New to Blu-ray: Halloween 4 and 5

            The first Halloween film is a modern horror classic. The second one continues the same story, picking up immediately after the previous film had left off. These first two films technically take place on the same Halloween night, and then Michael Myers vanished until the fourth film in the series. The third film strayed from the storyline to have a plot about some haunted masks instead, but the fourth film is a return of sorts. Both Halloween 4 and Halloween 5 continue the story of Michael Myers, and he remains human rather than supernatural despite how unbelievable his survival in each film may seem.

            Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers brings back the original storyline, minus Jamie Lee Curtis as the sister under attack. Instead it is her daughter who is targeted by Michael. Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris) is just a small child, but she is helped by her babysitter and cousin, Rachel (Ellie Cornell). These two spend the next two films attempting escape from Michael, over the course of two different Halloween nights. In Halloween 4, Rachel agrees to baby-sit her cousin begrudgingly only to discover that they are being hunted down by an escaped killer.

            How Michael is able to continuously escape as well as survive the brutal onslaught that ends his reign each film is a mystery. This is another where Michael is able to escape during transport and makes his way back to his hometown, apparently now able to drive. The fourth film is famous for amping up the amount of gore as well as a twist ending that is somewhat discarded for the next film.

            Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers has the same characters and continues the storyline in a similar way that was successful with the first two films. Both Rachel and Jamie are back as the victims of a once again attacking Michael Myers. By now there is no question about his destructive abilities and after he was gunned down only to survive, there is no telling how he can be stopped.

            The Blu-ray release of Halloween 4 has two audio commentaries; one with actors Ellie Cornell and Danielle Harries and another with director Dwight H. Little and author Justin Beahm. There is also a discussion panel for the fourth and fifth film in the series. Halloween 5 also has two audio commentaries, and also separates the actors from the filmmakers. The actor commentary has Danielle Harris, Don Shanks and Jeffrey Landman. The filmmaker commentary has director Dominique Othenin-Girard and author Justin Beahm. There is also an on-set featurette and both films have the original promo material.

One in the Chamber Blu-ray review

Actors: Dolph Lundgren, Cuba Jr. Gooding, Louis Mandylor

Directors: William Kaufman

Format: Color, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

Release Date: August 21, 2012

Run Time: 91 minutes

            Cuba Gooding Jr. has had a strange career. He struggled to get to the top, doing small roles until he made huge waves with one of them. After his supporting performance in Jerry Maguire garnered him an Academy Award, it seemed that the world was at his feet. Instead of making more movies like the one that made him famous, however, Gooding Jr. started making family films in desperation. When those did little to help his career, he began popping up in many straight-to-video action films. Now he seems to have made a niche for himself as an assassin in low budget films, which One in the Chamber simply helps to confirm.

            Though One in the Chamber is in every way a straight-to-video action film, it is far better than most. The directing is still poor, the dialogue ridiculous and the supporting acting atrocious, but this one has decent action and the inclusion of Dolph Lundgren to help elevate the film slightly. The storyline isn’t half bad either, pitting two trained assassins hired by feuding crime families against each other.

            Ray Carver (Gooding Jr.) is a skilled assassin whose failure at a job in Prague begins an Eastern European mob war. The rival gang hires a man known as “The Wolf” (Lundgren) to clean up the mess, which leads to an inevitable confrontation with Ray. There are many double crosses and twists in the storyline, but we are all truly just paying the price to watch this film in order to see these two stars fight. They do fight, which can appear somewhat comical when considering their size difference, but the action is otherwise fairly solid.

            The Blu-ray release includes a behind-the-scenes featurette, though the real reason is the high definition presentation of mediocre action.

A Separation Blu-ray review

Actors: Peyman Moaadi, Leila Hatami

Directors: Asghar Farhadi

Format: Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: Farsi

Subtitles: English

Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Release Date: August 21, 2012

Run Time: 123 minutes

            The Best Foreign Language Film winner of this past year was the Iranian drama, A Separation. The film is about the dissolution of a marriage in modern day Iran, but at the center of the film is an event which ends up taking over the plot of the film. It is interesting, because trouble brings the separated couple back together, though their separation is the ultimate point of the film. It is a complex movie in which every character is relatable and logical in their own way, though this does not prevent them from conflicting with other logical and reasonable thinking minds of opposing views.

            The film’s highly debated moment comes after a series of events. Simin wants to leave Iran with her husband Nader and daughter Termeh. This is possible because they have visas, but they are also about to expire. In an act of desperation, Simin sues her husband for divorce and moves out to live with her parents. Nader doesn’t want to leave because he feels responsible for his Alzheimer’s-inflicted father. Without his wife to help, Nader is forced to hire a woman to help out. The woman is a devout Muslim, having difficulty with the task of helping an elderly man.

Her husband is even more religious, which is why she keeps her job from him. When Nader returns home to find his father tied to his bed and locked up in his room, he fires the woman, who then sues him after an accident outside of his doorstep. There is a bit of discrepancy over what really happened and who is to blame for what, but it all comes out in court. The interesting aspect of the film is watching the way that Nader and Simin interact during the conflict, and how they return to their stale mate once it has been resolved.

The Blu-ray includes a commentary track with writer/director Asghar Farhadi, as well as two featurettes about the filmmaker.

Chimpanzee Blu-ray review

Actors: Tim Allen

Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield

Producers: Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield, Alix Tidmarsh, Connie Nartonis Thompson, Don Hahn

Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: G (General Audience)

Studio: Walt Disney Video

Release Date: August 21, 2012

Run Time: 78 minutes

            All nature films and television programs are quite spectacular these days, mostly because of the advances in the equipment used to capture the images. High definition nature programs truly became a phenomenon with the success of the “Planet Earth” series, which Disney released as a family-friendly film. Ever since Earth there have been a stream of additional nature films from the studio, including Oceans, African Cats and now Chimpanzee; the most intimately remarkable of them all. 

            While all nature films and programs now have remarkable images, Chimpanzee stands out with a remarkable story. This is the kind of thing that can’t be planned, and it is miraculous to have happened at all, not to mention on camera. The story follows a young chimp lovingly nicknamed Oscar. When this little chimp is orphaned at a young age, he is forced to look for a new mother in the pack to take care of him. This leads to an unexpected partnership which must be seen to be believed. It is a heartwarming story that is perfect for the whole family, only further enhanced by the spectacular high definition presentation of Blu-ray.

            The 2-Disc Combo Pack includes both a Blu-ray and DVD copy of the film. The DVD has three featurettes about nature conservation and Disney’s involvement. These three are all included on the Blu-ray, as well as interesting special features. There is a great making-of featurette, which shows the obstacles faced along the way. Some of these were shown in the credits, but there is much more that was not shown. There is also a music video and a making-of feature for the music video.

Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamp's Adventure Blu-ray review

Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dubbed, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)

Number of discs: 2

Rated: G (General Audience)

Studio: Walt Disney Video

Release Date: August 21, 2012

Run Time: 69 minutes

            The straight-to-video sequels which come from Disney Home Entertainment aren’t even made in the same studios that created the theatrical originals, so it is no wonder why they never seem to capture the same successful essence. Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure is typical in every way as far as these sequels are concerned, which is far from a stellar recommendation. Even when the animation is close, the story could never be close to the original, which remains one of my favorite Disney films. So perhaps I am somewhat biased.

            This time around it isn’t technically about Lady and the Tramp, not only because the story follows different characters, but also because the street dog is female this time and the lady is more of a gentleman. Scamp is the rambunctious only son of Lady and Tramp, who is now completely domesticated. Scamp must have developed the rambling nature of his father somehow, and he is desperate to explore beyond the confines of the yard. This leads Scamp to make friends with a street dog named Angel, giving him the chance to see what it is like on the other side. This makes the sequel somewhat of the same story as the original in reverse, and eventually Scamp makes his way home again.

            The Blu-ray combo pack comes with an additional DVD copy of the film. The special features include a sing-a-long for the songs, a puppy trivia track, three bonus cartoons with Pluto, and a making-of featurette. There is also an audio commentary, but the main reason for this upgrade is the high definition presentation of the adequately animated sequel. 

Pocahontas Blu-ray review

Format: Animated, Color, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 3

Rated: G (General Audience)

Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertaiment

Release Date: August 21, 2012

            In the minds of many Disney lovers, there were two great periods for the animation studio; the 1940s-60s when most of their beloved classics were created, and during the 90s when a revival of great Disney animation occurred. The 1970s and 80s are mostly ignored, and at a certain point after the stream of good 90s films, the focus disappeared from the studio. That is, until they started releasing Pixar’s film. I would say that it was around the time of Pocahontas, Tarzan and Mulan that the Disney films of the 1990s fell off. Pocahontas may be one of the last great ones, though it isn’t nearly as great as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin.

            Pocahontas takes a stab at a kid-friendly telling of the romance between settler John Smith and an Indian named Pocahontas. They have a star-crossed-lover romance in the new world, with each able to share their different traditions with each other. This romance is destined to be short-lived, though filled with a number of memorable songs and a completely forgettable sequel to bring them back together again. Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World brings Pocahontas into Smith’s world, back in Great Britain. While the first film taught him to appreciate nature, the second has Pocahontas as the fish out of water.

            For the first time on Blu-ray, this 3-Disc special edition has both films on Blu-ray and also on DVD. The Blu-ray has the space to hold both films, whereas the remaining two discs are DVDs of both films separately. Although many purists may not go out of their way to purchase the sequel, there is no denying the appeal of having it available in a double-feature release. There are also a number of all-new special features, including “Drawing Inspiration: The Lost Story of Hiwatha,” which tells the original film was drawn from an idea Walt Disney were once developing. There is also a deleted song by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, which is amazingly fully animated and in high definition. There are plenty more additional features, but nothing is quite as worthwhile as the upgrade in visuals and audio which comes with the high definition presentation.

The Aristocats Blu-ray review

Format: Animated, Color, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: G (General Audience)

Studio: Walt Disney Video

Release Date: August 21, 2012

Run Time: 78 minutes

In the Paris of 1910 a delicate and upper-class cat and her three kittens are thrown into an adventure in the streets of Paris when their owner’s butler decides to dispose of them from the house. From here the film follows a familiar story of class issues, although they are not addressed as much as they are in other Disney classics. Immediately after they are left to die by the evil butler who has heard that his master’s estate will be left to the cats instead of him, they are discovered by an optimistic alley cat named Thomas O’Malley. Even though they are from different worlds Thomas and Duchess fall in love during their journey back to their home, and even though it seems like they don’t fit in each other’s world the film proves that the two classes can be joined by the end.

The music in The Aristocats is filled with beloved classics and some great numbers with a French flair and feline fundamentals. The opening song was sung by Maurice Chevalier, a famed singer who came out of retirement just to sing this one last song for the film. Also included in the film’s music is a jazz influence, which shows up in the lower class alley cat’s home, but eventually marries into the upper-class household with Duchess and a closing jazz song with the whole team of cats. Along with the jazzy soundtrack comes some great colorful animation, filling in the holes of the very simple story.

As wonderful as this simplistic Disney film is, following a pattern of choosing an animal and a location to tell a fun story, the DVD was sadly lacking anything impressive as far as special features were concerned. The best part is usually the film, but after a little of time searching through the special features I realized the best ones were just clips of the film that I longed to watch again. There is an unnecessary waste of time with two games, although I can appreciate that a young child may be amused temporarily by these distractions. The Blu-ray release has a few welcome additions, as well as the ones from the DVD which left me unimpressed. The brand-new bonus features include a featurette with Richard Sherman with an alternate beginning sequence, a deleted character and a deleted song with a demo that has the Sherman brothers singing together.

The music section merely plays the songs from the film, without any of the dialogue scenes, whereas the backstage section has a little more meat to it, although not much. There is an extremely short featurette with the Sherman Brothers, who created the music for the film. They pound away the songs at a piano and tell the story of their experience. There is also an excerpt from another Disney program, obviously released on television as a way of anticipating the new film about cats. It is just an excerpt, but there is Walt Disney as a host and a cartoon to show the different cats in “The Great Cat Family”. There is also a scrapbook and a deleted musical scene shown with still frames and an old recording.

The Rescuers Blu-ray review

Format: Animated, Color, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 3

Rated: G (General Audience)

Studio: Disney

Release Date: August 21, 2012

            Looking throughout the history of Disney, there have been a lot of mice. From Mickey on, there have been a lot of animated mice characters in Disney films. Cinderella has her friends and helpers, Dumbo has a lone defender and companion and even Sherlock Holmes appeared as one in The Great Mouse Detective. So, it should come as no surprise that there is an elite group of international animated mice who gather to solve the problems of the world. These problems usually include a captured or kidnapped child, and the same two mice are able to rescue them.

            The classic film, The Rescuers, is released as the 35^th Anniversary Edition. When a small child sends a distress sign via empty bottle out to sea, a group of rescue mice intercept it and call an emergency meeting. Top agent Bianca from Sweden chooses Bernard, the janitor, as her companion on the mission. They venture into the swamps of Devil’s Bayou, battling against the wicked diamond hunters and pet crocodiles to free the child. Bernard and Bianca return again in the sequel many years later, The Rescuers Down Under. This time the couple must travel to Australia to free another child from the grips of a poacher seeking an endangered eagle.

            Both films are fit onto one Blu-ray disc in this two-movie collection. There are also DVD copies of the films as well, though I would highly recommend watching the Blu-ray if at all possible. Animation is one of the few mediums which is undeniably enhanced by the high definition presentation of Blu-ray discs. The special features include a deleted song, a Silly Symphonies animated short, a sing-a-long song and a making-of featurette. These are all included on the DVDs as well.

The Tigger Movie Blu-ray review

Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: G (General Audience)

Studio: Walt Disney Video

Release Date: August 21, 2012

            Winnie the Pooh is a character that has stayed the same over years, only slightly adjusted since the voice actors have been changed. The Tigger Movie was a reintroduction of these characters with a few new actors stepping in to do voices, including John Hurt who provides the voice of the narrator. Later Piglet would also get his own film, but the characters are all present and significantly used. The story which takes primary focus, however, is Tigger’s search for his family tree, unaware that it can’t be physically found. Tigger wants to know if there are other Tigger-like animals, and at times is forced to settle with the zealous Roo. 

            For the first time since Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) former Disney composers Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman created the music for the Disney studios, and it was ultimately the last they would compose for the studio. As a result there is a great deal of emphasis on the music, which is entirely fitting for Winnie the Pooh and gang. The animation also has a nostalgic feel to it, with a much simpler style that makes the film feel comforting and familiar.

            The Bounce-A-Rific Blu-ray Edition of The Tigger Movie includes a DVD and an HD digital copy of the film. The DVD special features have been transferred over for the Blu-ray. There are featurettes, including a trivia game, a matching game, a sing-a-long, a DVD storybook and a music video. There are also episodes from “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh,” which is actually older than The Tigger Movie and on DVD for the first time here. Exclusive to the Blu-ray are two all-new special features. There is the Disney Intermission feature, which allows viewers to interact and participate in games whenever the film is paused. There is also a featurette about the history and creation of the Tigger character, and how that played into the making of this film.

The Walking Dead Season 2 Blu-ray review

Actors: Andrew Lincoln, Sarah Wayne Callies, Jon Bernthal, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn

Producers: Glen Mazzarra, Gale Anne Hurd

Format: Widescreen

Language: English, French

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Number of discs: 4

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Anchor Bay

Release Date: August 28, 2012

Run Time: 578 minutes

The Walking Dead S.2

            With the countless films that continue to drive the zombie film to the forefront of the horror genre, it is not surprising that a zombie television series was finally created. Vampire series are now cliché and predictable, mirrored after Twilight. “The Walking Dead” seems to be similarly drawn to the plot which brought back a new type of zombie film in the genre. Both Zack Snyder and Danny Boyle had their zombies run rather than walk in the Dawn of the Dead remake and 28 Days Later. “The Walking Dead” allows the same, though perhaps with a little less ferocity. This bloody AMC series also begins in the same manner as 28 Days Later; our protagonist awakens from a coma in a hospital to find that the world has completely fallen apart.

            County Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) awakens from a coma and discovers that his town is abandoned. His wife and child are gone, so he sets out to find them, discovering along the way that there are undead walking and hunting living flesh. He eventually finds other people, and they band a group together for survival. The cities are over-run with zombies, and the only chance is to hide from the mass of undead. The series is spectacularly well done, created by Frank Darabont who also directs select episodes. Darabont is best known for his Steven King adaptations, most remarkably the prison ones (Shawshank Redemption, Green Mile). The last one he made, however, seems closest to the style of “The Walking Dead.” The Mist was a horror film about a group of survivors trapped in a grocery store. “The Walking Dead” is a spectacular series about the difficulties of this type of post-apocalyptic lifestyle as well as the threat of being eaten.

            The first season was only six episodes, which seemed like plenty with the high quality of production. Season two more than doubles the amount of episodes, and takes the storyline in all-new directions. First they must leave the city, since they have discovered that there is no help to be found. This journey away is detoured when one of the vehicles breaks down and one of the members of the survivors is shot in a random hunting accident. There is also a missing member of the group and all of the twists and turns left unresolved from the first season.

            As well as an increase in episodes, there has also been an increase in the treatment of the series on Blu-ray. The four-disc set includes all of the episodes for season two and 11 featurettes about the production from every gory aspect to actor’s opinions. There are also six webisodes and audio commentaries on five of the episodes from season two. There are also a handful of deleted scenes from select episodes.  

Think Like a Man Blu-ray review

Actors: Arielle Kebbel, Meagan Good

Directors: Tim Story

Format: AC-3, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: Chinese, English, Korean

Region: All Regions

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Screen Gems

Release Date: August 28, 2012

Run Time: 122 minutes

            Think Like a Man is essentially a less annoying and more humorous version of He’s Just Not That Into You, and the title is infinitely better as well. The simplicity of a man’s mind truly should not need a book to clue women in, just as you would think it common sense to realize if a man isn’t calling you then he must not be that into you. But the entire selling point of the book this film is based on and the movie version is clueing women in on those simple thoughts. Where Think Like a Man improves this line of thinking is by giving women ammunition to fight back, making this a perfect battle between sexes with the parameters of your predictable romantic comedy. 

            Based on Steve Harvey’s best-selling book, Think Like a Man shows the battle between women and the basic male archetypes that are covered in the book. There is the non-committer, the mama’s boy, the player and the dreamer. Each of these men (played by Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Terrence J. and Romany Malco) are a problem in some way to the women who love them (played by Gabrielle Union, Meagan Good, Regina Hall and Taraji P. Henson), until they discover Steve Harvey’s book. Suddenly the women are equipped with the tools to stifle the instincts of the particular men they are dating.

            At its heart, Think Like a Man is a romantic comedy. There are four storylines and a lot more comedy than I expected, but each of them follow the traditional boy-meets-girl story arc that is so predictably exclusive to romantic comedies. We know how every storyline will conclude from the first time they meet, but we enjoy the predictable much more in this particular film because of the clever script and humorous cast members.

            The Blu-ray release includes several exclusive special features. There are several featurettes on the battle between men and women, including one on ‘guy code.’ There is also a behind-the-scenes featurette. The additional special feature include a gag reel and a few deleted scenes.

The Raid: Redemption Blu-ray review

Actors: Iko Uwais, Ananda George, Ray Sahetapy, Donny Alamsyah, Pierre Gruno

Director: Gareth Evans

Writers: Gareth Evans

Producers: Gareth Evans, Aram Tertzakian, Ario Sagantoro, Irwan D. Musry, Nate Bolotin

Format: AC-3, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen

Subtitles: English

Region: All Regions

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: August 14, 2012

Run Time: 101 minutes

            Few action films have the ability to deliver in the way that The Raid: Redemption does, practically reaching through the screen and jabbing your windpipe with the amount of intensity and violence fit into the 100-some minute run time. This is everything that American action should be but doesn’t have the balls to execute; The Raid is simply a testosterone-filled masterpiece to be endured as much as enjoyed. What’s more, the actual making of the film is in itself a work of art and something to be admired. The physical abilities of the actors are impressive with no need for an onslaught of computer generated special effects.

           

            The simplicity of The Raid is what allows for such non-stop action spectacle. Deep in the Jakarta slums there is a building which is run by a crime lord. He charges rent to lowlifes and criminals who need to hide out from the police, and it has long been thought impenetrable. When 20 elite S.W.A.T. members attempt to raid the building in the early hours of dawn, the mistakenly find themselves trapped on the inside with a building full of dangerous killers.

            One of the cops secretly has a brother inside of the building, and he must find a way to survive while also searching for him. Quite quickly the guns are taken out of play after a number of the S.W.A.T. members are taken down in a gunfight. Much of the film is hand-to-hand combat, using fists, feet and whatever weapon happens to be nearby. The physical feats are amazing and the choreography is so meticulously planned out that it manages to look seamless and natural. There is a fluidity matched with brutality, making this some of the best fight choreography you are likely to see on film.

            The Blu-ray release includes over 100 minutes of special features, including seven featurettes on the making of the film. These include featurettes for the stunts, the music by Lincoln Park’s Mike Shinoda and the generic making-of features. There are also filmmaker video blogs and a director’s commentary. All of this is great, but nothing compares to the pulsing pounding intensity of the high definition presentation of this instant action classic.

Glee: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray review

Actors: Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Cory Monteith, Jane Lynch

Format: AC-3, Box set, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 4

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Date: August 14, 2012

Run Time: 963 minutes

“Glee” is an energetic show filled with talent. This often excuses how predictable and cliché the plot is from episode to episode. Several of the cast members in this musical show come from Broadway, which makes sense with everyone doing their own singing and dancing. It has very obviously been dubbed over and highly produced in some sections, but at the very least we know that it is actually their voices. The show surrounds the happenings of a high school glee team, led by the high school Spanish teacher (Matthew Morrison). Though the show has the usual high school melodrama within the storyline, usually including unrequited love and secret pregnancies, the strength of the show always remains in the musical numbers. The rest is just filler.

            The third season of the show brings in some welcome change and some fresh blood. Although there were only two seasons previously, it was plenty to ensure that the characters partner swapped and performed so often that it all began to seem a little redundant, although thankfully always poking fun of itself along the way. The third season splits up the group, adds new singers, and ultimately graduates several of the characters.

            What ultimately sets apart the seasons isn’t the storylines, such who is dating who, or even who is in the New Directions choir group and who has moved over the all-female group. All that really matters is the music. Last season the big episode was the Rocky Horror Picture Show episode. This season has a Saturday night Fever episode, as well as a pillaging of West Side Story. There is plenty more of course, including a pop mash up of Adelle songs and plenty more. There are even a few rare and unknown songs this season.

            The twenty-two episodes of season three are fit onto four Blu-ray discs. The special features are also spread out across these discs, including the cherished Glee Music Jukebox. There are also a few deleted scenes, a blog from Sue and a featurette on the new characters on the show. All of the special features don’t compare to the music in DTS-HD audio, however.

Breathless Blu-ray review

Actors: Gina Gershon, Val Kilmer, Kelli Giddish, Ray Liotta, Wayne Duvall

Director: Jesse Baget

Format: Color, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

Release Date: August 14, 2012

Run Time: 91 minutes

           

            Breathless is a bloody dark comedy about body disposal, but underneath the surface it is a female dominated film noir with a wicked sense of humor. Every gory moment of the film is not magic, but there are enough of them to keep the plot moving along through dull moments. Bodies only begin to pile up and the mess gets bigger, building to an unexpected resolution.

            The film takes place almost entirely inside of a remote trailer in Texas, where housewife Loma (Gina Gershon) ties up her small-time thief husband, Dale (Val Kilmer). Dale has just robbed a local savings and loans bank, taking away $100,000 in cash, which he hid from his wife. Loma invites her best friend, Tiny (Kelli Giddish), over for advice before accidentally shooting Dale in the head. Immediately afterwards, the local sheriff (Ray Liotta) comes by to investigate the robbery. He refuses to leave until the warrant to search the trailer arrives, so Loma and Tiny are trapped inside with limited time to dispose of a dead body.

            The plot complicates further when a private investigator (Wayne Duvall) blackmails Loma and revelations about Dale’s love life emerge. In the end, all of the chaos actually has a pattern and meaning, which may be a little too convenient. I wouldn’t call Breathless predictable, but I wasn’t surprised by any of the twists either. Perhaps at a certain point it just became difficult to care about any of the characters.

            The Blu-ray release includes a high definition presentation of Val Kiler’s head exploding. There are also some special features. There is a generic making-of featurette along with an audio commentary with writer/director Jesse Baget and producer Christine Holder. 

Bernie Blu-ray review

Actors: Matthew McConaughey, Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine

Director: Richard Linklater

Format: NTSC, Surround Sound, Widescreen

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Millennium Entertainment

Release Date: August 21, 2012

Run Time: 99 minutes

            There have been many mockumentaries, which film as though they were a documentary and have interviews to carry the film along. Bernie gets about halfway there, including the talking head interviews while also having filmed sequences without bothering to make it appear as though this section was a documentary. It blends both together, which is fine since we know we are watching a film anyway. Whether or not he is addressing he camera, we know that Matthew McConaughey is just acting.

            Based on an actual true story, Bernie tells the bizarre tale of an unlikely friendship which ended tragically. Jack Black stars as assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede, a man who was extremely friendly with the elderly widows of men who passed through his funeral home. Though he was clearly gay, Bernie developed a close and intimate friendship with Majorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine), a wealthy widow with a nasty temper. These two quickly became inseparable, traveling everywhere together. Although it was her money that allowed Bernie to live the high life, many saw him as the kinder one in the relationship.

            A large portion of the film deals with the aftermath of Bernie’s final breaking point with Majorie. After being belittled and yelled at one too many times, Bernie takes actions into his own hands to silence her for good. This results in a monumental trial in which a beloved member of the community is put up in public as a murderer. Even with a confession, Bernie still managed to have the confidence of his friends and neighbors.

            The Blu-ray release of Bernie includes three featurettes and a few deleted scenes. The featurettes include one particularly good one about the adaptation process of true story to screen, including the research Jack Black did.

Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale Blu-ray review

Actors: Lin Ching-Tai, Umin Boya, Ando Masanobu, Vivian Hsu

Director: Te-Sheng Wei

Format: Surround Sound, Widescreen

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: August 7, 2012

Run Time: 185 minutes

            Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale tells the little known tale of a Taiwanese aboriginal tribe who stood up to the oppressive inhabitation of Japanese soldiers between 1895 and 1945. This true tale of injustice and uprising is little remembered even in the country of its origin, though it is a story which could easily be found with any colonists in an uncivilized area. It is a universal story of basic freedoms and quality of life, and what a group of people are willing to sacrifice to get it.

            Before the arrival of the Japanese, the tribes living on the Taiwanese island fighting each other. They battle over hunting grounds and beliefs, but find themselves a common enemy after years of occupation and abuse by the Japanese. The head leader of the Seediq tribe, Mouna Rudo (Lin Ching-Tai), eventually reaches the point where he is no longer willing to comply with the demands of the Japanese. Combining forces of the other tribes in order to destroy a common enemy, they plot an uprising against the colonial masters.

           

            The Japanese do not take this defeat lightly, sending in all of the powers of war that the aboriginal people do not have. Soon it is a battle against aircraft and poison gas, though the locals have the advantage of the jungle terrain they are familiar with. Using a form of guerilla warfare which often includes decapitations, these tribes fight back against the Japanese even when it seems a lost cause.

            Warriors of the Rainbow is the highest budget for any Taiwanese film ever made, and part of this must have to do with having John Woo as a producer. The production values are top notch, making the Blu-ray high definition the way to watch it at home. The bonus features include a making-of featurette, as well as behind-the scenes footage and a featurette on make-up and visual effects in the film.

Tonight You’re Mine DVD review

Actors: Luke Treadaway, Natalia Tena, Mathew Baynton, Alastair Mackenzie, Gavin Mitchell

Director: David Mackenzie

Writers: Thomas Leveritt

Producers: Brian Coffey, Compton Ross, Gillian Berrie, Malte Grunert, Phil Hunt

Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC

Language: English

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: August 14, 2012

Run Time: 80 minutes

            Tonight You’re Mine is far more charming and humorous than I expected, despite the transparency of the romantic comedy storyline. It has a premise which calls for immediate suspension of disbelief, but a mixture of good music and some great performances, this is easily accomplished. Somehow Tonight You’re Mine makes predictable look fresh and unexpected.

            The film jumps right into the plot after one quick musical number, when an American pop star named Adam (Luke Treadaway) is ambushed by minor British girl rock band lead singer Morello (Natalia Tena). They are both scheduled to play the same music festival in Glasgow, and their personalities immediately clash for somewhat unclear reasons. This banter is interrupted by an eclectic preacher who handcuffs them together.

            Both of the musicians have sets to play at the festival, which makes being joined together inconvenient. Even more of a problem is the fact that both of them are in a relationship. Morello is dating a far too reasonable banker, who is understanding and compassionate to the situation. Adam is dating a high maintenance model, who is far from okay with her boyfriend being attached to another woman. The result of a night handcuffed together, even with significant others present, causes a predictable rom-com conclusion.

            The DVD release includes a making-of featurette, as well as interviews with the stars and two additional features on the music and the costumes.

             

Bel Ami DVD review

Actors: Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Christina Ricci, Colm Meaney

Directors: Declan Donnellan, Nick Ormerod

Writers: Guy de Maupassant, Rachel Bennette

Producers: Ceri Hughes, Ildiko Kemeny, Laurie Borg, Simon Fuller

Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: August 7, 2012

Run Time: 102 minutes

            Bel Ami is based on Guy de Maupassant’s classic novel, and it sizzles to life onscreen with an impressive array of talent within the film. Robert Pattinson is the least impressive as the leading man, though it is a role which asks little more than for him to give smoldering looks of longing for a majority of the film, which we already know he has perfected from his time as a vampire. The female cast members are what give the film its vibrancy, just as the female characters are the ones who ultimately control the storyline within Bel Ami.

           

            Pattinson stars as a penniless ex-soldier named Georges Duroy, a man who makes his way in turn of the century Paris by seducing the right women. His first and seemingly most sincere affair is with Madame de Marelle (Christina Ricci), whose husband is often away. This affair continues even after Georges marries the former wife of the man who brought him into the world of wealth, Madeleine Forestier (Uma Thurman). It no longer is about sex when he seduces the wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) of the man at the top of the food chain.

            There is plenty of bed-hopping in Bel Ami, with an appropriate amount of flesh to entice audiences with. The true heart of the story lies not in the sexual acts, but the purposeful betrayal that goes with these adulterous moments. It is like a game of chess, and Georges has decides to use his good looks in order to play several queens on the same board at once.

            The DVD includes a behind-the-scenes featurette.

Meeting Evil DVD review

Actors: Luke Wilson, Samuel L. Jackson, Leslie Bibb, Peyton List, Ryan Lee

Director: Chris Fisher

Writers: Chris Fisher, Thomas Berger

Producers: Brad Krevoy, Jimmy Townsend, Justin Bursch, Mark Bakunas, Mike Callaghan

Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC

Language: English

Subtitles: Chinese, English, Korean

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: July 24, 2012

Run Time: 89 minutes

            It still baffles me how hugs stars can end up in such small and mediocre films. Perhaps it is the budget or simply a need to continue working through the downtime. Maybe a concept sounds good at first and slowly unravels in the constructions. Whatever the reason, Meeting Evil has the cast of a theatrical feature and the execution of a straight-to-home-video thriller. There are a few good moments, but little beyond the main actors is memorable, and they have both been far better elsewhere.

            The film stars Luke Wilson as John, a seemingly normal father and husband who is visited by a stranger named Richie (Samuel L. Jackson) and taken on a wild ride. Jackson’s ability to play an unpredictable killer is what ultimately carries this film, although Wilson is quite adept at being the shocked passenger along for the killing spree. What starts as an innocent request for help with car trouble turns into a countryside path of destruction, eventually leading back to John’s own home.

            When Richie threatens John’s wife (Leslie Bibb), he must change his meek ways in order to save his family from the psychopath. Meanwhile he is a suspect himself in the stream of crimes and murders Richie has dragged him through. The plot is somewhat derivative, the resolution predictable and the actual film work are simply mediocre, but this film will still get seen for Jackson’s performance alone. There are no special features to be spoken of.

New to Blu: The Preacher’s Wife

Actors: Denzel Washington, Gregory Hines, Courtney B. Vance

Format: Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Touchstone / Disney

Release Date: August 7, 2012

            It may be a strange time to release this holiday romantic comedy on Blu-ray, but a good film in high definition is welcome at any time of the year. The Preacher’s Wife is primarily significant right now because it happens to star the recently deceased Whitney Houston, but there is also the charming co-starring performance of Denzel Washington to admire. There is no denying the vocal power of the late musical talent, especially in the film’s hit song, “I Believe in You and Me.”

            The story is a remake of a classic film about an angel who gets mixed up in a troubled marriage. Washington stars as Dudley, an angel sent to earth to help a minister (Gregory Hines) revive his marriage. When Dudley falls in love with the minister’s wife (Houston), it causes all kinds of problems. This romantic fantasy is paired with nine songs sung by Houston.

            The Blu-ray disc of The Preacher’s Wife includes only a production featurette, making the high definition presentation the primary reason for this release. It isn’t a highly visual film, but the sound is spectacular in DTS-HD.