Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment – 104 minutes – 2008 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 1.85:1 – Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Audio Mix

There are good prison films, The Shawshank Redemption, and there are bad prison films, Lock Up, but it’s a setting that Hollywood has been fascinated with for a long time. For some reason most prison and high school themed movies follow similar storylines, with a guy who doesn’t fit in, but is forced to fight back against bullies to either earn respect or stay alive. Felon, released on Blu-ray from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, attempts to be a hard look at prison life, but it instead ends up looking like a lame episode of Oz.

THE MOVIE

Felon tries to be old fashioned, going for the simple story of a blue-collar family man, Wade Porter (Stephen Dorff), who lives a comfortable life with his wife Laura (Marisol Nichols), and young son. One night when an intruder attempts to rob their home, Wade catches the man and accidentally murders him. Being that the legal system is a mess, Wade is arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter, given a three-year sentence at a maximum-security facility.

Wade quickly learns that he must do everything to survive if he ever wants to see his family again, going against obstacles like the vicious gangs that control the prison and the corrupt chief prison guard (Harold Perrineau). Thrown into the mix is John Smith a very bloated and gruff looking character played by Val Kilmer, who even though he’s a psychotic mass murderer, he also has a soft side and takes a liking to his cellmate Wade.

The main issue with Felon is that it’s trying to show how hard and dangerous prison life can be, but never really goes for it. Most of the characters are total clichés that we’ve seen in various other prison dramas, as well as most of the scenes. Prisoners being beat down and shanked, sadistic guards who get off on seeing them fight to the death, and humiliating strip searches. The HBO TV show Oz did it all in its multi-year run to show how insane things can be inside prison, but felon doesn’t take any risk.

The performances are acceptable, but even though we’re supposed to feel for Wade’s situation, after a while he just becomes a part of the scenery. Ironically, the one character that stands out is not even a prisoner. Marisol Nichols gives a good performance as a wife who is trying to deal with her husband being locked away, and it’s through her eyes that you actually see how difficult the whole situation has become.

Felon plays out to much like a made for cable movie, and doesn’t have the cinematic tone to go beyond that, because unlike other prison dramas there’s nothing here that stays with you after the credits roll. At the most, Felon is a rental and there’s no reason to add it to your permanent Blu-ray collection.

VIDEO

Felon has 1080p resolution with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and honestly there’s nothing high-definition about the transfer. It looks like a standard DVD that has been up-converted, with fuzzy visuals and muted colors. Obviously, a prison film is not going to look bright and colorful, but here even the skin tones look flat. Darker scenes are also flooded with grain, making you wonder if any real effort went into this transfer. If you want to show off your Blu-ray player to a friend, don’t stick this movie in.

AUDIO

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound mix is good for what it offers. Felon is a film that is dialogue heavy, and it all sounds clear, even with Val Kilmer mumbling his lines. Background sounds are also used well, so in scenes when there’s a fight between the prisoners, your rear speakers will echo with crowd chants. The music score sounds tacked on at time, but it’s subtle enough to be effective. Overall, Felon sound mix makes up for its image quality.

EXTRAS

The selection of bonus features are paper-thin, so if you did enjoy this film don’t expect much; there’s not even a director’s commentary track, which would have been a benefit for the disc.

‘The Shark Tank: An Inside Look at Felon’ is the only real extra; barely running a dozen minutes it gives you a quick glimpse at the making of the film with interviews from the cast and crew. There’s nothing stated that will make the film stand any stronger, but it’s better than nothing.

BOTTOM LINE

Felon will not be placed on any top ten best prison movie lists, but it’s not the worst film about the subject you’ll see, it just doesn’t push the envelope for the genre. If this were a standard DVD, maybe it might be worth your money, but as a Blu-ray featuring a generic image quality and no standout features; this is no more than a rental at best.

SCORES (out of 5):

The Movie: 2.5

Video: 2.5

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 2.0

Bottom Line: 2.5

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Fox Home Entertainment– 99 minutes – 2008 – Rated PG-13 – 1080p Widescreen 2.35:1 – DTS HD 5.1 Lossless Audio

Romantic comedies seem to be quick moneymakers for Hollywood studios, because they are fairly cheap to make and as long as you pair up the right cute couple, someone will pay to see it. A series of commercials for Las Vegas spawned a very popular slogan that is the premise for the comedy featuring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher, What Happens in Vegas, which is now available on Blu-ray from Fox Home Entertainment. If you enjoy comedies that are on the level of an episode of Married With Children, then you may get a few laughs; otherwise proceed at your own risk.

THE MOVIE

Cameron Diaz plays Joy McNally, a career minded businesswoman who is set to marry her finance Mason (Jason Sudeikis), but she becomes heartbroken when he unexpectedly dumps her. On the other end of the spectrum Ashton Kutcher plays Jack Fuller, a total slacker who is such a loser that his own father, who is his boss, fires him. As fate would have it both Joy and Jack are depressed and are dragged to Sin City to drown their sorrows. They two of them meet, get very drunk and then get married, all in the same night. Their first reaction is to quickly get the marriage annulled, but when they both hit the slots and win three million dollars, the question arises of who should get it. A judge rules that they should remain married for six months and then afterwards a decision will be made about the fate of the cash. Joy and Jack then move in together spawning a series of antics in hopes of one driving the other insane to force them to end the marriage so the one remaining will get the money.

Can’t you see this being the premise of a sitcom? But instead of being forced to live together for six months, it would be six seasons? What Happens in Vegas is in no way, shape, or form trying to be an intelligent or clever comedy, it’s just straight in your face giggles that at times feels like leftovers from an old Three’s Company episode. Kutcher and Diaz seem to be having the time of their lives in this film, because without their energy this movie would have been harder to watch. Another standout performance comes from Michelle Krusiec who plays Joy’s rival at work, particularly because of the cat-fights between the two of them.

If you find Asthton Kutcher annoying, then his dumb-boy acting style will drive you insane her, because he’s still playing the same guy from That 70’s Show. Which shows you that looks can only take you so far before people will demand something more. If Kutcher weren’t in the lead Mathew McConaughey would have been cast, because Kutcher is more or less the poor man’s McConaughey. The best thing about this movie is that it’s short and sweet, coming in at 99 minutes, so for you guys who have to sit through this to please your girlfriend/wife, the credits will be rolling before you know it, and you might be surprised by some of the things that are actually funny. What Happens in Vegas is a rental at best, but if you’re a die-hard fan of Kutcher and Diaz, you’ll be in heaven.

VIDEO

Vegas comes to Blu-ray in 1080p with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and it looks fine, but nothing that will stand out above an up-converted DVD. Colors look great, particularly in the daylight scenes, and of course the neon of Vegas always looks good. Specs of grain do show up in darker scenes, but overall it all holds up. Skin tones are solid, and you can even see the heavy make-up they put on Cameron Diaz’s face. Overall, it’s nothing that will blow you away, but it is an adequate picture that does the job.

AUDIO

With a DTS-HD Lossless 5.1 surround mix, What Happens in Vegas sounds solid, with even dialogue tones and subtle things like background crowds that blend evenly. This is a romantic-comedy; so don’t expect the bell and whistles of an action film. The sound is simple, but it decent enough put you in the setting of the film.

EXTRAS

The bonus features are slim, but this is What Happens in Vegas, not The Godfather. Besides the gag reel and the deleted scenes, all the supplements are in HD, so it’s satisfactory. For those of you who want to take this film on your planned trip to Vegas, a digital copy is available to download.

There’s an audio commentary by Director Tom Vaughan and the film’s editor Matt Friedman, which is pretty lame mainly because this guys are attempting to be witty. And seriously, how much can you really say about a film like this?

‘Sitting Down with Cameron and Ashton’ runs ten minutes and is basically a promotional piece with the stars talking about how great the experience was…Blah! Blah! Blah!

‘DVD Extra Time with Zack Galifianakis’ is a mock interview with Galifianakis and the director throwing obnoxious jokes at each other.

Six deleted scenes that run seven minutes add nothing new to the film, but they are there, so watch them.

One of those dandy gag reels that we all love is also included, so get ready for some belly busting laughs. (uh…sarcasm)

Those on the go can download the digital copy of the film, and maybe this film is much more enjoyable watching it on a plane or a hotel room when you’re bored.

‘Bottoms Up!’ Is a drinking game that you can play while you watch the movie, and after a few rounds you may be convinced this film will win the Academy Award.

BOTTOM LINE

What Happens in Vegas is basically what you think it is, a simple romantic comedy that came out of a TV ad for Vegas. It’s a harmless film, and if you like either of the stars it’s a plus. This Blu-ray is you’re adequate, but probably no better than the DVD version. You may want to rent the film first to see if it’s worth your cash, otherwise just wait until it shows up on cable.

SCORES (out of 5):

The Movie: 2.5

Video: 3.0

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 2.5

Bottom Line: 2.5

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Fox Home Entertainment– 83 minutes – 2001 – Rated PG-13 – 1080p Widescreen 1.85:1 – DTS HD 5.1 Lossless Audio

This could be a topic of debate, but the ‘stoner movie’ genre began with the Cheech and Chong films, and has since evolved into later comedies such as the Bill and Ted, Harold and Kumar series to the current Pineapple Express. These stoner movies are cheap to make, aimed at a target audience (teenagers a frat boys), and are usually always profitable and maintain huge cult status on home video. The 2000 film Dude, Where’s My Car? was going for the same market, but unlike Bill and Ted or Harold and Kumar, it didn’t have that lasting appeal and sequel demand, becoming a one shot deal. Dude, Where’s My Car? is now available on high-definition Blu-ray from MGM Home Entertainment, so if you got a secret stash, light up, because that’s the only way to fully enjoy this flick.

THE MOVIE

Okay, work with me on this one because the plot of Dude, Where’s my Car? is way, way out there. Asthton Kutcher and Sean William Scott are best buds, Jesse and Chester, two slackers who wake up after a wild night to discover that their car is missing. The problem is both of them were so stoned that they have no memory of what happened the night before, so the search begins to find the missing automobile. This leads them on a path that involves a lot of chocolate pudding, aliens from another world, a gang of bullies, and a blonde the size of Godzilla wearing a mini-skirt and tiny kitty panties. Jesse and Chester unwillingly and unknowingly become the only hope of saving the universe when they get their hands on a device called the ‘Continuum Transfunctioner, the object that everyone is searching for, bringing peace to mankind and beyond.

Now you see why you may have to light up to watch this movie? It’s very difficult to critique this movie because the whole point of the film is that it’s supposed to be dumb. If you don’t say,“Why the hell did I just watch this?” after seeing the movie then it’s failed to serve its purpose. This role was made for Asthton Kutcher, “Mr. Punked” himself is the signature of what we identify a stoner-slacker to be. You know this guy was drawing on his own experiences from his teenage years, because it’s quite obvious that Kutcher is no rocket scientist. Sean William Scott plays it more as the straight-man sidekick for Kutcher, because while Scott does what he can, this is Kutcher’s movie to cash in on his That 70’s Show fan base.

The only thing that separates Dude, Where’s My Car? from other stoner movies such as Harold and Kumar, is that it’s not as clever and doesn’t target social issues. Dude is just a series of in your face skits and one-liners that either you’ll laugh at because they’re so stupid or you’ll just turn the movie off. Some of the film’s highlights are the tattoo scene, where they guys discover they have tats that spell out “Dude” and “Sweet,” or when Jesse and Chester decide to one-up Fabio, (yes, that Fabio) by making out with each other. Then there’s the rump-shaker mock music video that features the guys rapping alongside a bevy of girls in bikinis.

If you look at Dude, Where’s My Car? today you will spot a variety of familiar faces who were no names back then, such a Jennifer Garner, Kristy Swanson, comedian Hal Sparks, as well as some cameos by Andy Dick and Brent Spiner of Star Trek fame. The best thing about the film is that it’s obvious everyone knows exactly what type of film they signed on for and they are having fun with it. Dude, Where’s My Car? is not for those who do not enjoy this type of stoner humor, so if watching two guys scream “Dude!” and “Sweet!” all the time makes you want to cringe, seek your entertainment elsewhere.

VIDEO

Believe it or not, this is a really good transfer that is a huge leap over the standard DVD. Dude, Where’s My Car has full 1080p resolution and a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The image quality is super sharp with great skin tones, and the highlights are the colors that stand out strong. This film is all over the place in an Alice in Wonderland type of way, so the far out scenery and bright colors actually draw you in. To test this just hit pause during various scenes and you can see the level of detail in the actor’s faces, right down to the crow’s feet on Fabio’s face. It’s not a work of art, but it is a very impressive image quality.

AUDIO

“Dude!” and “Sweet!” in DTS HD Lossless 5.1 audio; it doesn’t get any better than that. Dude, Where’s My Car offers a decent sound mix, but it won’t make you crank up your speakers. Dialogue sounds clear and when music starts, it’s mixed well so it doesn’t drown out what the characters are saying. There’s really not much to comment on because this is a stoner movie, not Apocalypse Now.

EXTRAS

Unless you consider the theatrical trailer as a bonus feature, there’s nothing here. No audio commentary, no making of featurette, no gag reel nothing. The film speaks for itself.

BOTTOM LINE

When the history books for American cinema is written, there will be no mention of Dude, Where’s My Car? So for those of us in this generation, enjoy it while you can. Face it; this film is only for fans of the film, because even though this Blu-ray has excellent picture quality, there’s not much else there to make you want to buy it. This is a fun rental for those days when you just want to lay back and get lit…However way you choose to do this is up to you. “Dude!” “Sweet!”

SCORES (0ut of 5):

The Movie: 2.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 0.0

Bottom Line: 2.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Universal Studios Home Entertainment – 118 mins – 2008 – Rated R and Unrated – 1080p widescreen 1.85:1 – DTS-HD Lossless Master 5.1 Audio

The success of films, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up and SuperBad, have made Judd Apatow and everyone in his entourage, the ‘go-to’ guys when it comes to comedies. The premise of this style of films usually involves a goofy looking guy who in the end gets hooked up with a hot girl, that in reality they would never have a chance with unless they had a very big bank account. Forgetting Sarah Marshall fits that molding to a T, but this time a guy who could be Seth Rogen’s cousin is the goofball trying to get the girl. Forgetting Sarah Marshall comes to Blu-ray from Universal Home Entertainment, hoping to make you root for the loveable loser.

THE MOVIE

Forgetting Sarah Marshal stars Jason Segel as a guy named Peter Bretter plays a musician in Hollywood who scores the TV show that his famous girlfriend, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), stars on. Peter’s world is rocked when Sarah tells him that she needs her space and thinks they should break up, sending him deep into depression. He attempts to move on, sleeping with a variety of other girls, but he can’t get over Sarah. Peter decides to get away and take a trip to Hawaii, but matters get worse as he sees Sarah staying in the same hotel as he is, and to top things off she’s not alone, but romancing her new British rock star boyfriend Aldous Snow (Russell Brand).

Peter has reached the lowest point of his life, but fortunately he begins to build a bond with the hotel’s receptionist, Rachel (played by Mila Kunis from That 70’s Show), who feels sorry for him. And in the formula of the Judd Apatow style of comedy, Peter goes through a series of scenarios with various oddball characters, trying to find love by most of the time making a fool of himself, until he finally gets his act together. Obviously Rachel becomes the new spark in his life, and he eventually forgets Sarah Marshall…the end.

Its star, Jason Segel, who based the film his own personal break-up experience, wrote the film and while it has very funny moments, it’s not as tight as The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, which were actually directed by Judd Apatow instead of just being produced by him. Segel is likable, but he’s doesn’t have that total loser quality that makes Seth Rogen so appealing, mainly because Segel appears to be more competent and less of a slacker. Fans of the Apatow entourage will be happy to know that several cast members from his previous films, such as Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill, and Bill Hader, have small parts in Forgetting Sarah Marshall to add to the comedic element.

The best thing about the film is that it stays away from the Mathew McConaughey or Patrick Dempsey ‘chick-flick’ romantic comedy style and targets the male audience with lots of female eye candy, potty mouth humor, and full frontal male nudity, because nothing makes you laugh more than seeing a guy’s pecker. Russell Brand’s steals many of the scenes playing the pretentious English rocker, obviously mocking a compilation of front-men from various British bands.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall has its heart in the right place and is very funny in places, but it lacks those small Apatow elements that would make it a matching set for his other comedies. But it’s still worth a look, and you’re sure to be entertained because it has a lot of good moments.

VIDEO

Forgetting Sarah Marshall looks great with a full 1080p picture and a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, showing off excellent colors and skin tones. Being that most of the film was shot in Hawaii is also a big plus, because the scenery shines in high-definition with crystal clear blue water, and glowing green palm trees. Night scenes do look a little patchy in places with portions of grain, but fortunately the daylight sequences are plentiful. Overall, this is a good looking transfer.

AUDIO

With a solid DTS HD 5.1 master audio track, Forgetting Sarah Marshall sounds good, giving you everything you’d expect from a romantic comedy. Dialogue sounds smooth, and ambience such as crowd scenes or the background waves of the ocean sound clear. The Dracula puppet rock opera is one of the main highlights, and should be seen and heard to believe. Nothing explodes and there are no shoot-outs, but for what it is, the sound design works well.

EXTRAS

Two versions of the film are included on the disc, the theatrical cut and the naughty un-rated one, so you can pretty much guess which one is going to get more play time.

To match this there are two audio commentaries, one for the theatrical and one of the un-rated cut featuring Nick Stoller, executive producer Rodney Rothman, producer Shauna Robertson, writer/star Jason Segel and cast members Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, and Jack McBrayer provide a track for the theatrical.

Then Nick Stroller, executive producer Rodney Rothman, producer Shauna Robertson, writer/star Jason Segel and cast members Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, and Jack McBrayer, go at it for the un-rated cut.

This Blu-ray features so many extras that it would spoil things by describing them all, so here’s a list of goodies:

Puppet Break-Up

Line-O-Rama

Sex-O-Rama

Drunk-O-Rama

Gag Reel

“A Taste for Love”

“Dracula’s Lament”

Russell Brand: Aldous Snow

“The Letter U”

“We’ve Got to Do Something” Music Video

Crime Scene

Sarah’s New Show

Raw Footage – Video Chat

Video Diaries

Red Band Trailer

Deleted and Extended Scenes

Universal’s U-Control is featured allowing you to access visual commentary track via picture-in-picture (PiP); there’s also a collection of PiP interviews with the cast and crew, allowing you to play it as you watch the movie. There’s also a Karaoke mode that allows you to sing along with various songs featured in the film, including the theme from the Dracula play.

And to top it off there is a Digital Copy of the film that you can download and play on your portable device of choice. Whew! That’s a lot of stuff for a film where the lead character exposes his genitals.

BOTTOM LINE

If you liked other films from the Judd Apatow team, you are sure to get your fill with Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Those who saw this in the theater may feel like suckers, because this Blu-ray featuring two versions of the film and an endless amount of extras, including a digital copy is one of the best deals around. Universal must be given credit for delivering a fun disc that gives the movie a ton of replay value so you won’t forget Sarah Marshall.

SCORES (Out of 5):

The Movie: 3.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.5

Extras: 4.0

Bottom Line: 4.0

Nov. 14, 2008

Reviewed by Richard Lee Zuras

Released 11/07/08

1 hr. 29 min.

PG

Eric Darnell/DreamWorks

Ben Stiller

Chris Rock

David Schwimmer

Jada Pinkett Smith

Sacha Baron Cohen

Bernie Mac

Alec Baldwin

Shotguns, hit and runs, and a psychotic grandmother shouting “Bad kitty.” No, this isn’t a Looney Tunes cartoon from yesteryear, this is post-modern (or post-decency?) DreamWorks fare. Unlike Pixar, with its to die for stories and even better animation, DreamWorks is making its mark fusing pseudo-violence with re-told stale jokes and images.

Parents will be amused enough by Madagascar 2. And why shouldn’t they be? Studios figured out years ago that kids aren’t very discerning when it comes to movie vs. wallet. If you can get the parents into the theater, so the logic goes, then the kids seem to follow. But, as truth would have it, the kids in my theater laughed much more at the scatological humor in the trailer for DreamWorks Hotel For Dogs than they did at Madagascar 2. And as for the parents–they seemed more interested in the trailer for DreamWorks Monsters vs. Aliens.

And herein lies both the problem and the solution: If you can’t compete with Pixar’s appeal on the quality level, then knock them dead with quantity. This is, after all a world about commerce not Art, and Madagascar 2 is simply good enough to turn the turnstiles. There are things herein that succeed better than in the first film. Madagascar 2 has allowed itself, or its animals, some worthy and at times funny scenes. The voice cast is solid, especially the work turned in by Cohen and a dialed in Bernie Mac who reminds us once more how much we will miss him.

Children however, must bear witness to the violence that now passes as PG “cartoon violence.” Several times the animals are fired upon and we, and children as young as three or four, are forced to stare down a rather realistic double barreled shotgun as it noticeably displaces the flesh of a lion’s left ear. But these films are increasingly made for the adults who might otherwise stay home. There is a joke about post-9/11 baggage checks and a reference to a rather famous Twilight Zone episode. Need we not forget the requisite nods to the iPod and Survivor. And, of course, New Jersey is disparaged.

Those who appreciated the message in the far superior Wall-E will take solace here in the almost concern for drought in Africa. And if Nana karate-chopping animals and being herself run over by a Land Rover are too much for you, there is always that adorable group of penguins whose dialogue and action scenes actually seem to have been written with care and who do, in all certainty, steal the film if not your heart.

bottom line 3.0/5.0

Reviewed by Rich Depping
Warner Home Video – 413 minutes – 2008 – Unrated – 1.33:1 – Dolby Digital Mono – English SDH – Four Discs

Another volume chock full of classic Warner cartoon, remastered and unedited, politically incorrect content and all. 4 discs of various era and themed Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, entries from the 1960s’ Seven Arts efforts, and even some MGM classics thrown in!

THE COLLECTION
Each disc has a theme, tho some stray more than others.Disc one is an assortment of the primary players – Bugs Bunny, Daffy, Porky, Sylvester, and so on, in a hodge podge collection ranging from the greats like McKimson, Jones, Freleng, and so on.

Disc two includes a smörgåsbord of WWII wartime cartoons, including a visit from Pvt. Snafu. This disc is overflowing with abhorrent racial caricatures and stereotypes, not to mention myopic jingoism, but remain a fascinating historical record. When was the last time you saw Bart Simpson hawking Victory Bonds, Peter Griffin giving jihadists a hotfoot, or South Park flaunting horrible ethnic caricatures… well, scratch that last one… This disc also includes one of my personal favorite WW2 shorts, Herr Meets Hare, wherein Bugs winds up in the Black Forest and gives Hermann Goering the business.

Disc three focuses on the early Merrie Melodies shorts, with a focus on semi-forgotten stars Bosco and Foxy, whom you would swear was Mickey Mouse at first glance. I personally have always loathed these musical shorts, but I do recognize their historical significance.Disc four is literally presented as filler – ‘fan requests’ and one-off characters fill out the set. It had been quite some time since I had seen “Punch Trunk”, where the miniature elephant grips Manhattan in mass hysteria, along with the classic Dr. Seuss adaptation, “Horton Hatches an Egg”. I mean what I said, and I said what I meant…These are, undoubtedly, a strong batch of shorts, but the patchwork feeling of being thrown together just can’t be shaken…

VIDEO
The vast majority of the content has been restored to probably an even better state than when theatrically screened originally, but there are some here and there where I imagine the surviving source material wasn’t quite up to snuff. Some of the black and white entries seem to have been sourced from video stock if I had to guess, with occasional flickering and an odd jitter during the opening credits. I’m no cinematographer so take that with a (film) grain of salt…

AUDIO
Again, it’s a case of only being to do so much with the source material provided. Audio has been remastered into Dolby Digital monaural, and is actually very nice, except for a handful of the early 1930’s Merrie Melodies shorts. Again, it’s hard to be that harsh on nearly 80 year old material originally intended as disposable filler.

EXTRAS
Each disc has 4 ‘bonus’ shorts that, some more than others, follow the predicating theme of the disc. There are a handful of commentary tracks, with a mix of archival audio from the directors & artists as well as film historians. There are also 2 of the Chuck Jones made-for-TV Looney Tunes specials, which always weirded me out a bit as a kid, as my parents didn’t quite know how to explain Mel Blanc was quite a bit older than when the classic shorts were made, leading to my inquiry as to ‘Why does Bugs sound all funny?’There is also a smattering of MGM shorts done between Termite Terrace tenures by a few directors, which Warner now conveniently owns. It’s funny how things work out in the end…

BOTTOM LINE
This is apparently the final entry in the Golden Collection series – Warner will be releasing more Looney Tunes in the future, but with what focus remains to be seen. I can say without any sarcasm I personally await a dedicated Cool Cat release, but I know I am definitely a minority on this one…Despite being a fairly uneven amalgamation, overall this is a damn fine collection of cartoons any animation fan should not be without.

SCORES (Out of 5):
The Movie: 3.5
Video: 4.0
Sound: 3.5
Extras: 3.5
Bottom Line: 4.0Note: We were also provided a copy of the “Spotlight Collection Volume 6”, which is a sanitized 2 disc companion to the Golden collection, consisting of roughly 40 (including bonus shorts) non-offensive cartoons mostly from Golden Collection v6 and two from Vol 2. If you have small children in your household you don’t think could easily be explained to the various offenses and social maladaies of the time (or why Bugs keeps talking funny and calling Yosemite Sam “Suh”) found in the Golden Collection, we recommend picking this up instead for family viewing. Big kids only for Golden Collection, sorry. Overall score of 4.0 for Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection Volume 6.

Nov. 8, 2008

Reviewed by Richard Lee Zuras

Released 10/24/08

2 hr. 10 min.

PG-13

Oliver Stone/Lionsgate

Josh Brolin

Elizabeth Banks

James Cromwell

Jeffrey Wright

Richard Dreyfuss

Toby Jones

Thandie Newton

Scott Glenn

Ellen Burstyn

 Though the “strategery” of this film’s release date might be up for legitimate questioning, it is a mistake to dismiss W as simply a “referendum.” Stone is, it would seem, the only director America currently has that is willing to take on the macro-issues inherent in politics. Stone has now given us three top-shelf films that delve into the art of the Presidency. Though JFK, like Estevez’ Bobby, is not in fact a biopic, its focus never wavers from the issue at hand: the legacy of a President.

And W is truly a film that asks us to view not only our current leader’s legacy, but that of his ancestors. Bush Sr. is played wonderfully by James Cromwell, who may over the last decade have emerged as one of our most stately actors. Indeed the strength of this film rests squarely on the fact that so many of our finest actors (who knew?) bear such uncanny resemblance to our country’s leaders. This is a group of actors that has taken the time to work on the singular mannerisms, from Thandie Newton’s spasm-like movements as Condoleezza Rice, to Jeffrey Wright’s steely facial expressions as Colin Powell, to Josh Brolin’s constant attempts to half-hug the air in front of him. Watch Bush’s hands (or Brolin’s) when he walks, for instance, and you’ll notice how often they are turned backside forward.

But the W legacy vs. Bush Sr. legacy comparisons aren’t what the movie delves into as much as they are simply the collateral question that arises from a tale of a son attempting to garner his father’s attention. This is a movie about sibling rivalry. This is a movie about having things handed to you when your father wishes you would earn them. This is a movie that explores the everyman archetype of father/son relations, albeit with finer boots and top-rail whiskey.

Critics who score this film a miss have themselves missed this aspect. On the other aisle, critics who score this film as a “classic” vote also with their party rather than with their critical faculties. This movie has no ending, and because of this fatal flaw, it has no real point other than making it to the theaters before the polls closed. But Stone has been about as fair as might be expected considering this is a President who was an alcoholic, did choke on a pretzel, and has a rather limited grasp of geography.

If you find yourself resistant, your best bet might be to watch for Stone’s inserts, and use of lighting and innuendo. Stone is, in the end, a master director at the height of his powers. There is a particularly effective insert of a partygoer stepping on a discarded piece of corn on the cob. It is a small moment about power, and about carelessness, which, after all is said and done, might be the word that describes the Bush legacy.

Bottom Line: 4.0/5.0

Nov. 6, 2008

Reviewed by Richard Lee Zuras

Released 9/26/08

1 hr. 37 min.

PG-13

George C. Wolfe/Village Roadshow Pictures

Richard Gere

Diane Lane

Scott Glenn

Mae Whitman

James Franco

 In the motion picture biz they call this a weeper. A tear-jerker. On t.v. they call this Lifetimey. Hallmarkey. In the sciences they call this a litmus test: in alkaline litmus turns blue, and in acid it turns red. In politics, in election years, we gather around the t.v. to watch the map go blue or red. Seldom are any of these deciding agents maleable.

So no review of this kind of film will ever convince a red to go blue or a blue to go red. In short, you are either easily given to tears and are thus, teary, or you are not. This is either a 0.0 or a 5.0 depending on where you sit on this romantic dialectic.

But make no mistake: Nights in Rodanthe is a Lifetime movie. It is full of schlock and deus ex machina and characters who act one way and then another. Most disturbingly, it is about a pair of Actors more than it is about a pair of Characters. The film reunites Gere and Lane, assuming that if it worked before it will work again. The trouble with that theory begins with the difference in scripts. In Unfaithful Lane’s character cheats on Gere’s character by having an affair with a man closer to her own age. In other words, one of the reasons we bought Unfaithful is turned on its head in Nights in Rodanthe. Here Lane, her character still married, falls for Gere (and I mean falls head over heels), who is sixteen years her senior. Interestingly, the film never gives Gere’s age and attempts to youth his character by making his son 28, when they could have easily made him 35.

Here’s where things get difficult–and they should get difficult for the blues and the reds. It is too, too obvious that Lane and Franco (playing Gere’s son), in their one shared scene, look better on-screen together than Gere and Lane. Or perhaps you will think not. If you think not, you probably think not because Franco’s so young. In truth, he’s several years closer in age to Lane than is Gere. And if you think the film’s producers weren’t aware of this, you might ask yourself why they chose to die Gere’s hair brown on the one-sheet. Gere will be 60 next year. That’s why he has grey hair. Perhaps this has something to do with the mystery behind Franco’s uncredited status in this film. Or perhaps Franco knew what movie critics would soon know.

For those still unconvinced, I offer one more element. Anyone with a passing knowledge of psychology had to be thinking about the age difference between Gere and Lane, and what would drive a woman to be unable to spend a weekend alone without a man. The clue, interestingly enough, is writ large in the opening scene of the film. A dreaming and contented Lane is watching a vision of her father. He is spinning her around, on a beach no less, and she is utterly safe and alone with him. Throughout the film we are told Lane has recently lost her father and is grieving him. Her friend even points out to Lane that her current husband wasn’t there for Lane when her father died. Enter Gere, who is old enough to be Lane’s father. Watch Gere protect Lane from a falling curio cabinet. Watch Gere walk on the same beach with her. Perhaps the film should have been titled Nights in Electra.

bottom line 2.0/5.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Universal Studios Home Entertainment – 101 mins – 2007 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 1.85: 1 – DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1

Director David Cronenberg has tackled various subjects in his body of work, but Eastern Promises is unique, because though many may lump it into the mob movie genre, it’s far from it. Cronenberg has proven that he doesn’t do anything in a typical manner, so anyone expecting to see a Scorsese type film is going to be in for a surprise. Eastern Promises is available on Blu-ray from Universal Studios Home Video, and for those of who are tired of basic formula films, this one is worth your attention.

THE MOVIE

Eastern Promises takes place in London where a pregnant young girl arrives at a hospital bleeding, but she dies giving birth and her baby survives. A midwife at the hospital, Anna Khitrova (Naomi Watts), finds the dead girl’s diary, but it’s written in Russian. Anna wants to find the girl’s family to give them the diary and let them know about the baby. Finding a card inside that diary, she is led to a restaurant owner named Semyon (Armin Meuller-Stahl), who attempts to help her by translating it, but he’s not telling her everything. Anna slowly begins to figure out that Semyon is a high figure in the Russian mafia, and information in this diary can link him and his son Kirill (Vincent Cassel), to criminal activity. Now the lives of Anna and her family are placed in danger, making her find help in an unlikely ally named Nikolai Luzhin (Viggo Mortensen), who is the personal driver and muscle for Semyon.

Let me just say this up front and get it out of the way, Viggo Mortensen owns this movie. There’s a point when an actor is so absorbed in a role, that they become completely possessed by the character, like Robert De Niro in Raging Bull. Mortensen, who is most familiar to us as Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings films, gives one of the best performances in cinema as man trying to climb the criminal underworld ladder, as well as battle his own personal demons. Trust me, when he’s on screen he owns every frame of it, and deserved the Academy award nomination he received for Best actor.

Director David Cronenberg, who is better known for his extreme science fiction movies, first worked with Mortensen in the excellent 2005 film, A History of Violence, and with this alliance they have created a film that will be watched for years to come. Cronenberg is no stranger to dark subjects, so the way he’s captured the underworld of the Russian mob is so intense, that is makes the gang of in the Sopranos look like choirboys. Nothing has been glamorized, as it usually is in American mobster movies, so instead of wanting to be one of these guys, you would never even want to be in a room with one of them.

Most Cronenberg films are violent, so if you’re squeamish, you will be looking away in several scenes, particularly the sequence in the steam room where Nikolai is targeted to be killed, and has to fight his way out by whatever means necessary. Trust me, after that scene is over you will rewind and watch it again, because you won’t believe what you just saw. The finale of A History of Violence was insane, but the steam room sequence in Eastern Promises will make you cringe.

Eastern Promises has a great cast of primarily character actors, but even someone with movie star status like Naomi Watts holds her own. If this was a big budget Hollywood film it would have been a mess with someone like Nicholas Cage or Bruce Willis doing bad Russian accents; but Cronenberg goes far deeper, allowing his casts to pull more out of their characters, because there’s nothing holding them back you being conventional.

For those of you who missed it in theaters, or never got around to seeing it when it came out on DVD, do yourself a favor and see this movie. This is one of Cronenberg’s best films, and definitely Viggo Mortensen’s best performance on film to date. If you have a Blu-ray player and you’re looking for something different than the standard Hollywood movie, give Eastern Promises a look.

VIDEO

Eastern Promises comes through with an excellent transfer, showing a full 1080p image in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Cronenberg uses a very dark palate to set the mood of the film, so most of the scenes have actors sitting in dark rooms, and outdoor shots look gray and foggy. Details are great, showing off the textures of clothing perfectly, and the lines on every actor’s face can be seen with perfect clarity. Viewers should be very satisfied with the image.

AUDIO

With a TrueHD DTS 5.1 audio mix, Eastern Promises delivers clear dialogue and background noises such as in street scenes sound natural. Other than an occasional gunshot, there really aren’t many stand out audio scenes; but the mix is done well to fit the material, just don’t expect any bells and whistles.

EXTRAS

There’s really nothing worthy available in terms of bonus material, which is a let down because this is a film where you really would appreciate a director’s audio commentary track and a full making of documentary.

‘Secrets and Stories’ is a ten-minute behind the scenes look at the movie, with a small selection of interviews from Cronenberg and the cast.

‘Marked for Life’ is a quick six-minute piece where Viggo Mortensen shows off the tattoos that were painted on his body to help his character look more realistic.

‘Two Guys Walk into a Bath House’ runs barely two minutes and looks at the films steam house fight.

‘Watts on Wheels’ is a quick minute, showing the actress learning how to ride a motorcyle.

BOTTOM LINE

Eastern Promises is definite one of the best films out there, and worthy for not only fans of David Cronenberg, but just anyone looking for a solid drama with excellent performances. This Blu-ray has mint picture quality, but seriously lacks extras, because it would have been great to hear a commentary track from Cronenberg. It may not be on the top of your Blu-ray wish list, but Eastern Promises should be considered.

SCORES (out of 5):

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 2.0

Bottom Line: 3.5

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Fox Home Entertainment– 124 minutes – 2003 – Unrated – 1080p Widescreen 2.35:1 – DTS HD 5.1 Lossless Audio

There are good comic book based movies, (Spiderman, Iron Man, The Dark Knight); there are bad ones (The Punisher, Superman Returns, Batman & Robin), and then there are those that are not horrible, but they have some major issues that bring them down. This is the case with the big screen adaptation of the Marvel Comics hero Daredevil. This could have been a film that matched the ranks of the better-received superhero movies, but bad casting, a lazy script, and lack of originality placed it in the mediocre box. Daredevil is now available on Blu-ray from Fox Home Entertainment, but after five years it still hasn’t settled the score.

THE MOVIE

Daredevil begins with the blind avenger (Ben Affleck), wounded after a fight, finding a place to hide in a church in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen. A flashback unfolds going into the origin of Matt Murdock as a young boy growing up on the tough streets, raised by his father Jack Murdock (David Keith), who is a down on his luck boxer who is a puppet for the mob. Matt wants his dad to stay away from these shady characters, but Jack is in too deep, indirectly causing his son to have his eyes splashed with radioactive material, that causes him to become permanently blind.

Matt’s accident takes away his sight but heightens his ability to hear everything around him with such detail that he can see it. But his new talent can’t help his father, who is killed by a rising mob boss known as The Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan). This makes Matt decide to dedicate his life putting criminals behind bars, so he grows up to become a lawyer, starting his own firm with his pal Foggy (played by future Iron Man director Jon Favreau). By day Matt fights for the rights of citizens as a lawyer, but once night falls, he gears up with a red costume to become Daredevil, fighting criminals who the law can’t get.

No hero would be complete without two things, a love interest and an enemy; so to add to the mix Daredevil encounters a mysterious woman, Electra Natchios (Jennifer Garner), who by a twist of fate becomes the blade-swinging assassin Electra. The man known as the Kingpin, who killed Matt’s father, also hires a killer calling himself Bullseye (Colin Farrell), who can turn any object he holds into a lethal projectile. Our hero now has to deal with these three individuals, who all want to see him taking a dirt nap, and stop them in a way only a Marvel superhero can.

The main issue with Daredevil is that the filmmakers tried to throw way too much into the debut movie, which they did hope would spawn sequels. The first Spiderman movie worked because the story was directed towards the main character and there was only one villain to deal with. Daredevil attempts to be unnecessarily complex by pitting the hero against three villains, The Kingpin, Electra, and Bullseye, all in one shot. Both Electra and Bullseye are important characters in the Daredevil comics, but in the film they are miscasts. Jennifer Garner was cool kicking butt on the TV show Alias, but she can’t pull off the character Electra, making her look like a bad imitation of Wonder Woman. And Colin Farrell is ridiculous as Bullseye, playing him more as a clown than a serious threat. The only character that actually works id The Kingpin, played very coolly by Duncan, who steals the movie every time he’s on screen, which is exactly what the bad guy should do.

Ben Affleck is another reason why it’s hard to cheer for Daredevil, because he’s basically sleepwalking through the role. Affleck has demonstrated his charm, and even his tough guy stuff in other movies, but here he’s not even trying. During the fight sequences it’s obvious there’s a stuntman wearing the costume; and when Affleck is doing his blind Murdock impression, he looks like a bad method actor. The movie would have been better if The Kingpin was the only villain Daredevil had to deal with, giving the filmmakers more of a chance to develop the Matt Murdock/Daredevil character without dealing with two other villains that take his thunder away.

Director Mark Steven Johnson, who also helmed another Marvel comic film, Ghost Rider, seems to be trying to do to many things at once, and what seemed like a good idea in his head is not be translated in front of the camera. It seems like he’s trying to make the film look like Batman, but ends up doing just that, with Daredevil hanging from the gargoyles molded into building and standing high above rooftops. This Blu-ray offers the director’s cut of the film, which is twenty minutes longer, but doesn’t really add that anything that would make Daredevil a better film, looking like just a bunch of add-ons and extended scenes that you would normally see in the bonus features of a DVD.

Daredevil’s comic book fan base is huge, and the desire of seeing red avenger on the screen was in demand, but even though the film is better than most comic adaptations, there was so much room for improvement. Five years later rumors are swirling about re-inventing the character in a new film, but hopefully it’s not too late, because like Spiderman and Batman, if handled with care by a director who can handle a dark story, it will be better than what was delivered the first time around.

VIDEO

This Blu-ray offers a full 1080p image in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and it looks solid, blowing the standard DVD out of the water. Most of the actions in Daredevil takes place at night, so the cinematography stands out delivering strong blacks with minimal grain. Colors are exaggerated, delivering that graphic novel feel, with Daredevil’s costume filmed in a way that it both stands out and blends in with the darkness. For those of you who own the DVD, this is a definite step up.

AUDIO

Featuring a DTS HD Master 5.1 mix, Daredevil sounds great, offering everything you expect to hear in a film in this genre filled with explosions, gunfire, and a lot of breaking glass. Dialogue, sounds decent, even though Affleck is mumbling most of the time, and Farrell’s accent is all over the place; the mix is still solid and worthy of cranking up your speakers.

EXTRAS

The Blu-ray offers all of the supplements from the DVD special edition, which is a hefty amount of stuff, but being a port they are all in standard definition.

Mark Steven Johnson and producer Avi Arad provide an audio commentary track that offers some insights into what went into bringing the blind avenger to the big screen.

‘Behind Hell’s Kitchen’ is an hour long doc that goes behind the scenes of the film, including interviews from the casts and filmmaking team.

‘The Men Without Fear’ also runs an hour and is must for daredevil fans, going into the heart of the character as he appeared in comics, including talks with comic book writers.

A production featurette allows you to see Jennifer Garner’s screen test, making you wonder if there was anyone better who read for the part.

‘Shadow World Tour’ is a quick five-minute piece that shows how unique Daredevil’s powers are, and how he uses them to fight his foes.

Three music videos from the film’s soundtrack features the bands Fuel, The Calling, and Evanescence.

A trivia track plays over the film, allowing you to test your Daredevil I.Q.

Finally there’s a still gallery, storyboards, and trailers from the film.

BOTTOM LINE

As a film on its own, Daredevil may be hard to swallow, but as a full Blu-ray package offering the director’s cut as well as nearly six hours of extras, it’s definitely worth owning. Daredevil has a legion of fans, so it’s inevitable that one day soon, just like the Hulk, someone will tap back into it in hopes of making it a cash cow like Spiderman and The X-Men. This Daredevil film is a decent attempt, but it still leaves a lot to be desired. A must buy for fans…and a guilty pleasure for the rest.

SCORES (out of 5):

The Movie: 2.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 4.0

Bottom Line: 3.5