Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Fox Home Entertainment – 634 minutes – 1976 – 2006 – Rated PG – 1080p Widescreen 1.85:1 – DTS-HD Lossless 5.1- LCPM 5.1 Audio Mix

 

 

When the original Rocky film was released over 30 years ago, who would have thought that anyone would still talking about it today, or that it would spawn five sequels? Well a guy named Stallone did, and because of his drive to never stop, (even in his 60’s) a southpaw from Philadelphia has become apart of not only the American culture, but exploded on a global scale. Rocky Balboa is the ultimate underdog, and finally for the first time all six Rocky films are available in one collection in glorious high definition Blu-ray as the Undisputed Collection from Fox Home Entertainment. Lace up those gloves, pump up Bill Conti’s theme, and get the eye of the tiger, because the bell has just rang.

 

ROCKY (1976)

 

On the tough streets of Philadelphia in the mid 70’s, a local club fighter named Rocky Balboa is about to get an opportunity that will change his life forever. Rocky makes a living working as a collection leg-breaker for a loan shark, but doesn’t even have the heart to hurt a guy who can’t pay off his debt. The only light in his life is that he has crush on the shy girl who works at the pet shop across the street from the gym he goes to named Adrian (Talia Shire), who happens to be the little sister of his grouchy best friend Paulie (Burt Young). Rocky gets a lucky break when the current heavyweight champion of the world, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), picks his name out of a book because he likes his “Italian Stallion” nickname and gives him a shot at the title because another contender dropped out. Everyone considers this one big publicity stunt and have no faith in Rocky even making it through the first round, but with the support of the girl he loves and a cranky old manager, Mickey (Burgess Meredith), the pug from Philly is going to take the shot just to prove that he is more than just another bum from the neighborhood, and he can go the distance.

 

Like the movie itself, the backstory of Rocky is just as inspiring because Stallone was a struggling actor with a wife and kid and $100 in the bank, who wrote the script, but the studio didn’t want him to play the title role because he was a nobody. Hanging in there just like the character he created, the film lose its Hollywood perks, and was reduced to a low budget production with a B and C list cast and handed to director John G. Avildsen. Something in the universe lined up correctly and this little film exploded into not only a success, but also won the Oscar for best picture in 1976, and triggered a phenomena. Every building with stairs had people running to the top Rocky style; “Yo Adrian!” became a catch-phrase; and Bill Conti’s ‘Gonna Fly Now’ transformed into the theme of triumph.

 

So many films have copied Rocky’s underdog theme over the last three decades, because audiences will always identify with the average person trying to succeed despite the impossible odds. Yes, Rocky is about a boxer but the metaphor goes beyond the ring, because it’s not about the fight, it’s about the determination to do what others say cannot be done. With Rocky, Stallone has created a character that is larger than life, and long after he’s gone will still be identified with. Unfortunately, not many films of made today inspire you the way Rocky does. Some may say the first film is the only one that matters and the sequels are overkill, but to them I say have you ever experienced being in a theater during the training sequence or climatic fight of one of the Rocky movies? World leaders can’t even have this effect on people or inspire them with positive energy the way a Rocky montage can. No one can argue that Rocky is one of the greatest motion pictures ever made.

 

ROCKY II (1979)

 

It won the Oscar for best picture, inspired people to work out, and introduced us to the Italian Stallion…of course there would be a sequel, because remember, Rocky got respect but he didn’t win the fight. “There ain’t gonna be no re-match.” Oh yeah, there’s a rematch. Rocky II picks up literally where the last film left off after the big fight, and Apollo Creed’s credibility has been destroyed because a no name southpaw has not only knocked him down, but gone all 15 rounds with him, something that no other fighter has done. In order to get his reputation back he has to get Rocky back in the ring for a rematch; the only problem is that the Italian Stallion doesn’t want to fight anymore, and has decided to settle down and marry his girlfriend Adrian. Rocky becomes a local celebrity, but still is seen only as a bum from the neighborhood that is forced to go back to the Mickey’s gym and dump the spit bucket to earn a living for his family. Having no other choice and finally getting Adrian’s approval, Rocky gets in shape via a kick ass montage and jumps back into the ring, this time defeating Creed. “Yo Adrian…I did it!”

 

Stallone not only wrote the sequel, but also jumped behind the camera to direct it; something that’s very common now, but back then no one did this. Yes, Rocky II is not as solid as the first film, but it still has magic and pulls you in because Balboa is so likeable. And this was the last Rocky film of the 70’s, so it still has that gritty ad gray feel, whereas all the sequels after are glossy with quick editing. Honestly, if Rocky II were the only sequel it would be satisfying just to see him finally win, proving that believing in oneself outshines everything. The supporting cast, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Burt Young and Burgess Meredith do a great job at reprising their roles, which have made them a part of current pop culture. This is definitely a worthy sequel that will keep your adrenaline flowing.

 

ROCKY III (1982)

 

Hollywood loves trilogies, so Stallone stepped up to the plate to deliver the next chapter in The Italian Stallion’s life with Rocky III. Balboa is now the heavyweight champion of the world, earning success and respect for the first time in his life, but all these has changed him and made him softer. Breaking onto the scene is a hungry new fighter named Clubber Lang (Mr. T), who wants to break Rocky down and take away his title. On the verge of retirement, and despite Adrian’s cries not to, Rocky accepts Lang’s challenge for one last fight to prove he doesn’t just fight set-ups. The fight is a disaster for Balboa because he not only loses his championship title, but also his manager and friend Mickey. Enter Apollo Creed with an offer Rocky can’t refuse; he’ll train the Stallion for a rematch with Lang, and bring back the eye of the tiger that he’s lost due to success.

 

Rocky III was again written and directed by Stallone, and because this is the first of the series that takes place in the 80’s, the film’s style looks completely different from the previous two movies. This is the first film where Stallone used muscle to sell the character, because in Rocky I and II he had a doughy brawler build, but in Rocky III his body is cut and sculptured, a trademark he will use in basically all his films (Rocky, Rambo, etc.) for the next two decades.

 

There are many reasons why this film shouldn’t work, but it does, and again it’s because anyone can relate to Rocky Balboa. Even as the champ he is still and underdog. Mr. T as Clubber Lang is also one of the main highlights of the film, making him the first super villain in the Rocky franchise with classic lines such as, “No, I don’t hate Balboa, but I pity the fool.” Another memorable element form the film is the song Eye of the Tiger by one hit wonder Survivor, which to this day is still gets people pumping in gyms around the country. And the climatic bout between Rocky and Clubber Lang, which is completely over the top, makes you want to jump into the ring and go a few rounds. While not as well structured as Rocky I and II, Rocky III is still a winner.

 

ROCKY IV (1985)

 

Most would have stopped at three, but not Stallone. In the heart of the Reagan era he found a way to fuse the southpaw from Philly into the cold war with the Soviet Union, by having Rocky fight WWIII all by himself. For its time it was the perfect gimmick, but it pushes all realism out of the door, and turns Rocky into a superhero instead of the ‘everyman’ character he originally created. This time Rocky goes up against Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a Russian super boxer pumped up on the best genetic enhancements science has to offer. Rocky takes the challenge after Apollo Creed takes on Drago in an exhibition match and is killed in the ring, as the goliath Russian utters, “If he dies…he dies.” Despite Adrain’s pleas to not do it because he can’t win, and Paulie’s negative mumbling, Rocky travels to Russia and trains hard to do battle with the reds. Does The Italian Stallion win against all odds? Of course, because no one wants to see Rocky lose.

 

Unlike the previous films that are based on characters, Rocky IV is just about the big fight at the end. Stallone again writes and directs, making the film seem like one big music video with tons of montages, and even an appearance by the Godfather of Soul, James Brown.  Dolph Lundgren has very few lines, but he’s a scene-stealer just as Mr. T was in Rocky III, offering the perfect villain to stand toe-to-toe with Rocky. Without a doubt, of all the Rocky films, Stallone’s body looks the best in this one, because between him and Lundgren there are so many muscle shots that is becomes overkill. It’s very hard to take Rocky IV seriously, but it is entertaining and line such as “I must break you” have become a part of pop culture.

 

ROCKY V (1990)

 

Okay, we all thought that when we saw Rocky wrapped in the American flag as the world cheered his name, that it was clearly the last time he would fight again. Nope. Ask any Rocky fan and they will tell you that Rocky V should have never been made and it discredits everything the previous films built. Rocky V takes place directly after the events in IV, as Rocky Balboa returns home to discover that his finances have been diminished because of shady deals and he is left with nothing. Not only is he broke, but because he’s taken such a beating in the ring, his doctors tell him that he can no longer fight. With no other options he has to go back where he came from to walk the tough streets of Philly again, wearing his hat. Adrian and Paulie are of course back, but this time Rocky Jr. (played by Stallone’s real son Sage Stallone) is focused on in hopes of making Rocky less superhuman and back to his underdog roots.

 

Rocky now runs the gym that was left to him by Mickey and lives a pathetic life, but then he is approached by a hungry young fighter that named Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison) who idolizes him. He takes Tommy under his wing and attempts to give him the eye of the tiger, but when a shady fight promoter named George Washington Duke (Richard Gant) stirs up Tommy’s desire to be the champ faster, he drops Rocky and goes to the dark side. Tommy gets the championship, but doesn’t get respect, so he challenges Rocky to a fight, but this fight won’t be settled in the ring, it will be fought on the street.

 

Stallone wrote the script, but this time the director of the original Rocky, John G. Avildsen, steps in to direct, but even with the original team back in place the magic is gone. Nothing seems to work, because Stallone is so damn rich he can’t play Rocky as a poor man anymore; Tommy Morrison is a lame duck compared to Mr. T and Dolph Lundgren; and Sage Stallone has no on screen charisma. Rocky never even steps into the ring this time, and the whole film feels more like a made for TV movie, rather than an actual part of the Rocky saga. If this was the last we saw of Rocky, it would be a shame, but fortunately…there is another.

 

ROCKY BALBOA (2006)

 

When Stallone turned 60, everyone knew for sure his Rocky days were over and done. Wrong. Let’s face it, Rocky is like Freddy Krueger and Jason, he will always be back. But fortunately, even though the idea of another Rocky may have sounded like a bad idea when it was announced, Stallone should be credited by crafting a well done film that bookends the Rocky saga once and for all. (Right?)

 

The best thing about Rocky Balboa is that it instantly makes you forget that Rocky V ever happened. Rocky’s fighting days are long over and now he runs a local Philly restaurant called Adrian’s, named after his wife who has died. His days revolve around running his business and going table to table telling customers stories about his famous fights. His relationship with his son Robert, (Milo Ventimiglia) have been strained and they barely talk. Paulie is still there, but basically Rocky’s life that was once fanfare and glory is now as average as can be.

 

This all changes when a sports show does a computer animated simulated fight between Rocky and the current heavyweight champ, Mason ‘The Line’ Dixon (Antonio Tarver), and Rocky wins. This gets the interest of fans going, and Rocky is approached to do an exhibition fight. Being that he has nothing else, Rocky is up for it and begs the boxing commission to let him fight despite his age and heavy body damage. The event is labeled “Will vs. Skill” and Rocky is once again the underdog (damn Stallone is good at this). No one expects Rocky to even make it through the first round, but he still has the eye of the tiger and goes the distance.

 

Stallone writes and directs, and realizing his mistakes with the past Rocky films, he makes the character human again and settles him into his roots. Even the training sequence is made more realistic to display that he is now an older man and can’t do the same things he did before. The homage to Adrian is also well done, because even though Talia Shire is not in the film, you always feel her presence because she has always been Rocky’s inspiration. This film is the closest to the original in terms of character focus, and even those who believed that another Rocky film wouldn’t have been taken seriously 30 years later, may be pleasantly surprised by its spirit. This one is for the die hard fans who have seen this character fight through many roman numerals and kept coming back. Message to Mr. Stallone, you have definitely redeemed Rocky and we forgive you for the fifth film, but please don’t make anymore because Rocky has gone out in good favor, so let’s leave that image in our hearts. “Yo Adrian, I did it.”

 

VIDEO

 

All six films provide a full 1080p image in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, but as expected it’s the most recent films that stand out more in high definition. Before now, only Rocky and Rocky Balboa were available as individual titles on Blu-ray, so this is the first time Rocky II, III, and IV have been available on anything higher than DVD.

 

ROCKY  (VIDEO)

 

This is probably the best this film will look, but because of the source material it leaves a lot to be desired. Be warned there is a lot of grain and fuzzy images, particularly in darker scenes. On the other hand, most close ups do look very good displaying plenty of detail on faces, and colors look decent. This is definitely a step up from the standard DVD you have sitting on your shelf, so if you’re interested in upgrading, this is your shot.

 

ROCKY II (VIDEO)

 

This one most likely uses the same source material as the first film since they were shot two years apart, so the same issues with grain that plagued Rocky are here as well. Colors stand out more for some reason, most likely because they used a different film stock, so this adds to the high definition transfer. Again, this is a leap over the standard DVD, and for now the best way to watch this movie.

 

ROCKY III (VIDEO)

 

This Rocky film has a different look than the previous two, offering many more bright colors and big 80’s hair, just look at Stallone’s fro. This transfer is both hit and miss, because there are some scenes that look pretty solid, such as anything in bright light like the beach run, or when Rocky is presented with his statue. But most of the interior shots, such as when Apollo takes Rocky to his old gym, or any of the Clubber Lang training scenes look grainy and dark. Close ups are nice, especially during the ending fight where you see all the sweat and blood on Rocky and Clubber’s face.

 

ROCKY IV (VIDEO)

 

Released in the heart of the 80’s, this chapter looks like anything that was on MTV at the time, so it works well on Blu-ray. Colors pop nicely, so when James Brown sings Livin’ in America, it’s all splash. This film is filled with so much red, white and blue that you’ll still be seeing those colors long after the film is over. There’s a nice tint that makes skin tones glow, particularly Drago who looks like he’s been animated in certain scenes. Grain does pop up in places, but for it’s high definition debut, Rocky IV punches hard and will not disappoint.

 

ROCKY V (VIDEO)

 

This is the worst of the Rocky saga in terms of entertainment, but visually it makes up for it, offering a sharp image and solid colors. Skin tones look natural, and details such as the backgrounds in the Philly streets remain clear. Oddly, the big fight scene that takes place at night on the street has a lot of grain pop up and looks flat compared to the rest of the movie. This is a good transfer, but not as good as Rocky IV.

 

ROCKY BALBOA (VIDEO)

 

Obviously being the newest kid on the block Rocky Balboa looks the best because it was given birth in the era of high definition. This movie was shot in two different formats; the dramatic part on film, and the finale fight scene on HD video. The mix works perfectly because the big fight is set up to look like a TV broadcast so that glossy HD to film mesh stands out. The image quality is so sharp that you can count all the stubble on Paulie’s face, and of all the films this one has the richest levels of black so night scenes and dark interiors shots hold up. Like Rocky himself, this transfer goes the distance and flies.

 

AUDIO

 

The Rocky films have always offered great sound, whether it is the punches and swings in the ring, or the music of Bill Conti, Survivor, or the Godfather of souls himself, James Brown. Rocky I, II, III, IV and V offer a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix and Rocky Balboa ups the anti with a LPCM 5.1 soundtrack.

 

ROCKY (AUDIO)

 

The first time you hear Rocky’s theme over the opening title it will bring a tears to your eyes. This is a dialogue heavy film, and they have as good of a job as they could to make every word clear. Rocky mumbles a lot of his dialogue, so unless you’ve seen this a million times you may need to pop on the subtitles. The ending fight fills your speakers with plenty of crowd noises, and when Rocky’s theme comes up as he is searching Adrian at the end of the fight, you’ll be in heaven.

 

ROCKY II (AUDIO)

 

This one basically offers the same package as the first Rocky, with cleaned up dialogue, but it’s still not as super crisp as you would desire. All the work went into the ending fight sequence, which is filled with a combination of sound effects, background crowd noises and music all blended together to pump you up.  There’s not much of a difference over Rocky I, but it’s still effective.

 

ROCKY III (AUDIO)

 

Here is when the Rocky films began to get louder, have much less character dialogue, and more catch phrases. Hearing Survivor sing Eye of the Tiger in the opening scene still packs a punch. Also, you’ll notice that in the first two films the sound effects for the fight sequences attempted to be realistic, but in Rocky III they are so exaggerated that you can hear a gush of wind every time Clubber Lang swings. Still it’s the combination of all the sound effects in the climatic fight that will win you over.

 

ROCKY IV (AUDIO)

 

This film was following the 80’s music video formula anyway, so it’s obvious that is sounds like one. Rocky IV probably has the least amount of dialogue than any of the films in the serious, and just focuses more on music and sound effects. Your rear speakers and sub woofer will get more of a workout than your center speaker, and with the film’s multiple fight and training sequences you’ll get your money’s worth.

 

ROCKY V (AUDIO)

 

The sound in the fifth Rocky film is like having a slice of pizza when you’re starving, it hits the spot, but so what. The dialogue is silly, even in scenes that should be powerful like when Rocky and his son are arguing. The sound is filled with way too much music that shouldn’t be there, and the ending fight scene that takes place on the street sounds as if there are several thousand of people on the street cheering, but there are maybe actually fifty at the most. Overall, the sound is good, but because of the film itself you won’t be as immersed.

 

ROCKY BALBOA (AUDIO)

 

Rocky Balboa goes out with a bang offering a LPCM 5.1 sound mix that is so good it sings. Dialogue is crystal clear and ambient background sounds flow natural. Unlike the last two films that depended on music video styled blaring music, Rocky Balboa keeps it subtle. Even the ending fight sequence tones down on the usual exaggerated sound effects, but still delivers a thrilling energy. Without a doubt of all the six films in the package, this one will give sound lovers the fix they need…Rocky style.

 

EXTRAS

 

Rocky: The Undisputed Collection comes in a seven disc Blu-ray set; six for the movies and one dedicated to the bonus features. Even though there is a good variety of stuff, it’s still mainly items ported over from the original Rocky Blu-ray. Rocky fans want more.

 

Sylvester Stallone provides a video commentary, which is basically a thirty-minute solo, with Sly talking about the incredible story of how Rocky got made.

 

Feeling Strong Now is a trivia game that has you answer questions related to all of the Rocky films as you go up against the opponents the Italian Stallone has fought.

 

Interview with a Legend: Bert Sugar has the famous sports writer talking about how the Rocky films are a metaphor for real life issues.

 

Three Rounds with Legendary Trainer Lou Duva discusses the training a boxer must endure to win and relates it to Rocky.

 

In The Ring is a documentary that runs an hour and fifteen minutes and is split in three chapters, focusing on the making of the first Rocky film. Great stuff.

 

Steadicam: Then and Now with Garrett Brown shows how Rocky was one of the first films to use the Steadicam and how it has evolved on the last thirty years.

 

Staccato: A Composer’s Notebook with Bill Conti looks at how music plays a big role in the Rocky films.

 

The Opponents focuses on all of the fighters Rocky fought in the films, and includes interviews with Dolph Lundgren and Carl Weathers.

 

Behind the Scenes with John Avildsen gives a glimpse of how the director took on the task of bringing Rocky to life.

 

Tribute to Burgess Meridith offers interviews with the cast of the films talking about working with the veteran actor.

 

Stallone on Dinah shows Sly as he promoted the film in 1976 on Dinah Shore’s talk show. This is worth it just to see Stallone’s wardrobe. You won’t stop laughing.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

The Undisputed Collection is a must have for all fans of the Rocky films. This is the first time all films have been available in high definition, and even though the image quality ranges from decent to excellent, this is still the best offering of all the movies you can get. It would have been great if even more bonus features were included to focus on each film individually, but the package as-is satisfying. Just like Rocky himself, this Blu-ray set is a winner.

 

SCORES: (Out of 5):

 

ROCKY:

 

The Movie: 5.0

Video: 3.0

Sound: 4.0

 

ROCKY II:

 

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 3.0

Sound: 4.0

 

ROCKY III:

 

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 3.5

Sound: 4.0

 

ROCKY IV:

 

The Movie: 3.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

 

ROCKY V:

 

The Movie: 2.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.5

 

ROCKY BALBOA:

 

The Movie: 4.5

Video: 4.5

Sound: 4.0

 

Bonus Features Disc: 3.0

 

Bottom Line: 4.5

Reviewed by Richard Lee Zuras

Released Sep. 16, 2009

2 hr. 10 min.

Cedric Klapisch/Studio Canal

Juliette Binoche

Romain Duris

Francois Cluzet

Karen Viard

Fabrice Luchini

Albert Dupontel

Juliette Binoche is that rare actress that knows no country. This is not to say that she is not beloved in France. She is. And this is not to say that she does not feel at home in a film wherein she speaks her native tongue. She does. But Juliette is so graceful in her screen persona, and so gifted (please don’t refer to her as the french Julia Roberts unless you are willing to compare their work over the last half dozen years–in which case you’ll find that this comparison has unwittingly disparaged Madame Binoche) that her movies are inhabited by her.

This film is a troupe film, and many of the actors shine. But Juliette is so good at what she does, you might become annoyed waiting for the story to find its way back to her. And this is the key to watching this film–the discovery of foreign screen stars you would not have known were it not for said entry point. Thank you, again, Madame Binoche.

The first discovery you will make is in the performance by a man named Romain Duris, who plays Juliette’s ailing brother. And you will make many more, as director Klapisch weaves a tale of strangers and friends and families that could only be told in a foreign film. You may find no patience to watch this film. Its sensibilities are not in line with traditional american cinema.

However…it is set in Paris. It is beautifully shot (did I mention it is set in Paris?), and there are very real time periods when lives are unfolding in front of you, in real time, and you forget you are at the movies. People find love. Lose love. People meet or do not. People die or might. And you are absorbed…

Or you are not. This is, regardless of Binoche’s world-wide appeal (yes, even in America: Chocolat, The English Patient, Dan in Real Life, Bee Season), a non-closed film. There is no domino plot. There are no jerky camera movements. No list of known stars. The film doesn’t tell you how to interpret every scene, every character, every decision.

And yet Ebert gives this 3 and a half stars out of four and I am giving it four out of five.

Beg your curiosity? Or not.

I saw a film this summer about the historical role of the movie critic entitled For The Love Of Movies. Of great, great interest to me was the notion that, based on the work of critics, film-goers–get this–actually avoided bad films (2 out of 4 stars and below) and sought out those highly reviewed. That power is long gone. In fact…I believe the opposite formula is utilized wherein the worst films are sought out. Or maybe it is simply the rash of marketing dollars spent on the broad (read as weak) films that herd us into the theaters.

Anyway, we critics are still trying.

Bottom line 4.0/5.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Fox Home Entertainment – 107 minutes – 2009 – Rated PG-13 – 1080p Widescreen 2.35:1 – DTS Lossless 5.1 Audio Mix

 

The three X-Men movies have made a bundle of loot worldwide, so obviously a studio like Fox is not going to let that cash cow just retire in the pastures. Instead of making another official X-Men movie, the idea was to just make a film focusing on the most popular character, Wolverine. Duh…of course the idea of that is like winning the slots at Vegas. Just do the math. Comic book fans love Wolverine + women love seeing Hugh Jackman without his shirt on = a truckload of money. Up front let it be said that this film is a major let down, and even though some say “hey, at least it was better than the third X-Men movie,” for those I say if you aim low the bottom is the only place to go. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is now available on Blu-ray from Fox Home Entertainment, but be careful this one will cut through you like a pair of adamantium claws.

THE MOVIE

X-Men Origins: Wolverine instantly assumes that anyone who wants to see this movie already knows the legend behind the character, so there’s no need to go any deeper than a brief description of events. We instantly see through the opening credits montage beginning in the year 1845, that Logan (Hugh Jackman) and Victor (Liv Screiber) are brothers who have unique mutant abilities that allow them to survive longer than an average human.  Together they fight in every war from the Civil War all the way to Nam. Logan has the calmer head, but his brother is a killing machine who gets off on his body count. After being placed in front of a firing squad, which they obviously survive, they are recruited by Major William Stryker (Danny Huston), who has assembled a team of bad-asses who all have special abilities known as Team X. Logan eventually departs from the team because he doesn’t agree with their methods and hightails it to Canada.

Here Logan finally finds a peaceful life with a woman he loves, Kayla Silverfox (Lynn Collins), until his brother Victor finally finds them and kills her to get back at his sibling. Desiring revenge for what has been taken away from him, Logan volunteers to be an experiment Strker’s Weapon-X project. His bones are painfully fused with an indestructible process called adamantium, and from here on Logan is known as Wolverine. More powerful than before and absorbed with rage, Wolverine goes to hunt his brother to avenge the death of Kayla, and unlock all answers to his past by slicing apart anything in his path.

Okay, this doesn’t sound too bad on the surface, but somewhere something went wrong with this movie, which is a big disappointment, because in the right hands this could have been a solid superhero movie on the level of Iron Man, or even X-Men United. Several other directors were lined up to helm the film before Gavin Hood was brought on board, and rumors surfaced that he was being forced to stay away from his dark vision and make a more watered-down safer film. The result is a film that’s bright and kid friendly, which is fine for Iron Man, but Wolverine is a guy who decapitates enemies with is claws. There are episodes of the Superfriends that were edgier than this. There is a whole team of dangerous mutants in the film, but unfortunately they’ve all been castrated by a very weak script.

Hugh Jackman is doing all he can to make this film work, but where he shined in the X-Men films, here he seems to be hanging on for his life. Liv Screiber, who is a good actor, doesn’t seem to know where to plant his feet in this film, so at times he just comes off as comedy relief instead of the menacing Sabretooth. Ryan Reynolds tries to get into the character of Deadpool, but this never goes anywhere interesting; nor does the onscreen comic book characters of Gambit, Blob, or Agent Zero who are basically just background set pieces.

Another disappointing thing about this film is that the action is lame and unoriginal. Come on, all these mutants with crazy powers and this wasn’t utilized to be something so kick ass that your brain would explode? A better action director would have blown you out of the back wall of the theater. Obviously, being that the movie was a huge success at the box office, raking in over $350 million worldwide, we will definitely be seeing Wolverine on the big screen again. Let’s give it the benefit of the doubt and say that Wolverine was used to being on a team and had cold feet in his first solo adventure, but the next one will be his Wrath of Khan. Hey, I’m sure we’ll even settle for something on the level of Bad Boys 2, because anything has got to be a step up from here.

VIDEO

What it lacks in story, X-Men Origins: Wolverine makes up for in image quality with a full 1080p picture ticked into a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Colors pop and skin tones are nearly perfect, with detail so sharp that you can count the sweat droplets rolling down Hugh Jackman’s forehead. Hints of grain are present during night scenes, but overall there is not much to nitpick at because the source material is spanking clean, providing an excellent transfer.

AUDIO

Crank up those speakers, because this is the kind of movie that sound enthusiast will love. Offering a Dolby Digital DTS-HD 5.1 audio mix, Wolverine will make you believe that a mutant battle is breaking loose in your living room. Gunshots, screams, clanging metal claws, exploding helicopters, car and motorcycle chases, and a loud music score all combined for a solid audio experience. No complaints here.

EXTRAS

Fox has packed a lot of goodies on this Blu-ray, but there’s always the chance of a super-duper-definitive version that may pop up one day. In the meantime you won’t be disappointed in the selection, but the one thing that should have been included is a Digital Copy, which is would have made the deal sweeter.

There are two audio commentaries provided, one by the director Gavin Hood and the second by producers Lauren Shuler Donner and Ralph Winter. There are a few interesting bits, but you won’t be listening to either of these two twice.

‘The Roots of Wolverine’ is a fifteen-minute looks at the origin and evolution of Wolverine, featuring Marvel Comic’s Stan Lee and Len Wein.

‘Weapon X Mutant Files’ runs about an hour and details all of the mutants seen in the movie, including interviews with the actors portraying these characters.

‘Wolverine Unleahed: The Complete Origins Featutrette’ is a basic promotional package that included interviews with the cast and crew talking about the film.

Nine minutes of deleted/alternate scenes add nothing new to the film, especially the silly cameo by Storm as a young girl that makes you wonder what they were thinking.

‘The Thrill of the Chase’ is a quick five-minute behind the scenes look at the helicopter takedown sequence in the movie.

‘Fox Movie Channel Presents’ is a six-minute look at the world premiere of the movie that was held in Arizona. Typical Entertainment Tonight fluff.

‘Ultimate X-Mode’ allows you to watch the film and access picture-in-picture on the set background information for specific scenes. Via X-Facts you can also watch the film with trivia facts provided.

One interesting feature is called ‘Live Lookup’ which allows you to use BD-Live to access IMDB.com to get information on the actors in the film. This is something that can be utilized even better in future Blu-ray titles.

BOTTOM LINE

Wolverine is a character that many fans have been dying to see riding solo in a film ever since the first X-Men movie was announced. Many of them may be disappointed with the final outcome, but there are many who were probably pleased with the results. Either way there will definitely be another Wolverine movie, so let’s all hope more care goes into it. This Blu-ray offers excellent image and sound, and a good selection of bonus features, so you do get your money’s worth. This is one of those titles that is guaranteed to sell no matter what.

SCORES (out of 5):

The Movie: 2.5

Video: 4.5

Sound: 4.5

Extras: 4.0

Bottom Line: 3.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment – 108 mins – 2009 – Rated PG-13  – 1080p Widescreen 2.40: 1 – Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1 – Digital Copy

 

Fatal Attraction made a big impact in the 80’s, and there have been multiple takes on it over the past decade. Hollywood loves a familiar formula, so it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that it will be re-invented every few years. The latest iteration of Fatal Attraction is now simply called Obsessed and stars pop star Beyonce Knowles. Obsessed stalks Blu-ray via Sony Entertainment, and if you have nothing better to do for a few hours, you may be entertained. And no, Beyonce does not sing and dance in this one.

THE MOVIE

The one thing you have to give the makers of this film credit for is that they didn’t take any chances in re-inventing the wheel, because Obsessed is as cut and paste as it gets.  Derek Charles (Idris Elba) is a successful businessman who is living a dream life, with a perfect family, home, and of course his trophy wife Sharon Charles (Beyonce Knowles). All is going perfect until a new temp comes to his company, Lisa (Ali Larter), a hot blonde who instantly has her eye on Derek, and doesn’t hide her flirtations. To make a long story short, Lisa puts Derek in various uncompromising positions that raises the suspicions of his wife Sharon, who believes her husband is doing the naughty-naughty behind her back. Derek is thrown out of his home, but after Sharon finds evidence that reveals that Lisa is actually the bad seed, she takes justice into her hands. A catfight with a lot of hair pulling ensues, and Beyonce…Uh, I mean Sharon, beats the hell out of the blonde who was trying to take her man. Derek and Sharon get back together. The end.

The main problem with Obsessed is that it never takes itself seriously or attempts to be anything other than a Fatal Attraction clone. The story, acting, and direction are combined to make to look no different than anything you can just pick off of the shelf at Blockbuster.  Many films borrow from others, but at least most try to add something new to the mix. Obsessed is not confidant enough to attempt that approach. You can literally predict everything that’s going to happen as soon as a scene begins. So what’s the purpose?

The ultimate problem with Obsessed is that it’s supposed to be sexy, but there is nothing beyond the slight hint of sex in this film. There’s no chemistry between any of the characters, and you’re never really sure why Lisa is obsessed with Derek, because just labeling her as some crazy bitch is not enough. The best thing about Obsessed is that no one will remember it and it’s not even worthy of being a guilty pleasure. If you’re a woman getting your hair done and this movie is playing in the salon, you’ll most likely enjoy it, otherwise there are better movies to watch about an obsessed woman trying to break up a marriage…such as Fatal Attraction.

VIDEO

Obsessed is a lame film, but at least it looks good on Blu-ray offering a full 1080p image in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The Director of Photography is the true hero of this film capturing great color tones and detail that is pitch perfect sharp. Obviously, everything has been done to make Beyonce look like an angel on film, with soft lighting to make her stand out. Grain pops up in certain scenes, but not enough to take away from the picture. Overall, if as much care went into the script as into the photography, watching Obsessed would have been a different experience.

AUDIO

The sound mix is a basic as it gets with a Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1 mix that does a good job with delivering clear and crisp dialogue. Speaker direction is mainly focused on the center, but when background noises, such as in the party scene take place, rear speakers are given some play. This mix is nothing fancy, but given the material it gets the job done plain and simple.

EXTRAS

The bonus features are as anemic as the movie, not even offering a director’s commentary, but for those of you on the go there is a Digital Copy.

‘Girl Fight’ is a quick ten-minute segment that looks at the climatic catfight between Beyonce and Ali Larter. This includes the fight choreography for the actors and their doubles.

‘Playing Together Nicely’ is a basic making of featurette that runs fifteen minutes and includes quick interviews with the cast and filmmakers.

‘Obsessed: Dressed to Kill” is exactly how it sounds, a look at the stylish clothing worn by the characters in the film.

Finally there’s a Digital Copy that you can stick on your mobile device, so you won’t be forced to watch another Larry the Cable Guy movie when you’re on a plane.

BOTTOM LINE

In a nutshell Obsessed is a generic version of Fatal Attraction that can be added to the pile of the other rip-offs. The Blu-ray offers a solid image sound quality, but the bonus features are just standard. Die hard Beyonce fans who live for her may enjoy seeing her bitch slap some blonde, but other than that there really isn’t much to hold you. This one is only a rental.

SCORES: (Out of 5):

The Movie: 2.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.5

Extras: 2.5

Bottom Line: 2.5

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Warner Home Entertainment– 94 minutes – 1987 – Rated PG – 1080p – 2.40:1 – DTS HD 5.1 Audio

 

In the mid 80’s Sylvester Stallone was the undisputed king of the box office with his movie characters Rocky and Rambo dominating everything in the map. Trying to break out of that molding, Stallone decided on an odd choice of creating a new underdog character who was not a boxer or a soldier, but instead a guy who is a professional arm wrestler. Yes, that’s correct, I said a professional arm wrestler. Hey, I’m one of the biggest Stallone fans there is, but even Shakespeare could have pulled this one off. Who knows if there are actually fans of this film, but if so Stallone’s arm wrestling drama Over The Top is available on Blu-ray from Warner Home Video, but without a Drago or Clubber Lang, this one is kind of lame.

THE MOVIE

Lincoln Hawk (Sylvester Stallone) is baseball hat wearing trucker who learns that his ex wife Christina (Susan Blakely) is on her deathbed due to illness, and has requested for him to pick up their son Michael (David Mendenhall), who is in military school and bring him to see her. Hawk has had no contact with his son since he was born, and the two have to get to know each other like two strangers. Michael learns that his father is aspiring to be a professional arm wrestler and plans to compete in a championship in Vegas for a huge cash prize so he can start his own business. Father and son have their ups and downs, but they bond via a series of events, and Hawk gets the chance to compete against the top arm wrestler in the sport. Does Hawk win? Well, did Rocky win? Come on.

Apparently, way back in 1987 Stallone was paid a truckload of money to make this film, and the production was cheaper than his salary. His underdog Rocky formula doesn’t work here, because the script seems like it’s slapped together to match the mood of other film of that decade. Directed by Menahem Golan, who was the king of bad 80’s action films distributed by Cannon, Over The Top was obviously made to cash in on Stallone’s popularity. An attempt that came crashing down when the movie failed to satisfy audiences and died a quick death in theaters.

Another issue with the film is that there is nothing cinematic about it, and it looks like a made for TV movie with a big star attached. Stallone is trying his best not to act like Rocky, but The Italian Stallion keeps on poking through. Also, this has to be one of Stallone’s most tame films to date, even Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot offers more action and thrills. Over the Top is a hard one to swallow even for Stallone fans because the premise is very hard to accept. But the one thing that Over The Top has going for it is that when the history books are written and films about the arm wrestling genre are listed, Over the Top will be number one. Actually, it will probably be the only one on the list.

VIDEO

Over the Top comes to Blu-ray in full 1080p with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, but there really isn’t anything impressive about the transfer. It looks acceptable with bright colors and sharp detail, especially when characters are shown in a close-up. But there are also shots that look too soft, and there are also issues with heavy grain in places. It may be a step up from the standard DVD, but only a small step.

AUDIO

There’s nothing fancy here, offering a Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1 sound mix that seems to only be used whenever sappy 80’s music is played. Crowd scenes from the arm wrestling events are highlighted, but the dialogue seems somewhat muffled at points. This is just your basic cut and paste audio that only does what its supposed to do without any bells and whistles.

EXTRAS

Nothing at all. No one probably wanted to attach themselves to this mess. All you’ll get is the theatrical trailer. Yawn.

BOTTOM LINE

Over The Top can only be categorized as a guilty pleasure, because even Oscar (another bad Stallone film) is better than this. The Blu-ray has standard picture and sound, and no bonus features at all. Unless you have seen this film before and know exactly what you’re getting into, this one is only a rental.

SCORES: (out of 5):

The Movie: 2.0

Video: 3.0

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 0.5

Bottom Line: 2.0

Oct.2, 2009

Reviewed by: Richard Lee Zuras

Released Aug. 9, 2009

Rated PG-13

2 hr. 3 min.

Meryl Streep

Amy Adams

Stanley Tucci

Chris Messina

 

I see a big future for Julie & Julia. I see TBS using it, ad nauseam, for “Dinner and a Movie.” I see lots of people (not all women) having a dinner-themed viewing party centered around the DVD. It does have this kind of appeal.

But I don’t see, other than money– see above– exactly why this movie was released. It is a film based on a book based on a blog about a woman who decides to cook her way (if not eat) through 524 Julia Child recipes. If this is where our screenplays are going to come from– it may be time to re-think the industry for just a minute or two.

As the film goes to great lengths to say– even Julia Child disapproves.

But Meryl Streep does Julia justice. Caught between the (oft) overdone voice, and the bulky, jerky, catterwalled full-bodied movements, there beats a heart. Streep always brings three-dimensionality to her roles– and “Julia” is no exception. The problem lies in the fact that acting, in large part, involves playing off your opposing scene/screen partner. Stanley Tucci, a renowned if lesser known actor, is aptly cast in the role of husband to this scene-stealer named Julia. The problem is, and it is a large, large problem, Stanley’s “husband” role is so under-developed, so cheerfully under-developed, that several moments, such as his role of victim in the McCarthy trials, are glaringly unwritten. At times you wonder why either Julie or Julia had a screen husband (other than to mimic real life).

Julie’s husband spends half the film as the perfect supporter, and the other half as the jealous failure of a man. In attempting to attain versimilitude, the addition of the screen-husbands performs the polar opposite.

Perhaps director Nora Ephron was simply placing the men in the film roles women have played for a hundred years. The “wife” becomes the “husband,” and the actor/role/part is woefully under-valued. Touche! But Nora Ephron, for those who have seen (and who hasn’t?) When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle etc., is simply too good a filmmaker for that. In many ways, she single-handedly transformed the rom-com into something truly worthy of everyone’s attention. Let’s hope she can find her way back after this mess.

And it would be a mistake to think this movie will make you want to cook. (Was that the point? I mean it is a story of a cook who loved to cook, after all.) Dead, sewed up animals. Food dropped on floors. Smoking while eating. Food so thick it looked like it was forming the letters for colonic.

But it might make you love butter again– and you may go running to the lobby for a big batch of artificially flavored butter popcorn.

Again, Julia would not approve.

Bottom Line: 3.0/5.0

 Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment – 90 mins – 2008 – Rated R  – 1080p Widescreen 1.85: 1 – TrueHD 5.1 audio

 

When the history books are written, the life of Mike Tyson will probably read like a greek tragedy. Tyson’s life is an amazing rags to riches story, but sadly he never had the opportunity to enjoy his success, because as soon as the world new who he was, it started a downfall to destruction. Filmmaker James Toback goes deep into the life of the infamous boxer, and for the first time offers a brutally honest look at Tyson’s world, and the best part is that it is told by the man himself. The documentary Tyson comes to Blu-ray from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and if you are a fan of Tyson (or even if you’re not), this is a must see because it pulls no punches.

THE MOVIE

Mike Tyson had a very hard childhood, growing up on the dangerous streets of Brooklyn, where he never imagined that he would even live that long so he just did whatever he it took to make it day by day. He committed petty crimes until he was finally caught being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This oddly, was the best thing that could ever happen to him, because he was sent away to a juvenile facility where he was introduced to the sport of boxing. This led him to be taken under the wing of his mentor Cus D’Amato, who stripped him down and rebuilt him into a professional boxer, and by the age of 20 Mike Tyson was the youngest person to become the heavyweight champion of the world. From here that Cinderella story comes crashing downhill like a raging comet, shifting him from a champ to an abusive husband, convicted rapist, and a defeated boxer who is reduced to bighting off a piece of his opponent’s ear.

The best thing about this documentary is that it’s not told from the perspective of others, Tyson himself tells his own life story, and at times some of the things he discusses are so painful that he breaks down. Such as how when he met Cus D’Amato and his family, his first intensions were to trick them and steal from them, because he didn’t trust anybody. But D’Amato made such an impact on his way of thinking that he was the first person that made him realize that he had self worth, and could actually be somebody. But when D’Amato died and Tyson was seduced into the realm of Don King, he saw that no one cared for him anymore, and he was just turned into a tool for others to make money.

Director James Toback finds a way to get things out of Tyson, that others might not even dared to attempt, such as what he was thinking during the now famous Barbara Walters interview, where he and his then wife Robyn Given basically calls him a destructive monster on TV as he just sits there and takes it. Tyson says the reason he remained quiet and tame during the interview is because even though he wanted to break loose, scream and destroy at that moment, he knew that that would maker his wife look like she was telling the truth, even though he says she was exaggerating.

There are also nice inside bits where Tyson tells that during the fight that led to him become the youngest heavyweight champion, he was suffering from an STD and was burning so badly that he took the rage out on his opponent. He also talks about his prime tactic before a fight where he keeps his eyes locked on his opponent and the moment the other guy breaks eye contact, he knows that he’s beaten him even before the battle begins. Probably one of the best moments of the documentary is when Tyson talks about being locked up for a rape he claims he didn’t commit, and how he lost trust in everyone by the time he was released, which explains his explosive tirades with reporters after and fighters where he makes the infamous speech about “eating their children.”

Actual fight footage is nicely woven in to highlight Tyson’s rise and fall, including his final fight with Kevin McBride where he is defeated and afterwards says that he’s aware that he doesn’t have what it takes to be a champion anymore, he just fought because he needed the paycheck. Rightfully so, Tyson blames Don King for stealing his fortune, and the emotion on his face and in his eyes shows sheer rage as he describes how he trusted King and in return was made a fool of by him.

Whether you like Tyson or hate him, this is a documentary that is worth your attention because it is in no way sugar coated, and while maybe not the full story, it gets close to the target. The end of the documentary shows Tyson with a tattooed face and a calmer man, who is just happy to be alive because he never thought he would make it this far in life. Now the most important thing in his life are his children, and he tries to be the father to them that he never had. Shakespeare couldn’t write a better tragedy than the real like of a poor kid from Brooklyn named Mike Tyson.

VIDEO

Presented in 1080p in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the presentation is solid, shot on high definition video and showing every detail in Tyson’s face, from his tribal tattoo to the worn look in his eyes. The fight and news footage from his life has been upcoverted to HD, and looks grainy compared to the interview scenes, but this is expected. Overall, since this is not a movie, there’s not much to compare it to in terms of difference of sequences, but the image quality is sharp enough to be satisfied.

AUDIO

Offering a Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1 sound mix, this documentary allows you to hear every word Tyson speaks as crisps as if you were actually in the room with him. Tyson talks low and his lisps kicks in for certain words, but you should have no problem hearing him tell his story, (and if you do, there are subtitles). There’s not much use of the rear speakers, but the balance is effective and does the job.

EXTRAS

The documentary says it all, but some basic bonus features have been included, but instead of Tyson, they seem to focus on director James Toback.

Toback provides a solo audio commentary, and being that he’s a friend of Tyson, he has seen him during both good times and bad. This is worth a listen, but in no way pulls you in like the actual documentary.

‘A Day with James Toback’ follows the director as he promotes the documentary.

‘Iron Mike: Toback Talks Tyson’ has the director answering some questions about the infamous boxer.

‘James Toback on The Big Picture Show’ is another promotional segment for the documentary featuring the director discussing the project.

BOTTOM LINE

For anyone who either admires or despises Mike Tyson, this documentary is worth watching because it avoids the fluff and one-sided stories we’re used to, and has the man telling his own story. The one thing that is made clear is that Tyson will never be seen as the hero that Muhammad Ali is, and no matter what he does in the future, there will be a dark cloud over him. This Blu-ray offers good picture and sound quality, and even though the bonus features are slim, it’s the real cake is inside the documentary itself. Definitely give this one a look.

SCORES: (Out of 5):

The Movie: 3.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 2.5

Bottom Line: 3.5

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment – 109 mins – 1983 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 2.40: 1 – TrueHD 5.1 audio

 

Obviously during the summer of 1983 there was only one film dominating the box office, and that was Return of the Jedi. But there was another film that rode the wave, and to some it has become a guilty pleasure, and other people like me proudly brag that they love it. Blue Thunder was labeled as a ‘techno-thriller,’ and at the time this flying death machine was the most awesome thing in the sky. Well here we are twenty-six years later, and though there have been attempts to cash in on the super helicopter concept, Blue Thunder still reigns supreme in my book. For those of you who loved it as much as I do, or anyone who just likes to watch films from the 80’s, Blue Thunder is finally available on Blu-ray from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. For those of you who believe that a helicopter can’t be looped, you will soon believe.

THE MOVIE

Set in Los Angeles during the gritty 80’s, Blue Thunder stars Roy Scheider (from Jaws), as Frank Murphy, an LAPD helicopter pilot who patrols the skies of the city looking for trouble down below. He is reluctantly teamed with a newbie officer, Rich Lymangood (Daniel Stern), who is more of a thrill seeker, who he has to keep in line. Being that the city will host the upcoming Olympics, Murphy and his new partner have been assigned to project Blue Thunder, which is a high-tech military helicopter with weapons and silent stealth capabilities that would be needed if to fight potential threats to the city of angels. The copter is prototype that Murphy must test before the project can be green lit and more Blue Thunders can be produced. One of the men involved in the project is a pilot who flew missions with Murphy in Viet Nam, Col. Cochrane, (played with awesome villainy by Malcolm McDowell). These two men despise each other, and it plays well on screen.

Murphy takes to the skies to break in the new toy, but when his suspicions about the players involved get the best of him, he uses some of the helicopter’s tools, such as the ability to hear and see through walls right outside of a skyscraper, to learn that a major conspiracy has unfolded involving the death of a politician, and the real reason for the use of the super copter. Having this information recorded makes Murphy a prime target, and Cochrane quickly twists the knife by framing Murphy for murder, giving him no other choice but to steal their precious thunder and use it to prove himself innocent and stop the true criminals.

Directed by John Badham, who also directed such technology gone wrong films as War Games and Short Circuit, Blue Thunder’s plot is extremely formulaic, but Scheider and McDowell have fun with it and steal the show as they are pitted against each other. McDowell’s “Catch you later” phrase is still one of the best lines in movies, because we’ve all encountered an A-hole like him, who we would love to make eat their words. But come on, the real reason to watch Blue Thunder is for the climatic helicopter battle between Murphy and Cochrane, that still kicks ass twenty-five years later and no CGI effects were used. Just seeing the copters swerve in an out of actual Los Angeles locations with a wave of Gatling gun bullets, destruction, and explosions in their paths still deliver a rush.

To its credit, the film doesn’t feel as dated as you think it would be, mainly due to the fact that most of the helicopter action sequences are real, and mostly all of the locations in the film are still used today in films, such as the motorcycle/tanker truck chase from Terminator 2, that features the same dam as an action backdrop. I’m really not one for remakes, but Blue Thunder is a film I’d actually be interested in seeing with a new coat of paint. This Blu-ray is definitely for fans of the film first, but there are some new eyes out there that may really appreciate it. “Catch ya later.”

VIDEO

You wouldn’t think so, but Blue Thunder actually looks great on Blu-ray, even better than most films that have been released less than two years ago. Presented in full 1080p in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, the image is sharp as a razor, showing every line on Roy Scheider’s face, and every detail of the menacing Blue Thunder helicopter. The shot when the copter is first introduced emerging from the shadows of the horizon still looks as fantastic as it did from my childhood memory with that cool orange glow. Darks stand strong, and yes there is grain in spots, such as the night flight sequences, but it doesn’t take away from the care that went into the transfer. And being that the finale helicopter battle takes place in daylight, the image quality pops out at you. Not bad for a twenty six year old flick.

AUDIO

A film like Blue Thunder is packed with gunfire, explosions, and of course swooping helicopters, so this blu-ray delivers a very good Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1 mix. This one will really give year speakers a workout and takes full advantage of directing the sound to both rear and front speakers, especially during the flight sequences to give the sensation that a helicopter is circling around you. Dialogue has also been nicely mastered even when placed over heavy action scenes, and the music score by Arthur Rubinstein jumps out at you.

EXTRAS

The bonus features included are a treat, because normally old catalog titles will only come with a trailer if you’re lucky, but here everything from the DVD has been completely ported over.

Director John Badham, editor Frank Morris, and effects supervisor Hoyt Yeatman, sit down for an audio commentary track. This is not the most exciting commentary you’ll hear, but you’ll get a few interesting stories.

Ride with the Angels: Making Blue Thunder is a really good documentary that runs forty-five minutes, and goes into every aspect of the movie from the origin of the script into the production and release. It includes interviews with the director, cast, and crew who all reminiscent about how the film was made. For fans of Blue Thunder this alone is worth purchasing this Blu-ray.

Building Blue Thunder is an eight minute look at how the helicopter was designed, using an existing aircraft’s body and building it up to make it look more menacing.

Also included is the original promotional featurette from 1983, which is basically one gigantic commercial, but nostalgic. And there’s also there’s the film’s original trailer.

BOTTOM LINE

Blue Thunder is for fans only, especially those who loved 80’s action movies. For a film a quarter of a century old, this Blu-ray looks and sounds better than most of the new stuff out there, which is a nice surprise. Also, the Making Blue Thunder documentary is definitely a must see. Blu-ray and Blue Thunder seem to have been made for each other, so if you like this movie, this is the only way to experience it. “Catch ya later.”

SCORES: (Out of 5):

The Movie: 3.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 3.5

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Universal Studios Home Entertainment – 97 mins  – 1981 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 1.85: 1 – DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1

 

We’ve all seen Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, but do you know what film was the inspiration for that historical video? If you’re a fan of horror films you know that it was the 1981 film An American Werewolf in London. What made this film stand out was that this was the first time audiences got to see a man painfully transform from human to a massive werewolf right before their eyes. Up until then, the classic werewolf movies would just show the actor fall behind something and then rise up after a cut to already be in full make-up, or the actor would transform using editing tricks like dissolves to get the effect. After the success of An American Werewolf in London every proceeding werewolf movie has attempted to up the anti on transforming a man to a wolf, and CGI has made it easier, but twenty eight years ago it was all done via old fashioned make-up effects, and it was so mind blowing that it won an Academy Award. An American Werewolf in London finally arrives on Blu-ray from Universal Home Entertainment, so get ready to watch this one during a full moon.

THE MOVIE

The plot for An American Werewolf in London is as simple as it gets, but also keeps in line with the werewolf legend. Two American students, David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne) are backpacking in Europe venture through a desolate region, and are warned by locals to stick to the roads when they travel, and stay off of the moors, particularly at night. Being wacky Americans, the boys do the opposite and walk through the moors, leading to a vicious attack by a hairy beast that leaves Jack dead, and David brutally wounded.

David wakes up in a hospital weeks later under the care of a nurse, Alex (Jenny Agutter), where he learns what has happened. As he attempts to deal with it, he begins to have horrific nightmares and it gets worse when he is visited by Jack’s decaying corpse that tells him he will become a werewolf and continue to kill unless he takes his own life. Obviously, he just thinks he’s just going insane from grief, but then realizes it’s true when during a full moon he painfully transforms in a mammoth hairy werewolf, goes out to hunt prey, and awaken naked in a zoo. Alex, who has now fallen in love with him, wants to help David, but nothing can stop his destiny now, because he knows he can never control the beast that will overtake him every full moon.

Written and Directed by John Landis, who also directed Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, An American Werewolf in London still holds up as one of the definitive werewolf movies, and is always referenced. It’s not that film is necessarily phenonimal; it’s just that it came out at the right time at the dawn of the 80’s, which was about to be flooded with slasher films. One debate about the film has always been is it a comedy or a horror film. Well the only way to answer that is how many comedies have you seen that display a man transforming into a werewolf and biting someone’s head off? Make no mistake, this is a horror film; there may be a laugh or two, but when the ending credits role, you know you’ve seen a horror flick.

By today’s standards it may feel slow paced, (which explains to so-called remake of the film that’s in the works) but being that it was shot in England, it doesn’t look like a typical 80’s film that usually gets locked in fashion hell, because this film could have been made five years ago and besides the effects you wouldn’t have noticed the difference. The film has no real star power behind it, with a B-list cast at best, but you will remember these unique characters, especially the gang of oddballs at a pub called the Slaughtered Lamb. But the main reason to watch An American Werewolf in London is for its money shot, where David first transforms into the beast. Rick Baker, who is now an icon in the industry, raised the bar tenfold, and even the CGI werewolves in the Underworld films can’t hold a candle to what he accomplished. If you’re a fan of the film, this one is for you, and newbies will appreciate the movie that made Michael Jackson’s Thriller video possible.

VIDEO

An American Werewolf in London has always been cursed with having a bad transfer in previous formats, even the DVD looked too dark for my taste. This Blu-ray offers a full 1080p image in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, and to date it is the best looking version of the film, but it’s also far from perfect. This is a very grainy transfer, but being that it’s set it London, you may forgive this because we also think of a small town in Europe to be a dreary place. One image from the film I remember when I saw this as a kid was David’s bright red jacket, and this transfer shows you the brightest version of it you’re going to see as it stands out in total darkness of the opening scenes. The make-up effects really look better than in previously releases, such as the movie theater scene where Jack sits in the dark theater with his face deteriorating. Before you could barely make out any details, but now you can see a lot more of Rick Baker’s work, because the image has been lightened. Overall, this is the best it’s going to get, for now anyway.

AUDIO

This Blu-ray offers a Doby Digital DTS-HD Lossless 5.1 audio track that is far more superior than the previous DVD release. The minute you hear Blue Moon over the opening credits, you’ll appreciate everything that went into this mix. All speakers are balanced well, particularly in sequences such as when David and Jack first encounter the sounds of the werewolf tracking them on the moors. And the finale sequence when the werewolf is attacking everything in its path as people are running, screaming and crashing cars, the sound design definitely heightens the chaos. Basically, you won’t be disappointed, and it will creep you out in all the right places.

EXTRAS

This blu-ray is labeled the Full Moon Edition, which is appropriate because the disc is packed with bonus features that should keep all fans of An American Werewolf in London happy. Most of the material has been carried over from the previous DVD release, but there is an all-new Beware the Moon documentary that is worth the price alone.

The film’s stars, David Naughton and Griffin Dunne, provide an audio commentary track, which is pretty cool since they’re doing it over twenty years since they made the film. They actually remember plenty of the day-to-day events that went on during filming, and seem to be having a lot of fun reminiscing about it all. This is a good audio commentary that will definitely be enjoyed by fans.

Beware the Moon is an all-new feature length documentary that goes into every aspect of the film, from its origins, release, and its continued following by fans. This documentary includes interviews with writer-director John Landis, effects creator Rick Baker, stars

David Naughton , Griffin Dunne and Jenny Agutter. It even goes so deep that they actually found the creepy guy who played darts in the Slaughtered Lamb scene to talk about the film. How can you ask for anything more? This is definitely the definitive tribute to this film

Also included is a collection of interviews from the previous releases of the film that runs about a half an hour. This is fine for purist, but after watching the Beware the Moon documentary, this one instantly feels dated and obsolete. But kudos to Universal for including it, because if they didn’t someone would have probably complained.

A storyboard-to-screen comparison displays the artwork for the sequence in the top box, and the actual final footage in the bottom box to give you and idea of how the scenes were envisioned.

And for the hardcore fans the originally trailer for An American Werewolf has been included and it’s been bumped up to HD.

BOTTOM LINE

If you love this film and you own a blu-ray player, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the equation of how long it will take you to buy it. Do date this is the best looking version of film with a solid sound mix and a pleasing pile of bonus features, in particular, the all new Beware the Moon documentary. An American Werewolf in London has held its place in cinema history and will go into the horror film archives. This one is highly recommended.

SCORES: (out of 5):

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 3.5

Sound: 4.5

Extras: 4.5

Bottom Line: 4.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Universal Studios Home Entertainment – 81 mins  – 1993 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 1.85: 1 – DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1

 

Hey, I loved the Sam Raimi Evil Deal trilogy, but I’m not a fan of the way it has been constantly double-dipped and repackaged in its home video lifespan. The Evil Dead movies are like a new computer, as soon as you open the box they’ll be an updated version on store shelves. But die-hard fans of the ‘dead’ movies constantly need their fix, so if you’ve owned the films on every video format that has been created to date, then obviously you’re going to get this Blu-ray. The third film in the Evil Dead trilogy, Army of Darkness is available from Universal Studios Home Entertainment; so grab your boomstick and start blowing away some throwbacks, because Ash is back.

THE MOVIE

The Evil Dead Movies are hard to describe, because either you get it or you don’t. The first film, The Evil Dead, came out in 1981 and introduced moviegoers to Ash (Bruce Campbell) who is just an average guy who stumbles across a book of the dead, called the Necronomicon and unleashes the pure evil of hell that kills all his friends and leaves him as the lone survivor. The original Evil Dead was a traditional blood and gore 80’s horror movie, but the sequel, Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn, took an odd turn that really paid off with fans, making the second film a comedic spoof of the first film. Ash is still the hero, but just imagine Jerry Lewis fighting off the undead. This comedic tone stays with the third film, Army of Darkness, but this time Ash is thrown back to medieval times to continue his fight with the forces of evil.

Army of Darkness is not a horror film; it is a comedic adventure to continue the adventures of Ash, because after the success of the second film, fans demanded it. It’s a B movie with all the right trimmings, swimming in over the top action sequences and one-liners that only work because Bruce Campbell is saying them. Sure there are other characters in this film, but let’s face it, everyone else in this film is an extra to give Ash things to bounce off and make himself look cool. When a guy uses a chainsaw rig in the place of his severed arm to battle evil doers, he’s going to get your attention.

Directed by Sam Raimi on a shoestring budget just like all the other dead movies, (hey, he didn’t have Spiderman money back then) Army of Darkness works because it knows it’s one big in-joke for the fans. If you take anything in this film seriously, or even worse, if you never saw the first two films, you will be completely confused as hell. The effects are bad, the plot is ridiculous, and most videogames have better dialogue, but this never stops Army of Darkness from being one big entertaining ride. Basically, the ‘dead’ movies sell themselves, so if you live and breath the world of Ash, then you’ll be buying this Blu-ray on day one. For everyone else, it is highly recommended that you watch these films in chronological order to decide if you want to continue on to this one. The world created by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell is not for everyone’s taste, but those who have been sucked in love every minute of it. “Gimme some sugar…baby.”

VIDEO

Army of Darkness comes in full 1080p in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, but it leaves a lot to be desired. The image quality is acceptable, but it looks as if it’s washed out at times. Colors are bright and skin tones look good, but it feels more like you’re watching an episode of Xena: Warrior Princess than motion picture quality. The source material has been passed along so many times for the different versions that have come out over the years, that it’s probably been over-tweaked. If you only have one of the DVDs it is a step up, but don’t expect it to look like one of the Mummy films.

AUDIO

The Dolby Digital DTS-HD 5.1 audio mix sounds good, and with a film like this where there is so much going on, this is appreciated. Your front and rear speakers will get a workout as an army of dead soldiers rush into battle, or when Ash revs up his chainsaw or fires a blast from his boomstick. Dialogue sounds muffled at times, but being that none of it is on the level of Shakespeare, it’s actually fitting. The sound is definitely a leap over the image quality and makes the experience of watching the film much more fun.

EXTRAS

Again, so many special editions have been released for these films that you never know if they’re holding back on bonus features just so they can sell you a new version in six months. This version called the Screwhead Edition doesn’t have a lot of goodies, not even a director’s commentary track. There’s just enough to technically be called extra features, but it’s anemic. Hmmmm, sounds like a double-dip to me.

‘Creating the Deadites’ is a twenty-minute featurette that goes into the visual effects for the Army of Darkness, but being that no one really does effects this way anymore, watching it is merely for nostalgia. 

The film’s alternate ending that every fan has seen a zillion times is obviously also incuded.

Finally there’s the original theatrical trailer.

BOTTOM LINE

So here’s the deal, this is an acceptable Blu-ray, but you know they will be a bigger and better version released with the director’s cut one day, because it already exists on standard DVD. Now do you wait, or do you chuck up the money for this one as well? This all depends on what kind of fan of the dead trilogy you are.

SCORES: (out of 5):

 The Movie: 3.0

Video: 3.5

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 2.5

Bottom Line: 3.0