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That Time of the Week: DVD/Blu Releases From 10/8 & 10/15!

Bet you weren’t expecting this today.  Well, surprise!  This one has everything..Giant Kaiju, Shakespeare, television, Buddy Comedys, classic cinema, new, old, scary, funny, sad, insightful, foreign and domestic.

Fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart.  It’s that time of the week!

Much Ado About Nothing

Lionsgate / Released 10/8/13

Joss Whedon’s sexy and contemporary spin on Shakespeare’s classic comedy about the story of sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick offers a sensual, tragic and occasionally absurd view of the intricate game that is love.  Extras include featurettes, commentaries, and music video.

Last Word: A perfect adaptation.  Joss Whedon has shown the world his brilliance through a variety of subjects over the past twenty years from vampires and sci-fi to blockbuster action and now Shakespeare.  Can the director do no wrong?

Much Ado About Nothing is Shakespeare’s most famous comedy that follows a smitten young couple, Claudio and Hero, and their (as well as their friends’ and attendants’) attempts to match a sparring pair of “not-lovers”, Beatrice and Benedick.  Of course there’s a villain trying to ruin everything with zero motives except that he must fulfill his self-proclaimed role as “Villain”.

The back and forth between attempting to dissolve and nurture love is decorated with stubborn pride, wit, and outstanding humor.  Shot in Whedon’s home, the actors came together for twelve days and produced Much Ado About Nothing.  It felt a bit like a large family reunion. While the actors play drastically different roles from their pasts the familiarity and chemistry between them is welcoming and incredibly appealing. It’s a treat for longtime Whedon fans to see folks that haven’t had a strong film or television presence since their respective cult shows retired. And the humor is not lost among those who have never seen an episode of Buffy, Angel, or Firefly.

Joss Whedon has an extraordinary talent directing large and various ensembles.  Through each genre he tackles, the director is able to capture genuine chemistry within a group of people while also making each character individually sparkle. There doesn’t seem to be a lacking factor in his style and flow for this reason. Party and plotting scenes are full of Whedon’s famous casual back and forth – he really knows how to work a room, literally. Many scenes take place in single rooms but Whedon’s use of props and movement especially with actors privy to his style, the conversations glow. Because of this, even through the language of Shakespeare, Joss’ telltale quirky humor is expressed expertly.

Alexis Denisof is brilliant as Benedick and Amy Acker shows her great talent as Beatrice. Denisof is charming and oh so puff-out-his-chest manly. Acker is sharp and confident while subtly delicate. The duo is heartening and hilarious together. Enjoy his pushups and her eye rolling. It’s quite the contrast from when they co-starred on Angel as nerdy, timid, and goofy lovers, Wesley and Fred.  The story is set in the home of Leonato, played by Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson from The Avengers).  He is the host of the everlasting parties where the story takes place and father of Hero who is to be wed to his companion’s friend, Claudio – it’s Shakespeare so there are a lot of his friend, her friend, those friends of friends, etc. Gregg’s deserves exceptional recognition for his part as host and coconspirator. The actor’s small roles are always poignant and emotionally gripping in one way or another, there is never a lack of passion. His cordiality and eventual horrific condemnation is powerful without being over-the-top.

Honorable mention is due to Fran Kranz as Claudio, soon-to-be husband (or is he?) Leonato’s daughter, Hero (Jillian Morgese). The actor gives melancholy an adorable face, especially while sipping from a martini glass in a pool in a snorkel.  Amazing.

Nathan Fillion and Tom Lenk as the incompetent police duo, Dogberry and Verges, are the comical jesters of the film and are fabulous in their complete lack of proficiency and hilarious language-mash ups. “Marry sir, they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly, they have belied a lady; thirdly, they have verified unjust things; and, to conclude, they are lying knaves.”  Even more amazing.

The film is light-hearted and filled with charm not only because of the actors but also the score – merry go-lucky tunes when the characters are pleasantly scheming, and slow deep strings when the villains are plotting. This addition feels very Whedon and gives a casual, TV-show-like quality and familiarity to the production.  This adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy is delivered with impeccable timing and effervescence rendering the film truly enjoyable to all audiences. The actors deliver Shakespeare’s lingo with awe-inspiring ease. It’s impressive enough to speak the text fluidly but that it is filled with such genuine emotion and authenticity is astonishing.  If you’re a Joss Whedon/Shakespeare fan, as I very largely am, enjoy the sensation of feeling like a kid in a candy shop that has all your favorite actors in it speaking beautifully while making you giggle. ( – Caitlyn Thompson)

Pacific Rim

Warner Home Video / Released 10/15/13

When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse

Last Word: Pacific Rim is a movie that starts off running and refuses to relent until the end.  With giant robots fighting giant Kaiju beasts that make Monster Island look like The Muppet Show, it is the gold standard by which all sci-fi blockbusters should get made.  We are introduced to the main character Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam of Sons of Anarchy) through a voice over that lays down a history of how giant monsters began emerging from a dimensional rift in the depths of the Pacific Ocean some time in 2013.

The world responded by banding together to create the giant robots called Jaegers (German for “Hunters”). The Jaegers are controlled through a neural network by pilot duos to allow a left and right brain control and because it is too much for one person to pilot alone. Raleigh pilots one with his brother who gets aced by a Kaiju as they are piloting, forcing Raleigh to pilot his Jaeger back to land by himself and setting him up as an outsider from the rest of the Jaeger pilots.

Flash forward five years later to a world giving up on the Jaeger program in favor of building giant walls around the Pacific Rim. However, the leader of the Jaeger program, Stacker Pentecost (Idris Alba of The Wire, Luther, Prometheus), has a blockbuster plan that could close the rift using the world’s few remaining Jaegers.  Elba’s Pentecost is just the leader the world needs in a time like this: focused, dedicated and willing to lose everything for his dream. This is the kind of character children want to grow up to be and he plays the part with unflinching conviction.

Most of the characters are fairly stock in trade (with the exception of Ron Pearlman’s fantastic black marketeer Hannibal Chau) and, let’s face it, will translate well in the upcoming video game tie-in. However, it is the robots that will make the video game exciting. Pacific Rim has some of the most bad ass robots to hit screens since Robotech or Force Five. The CGI portaying the robots battling the monsters is gorgeous, especially in the Battle for Hong Kong, which rages from the Pacific into the streets of Hong Kong. It is as mesmerizing as the Man of Steel battle between Zod and Superman and almost as destructive.

Is there anything besides the fighting?  Sure, there is a love story between Raleigh and his brother’s replacement pilot, Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi), Pentecost’s adopted daughter. There is the fighting/rivalry between Raleigh and fellow Yeager pilot, Chuck. There is the story of Stacker and his adopted daughter. There is the story of Geisler (Charlie Day of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Gottlieb (Burn Gorman of Torchwood), two scientists battling each other over the right way to forecast the monster attacks.

These stories all tell tales of duos, whether or not they get along. In the end these stories are all about balance – like the left-right brain hemispheres that control our bodies or those of the Jaegers. The pilots connect consciousness in order to ably pilot a Jaeger as a duo and because of this connection, most of the time pilots are either closely related or have another similar bond with their co-pilot. Guillermo del Toro has created in Pacific Rim a worthy successor to his visionary movies like Pan’s Labyrinth or Hellboy 2. The one thing that the movie lacks, but appears to strive for, is dialogue that might impress as much as the effects and mythology do. ( – Joe Yezukevich)

The Heat

20th Century Fox / Released 10/15/13

Uptight FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) and foul-mouthed Boston cop Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy) couldn’t be more incompatible. But when they join forces to bring down a ruthless drug lord, they become the last thing anyone expected: buddies. Extras include featurettes, bloopers, deleted, alternate & extended scenes, and 5 commentaries including Paul Feig and Mystery Science Theater 3000 cast.

A Hijacking

Magnolia / Released 10/15/13

The cargo ship MV Rozen is heading for harbor when it is hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. Amongst the men on board are the ship’s cook Mikkel and the engineer Jan, who along with the rest of the seamen are taken hostage in a cynical game of life and death. With the demand for a ransom of millions of dollars, a psychological drama unfolds between the CEO of the shipping company and the Somali pirates.
    
Last Word: Inspired by true events and told from the perspectives of Peter, the CEO and Mikkel, the cook.  A Highjacking is a solid thriller that’s both unnerving and terrifying and a breath of fresh air in a familiar genre.  Recommended.

The Vikings: Season One

20th Century Fox / Released 10/15/13

Journey to a thrilling ancient world in this epic new series about history’s bravest and most brutally fearsome warriors…Vikings. Ragnar, a would-be Viking chieftain, longs to fulfill his destiny as an explorer and conqueror, alongside his ambitious brother Rollo and loyal wife Lagertha. But as Ragnar leads daring raids in distant realms across the ocean, treacherous forces in his Norse homeland conspire against him. Faced with shocking betrayals and the temptations of a mysterious seductress, Ragnar must wage war on the battlefield – and within himself – to protect his freedom, family and life.  Extras include alternate and extended scenes, commentaries, interactive featurettes, deleted scenes and featurettes.

Shrek the Musical

DreamWorks /Released 10/15/13

Shrek The Musical tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon, rescues a feisty princess and learns that real friendship and true love aren’t only found in fairy tales.  Featuring a fantasic score of 17 all-new songs, Shrek The Musical was filmed on stage to capture the magic of a Broadway performance and stars an amazing celebrated cast including Brian d’Arcy James (Shrek), Sutton Foster (Fiona), Daniel Breaker (Donkey), Christopher Sieber (Lord Farquaad), and John Tartaglia (Pinocchio). The film was shot live on Broadway with 10 cameras and directed by Michael Warren.  Extras include making of and Shrek songbook.

Maniac

MPI Home Video / Released 10/15/13

Frank (Elijah Wood) leads a deceptively peaceful life: to the outside world, he’s a withdrawn and somewhat eccentric owner of a mannequin store. But his quiet facade masks an inner rage that forces him to brutally kill the women who manage to get too close to him.  When a young artist named Anna (Nora Arnezeder) appears one day at Frank’s shop and asks for his help with her new exhibition, Frank develops an obsession with her that threatens to completely destroy his already fragile psyche. Soon the streets become unsafe for any woman after dark as this newly-awakened maniac begins to stalk and kill.  A 21st century Jack the Ripper story set in present day Los Angeles, Maniac is an intimate, visually daring, psychologically complex and profoundly horrific trip into the downward spiraling nightmare of a killer and his victims.  Extras include commentary, making of, deleted scenes, poster gallery and trailer.

Last Word: Not only an improvement over it’s grindhouse-esque source material, but a stylish, intense thriller in it’s own right.  Elijah Wood is surprisingly effective and the film itself reminded me a little bit of Michael Mann’s Manhunter with the synthesizer soundtrack, sleek cinematography and dreamy, hyper stylized visual intensity.  The thriller sleeper of the year, Maniac is recommended.

The Fall, Series 1

Acorn Media / Released 10/15/13

In the five part drama series made and set in Northern Ireland, Gillian Anderson stars as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson who is brought in from the London Metropolitan Police to help catch the killer when a murder in Belfast remains unsolved.    Gibson quickly recognizes the signs of a serial killer, but the culprit (Jamie Dornan) has already targeted his next victim.  The drama follows the police investigation uncovering the intricate story of the lives entangled by a series of murders both within the killers’ and the victims’ families.  The Fall is a psychological thriller that follows both the hunter and the hunted as they attempt to outmaneuver each other in a unsettling game of cat and mouse.

Hart of Dixie: The Complete Second Season

Warner Home Video / Released 10/15/13

New Yorker and new doctor Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson) accepts an offer from a stranger, Dr. Harley Wilkes, to work in his medical practice in Bluebell, Alabama. She arrives to find he has died and left half the practice to her in his will.  Things kick off with Zoe capturing two hearts and having to choose between bad boy Wade Kinsella (Wilson Bethel) and good guy George Tucker (Scott Porter). Meanwhile, the mayor of BlueBell, Lavon Hayes (Cress Williams), is surprised by a familiar face and newly jilted Lemon Breeland  (Jaime King) tries to deal with her heartbreak the best way she knows how.  Extras include featurette, deleted scenes and gag reel.

The Colony

Image Entertainment / Released 10/15/13

Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix), Bill Paxton (Aliens) and Kevin Zegers (Dawn of the Dead), headline an all-star cast in this savage and unrelenting thriller about mankind’s greatest enemy: himself.  As an endless winter engulfs Earth, humans struggle to survive in remote underground outposts. When Colony 7 receives a distress call from a nearby settlement, Sam (Zegers) and Briggs (Fishburne) race through the snow on a dangerous rescue mission. What they find at the desolate base could mean mankind’s salvation… or its total annihilation. Terrifying discoveries will unfold that will change the rules of survival forever.  Extras include interviews with cast and crew.

Nothing Left To Fear

Anchor Bay / Released 10/8/13

Nothing Left to Fear was inspired by the legend of Stull, Kansas. Wendy (Anne Heche), her husband Dan (James Tupper) and their kids have just moved to the small town of Stull, Kansas, where Dan is the new pastor. But in this sleepy community of friendly neighbors, a horrific series of occurrences awaits them: Their teenage daughter (Rebekah Brandes) is being tormented by grisly visions. Her younger sister (Jennifer Stone) has been marked for a depraved ritual. And deep within the heartland darkness, one of The Seven Gates of Hell demands the blood of the innocent to unleash the creatures of the damned. Ethan Peck and Clancy Brown co-star in this demonic shocker featuring original music by producer Slash and inspired by the real-life paranormal legacy of Stull. Nothing Left to Fear is the first film from Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Slash’s production company, Slasher Films, and was written by Jonathon W.C. Mills and directed by Anthony Leonardi III.  Extras include commentary and behind the scenes.

Plush

Millennium Entertainment / Released 10/15/13

After losing her band mate and brother to a drug overdose, rising rock star Hayley finds herself in a downward spiral. The second album from her band Plush is received as a critical and commercial disaster. She finds new hope and friendship in Enzo, the replacement guitarist who inspires her to reach new creative heights. But soon their collaboration crosses the line and Hayley, who is married with two children, retreats from Enzo’s advances. As Hayley slowly discovers Enzo’s dark and troubled history, she realizes she may have let a madman into her home and that her mistake may cost the lives of people closest to her.  Extras include music videos and teaser trailers.

Murder University

Wild Eye / Released 10/15/13

A small New England college is plagued by a series of brutal, cult-like murders that share a similar pattern of killings some twenty years earlier. The lone survivor of a recent attack must team up with a veteran police detective and his daughter in order to uncover the secret behind the killings, revealing a legacy of murder and the occult that has been kept buried for decades on campus.  Extras include commentaries, deleted scenes and trailers.

Drug War

Well Go USA / Released 10/15/13
Manufacturing just 50 grams of meth in China will earn you a death sentence.  Timmy Choi (Louis Koo) just got caught making tons.  Now he’s in the custody of Captain Zhang (Sun Honglei), and has one chance to avoid execution – turn informant and help the cops bring down the powerful cartel he’s been cooking for. Over the next 72 sleepless hours, the sting spins out of control, the line between duty and recklessness is blurred, and it becomes unclear who actually has the upper hand.  From Johnnie To, master of the Hong Kong crime thriller, comes an unnerving thrill ride through the modern criminal underworld.

Gravity Falls: Six Strange Tales

WDSHE / Released 10/15/13

If you meet forest gnomes disguised as zombies, dig up a mysterious old journal filled with secrets and ciphers, or encounter spooky hijinks at the local condemned convenience store, you’ve just crossed over into Gravity Falls, where there’s always something peculiar going on! Join 12-year-old twins Dipper and Mabel Pines as they explore the oddest spot on the map. Shipped off to spend the summer with their gruff Great Uncle (“Grunkle”) Stan – who runs the tacky tourist trap, “Mystery Shack” – the kids uncover mysterious surprises, unsurpassed silliness, and supernatural shenanigans lurking around every corner of the deceptively sleepy little town. Packed with over two hours of hilarious adventures, irreverent humor, and quirky, unforgettable characters, Gravity Falls: Six Strange Tales is a trippy trip into your family’s fun zone!   Extras include Mystery Book Journal #3

Superheroes: Never-Ending Battle

PBS / Released 10/15/13

Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle, hosted and narrated by Liev Schreiber (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), examines the evolution of superhero characters and the comic book industry, chronicling how these inexpensive diversions became the foundation for a multi-billion dollar industry. Features interviews with pioneers such as Stan Lee, Joe Simon, and Jerry Robinson as well as iconic actors Adam West (Batman) and Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman).

Last Word: Divided into three one hour long chapters, this documentary might be the best one ever produced on the subject.  Covering the Golden, Silver and Modern Ages, this documentary features a number of important creators and experts including Neal Adams, Chris Claremont, Gerry Conway, Paul Dini, Mark Evanier, Danny Fingeroth, Ramona Fradon, artist Irwin Hasen, the late Carmine Infantino, Phil Jiminez, Gerard Jones, Jenette Kahn, the late Joe Kubert, Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane,  Grant Morrison, Denny O’Neil, Trina Robbins, Joe Quesada, Andrea Romano, Arlen Schumer,  Louise Simonson, Walt Simonson, Zack Snyder, Jim Steranko,  J. Michael Straczynski, Mark Waid, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, the late Joe Simon and the late Jerry Robinson. Extras include extended interviews and Marvel Super Heroes themes performed by Jack Urbont.

And yet, as fantastic as the documentary is, there are glaring omissions (I think that it could have easily been doubled in length) such as Roy Thomas, Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Frank Miller, Jim Shooter, Steve Englehart, Peter David, John Byrne, John Romita, Howard Chaykin, Paul Levitz, Kurt Busiek, Rob Liefeld, Erik Larsen, Mark Silvestri, Mark Millar, Jim Starlin, Warren Ellis, Neil Gaiman, James Robinson, Los Bros Hernandez, Roger Stern, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Amanda Connor, Scott Snyder, Paul Pope, Mike Richardson, Matt Wagner, Darwyn Cooke, Brian K. Vaughan, Jeff Smith, Adam Hughes, Alex Ross, Jeph Loeb, Elliot S! Maggin, Karen Berger, George Perez, Arthur Adams and Gail Simone among dozens of others.

The majority of the extras are interviews, but this is where an opportunity is missed.  As much as I enjoy seeing Adam West and Lynda Carter, the other interviewees are limited in scope (the late Jerry Robinson, the late Joe Simon, Stan Lee, etc) and really could have benefited from a larger canvas.  The film doesn’t use any archival interviews, but I have a hard time looking at a documentary on super heroes without the input of the deceased Jack Kirby, Christopher Reeve, Archie Goodwin, Gil Kane, Garner Fox, and Julie Schwartz among others.  Nevertheless, Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle is incredibly well done and a must have for any comic fan.  Highly recommended.

The Croods

Dreamworks Animation / Released 10/1/13

The Croods tells the story of the world’s first family road trip. When their cave is destroyed, the Crood family must embark on a comedy adventure into strange and spectacular territory in search of a new home. As if patriarch Grug (Nicolas Cage) didn’t already have enough to handle, it goes from bad to worse when they encounter an imaginative nomad named Guy (Ryan Reynolds).  With Guy’s help the Croods conquer their fear of the outside world and discover that they have exactly what it takes to survive – each other.  Also stars Emma Stone, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman and Clark Duke.  Extras include trailers,  drawing tutorial, deleted scenes, featurette and interactive supplement focusing on the creatures.

Last Word: Not exactly The Flintstones, The Croods avoids dinosaurs with this stone-age family. Despite it’s predictability, The Croods is a charming family comedy with both well executed humor and a warmth that is conveyed throughout.  The voice cast is uniformly great and the fluid animation and excellent character design combined with a healthy dose of slapstick and wit easily makes this one of the best animated films of the year.  Recommended.

Anger Management 2

Lionsgate / Released 10/15/13
The hilarious hit comedy Anger Management is back! Starring award winning actor, Charlie Sheen, Anger Management Volume 2 follows Charlie Goodman, a non-traditional therapist specializing in anger management. He has a successful private practice, holding sessions with his group of primary patient regulars each week, as well as performing pro bono counseling for an inmate group at a state prison. His life is complicated by his relationships with his own therapist and best friend Kate (Selma Blair), his ex-wife Jennifer (Shawnee Smith), whose positive outlook but poor life- choices frustrate  their 15 year-old daughter Sam (Daniela Bobadilla), who has OCD, and of course, his interfering and meddlesome father, Martin (Martin Sheen).

Last Word:  After it’s initial season, Anger Management was picked up for a full 100 episode order and curiously the show became more of a soap opera than sitcom with long story arcs that continue to go on with little resolution.  As displayed in this season, the show isn’t particularly funny (or entertaining), but it’s more of a pleasant diversion.  Sheen and his ensemble (including former Spin City co-star Michael Boatman) all deliver adequate performances but there isn’t much to the material to elevate.  Anger Management isn’t necessarily a show I like, but compared to most sitcoms, I don’t not like it.  Mildly recommended.

Embrace of the Vampire

Starz/ Anchor Bay / Released 10/15/13

The Innocence Is Over. In the tradition of Poison Ivy, Alyssa Milano, plays Charlotte, a sensuous but innocent college freshman who is being seduced by an obsessive lover. A lover, who comes to her only in dreams – a dark, handsome vampire who touches her in forbidden places and will stop at nothing to arouse her passion.  As she is drawn deeper and deeper into the vampire’s erotic world of carnal pleasure, Charlotte is forced to make a choice between her college boyfriend and her nighttime lover, between sweet romance and uncontrollable lust, between the forces of light and the power of darkness, between true love … and eternal possession. Charlotte Lewis and Jennifer Tilly co-star in this sexy tale. 

Embrace of the Vampire

Starz/ Anchor Bay / Released 10/15/13

Charlotte Hawthorn (Sharon Hinnendael) arrives at college a timid and repressed freshman. Scarred by a life of foster homes and violent girls’ schools, Charlotte is plagued by night terrors. A fencing scholarship got her into college, but she relies on prescription medication just to get through the day. With this fresh start, she’s hoping to leave her tormented past behind her – but Charlotte will learn that her future and her past are linked forever by a dark and bloody secret.

American Horror Story: Asylum

20th Century Fox / Released 10/8/13

Step inside a madhouse of horror and experience the chilling new incarnation of TV’s most daringly provocative series. The sins of the past haunt the present at the notorious Briarcliff home for the criminally insane, ruled with an iron fist by Sister Jude. Forbidden desire and terrifying evil lurk around every corner…from alien abduction to demonic possession to a skin-wearing psychopath known as “Bloody Face.” Emmy winner Jessica Lange leads an exceptional ensemble cast, including Zachary Qunito, James Cromwell and Sarah Paulson. Extras include featurettes and deleted scenes.

Last Word:  Creepy doesn’t begin to explain this series, which shares much of the cast from the first season portraying completely different characters in a new scenario.  This series is one of the most unique and unnerving series ever to air on television.  With a cast that is safe to call a “troupe,” Asylum chronicles and examines the nature of insanity on a number of levels and situations.  To describe more would be a disservice to the work.  Highest recommendation.

White Collar: Season Four

20th Century Fox / Released 10/8/13

Matt Bomer excels again as charming con man Neal Caffrey in another engaging season of crime solving and high-stakes heists! Facing the uncertain future of his partnership with FBI Agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay), Neal sheds his tracking anklet and disappears into thin air. But the Feds aren’t done with him and Neal is hardly ready for retirement. Back in action, Neal ponders the future as Season Four delves deeper into the stunning secrets of his mysterious past. Packed with seduction, intrigue, and more of everything you love about TV’s sexiest show, White Collar will have you glued to the edge of your seat. Let the games begin!

Last Word: The USA Network mantra “characters welcome” is an honest description of most of their shows, and White Collar is no exception.  With exceptionally well cast and well written characters, White Collar is one of television’s more engaging series, more akin to the episodic fare of seasons gone by rather than the mythology heavy dramatic series of today.  Four seasons in and DeKay and Bomer have a solid and honest chemistry that comes across in every scene.  There’s a regular procedural aspect to the series, but plenty of humor (reminiscent of Simon and Simon, Magnum, P.I. or The Rockford Files.)  In addition to regular cast members Willis Garson, Sharif Atkins, Marsha Thomason and Tiffani Thiessen , the season featured a number of familiar faces including Mekhi Phifer, James Rebhorn, Gregg Henry, Laura Vandervoort, Casey Siemaszko, Hilarie Burton, Rebecca Mader, Diahann Carroll, Treat Williams, Catherine Mary Stewart, Perrey Reeves, Titus Welliver, Peter Scolari, and Emily Procter.  If you’re a fan, this is a must have and for the casual viewer, there’s no better way to catch up.  Recommended.

After Earth 

Sony / Released 10/8/13

A crash landing leaves Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) and his legendary father Cypher (Will Smith) stranded on Earth, 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity’s escape. With Cypher injured, Kitai must embark on a treacherous journey to signal for help. They must learn to work together and trust each other, if they want any chance of returning home.  Extras include featurettes, alternate opening, and animatics.

Last Word: M. Night Shyamalan latest film lands with a heavy thud.  Will Smith, who at one point was a sure bet in popcorn genre entertainment co-stars with his uncharismatic son in a big epic film that is criminally dull.  Shyamalan, who has directed several solid movies with The Sixth Sense, Signs and Unbreakable, can’t seem to break out of his losing streak.  Essentially an epic chase scene in a post-apocalyptic world, After Earth is formulaic, unengaging and feels like a vanity project from the fade in.  Both the director and star have done far better work.  As for the younger Smith, it might be worth considering that his talent might lay in something other than acting.

Doctor Who: Terror of the Zygons

BBC Home Video / Released 10/8/13

Digitally remastered Doctor Who classic Terror of the Zygons! The Doctor, Sarah and Harry return to Earth in response to the Brigadier’s summons. UNIT are investigating a series of attacks on North Sea oil rigs and have set up a temporary HQ in the Scottish village of Tullock. The attacks are the work of a huge cyborg, the Skarasen, controlled by a group of aliens called Zygons whose spaceship lies at the bottom of Loch Ness. The Zygons plan to take over the Earth as a substitute for their own planet, which has been devastated by solar flares. They are using their shape-shifting abilities to take on the identities of locals whose inert bodies are held aboard their ship.

Europa Report

Magnolia / Released 10/8/13

Fear. Sacrifice. Contact. When unmanned probes suggest that a hidden ocean could exist underneath Europa’s icy surface and may contain single-celled life, Europa Ventures, a privately funded space exploration company, sends six of the best astronauts from around the world to confirm the data and explore the revolutionary discovery. After a near-catastrophic technical failure that leads to loss of communication with Earth and the tragic death of a crew member, the surviving astronauts must overcome the psychological and physical toll of deep space travel, and survive a discovery on Europa more profound than they had ever imagined. Extras include featurettes, photo gallery and trailer.

Curse of Chucky

Universal / Released 10/8/13

He’s back! From the filmmakers that brought you Chucky comes the terrifying return of the pint-sized doll possessed by the spirit of a notorious serial killer. When a mysterious package arrives at the house of Nica (Fiona Dourif, True Blood), she doesn’t give it much thought. However, after her mother’s mysterious death, Nica begins to suspect that the talking, red-haired doll her visiting niece has been playing with may be the key to the ensuing bloodshed and chaos. The return of America’s favorite toy, voiced again by Brad Dourif, is unrated and full of more blood-splattered thrills and chills.  Extras include featurettes, storyboard comparisons, deleted scenes, commentary and gag reel.

Last Word:  You don’t watch a Chucky movie to be scared (although the first film has it’s fair share of frights).  You watch one to be entertained.  And with writer/creator Don Mancini stepping behind the camera for a second time, he delivers in every respect.  Curse of Chucky takes a new approach to the franchise (but Mancini doesn’t ignore previous continuity) and as far as direct to video fare rates, this one is near the top.  A must have for any fan of the series, but a fun evening during the Halloween season for even the most casual fan.  Recommended.

The Exorcist: 40th Anniversary

Warner Home Video / Released 10/8/13

The frightening and realistic tale of an innocent girl inhabited by a terrifying entity, her mother’s frantic resolve to save her and two priests–one doubt-ridden, the other a rock of faith–joined in battling ultimate evil always leaves viewers breathless. This greatest supernatural thriller of all time astonishes and unsettles like no other movie.  Includes both the Original 1973 Theatrical Version and the 2000 Extended Director’s Cut.  Extras include a 40 page book where director William Friedkin chronicles his on-set experiences, interview with author William Peter Blatty and documentary with Father Eugene Gallagher.

Last Word: Without a doubt one of the most terrifying films ever made, William Friedkin’s The Exorcist continues to frighten forty years after it’s premiere.  A combination of the right director, a great script, fantastic actors and state of the art effects by Dick Smith, the film pushed the envelope deeper than the similarly themed Rosemary’s Baby which premiered five years earlier.  The Exorcist takes a person’s most vulnerable asset, their child, and places that child in a situation beyond human understanding and comprehension.  Good, evil, right, wrong, heaven, hell, innocent or wicked are all examined and ultimately, as Friedkin reveals, there’s not necessarily a right answer.  The Exorcist has never looked better and although I prefer the theatircal cut, the 2000 extended cut is equally as effective.  If you are a cinegeek in the slightest degree, this is not only essential viewing, but an must have for your collection.  Highest recommendation.

The Middle: The Complete Third Season

Warner Home Video / Released 10/8/13

Middle-aged, middle class and living in the middle of America, Frankie and Mike Heck (Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn) are back with their three middle-of-the-road kids – Axl, Sue and Brick. With a heck of a lot more fun, franticness and farce, Season 3 finds the Hecks not only dealing with the economic realities of the middle-class squeeze, but also the whole new challenge of teenage adolescence and deciding when to say no and when to let go.  This season, Mike cuts the household vacation budget by taking the family camping, while hormonally challenged Axl gets advice from him on how to pick up chicks (go figure). Frankie is caught trying to cut in line to get Justin Bieber tickets, while Sue ends up tongue-tied learning to French kiss and Brick takes to quoting Shakespeare. It’s 24 episodes of escapades and laughs, proving that life have never been so funny – in The Middle.  Extras include gag reel and deleted scenes.

Last Word: Thankfully Warner Bros. decided to release this solid season (it’s been approximately two years since a DVD release) and hopefully we’ll see the fourth soon.  The Middle is the thematic heir to Roseanne, focusing on a blue collar family in “middle America.”  What sets the series apart is it’s consistent genuineness; not every answer is fulfilled or solved with an easy answer; the kids are all realistic (all with their own social disorders) and the parents don’t magically swoop in with all the answers.  Sharp writing and an excellent ensemble make The Middle one of television’s most underrated and honest series on the air.  Recommended.

Shout at the Devil

Shout! Factory / Released 10/8/13

Screen legends Lee Marvin (The Dirty Dozen) and Roger Moore (Live and Let Die) unite to Shout at the Devil in this epic tale of adventure and revenge. Set in German East Africa just prior to World War I, Shout at the Devil is the story of Flynn O’Flynn (Marvin) and Sebastian Oldsmith (Moore), two men who have teamed up on a series of illicit poaching raids. Their actions soon catch the eye of German Commissioner Herman Fleischer, who uses his authority to enact a terrible punishment. O’Flynn and Oldsmith embark on a personal campaign against Fleischer, eventually being recruited by the allied forces to take on an even bigger target-an elusive German battleship.  Also starring Ian Holm (Alien, The Lord of the Rings) and Barbara Parkins (Valley of the Dolls), Shout at the Devil is an exciting mix of humor, action, and the unique chemistry shared between two of Hollywood’s finest stars.  Extras include photo gallery.

Bones: The Complete Eighth Season

20th Century Fox / Released 10/8/13

Finally cleared of wrongdoing, Bones reunites with Booth (David Boreanaz) and the squints. Although the team solves some of their most challenging cases yet, madman Christopher Pelant continues his murderous rampage – inching closer to Bones and Booth daily. From solving the mystery of a roller derby darling’s demise to uncovering a previously unrecognized 9/11 hero to stopping a pandemic, Bones and the team make one remarkable discovery after another. Meanwhile, as if the challenges Booth faces with parenthood and his unique relationship with Bones aren’t enough, his mother shows up after a 24-year absence, and there is shocking news about some of his colleagues. Extras include deleted scenes, gag reel, commentaries and more.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Warner Home Video / Released 10/8/13

From the chronicles of the DC Universe comes the sweeping saga of rebirth, revenge and redemption. Now, for the first time, witness the legend of The Dark Knight Returns presented as an over two-hour unabridged and seamless animated feature. Another night falls on Gotham City and with the darkness, out crawls the crime and villainy from the shadows. The days are now the harbingers of our time. with the roving gangs and return of villains such as Harvey “Two Face” Dent and the Joker, an aged and weathered Bruce Wayne dons the mast and cape once more. With the brave, young Carrie Kelley at his side as Robin, the Dark Knights faces off against insurmountable odds, unforgettable battles and even the Man Of Steel as he desperately fights to reclaim Gotham City. With a stellar voice cast headed by Peter Weller, Ariel Winter and David Selby experience the complete epic journey of the Dark Knight as never before!  Extras include the new documentary Masterpiece: Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, Her Name Is Carrie… Her Role Is Robin documentary, Batman And Me: The Bob Kane Story, Superman Vs. Batman: When Heroes Collide, The Joker: Laughing In The Face Of Death, From Sketch To Screen: Exploring The Adaptation Process With Jay Oliva, Commentary With Bob Goodman, Andrea Romano & Jay Oliva, 5 bonus cartoons, and Digital Comic Excerpts From The Graphic Novels Batman: The Dark Knight Falls and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns By Frank Miller.

Last Word: Although the graphic novel is among one of my favorites, watching the original releases of this title left me disappointed and unsatisfied.  Fortunately, Warner rereleased this as a single title (combining both parts into a singular narrative) and I’m happy to say not only does it work, but it’s among Warner Animation’s best releases ever.  The voice cast is suburb and Weller nails the grizzled Wayne (as does Michael Emerson as the Joker and Mark Valley as Superman).  The animation captures Miller’s graphic style, but brings a far more natural fluidity to the epic tale.  The new extras (especially the Miller documentary and commentary) are welcome additions to the supplements and are well produced.  The Dark Knight Returns is a must have for any fan of superhero films or Batman in general.  Highly recommended.

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea / Fantastic Voyage

20th Century Fox / Released 10/8/13

A routine scientific expedition to the North Pole turns into a race to save all mankind when a radiation belt in space causes a fiery inferno on Earth. Admiral Nelson (Walter Pidgeon) and the crew of the atomic submarine Seaview battle saboteurs, giant sea-creatures and attacks by enemy submarines as they race to prevent global catastrophe. Renowned disaster film producer, Irwin Allen, produces and directs an all-star cast including Joan Fontaine, Barbara Eden, Peter Lore, and Frankie Avalon. The stunning visual effects and breathtaking underwater photography make this one of the most respected sci-fi adventure classics of all time.  Extras include interview with Barbara Eden, isolated score, trailer, featurette and commentary.

20th Century Fox / Released 10/8/13

The adventure of a lifetime occurs not in the outer reaches of space, but inside the human body. An elite team of medical and scientific specialists race to save a top government scientist who is suffering from a blood clot on the brain. Their mission: be reduced along with their submarine-like craft to microscopic size, enter the bloodstream of the ailing scientist, and journey to the brain to perform an emergency procedure. With only sixty minutes to complete their mission, the scientist find themselves fighting off an attack by white corpuscles, caught in a tornado-like storm in the lungs, and struggling to survive sabotage from one of their own. Extras include commentaries, isolated music score, featurettes and trailer.

Last Word: Both films from the genius of Irwin Allen have not only never looked better, but also are tremendously exciting solid sci-fi adventures that are entertaining and captivating for viewers of any age.  With fantastic special effects, knockout women and high concept ridiculousness without a trace of cynicism, both films are must owns for any fans of genre movies and really are examples of creative filmmaking with a verisimilitude that’s all but forgotten in today’s visual effects heavy tentpole movies.  Highly recommended.

Zombie Hunter

Well Go USA / Released 10/8/13

When a street drug turns junkies into an army of giant, mutant flesh-eaters, no hope is left – but one man remains. Hunter’s got nothing left but a beat-up Camero, a trunk full of guns and booze, and a vendetta.  He crashes into a small group of survivors, led by an ax-wielding priest named Jesus (Danny Trejo). They’re searching for the promised land – but does it even exist? They better pray for a miracle, because the zombies are hot on their heels. And the psychotic clown with a chainsaw? You don’t even wanna know.

Robot Chicken: Season Six

Cartoon Network / Released 10/8/13

The cybernetic fowl form the Adult Swim late-night animated bizarro programming block is back with another full season of Emmy Award-winning stop motion comedy insanity.  Twenty colossal, mega-sized quarter-hour episodes! An avalanche of expertly produced, loving crafted extras that were not in any way thrown together at the last minute! All on a spinny disc, read by lasers! Lasers! What, are we in space?  So, to summarize: Chicken Space Lasers!  Plus, guest voices running the gamut of pop culture including Jon Stewart, Stan Lee, Skeet Ulrich,  Kat Dennings, Ben Foster, Melissa Joan Hart, Ellie Kemper, Olivia Wilde, J.B. Smoove, Linda Cardellini, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Freddie Prinze Jr, Gillian Jacobs, Frank Welker, Billy Zane, Zachary Levi, Mark Hamill, Sam Elliott, Patrick Stewart

Aaahh!!! Real Monsters: The Complete Series

Shout! Factory / Released 10/8/13

Meet Ickis, Oblina and Krumm, three young monsters at the “scariest” school you’ve ever seen! But when they’re not learning the best methods of frightening humans from their headmaster, The Gromble, the trio is facing off against a determined monster-hunter named Simon. Can they keep the secrets of the monsters safe while on their crazy adventures?  One of Nickelodeon’s flagship programs, the series boasts an impressive voice cast including Charlie Adler, Christine Cavanaugh, Gregg Berger, Tim Curry and James Belushi as Simon The Monster Hunter.

Stuck in Love

Millennium / Released 10/8/13

A story about first loves and second chances.  From first-time feature film writer-director Josh Boone and Judy Cairo, comes a comically rich yet emotionally raw romantic drama about a family of writers who have lost the plot of their own love stories.  Starring Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly, Lily Collins, Logan Lerman, Nat Wolff, and Kristen Bell, Stuck In Love reveals how even amidst the travails of marriage, divorce, parenting and coming of age, the family ties that trip us up can turn into a lifeline.  Extras include commentary and making of.

Redemption

Lionsgate / Released 9/24/13

Not all roads lead to salvation. Jason Statham stars as an ex-Special Forces officer who comes home from the Afghan war a shattered man. Broke, homeless, lost in a haze of drugs and booze, Joseph Smith attempts to piece his life back together with the help of Sister Christina, a nun helping the poor. But while employed as a collector for a local mob boss, Joseph learns the identity of a friend’s murderer and, bent on revenge, finds himself sinking deeper into a dark world of violence in this brutally powerful action-thriller. Extras include featurette.

In the Flesh

BBC Home Video / Released 10/8/13

After an event known as “The Rising,” where everybody who died in the year 2015 has risen from the dead, an inevitable Zombie war breaks out as the human race battles to rid the planet of brain eating Zombies. When the war is eventually won by the living with heavy losses on both sides, the remaining undead are headed up and put in a holding center where Norfolk, now ravaged and destroyed by war, used to be. Scientists then discover a chemical compound which subdues the Zombie craving for brains and the government subsequently decides to release these Partially Deceased Syndrome (PDS) sufferers back into the community they had recently tried to destroy. here is where the story begins as we follow Keiren Walker, a young PDS sufferer, as he is returned back to his parents in a sleepy village.

On the Riviera

20th Century Fox / Released 10/8/13

You’ll double over with laughter at Danny Kaye’s Golden Globe-winning dual performances in this classic musical farce that was Nominated for two Oscars! Faced with a scheduling conflict, a womanizing French financier-aviator (Kaye) hires a nightclub performer (also Kaye) to temporarily impersonate him. But things go hilariously awry as one man tries to romance two beautiful women (Gene Tierney and Corinne Calvet) – who both think he’s their lover!

The Secret of Crickley Hall

BBC Home Video / Released 10/8/13

A year after their little boy goes missing, Gabe and Eve Caleigh and their two daughters move to Crickley Hall to try and escape the past. It’s a chance for a fresh start. Then cellar doors start to open of their own accord, unseen children cry through the night and a frenzied spectre wields a cane. But just as the Caleighs are ready to move out, Eve hears her missing son. Time shifts between present day and 1943 as the Caleighs desperately try to find out what connects Crickley Hall to their son. Will they find Cam before the evil that stalks Crickley Hall finds their other children? 

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