey (State of Play, Sense and Sensibility), Lindsay Duncan (Alice in Wonderland (2010), Rome, Under the Tuscan Sun) and many more that we can't reveal just yet!

Review: Dr. Who spirited back into the lives of fans about five years ago.  It has become a huge hit since then, both in the UK and the US on BBC America!   Now, for the first time they have released the complete specials on DVD in the United States.

Its generally felt that this Dr. Who David Tennent, the 10^th Doctor, is one of the best.  This series of specials wraps up his reign, before the 11th Doctor takes the helm this year.  These were very entertaining specials, definately in-line with the current series.  This is an absolute necessity for any Dr. Who fan's collection.

All five of the episodes feature the highly sought after Dr. Who Confidentials as extras, and the 2008 Dr. Who Prom special is available with 'The Next Door' episode. 

The special features on this set are:
Disc 1: The Next Doctor
Disc 2: Planet of the Dead
Disc 3: The Waters of Mars
Discs 4-5: The End of Time, Parts One and Two
Doctor Who Confidential
Doctor Who at the Proms
Deleted scenes with introduction from Russell T. Davies
David Tennant Video Diaries: The Final Days
Doctor Who BBC Christmas idents
Audio commentaries
Doctor Who at Comic-Con

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Links: www.bbcamericashop.com

For more information on NANA please visit www.NANA.viz.com. 

Whip It Blu-Ray Review

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Synopsis: Hang onto your helmet and get ready to break away from the pack! Ellen Page scores huge laughs as Bliss Cavendar, a small-town teenager with a big dream: to find her own path in the world. Tired of following in her family’s footsteps of compliance and conformity, Bliss discovers a way to put her life on the fast track...literally. She lands a spot on a rough-and-tumble roller derby team and becomes “Babe Ruthless” — the hottest thing on eight wheels! Co-starring Drew Barrymore (in her feature film directorial debut), Marcia Gay Harden, Juliette Lewis, Daniel Stern and Jimmy Fallon, Whip It is a triumphant, free-spirited comedy loaded with high-speed action and nonstop fun!



Review: This quirky new comedy comes from the twisted mind of Drew Barrymore, who is throwing her hat into the director's chair.  This is the first feature film that she has directed, and I have to say that it comes off a lot like one of her own vehicles of the past.  This film reminds me a little of Never Been Kissed, in tone if not in subject matter.  The lead is played by Juno alum Ellen Page.  She has really made herself the queen of semi-mainstream indie films. 

Whip-It is not a ground-breaking film by any means, but its sure a lot of fun.  Its almost an inspirational sports film, but it has too many elements of sarcasm and cheeky humor.  This film is basically about a girl that is forced into being a beauty queen, but finds herself when she joins the roller derby.  Its got some great deadpan lines and kinda follows in the footsteps of Dodgeball in some ways.  Its a good film.

The blu-ray transfer is fantastic.  The colors are sharp and the high-definition is crisp.  The audio tracks on the blu-ray are English: 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio / Spanish: 5.1 Dolby Digital / French: 5.1 Dolby Digital

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

New York, I Love You Blu-Ray Review

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Synopsis: A collective work of twelve short films shot by renowned international directors in each of the city's five boroughs, with the theme of finding love being interwoven between each of the five minute stories.

Review: I love these films that have the montage of short films on one subject.  This time we get 11 love stories from various directors and writers.  New York, I Love You is the sequel to Paris Je T'Aime. 

The movie starts out with a slightly rough short, but goes into some much more interesting segments that include great actors like Ethan Hawke and Chris Cooper.  The directors include Brett Ratner and Allen Hughes.

The film has a few of my favorite actresses in it...Christina Ricci and Natalie Portman.   These two have been re-defining the female role in movies for many years now, and I really enjoy anytime I can watch either one of them.

The Blu-Ray is crisp and fantastic.  It has a huge splash of color and really pops on the screen, unlike a lot of older releases.  The 1080p high definition picture is definately the way to go.  If you enjoy love stories and film that is constantly changing, this one is definately for you.  Its a great date night film.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Mystic River Blu-Ray Review

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Synopsis: Viewers will experience the deep intensity and nuances of the amazing performances in Clint Eastwood’s searing ensemble drama Mystic River, starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney and Emmy Rossum when it arrives on Blu-ray February 2 from Warner Home Video. Mystic River took two Academy Awards (2003), for Sean Penn (Best Actor) and Tim Robbins (Best Supporting Actor).

With six times higher resolution than standard definition, Blu-ray’s extraordinarily vibrant contrast and color and beautifully crisp sound is bound to enhance Mystic River’s visceral emotions and dark brooding backgrounds.  Eastwood magnificently directed this contemporary tragedy filled with violence, tension and long-buried emotions which are never far from the surface. In Blu-ray format, all the tragic events of this amazing drama become amplified as the images jump off the screen.

Review: Its been my experience that Clint Eastwood movies are depressing.  In this I don't think that he aims for depressing, but he aims for an extreme sense of realism, which does tend to be a bummer.  I mean, we get real life everyday, I think most look to film for their escape from that harsh reality.  That being said, I enjoy Clint Eastwood movies.  I personally enjoy the realism and the emotion that he pours into most of his work.

Mystic River really flew under the radar back when it was released in 2003.  The film deals with the loss of innocense..the loss of life and themes of fate and guilt.  Its an amazing emotional epic of three friends that go on a journey that will change everything.  Its a very adult film that deserves a lot more attention that it ever got.  Hopefully this new blu-ray release will add to the buzz.  The 1080p high-definition transfer comes across fantastically.  The color palet is a little dull in the film by design, so this isn't exactly an eye-popper, but its a clean transfer and it all looks crisp.

If you're into independant or realistic film pick this one up.  Warning to parents, the film is very violent and dark in nature and deals with sexual molestation.  We do highly recommend checking it out for any adult.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Links: www.warnerblu.com

The Mob: From Hollywood to Vegas DVD Review

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Synopsis: The truth behind organized crime in America! Two documentary series combined for 20 hours of criminal entertainment!

The American Mob began at the turn of the 20th Century as immigrants from Europe began pouring into US cities. Poor and isolated, these immigrants banded together to develop a unique form of business called organized crime. This unique DVD collection features two documentary series focusing on The Mob's infiltration from the East to the West coast into the booming cities of Las Vegas, Nevada and Hollywood, California throughout the first half of the 20th century.

Las Vegas: The City The Mob Made - chronicles the untold history of this most American of cities...Las Vegas, the adult playground in the sun. Organized crime played out in Las Vegas differently than it did anywhere else in the country, and in the city that never sleeps, the organized crime syndicate realized that in Vegas, you can arrive as a nobody...and leave a King


Review: Who doesn't love the mob? This new DVD set from Mill Creek Entertainment gives us a fun documentary look at the history of the mob.  I find this to be far more fascinating than the sensationalized look we get in hollywood.

The documentary points out how the mob can move into a disadvantaged area and use that to control the residents and build its power.  It shows how the mob has been a legitimate business front and has built certain cities, like Vegas and Hollywood.  They've had their controlling hands dipped in so many things.

This new set is not only fun and interesting, but its only about $16 on Amazon right now!  Its ten hours of mob documentary!  Sure to make even the surliest of Soprano sing!


Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

WARNER HOME VIDEO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME FOR FANS IN HALO
LEGENDS HEROES JOURNEY SWEEPSTAKES

Fans Compete Online to Win Behind-the Scenes Trip to Microsoft’s 343 Industries, Xbox 360 Elite & Blu-rays/DVDs in conjunction with Feb. 16 release of Halo Legends

Halo fans can dip even further into the mythology of the upcoming episodic Halo Legends film release by participating in the Halo

Legends Heroes Journey Sweepstakes. Starting February 28, 2010, fans are invited to make an active search for special codes on the film’s
social networking pages, and entrants will be eligible to win the coveted grand prize – an exclusive, behind-the-scenes trip to
Microsoft’s 343 Industries, the production company behind Halo
Legends. Other prizes include the Xbox 360 Elite, as well as Blu-rays
and DVDs of the film, which will be released by Warner Home Video on
February 16, 2010.

Fans can enter the sweepstakes through http://HLSweeps.com. The
sweepstakes centers around a virtual trading card game hosted as a
Facebook application. Collecting up to four distinct codes each day
provides access to Halo Legends virtual trading cards and additional
sweepstakes entries. The cards are organized into sets which, upon
completion, grant to exclusive content (video clips, still images,
information) from the Halo Legends movie.  In addition, each card
expands in size and provides additional details about its place in the
episodic film.

Daily codes are available on http://HaloLegendsDVD.com,
http://facebook.com/HaloLegendsDVD, http://myspace.com/HaloLegendsDVD
and http://twitter.com/HaloLegendsDVD. Each unique code equates to two
additional cards and one sweepstakes entry.  Fans can invite their
Facebook friends to their Heroes Journey Squad to trade virtual cards
and help complete collector sets – in order to more quickly unlock the
exclusive content.  Facebook participants can also crate a wish list
of up to five cards, and feed an alert about the cards on the wish
list to friends.

Collector cards offer fans new insight into Halo Legends. The
collector cards are created from both character models and still
images fro the film, and are displayed across 40 (??) individual,
beautifully-designed virtual cards.

The sweepstakes features a Grand Prize for one (1) lucky winner plus
one (1) guest to take a 3-day/2-night journey of their own to 343
Industries in Redmond, WA for a private screening and a chance to meet
some of the creative team behind Halo Legends. In addition, the Grand
Prize winner will receive an Xbox 360 Elite and Halo Legends on 2-Disc
DVD or Blu-ray. There will also be three (3) First Prize winners who
will receive an Xbox 360 Elite and a Halo Legends on 2-disc DVD or
Blu-ray. Ten (10) Second Prize winners will receive a Halo Legends
standard edition DVD. The sweepstakes is open to all residents of the
United States and Canada (excluding Quebec).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER.  Sweepstakes begins at 12:00:01 AM
Eastern Standard TIME (“EST”) on January 26, 2010 and ends at 11:59:59
PM EST on March 2, 2010.  Open to individuals who are, as of Entry,
registered users of Facebook, 18 years of age or older; legal residents of, and physically
located within the 50 U.S. (including D.C.) and Canada (except Quebec).
This Sweepstakes is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by FACEBOOK, nor
is FACEBOOK associated with the Sweepstakes in any way.  Any questions,
comments or complaints regarding the Sweepstakes must be directed to the
Sponsor or Administrator, and not to FACEBOOK.  Void in Quebec and where
prohibited.   Go to: http://HLSweeps.com/Rules.html for Official rules

B-Girl DVD Review

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Synopsis: In the vein of Step-Up, How She Move and Fame, this non-stop underground dance experience stars some of the biggest names in the breaker world including Julie "Lady Jules" Urich (You Got Served, Step Up 2, MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew's" Beat Freaks), Jonathan "Legacy" Perez (Stomp the Yard, Dance Flick) who finished in the top eight of last season's "So You Think You Can Dance," Ivan "Flipz" Velez (Stomp the Yard, Honey, You Got Served, "So You Think You Can Dance"), Rynan "Rainen" Paguio (Step Up, How She Move, MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew's" Beat Freaks) and Wesley Jonathan (Roll Bounce, Steppin: The Movie). In addition, the cast features dancers who have toured with the world's biggest pop stars -- including Madonna, Janet Jackson, Gwen Stefani, The Spice Girls and Fergie -- and performed on "So You Think You Can Dance," MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew" and "Superstars of Dance."

Written and directed by Emily Dell and produced by Elizabeth Dell, B-Girl tells the modern day underdog story of Angel (Urich), a brilliant dancer from Brooklyn, who is forced to switch coasts after suffering a terrifying back alley assault by her ex-boy friend. In an effort to gain back her rep, she must prove herself by battling the West coast's top street talents. Bonus features include bloopers, dance auditions, dancer profiles and more.

Review: What you get out of this all depends on what age you are when you see this movie.  If you're a tween or teenager that hasn't seen a ton of movies, well then this may be interesting to you.  Particularly if you are into or admire dance.   If you're an adult that has seen countless underdog stories, then this one will ring all too familiar.

B-Girl is a good film.  There is nothing wrong with it on the surface.  You get what you sign-up for.  A girl hits the streets dancing to prove herself and find her place in life.  Its the same film you've seen time and again. Its a great theme and the dancing in this film is rather phenominal.  I rated it a little low for lack of originality, but its a decent flick.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Nazi Hunters: the Real Story DVD Review

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Synopsis: See the real life pursuit to track down WWII fugitives for their crimes against humanity. This harrowing film presents the true-life tale of the unrelenting pursuit of Eichman, Mengele and other Nazi criminals in Europe, the United States, the Middle East and South America.

Review: We love documentary film here at DVD Legion.  Especially the odd or rare ones.  This new DVD release from Mill Creek, Nazi Hunters: The Real Story, is an obscure French 2-part documentary.  The most popular subject of documentary film has without a doubt been WWII and the Nazis.  This one has a nice and fresh take on it all, though.

The first part of this set focuses on the end of World War II and the Nuremberg trials, where 22 Nazi war criminals were tried for their crimes.  The second part is all about a few of the actual 'Nazi Hunters' that helped to track down some of the missing Nazi war criminals and bring them to justice.  There is nothing that a person wants to see more than Nazis being brought to justice!

The hit film Inglorious Basterds has really brought this subject into the public forum again, so this is the perfect time to check out this DVD.  You can get this one for a bargain on Amazon.com, so I'd go and buy it today!


Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Rock 'N Learn: Preschool DVD Review

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Synopsis: This collection of exciting programs will keep your preschooler entertained for hours and teach important skills at the same time! Kids love a fun trip to the circus to learn about words that start with each letter of the alphabet. As they learn about the alphabet from dancing dogs and crazy clowns, children form important letter-sound associations. Later, they learn about colors and even practice saying the colors in Spanish! As they have fun learning shapes and counting up to 20, kids are developing essential skills to help them succeed in school. Your friends and family will be amazed at how much new knowledge your child has mastered.


Review: We just recently reviewed the new Rock 'N Learn: Phonics and Reading DVD, and we gave it some high marks.  We figured that we should check out this preschool DVD, as well.  Does this one stack up to the Phonics and Reading DVD?

The short answer...YES!  We used to let the kids watch Sesame Street.  We've since just turned them onto these DVDs.  The sets cover everything you can imagine.  Anything from counting in Spanish to shapes, colors and social skills.  Its literally like having your own digital preschool teacher! 

This DVD is priceless for any parent with a kid say 3-6 years old.  You can feel safe putting this one and your kids will not only be entertained and have fun, but they'll learn so much!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

I Heart Jonas, Volume 2 DVD Review

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Synopsis: Crushin' on JONAS? Get ready to experience the lovable antics of three of the world's most famous musicians with 7 specially selected episodes of the hit Disney Channel Original Series in I HEART JONAS. Watch and see how Joe reacts when he discovers that Stella has a date with another guy, and check out what happens when the tables are turned and a struggling young actress makes a play for Joe. Plus, with the never-before-seen bonus feature, "You've Just Been JoBro'd! -- Surprising Jordin Sparks," I HEART JONAS is a must-have for any Jonas Brothers fan!

Review: There aren't a lot of shows out there for the tween audience.  The phenominon that is the Jonas Brothers has definately cornered that marketplace.  The romantic hijinks ensue as the brothers try to cope with growing and dating. 


The DVD volume features seven episodes of the Disney Channel show "I Heart Jonas".  "I Heart Jonas" Volume 2 comes with the following special features: * You Just Been Jo Bro'd! - Suprising Jordin Sparks - (10:39)* Dylan & Cole Sprouse: Blu-Ray is Suite - (4:45) * Learn How to Take Your Favorite Movies on the Go - (1:03).


I rate this volume very high, because it does include so many episodes of the show.  Very often in these single-disc television show releases we only get 3-4 episodes at a time.  To get 7 is pretty unheard of.  Its a great show for tweens and any fan of Jonas will love this DVD release.


Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Across the Hall DVD Review

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Synopsis: In this tense, stylish noir thriller, Terry (Danny Pino, TV's Cold Case) follows his fiancee, June (Brittany Murphy, The Ramen Girl, 8 Mile), to a seedy hotel where she's meeting another man. Drunk and distraught, Terry calls best friend Julian (Mike Vogel, Cloverfield) and reveals that he's holed up across the hall from the lovers with a stolen gun and murder on his mind. A chilling cat-and-mouse game ensues, forcing Julian to risk his own life to keep his friend from doing the unthinkable.

Review: This is one of those cool films that follows the lives of various people throughout the course of one evening.  The setting is a retro hotel in New York City.  The movie is riddled with betrayl, love and suspicion.  Brittany Murphy looks great in this noir-themed piece.  She does a great job of playing a woman caught in the middle of all the insanity and is definately the highlight of the film.


I'm kinda starting to think that Image Entertainment is cursed! lol.  This is the second celebrity facing death issues from an Image release in the past week....the other one being the suicide attempt from comedian Artie Lange.  This time, unfortunately, fate won out and the beautiful and talented Brittany Murphy passed away at a very young age.  Our condolances to her family and husband.



In all seriousness, you need to pick this film up.  Its one of the best 'under the radar' films we've seen in the past year.  We highly recommend it.



Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

The Boys Are Back DVD Review

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Synopsis: Clive Owen delivers a critically acclaimed performance in THE BOYS ARE BACK, the heartwarming and uplifting drama about a man who is suddenly thrust into the role of single parent. Successful sportswriter Joe Warr (Owen) finds himself completely unprepared to raise his rambunctious 6-year-old son Artie and juggle the challenges of a demanding job, running a household and the possibility of romance. Determined to bring joy back into their lives, he develops a revolutionary approach to parenting no rules, no chores. It's a home filled with love and chaos and then Joe's estranged teenage son comes for a visit. Inspired by a true story and filled with emotional honesty, this poignant film will touch your heart and lift your spirits.

Bonus Features include: THE BOYS ARE BACK: A Photographic Journey With Optional Commentary By Director Scott Hicks, A Father And Two Sons, On Set

Review: I'm a fan of Clive Owen's work.  I really enjoyed him in Sin City and Shoot 'Em Up.  He's really good in Children of Men too.  Its due to this that I popped in 'The Boys Are Back' on DVD for a viewing one night.  I wasn't sure what to expect outside of the basic formula of the widower trying to raise his child.  What I found was pretty much spot-on to my expectations.

The film is rather uneventful.  Clive Owen brings in his older son from a previous marriage to help and they all three proceed to go through mourning and bonding.  The central theme of this is a male bonding film.  Nothing much really occurs and the film is rather low-key.  Its a nice watch, but its more something you might see as a movie of the week.

An upside of the film is that it takes place in Australia along the beautiful coastline.  The soundtrack also really adds to the feel of the film, with music by Sigur Rós.  This film is a solid 'feel-good' watch.   

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Video: Watch the Trailer HERE

Artie Lange: Jack and Coke DVD Review

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Synopsis: As raw and offensive as ever, Artie Lange returns to his roots in Jack and Coke, shot at one of his favorite clubs in his beloved New York City. One of America's funniest stand-up comedians, Lange's irreverent, uncensored humor gets huge laughs from this NYC crowd. The culmination of nearly four years of touring, Jack and Coke includes nearly an hour and a half of insanely honest, hilarious material.

Review: We love Artie.  Ever since Dirty Work we've been interested in what he was up to, and when he became a Stern regular we started getting a good, steady dose of his humor.  Stand-up specials are hit and miss, but this one was spot-on.  Its honestly a collection of a lot of jokes you may have heard previously if you follow Artie much.  It kinda felt like a greatest hits.  Waaaah! (Lange humor)

Jack and Coke was laugh out loud funny.  What more can you ask of a comedy special?  We're very picky around the Legion offices when it comes to comedians.  We get into Eddie Izzard and Ricky Gervais a lot.  Artie is another end of the spectrum..he's the everyman's comic.  We definately recommend picking this one up.

I can't get through this review without mentioning what has recently happened with Artie.  I'm a long-time Howard Stern listener...in fact I'm listening now as I write this review!  Its well-known to Stern fans that Artie has battled his demons in the form of drugs for many years, but recently Artie made a rather brutal attempt on his own life.  I'd like to take a moment to say that we wish Artie and his family well and we hope that he recovers and finds the peace that he needs in life.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series DVD Review

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Synopsis: Ring in the Fraggle New Year with Lionsgate Home Entertainment's release of Fraggle Rock: The Complete Animated Series- available for the first time as a series on DVD!  Fans will now be able to complete their Fraggle collection with this two disc, 13 episode set of the animated series that ran Saturday mornings on NBC from 1987-88.  Fraggle Rock: The Complete Animated Series was closely modeled after the hugely successful live-actionFraggle Rock series from The Jim Henson Company. With over 4.5 hours of content, including all new never before released special features, this set promises to please both avid collectors as well as the live-action Fraggle Rock fans. 

Jim Henson's beloved children's series Fraggle Rock just celebrated its 25th anniversary and continues to prove it's still a fan-favorite with over 1.4 million DVD sales to date and the increased media buzz regarding the theatrical movie currently in development.  Fraggle Rock has been awarded an International Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program and continues to be adored by millions of fans worldwide.

Review: Jim Henson was a mad genius!  He spawned so many wonderful things..the Muppets..Sesame Street..Dark Crystal..and of course Fraggle Rock.  Now, Fraggle Rock is one of those cult favorite shows that kinda went under the radar for a lot of people.  Even though there was a McDonald's kids meal done off of the 'live-action' puppet show, many people either never saw the show or just couldn't get into it.

If you saw the Fraggles live-action show you know that it ran for four seasons.  The central theme of the show was environmental consciousness...it was almost a hippie version of the muppets.  Once the Fraggle Rock show ended they wanted to extend the show in some way, so the short-lived animated series was born.  What?  You've never heard of the animated series?  You're not alone.  You have to be a big cult follower of this franchise to have ever noticed this show that ran for a very short four seasons and a grand total of 13 episodes.  Now, Lionsgate has brought this rare toon to DVD for the first time.

I gave this one to my kids right away, because they love Fraggle Rock.  I enjoyed the nostalgia in the show, though the themes are a bit different than the live-action version.  This animated series is geared more towards kids with their 'believe in yourself' self-esteem promoting agenda.  Its a very cute show and is a nice accompanyment to any 80s animation collection or Fraggle Rock collection.  I highly recommend getting this complete animated series..it has a very low price-point and is sure to be hard to find, even now.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Rock 'N Learn: Phonics and Reading DVD Review

You can own this DVD today!

Synopsis: Kids love learning to read with this entertaining collection of video lessons. Cool songs, colorful animation, and energetic performers make learning fun. Kids control the pace, advancing as they master each new skill. Catchy songs and rhymes make phonics rules easy to remember. As they progress through the program, kids have plenty of opportunity to practice their skills by reading along with amusing stories and songs. This educational program will help your child learn to read, while offering unbeatable value.

Review: We work with our two older kids a lot on their phonics and reading skills.  They're in first grade and kindergarten, so this is a crucial time for their development.  I was instantly interested in this Rock 'N Learn series, because our kids LOVE music and since everyone learns differently, we wanted to challenge them to see if this could be helpful.

Well, our seven and five year olds went nuts!  They had hours of fun mastering the skills and going through this DVD like a game.  It was wonderful.  Any parent knows that its a challenge to keep learning fun and interesting, well for only around $15 you can pick this DVD up and do just that!  I highly recommend for anyone with kids ages 4-7!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

SouthLAand: the Complete First Season Uncensored DVD Review

You can own this DVD season today!

Synopsis: From Emmy Award winners John Wells, Ann Biderman and Chris Chulack comes a raw and authentic look at the police unit in Los Angeles. From the beaches of Malibu to the streets of East LA, "Southland" is a fast-moving drama that will take you inside the lives of cops, criminals, victims and their families.

Review: 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.

This is the Uncensored DVD release of the show, assumptively its the same as is airing right now on TNT.  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 would've rated this a solid 5 out of 5 stars, but since TNT has picked it up and they're adding more episodes to season one, this isn't a complete release.  We do look forward to the inevitable full release later in 2010.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Links: www.southlanddvd.com

Top Gear Seasons 11 and 12 DVD Reviews! 

You can purchase these DVDs online today.  Buy Season 11 and buy Season 12


Synopsis: Accessible to everyone and full of stunts, challenges and special segments, it's irreverent, witty, self-deprecating, inclusive and passionate. The charisma and enthusiasm of the show's presenters have helped make Top Gear a worldwide megabrand attracting a global audience over 500 million in more than 20 countries. This season's highlights include a car chase in presenter-chosen old bangers for traffic cops, a race in the French Alps against extreme skiers, a race across Japan (a Nissan car versus public transport), a cross-country fox hunt (with Jeremy as the prey), and a Brits versus German Top Gear challenge. Of course, this season includes serious car journalism too, with exhaustive road tests of the latest models, man versus machine experiments, weekly power-tests featuring the world's most exotic supercars and all the tried-and-tested Top Gear favorites also return.

Review: Ok, this show is absolutely insane!  I mean that in the best of ways.  I tend to enjoy programming from the BBC and here is why...their programming is far less uptight than ours.  Its generally more honest and real..not to mention extreme.

Top Gear is a show that I've been hearing about for some time from my brother in law.  He is a car enthusiest and really enjoys the crazy stuff that they do.  I've been meaning to watch it, but didn't have the opportunity until now.  Seasons 11 and 12 are both on DVD now, so I figured why not give it a whirl?

These guys are nuts.  They basically take vehicles and modify them for crazy challenges and stunts.  Thats the base premise of the show, but it goes beyond that into a lot of hilarious set-ups and humor.  A warning to you all it is british humor, so if you really don't 'get' british comedy, then you might not think its all that funny, but you will definately be able to appreciate the crazy stunts.  This is the most popular car entertainment show in the world.  We're talking over 500 million people have seen this show..79% of video views on BBCAmerica.com is for Top Gear!  The Top Gear YouTube channel has over 184,000 subscribers and over 5.6 million views!!  You need to get in on this one.

If I had to describe this show in brief...think Mythbusters, but way more over the top and a lot more destructive.  I absolutely love this show now, and I wish we had something even half as good airing in America!  I highly recommend!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Links: www.bbcamericashop.com

Video: Watch a clip of the show HERE

Edge of Darkness: The Complete Series BBC DVD Review

You can own this DVD today

Synopsis: A father's worst fears come true in this apocalyptic political thriller, one of the best and most influential British TV series ever made. Investigating his daughter's murder, a Yorkshire police officer follows clues into a murky world of nuclear espionage and cover-ups. Part crime drama, part science fiction, and 100% terrifying.

Review: Does this title and premise sound familiar?  That may be because you're seeing trailers on television for an American big-screen adaptation of this concept starring Mel Gibson!  We all know that Mel Gibson is insane and rather offensive in his old age, but the movie does sound cool.  I have a great alternative to supporting racist actors...watch the original!  The BBC  put this out as a mini-series awhile back, and its far superior to the recent American film adaptation.

I have to say that I'm worn out on cop drama.  I really thought that was what this is, but its not.  Its a great political thriller..one of the best.  This was produced back in 1985 and was one of the first nuclear-age dramas that explored the conspiracies in the government.  Who can you trust?  Everything you think you know is a lie and the deeper it goes, the more intense the suspense and action becomes!  I don't want to spoil any details of the show, but this was a fantastic watch and I highly recommend it. 

The special features on this DVD release include: Alternate ending to the final episode, Music-only audio option to isolate the Eric Clapton/Michael Kamen BAFTA-winning score, Magnox: The Secrets of Edge of Darkness featuring interviews with the cast and crew, "Did You See" featuring reviews of the original BBC broadcast, Interview with Bob Peck from the BBC's Breakfast Time morning program, Highlights from the BAFTA awards and Broadcasting Press Guild Awards including interviews with Bob Peck, Joe Don Baker, and producer Michael Wearing and a photo gallery.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Links: www.bbcamericashop.com

 Dallas: The Complete Twelfth Season DVD Review

You can purchase this DVD online today

Synopsis: J.R. has always been a hound dog with the ladies and in Season 12 it all comes back to bite him. A dalliance with an Arkansas cutie leads J.R. to the wrong end of a shotgun, 10 years of hard labor, a prison break and the altar. And that’s just the start of 26 episodes of commotion and emotion that also include a tell-all movie (bankrolled by the first Mrs. J.R. Ewing) that threatens to unveil every low-down trick J.R. ever pulled and a rival oil man scheming to destroy the Ewing empire, taking the clan from Southfork all the way to Austria and Russia!

Review: If anyone doesn't remember Dallas, then you know they weren't around in the 1980s.  This show was it!  It was the end all of nighttime drama.  From the famous "Who Shot J.R.?" stunt when the show first began, Dallas gained a loyal following of viewers.  This show was the original Desperate Housewives.

Season 12 of the show was at a point where the same ol' stories were getting worn out and sad.  What was great about the 12th season is the re-vitalization of the storylines.  The writers really went above and beyond with their reach for the characters.  Bobby Ewing makes Cliff a partner in Ewing Oil, but thanks to J.R. and his scheming ways, the deal falls through.  Sue Ellen is still trying to kill off J.R. after her disappointment for not being able to kill him the first time.  The characters are all up to no good and the drama is flying!

The show would last only two more seasons after this one, but at 14 seasons long it dominated airwaves my entire youth.  I have great memories of the show and its a blast to watch again.  I recommend this DVD to anyone that enjoyed the show.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars


Links: www.dallasondvd.com

Surrogates Blu-Ray Review

You can own this blu-ray today, comes out Jan. 26th 2010


Synopsis: How do you save humanity when the only thing that's real is you? From the director of TERMINATOR 3 comes a jaw-dropping psychological thriller starring the ultimate action hero, Bruce Willis. In the not-so-distant future, where people experience life through perfect surrogates controlled from the safety of their own homes, murder is a thing of the past. But when a college student linked to the creator of these replicants is killed, one FBI agent must re-enter reality and risk his life to unravel the mystery. In the battle of technology versus humanity, who can you trust? Experience every electrifying moment of this mind-blowing movie. Based on the acclaimed graphic novel and exploding with unforgettable action, SURROGATES is nonstop entertainment from start to finish!

Bonus Features include: Exclusive To Blu-ray: Deleted Scenes, Exclusive To Blu-ray: A More Perfect You: The Science Of Surrogates, Exclusive To Blu-ray: Breaking The Frame: A Graphic Novel Comes To Life, I Will Not Bow Music Video By Breaking Benjamin, Feature Audio Commentary By Director Jonathan Mostow

Review: The premise of Surrogates is fantastic.  In the tradition of great sci-fi films like Blade Runner, Surrogates carries the torch this year as one of those movies that is respectful to science fiction.  The film has its negative componants, but overall its a fun ride.

The concept is basically that a company develops such sophisticated androids that people begin to sit in chairs and hook their brains into these surrogate robots.  Society embraces this idea for safety and all of a sudden everyone is living their life vicariously through these surrogates.  Its become a normal way of life.  You can become anyone..look like anything.  Its like a hyper-realized version of a chat room, the cops even come across the owner of a gorgeous young woman that turns out to be an overweight older man.

We're introduced quickly to a much younger looking Bruce Willis.  You realize soon that its a self-designed surrogate of a younger version of himself.  There is a murder and the death of the surrogate actually kills the owner too, which is never supposed to happen.  That negates the entire purpose of the surrogates.  An investigation and action thrill ride ensue.

The effects, script and action are cool in this film.  I do have a criticism about the film.  You get thrown into this fictional world and are forced to become assuming about everything that is going on.  You never get motivations to the main characters, nor do we become invested in any part of this world.  Due to this oversight the film does come off a little skin deep.  I feel that this could've been a film of cult status had they taken the time to make it a little more personal for us as an audience.

Overall, I enjoyed this film and I do recommend picking it up.  The blu-ray option is the only way to go.  The 1080p high definition looks fantastic.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Make It Or Break It, Volume 1 DVD Review 

You can purchase this DVD online today


Synopsis: How far will they go to achieve their ultimate dream? Experience the rivalry and romance of four teenage girls on their path to Olympic gold in the original ABC Family series that has fans and critics cheering all across the nation. “You’ll flip for…Make It Or Break It,” raves David Hinkley of the New York Daily News. Who will rank #1 at Nationals and what will it take to get there? Viewers will flip for this engaging series chronicling the triumphs and heartbreaks as close friends balance their lives as high school students with the intense world of competitive gymnastics. Fans can relive the series that raises the bar on family drama, complete with a never-before-seen extended episode, and go behind the scenes to discover what it takes to perform such amazing stunts—only on DVD!

Review: Its come to my attention recently that ABC Family has really been upgrading the quality of programming that they air.  We're seeing a rise in dramas centered around competitive areas of life, and in that tradition Make It Or Break It delves into the crazy world of gymnastics.

The show is great, because it not only shows the actual work and drama of the gymnists, but the girls' families are deeply involved.  The families come from varying financial backrounds and you get to see how each of them handle trying to keep their child into this sport that can become all engrossing emotionally and financially taxing, as well.

This is the first volume release of the Make It Or Break It series.  There are 10 episodes on volume one, season one has a total of 20 episodes.  

Bonus Features Include: Deleted Scenes, Making It An Inside Look At How These Flexible Female Stars Balance Acting With Difficult Stunts For A Gold Medal Performance, Never-Before-Seen Extended Finale

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

10 Things I Hate About You, Volume 1 DVD Review

You can purchase this DVD online today

Synopsis: From the director of the original hit movie comes the hilarious ABC Family Series 10 Things I Hate About You. Viewers will experience the ultimate sibling rivalry with the show that Jennifer Goodwin of E! Online calls “wickedly funny, smart and sweet” and meet Kat (Lindsey Shaw) and Bianca (Meaghan Jette Martin), two very different sisters who have their own unique views on high school life and teenage love. Kat is a feisty, smart student activist who wants to stand out, and Bianca is a sweet social butterfly who just wants to fit in. Things get a lot more complicated, however, when Kat meets the mysterious Patrick Verona (Ethan Peck). Fans can experience every episode of Volume One, complete with exciting bonus features, available only on DVD. 10 Things I Hate About You is a witty and fun family comedy with something for everyone.

Review: There is an epidemic with movie-to-tv adaptations.  They tend to be an awful re-hash of what you've already seen on the big screen.  The great thing about this show is that it actually breaks away from the film just enough to carry on a life of its own.

10 Things I Hate About You the series makes only minor changes to the storyline and sets up the characters to have a long-running dialogue, rather than the enclosed situations of the film.  We get a lot more time to witness the development of the characters.  This Volume One set includes the first half of season one, which is ten episodes.  You can get all caught up on the show and prepared for the second half of season one!

The extras on this DVD volume includes a lot of audio commentary and some bloopers from the show's filming. Its more than you typically recieve in a volume one set like this.  I highly recommend this one for anyone thats into teen drama.  This is great for tweens, teens and their parents.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Video: You can see some bloopers, click HERE

The Simpsons: The Complete Twentieth Season Blu-Ray Review

You can purchase this Blu-Ray online today

Synopsis: Disc 1: 218 Minutes

• Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes
• Lost Verizon
• Double, Double, Boy in Trouble
• Treehouse of Horror XIX
• Dangerous Curves
• Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words
• Mypods and Boomsticks
• The Burns and the Bees
• Lisa the Drama Queen
• Featurette - "The 20th Anniversary Special Sneak Peek by Morgan Spurlock"

Disc 2: 264 Minutes

• Take my Life, Please
• How the Test Was Won
• No Loan Again, Naturally
• Gone Maggie Gone
• In the Name of the Grandfather
• Wedding for Disaster
• Eeny Teeny Maya Moe
• The Good, the Sad and the Drugly
• Father Knows Worst
• Waverly Hills 9-0-2-1-D'oh
• Four Great Women and a Manicure
• Coming to Homerica

Review: The Simpsons is a series that has stayed hilarious for 20 years.  Its been there since I was a kid and looks to stick around long into my adult life.  I feel that its nearly impossible to review the show itself, so we're going to focus on the actualy product release.

The Simpsons is on blu-ray for the first time!  Now you may be asking yourself why the jump to season 20?!  If you have been following along with the Simpsons DVD releases you would know that they left off on season 12 this past summer, so why jump to 20?!  We figure the best explanation is marketing.  Its the 20th anniversary of the show, so perhaps it is to cash in on that.  Honestly, thats fine by us, as long as everything gets released eventually.

How does the blu-ray transfer look?  Thats what we all really want to know anyway, right?  Well, the Simpsons switched over to HD halfway through season 20, so there is a huge gap in quality for these episodes.  The first half looks great, as always, but the second half of the episodes pop in a way that is downright breathtaking.  It looks just beautiful.

The only negative about this release is the distince lack of bonus features.  In the past Simpsons fans have been treated to a plethora of bonus features including audio commentary, deleted scenes, etc.   This 20th season set has one bonus feature...its the 20th Anniversary Special Sneak Peek by Morgan Spurlock, which aired live a few days prior to the release of the blu-ray. 

Overall, I highly recommend this release.  Its not super-rich on features, but its the Simpsons on blu-ray..something I've been waiting for a long time now.    I honestly care more about the actual show than the features, so I'll enjoy watching it in high-definition!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Boogie Nights Blu-Ray Review

You can own this blu-ray today!

Synopsis: From writer/director P.T. Anderson comes the turbulehnt behind-the-scenes story of an extended family of filmmakers who set out to revolutionize the adult entertainment industry in the seventies.

Idealistic producer Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds) has always dreamed of elevating his films into an art form. When he discovers young actor Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg), Jack begins to turn his dreams into reality. Under the stage name of Dirk Diggler, Eddie soon gives the adult entertainment world a star the likes of which it has never seen. But the rise to fame has its costs, and soon Dirk finds himself sliding down the slippery slope of sex, drugs and violence. The only question: can he get himself back together before it's too late?

Review: I never saw Boogie Nights.  Oh, I'd heard of it, but it never really interested me enough to bother with it.  It may have been due to Mark Wahlberg being the lead role.  Nothing against Wahlberg, he just isn't someone I feel should carry a film on his back.  On the other hand, this film is about porn, drugs and violence, so it'd fit right into my normal movie viewing habits....I suppose it coming out on blu-ray is the perfect time to experience the film.

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by how entertaining the film was.  Mind you, its mostly a montage of party after party, drugs and sex and mindless fun...but hey that has its place, right?  Its a reflection of culture and thats pefectly valid in my mind. 

The movie has never looked better.  The transfer into 1080p high-definition did it well.  The skin tones are better and the textures on the clothing are more defined.   The big stand-out difference between the blu-ray and DVD releases of this film are the colors.  The color really pops, which is a big deal since the film is set in the 1970s! 

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Links: www.warnerblu.com

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