Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure Blu-ray review

Actors: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin, Terry Camilleri, Dan Shor

Director: Stephen Herek

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

Language: English (DTS 5.1), Spanish (Mono)

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: English, French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)

Release Date: November 13, 2012

Run Time: 90 minutes

            My childhood was filled with many repeat viewings of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, as well as the outrageous sequel. It is an irreverent time travel comedy which uses historical figures for amusement in a way that is far more enjoyable than anything within Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Just in time for the theatrical event in which Steven Spielberg brings us a historically accurate presentation of the former president, enjoy a humorous Abraham Lincoln in this 1980s comedy classic starring Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter and George Carlin.

            Bill (Winter) and Ted (Reeves) are burnout high school students with more aspirations in their rock band than anything taught to them in history class. When their grades and futures depend on one school project, the guys take drastic measures to learn about history firsthand. A guardian angel from the future named Rufus (Carlin) arrives in a time machine telephone booth, and explains that they must travel through history in order to learn about history’s most iconic figures.

            From Napolean to Lincoln, the adventures are across time and space, and there is even time remaining for the guys to pick up a couple of French maidens to bring home with them. The entire 1988 comic adventure is presented in high definition for the first time in this Blu-ray release. The special features include a number of fairly irreverent additions, including an air guitar tutorial with Bjorn Turoque & The Rockness Monster.  

           

Pixar Short Film Collection Volume 2 Blu-ray review

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

Language: English (DTS-HD High Res Audio), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Subtitles: French, Spanish, English

Dubbed: French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: G (General Audience)

Studio: Disney-Pixar

Release Date: November 13, 2012

Run Time: 75 minutes

Walt Disney Pictures proudly stamps its name on Pixar products as often as possible, and for justifiable reasons. If it weren’t for the creative computer animation team in Northern California, Disney would certainly have lost the title it has held in the animation world for so very long. Pixar seemed from the beginning to understand what everyone had forgotten in animation.

Perhaps it was the forced restrictions of three-dimensional computer animation that really did it, but Pixar learned to simplify. The short films begin with very simple ideas, and even as the animation had progressed to allow far more freedom, they stuck with the same theme for each of the shorts. They each oozing with human life and expression, regardless of whether the film is focuses on a lamp, bird, or a human. That being said, I found Brave to be rather unfulfilling. The best work I have seem from Pixar in the past few years has been in the short films which are included in this set.

Watching these films together is fascinating, both in the way that the animation progresses over time and with experience, but also because of the amazing versatility and creativity in the chosen subjects. Some of the films in this collection are just piggybacking on the success of previously established characters. There are several Toy Story cartoons, a couple Cars shorts, a few more for Up and other feature films also have extra short films as well. These are fine, and probably more what the children are likely to enjoy. What made the set for me, however, are the original shorts which try something new. There seems to a theme in these newer shorts, many of which show nature in a mystical or fantastical way. A moon’s shifting light is a family business, a cloud can have an attitude and in my favorite cartoon Day meets Night.

Though there are more shorts in the first volume that I am likely to watch again, the second volume does far better with the special features. Along with commentary tracks from the filmmakers, there are also seven additional short films from three Pixar filmmakers which were made while they were still students.

Rec 3: Genesis DVD review

Actors: Diego Martin

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

Language: Spanish

Subtitles: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: November 6, 2012

Run Time: 80 minutes

            This Spanish horror franchise began with a frightening and creative first film, one which inspired a Hollywood remake, Quarantine. Both films utilized the ever-popular found-footage style of horror which began with The Blair Witch Project over a decade ago, but purists would argue for the quality of the original franchise. The franchise has shifted focus in this third outing, pulling away from found footage to a more polished approach, which actually looks more like a Hollywood film. The main difference is in the brutality of the horror violence, which increases three times as much in this third film in the franchise.

            Rec 3: Genesis may veer away from the found-footage that has previously defined the franchise, but it keeps the even more important element of quarantine. The monster in these films is a contagion, and one which turns people into demonic zombie-like creatures with the ability to spread the disease by bite. The film begins as found-footage through the use of wedding videos. Clara and Koldo are about to share their special day with family and friends when an outbreak of a virus causes mass panic at their reception. Soon the entire party is quarantined and those remaining must struggle to survive.

            There are two opposing elements which set Rec 3 aside, though somehow they manage to compliment each other. One is the romantic subplot between Clara and Koldo, who spend much of the film trying to find each other amidst the carnage, and the other is the graphic nature in which that carnage is displayed on camera. There is more romance in this film, but it is also more graphically violent and disgustingly gory than the other films in the franchise. These opposing elements work together, but this has been utilized before in similar films, whether The Signal or 28 Days Later.  

            The DVD release includes a select number of deleted scenes, as well as some outtakes.

Vamps Blu-ray review

Actors: Alicia Silverstone, Krysten Ritter, Richard Lewis, Kristen Johnston, Justin Kirk

Director: Amy Heckerling

Format: Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Dubbed: English

Aspect Ratio: Unknown

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

Release Date: November 13, 2012

Run Time: 93 minutes

            Vampire films have moved beyond any level of seriousness and what we have remaining is Clueless with fangs, however dull they may be. Amy Heckerling and Alicia Silverstone reunite with this girl-power vampire comedy, attempting the same levity of their previous success without the strength of a structure taken from literary legend Jane Austen. There are moments of successful humor in the storyline that attempts to blend “Sex in the City” with Twilight, but more often than not it feels like a film best suited for thirteen-year-old girls.

            The mythology of vampires is about the same as you would expect from traditional horror movies. There is no diamond glistening skin, but a more traditional combustible reaction to the sun. But the gruesome aspects of Vamps are played down in favor of more romantic aspects of story. Goody (Alicia Silverstone) and Stacy (Krysten Ritter) each have different problems, though each romantic relationship is complicated by their condition. Goody runs into a lover (Richard Lewis) she had years earlier and must explain the fact that she has not aged in over a decade. Stacy falls for the son of Van Helsing, a legendary family of vampire hunters.

            There is an impressive cast here, including Sigourney Weaver as something of a villainous character and Malcolm McDowell in an underused capacity. Unfortunately, none of the star power is enough to provide focus for this vampire rom-com. The Blu-ray doesn’t do a great deal to enhance the film, which looks to have been quickly shot on a budget. There are also no special features to speak of.

Les Visiteurs du Soir Blu-ray review

Actors: Arletty, Marie Dea, Fernand Ledoux, Alain Cuny, Pierre Labry

Director: Marcel Carne

Format: Black & White, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: French

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Criterion Collection

Release Date: September 18, 2012

Run Time: 121 minutes

            Before Marcel Carné went on to make Children of Paradise, a masterpiece in French cinema and an epic tale of the nuances in early 1800 romance and theater, he made a fantasy film which is every bit as impressive. Though the scale in Les Visiteurs du Soir is much smaller, the impact is just as impressive. Even more remarkable is the fact that this film was completed at all considering the limitations of the times

            Made in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, there are often interpretations of this film which compare the tyranny of the devil within the storyline to that of Adolph Hitler and his troops. Even without this symbolism there is a wonderful fantasy film in Les Visiteurs du Soir, and the difficulties in making a film during a time of harsh occupation is impressive enough. The technical aspects are a bit more minimalist than Carné’s Children of Paradise, but this is mostly due to the harsh conditions put to the filmmakers. Even with sets that look a bit simpler, this medieval fantasy has enough heart and soul to outlast any spectacle onscreen in times of peace.

            The film begins with the arrival of two strangers dressed as minstrels (Arletty and Alain Cuny) at a castle during court festivities. They pose as siblings and musicians, though their true relationship seems romantic and even more disturbing is their mystical origins. They are emissaries of the devil, dispatched to spread heartbreak in the kingdom by seducing and splitting a royal couple. The mission is only endangered when love begins to encroach on their mentality, giving them the strength of free will from the devil’s will.

            The Blu-ray release of this classic includes a new digital restoration with an uncompressed monaural soundtrack and improved English subtitles. Also included is a 2009 documentary about the making of the film, a trailer and a booklet with an essay by film critic Michael Atkinson.

Children of Paradise Blu-ray review

Actors: Arletty, Jean-Louis Barrault, Pierre Brasseur, Pierre Renoir, Marcel Herrand

Director: Marcel Carne

Format: Black & White, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: French

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Criterion Collection

Release Date: September 18, 2012

Run Time: 190 minutes

            Children of Paradise is widely considered one of the greatest French films ever made, a masterpiece of technical achievement blended with an emotional connection to unforgettable characters. At 190 minutes, Children of Paradise can afford to allow depth and layers in the construction of the characters, which adds weight to the love triangle at the center of the tale. It is an homage to an antiquated form of entertainment, a lovingly portrait that is paired with a breathtaking beauty who must choose between the old way of entertaining and the new one.

            Although Marcel Carné’s masterpiece has a love triangle which compliments the already existent themes of the changing entertainment world of nineteenth-century Paris, there are many other threads to the tapestry of this world. Our main female protagonist, Garance (Arletty), is admired by all. Throughout the film she has as many as four different men pursuing her, using whatever means they have to obtain her beauty, though there is only one man that truly has her heart.

            The men within the film all seem to be symbols for the changing times, and it is no coincidence that though Garance’s heart belongs to a man representing an antiquated form of entertainment. Baptiste Deburau (Jean-Louis Barrault) is a mime who makes a sudden rise to fame in the 1820s Paris theater scene. Children of Paradise deals with ever aspect of theatrical entertainment in Paris, from high to low. At the same time that Baptiste is making his rise with the emotions of mime, an actor named Frédérick Lemaitre (Pierre Brasseur) makes his own way up to the top. Though each are in a different medium of theater and not exactly in competition, they are constantly in competition for the heart of Garance. Their love triangle is a civil one, unlike many of the other suitors that come into Garance’s life.

            The quality of the story and its underlying symbolism is astounding, which increases infinitely when the details behind the construction of the film are learned. Made in Nazi-occupied France during the end of World War II, there were many pitfalls and difficulties. Carné previously had success working under these conditions when he created Les Visiteurs du Soir.

The Blu-ray release of Children of Paradise includes a fantastic second disc filled with special features about the film’s production and every aspect of admiration since then. There is a video introduction by Terry Gilliam, a 2009 documentary about the making of the film, a new visual essay and a 1967 documentary about the film. This is all on top of the fact that this is the 2011 restoration, which is the best possible presentation of this masterpiece, and in high definition. The first disc, with the film, also comes with optional audio commentaries by film scholars Brian Stonehill and Charles Affron. The package also comes with a 40-page booklet with an essay by film scholar Dudley Andrew and an excerpt from an interview with Carné.

Arthur Christmas Blu-ray review

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

Language: English

Subtitles: French

Dubbed: French

Region: All Regions

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: November 6, 2012

Run Time: 97 minutes

            Christmas films are the one category of movies which usually take a year to find their way to home video. Nobody wants to buy a Christmas film in March, so they usually just wait an entire year to release it. Last Christmas Arthur Christmas was in theaters, but this year it will make the perfect holiday gift for children and families alike. Arthur Christmas isn’t an instant holiday classic, but I would have no problem adding it to the list of annual holiday movies. It is fun-filled and creative, bringing entertainment to every age group in the family.

            The creativity in the story comes from a practical explanation for the miraculous existence of Santa Claus. No longer does Santa travel by sled or go down the chimneys himself. The answer for so many toys delivered is a state-of-the-art spaceship sled and an army of trained elves to deliver the gifts quickly and efficiently in each city. This newer system seems to be working wonderfully for the latest Santa and his crack team that includes an innovative son to ruin the spaceship and another who simply embodies the spirit of Christmas.

            Arthur is not the most efficient worker in the North Pole, but he is tolerated because of the fact that he is the son of Santa. Nobody seems to think Arthur is worth much, but he has a chance to change all of that when the high-tech present delivery system fails to visit one child. With a missed child, Arthur sets out to deliver the last present on his own, using the old fashioned method of a sled and reindeer. In the process, Arthur is able to teach his family what Christmas is really about, rather than the efficiency that they have been focusing on.

            The Blu-ray combo pack comes with a DVD and Ultraviolet copy of the film. The special features include a number of making-of featurettes, including a progression reel to see how the animation advanced from step to step. There are also plenty of features for the younger fans, including one which goes into greater detail about the Claus family in the film. There is also an elf recruitment video.

           

The Amazing Spider-Man Blu-ray review

Actors: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen

Director: Marc Webb

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

Language: English

Subtitles: Cantonese, Chinese, English, French, Korean, Spanish

Dubbed: Chinese, French

Region: All Regions

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 3

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony

Release Date: November 9, 2012

Run Time: 136 minutes

            I’ve heard all of the arguments from fanboy comic geeks about the validity of having a new Spider-Man film only a decade after the last one was brought to life by Sam Raimi. I understand that this is based on a completely different comic book series and follows the path differently. Sure, there are similarities, but there are also differences both in plot and character. Even knowing that, I saw no reason for another Spider-Man film. That being said, I found myself enjoying this film more than I anticipated. There isn’t much substance to it, but it is undeniably entertaining. The high definition Blu-ray does not hurt in the enjoyment of the film’s spectacle.

            The difference between the Spider-Man of today and the one ten years ago is primarily in attitude. Although Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is still a social outcast, we now live in times where that is the cool thing. Being a hipster or anti-social is far more popular than being cookie cutter, and Peter even carries an arrogant confidence with his social exclusion which makes him more of a rebel than a geek. This attitude completely changes the vibe of the story, and although I’m sure it will appeal more to the younger crowd, I found it difficult not to be annoyed by the cocky protagonist.

            This time around there is also a different romantic partner for Spider-Man named Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Gwen works at the lab where Peter is bitten by a special spider, but more importantly, it is also the same lab that his father once worked at. Rather than the accidental spider-bite that results in special abilities, the Peter in this story is the son of an important scientist whose discovery is what leads to Peter’s special abilities. The result is basically the same, with Peter developing some of the abilities of a spider, and after seeking revenge for the death of his uncle (Martin Sheen).

            The villain this time is the Lizard, who is the alter ego of Peter’s father’s former partner, Dr. Connors (Rhys Ifans). An admirable foe against Spider-Man is not enough, however, and there is the additional pressure of the police force hunting the super-hero. The task force just happens to be led by Gwen’s father (Denis Leary), adding even more to the melodrama.

            The Blu-ray combo pack comes with a DVD and Ultraviolet copy of the film, as well as a number of special features that are exclusive to this disc. Only on Blu-ray is a second-screen app ability, as well as 90 minutes of exclusive making-of featurettes in the “Rites of Passage” feature. There are also some pre-visualization sequences and image progression reels which can only be found on the Blu-ray. Other special features include deleted scenes, stunt rehearsal and an audio commentary with Marc Webb, Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach.

Magic Mike Blu-ray review

Actors: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Writers: Reid Carolin

Producers: Channing Tatum, Nick Wechsler, Gregory Jacobs, Reid Carolin

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

Language: English

Subtitles: French, Spanish

Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Warner Home Video

Release Date: October 23, 2012

Run Time: 110 minutes

            Despite being directed by Steven Soderbergh, who has had another one of his diversely successful years, I had little interest in seeing Magic Mike. I assumed it would be something of a cross between The Girlfriend Experience and Showgirls. In some ways this is exactly what Magic Mike feels like, but that ends up being a good thing. There is some of the exploitation, humor and camp of Showgirls within the independent and more restrained style of Soderbergh’s lower budget films.

            The highlight of the film ends up being dancing more than stripping, and a great deal of the credit for that must go to star and co-producer Channing Tatum, whose big break in film came with Step Up. There are plenty of suggestive dance moves and more abs than can be counted, but there is more talent and skill in the performances than one expects to see from a stripper. The production value of the film increases any time the characters are onstage, and these are some entertaining sequences which are featured several times over in the Blu-ray extras as well, but the success of Magic Mike is how compelling the film remains even when the stars put their shirts back on.

           

            The script by Reid Carolin is the first thing to be commended, creating a cliché world with reinvigorating dialogue and characters. The actual plot is fairly predictable, but a charming cast of likeable characters with well-written dialogue and a seasoned director at the helm it doesn’t matter that we know what is coming. The film is enjoyable even if we can see the ending before it comes.

            The Blu-ray has extended versions of a few major dance numbers, as well as a “Dance Play” option for viewing the film. It does exactly what it says, playing all of the dances while skipping everything in-between in the film. There is also a featurette about the process the stars took to become accustomed to the world of male stripping. The Blu-ray combo pack comes with a DVD and a Ultraviolet copy of the film as well.

Maximum Conviction Blu-ray review

Actors: Steven Seagal, Steve Austin, Michael Pare, Bren Foster

Director: Keoni Waxman

Format: Color, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Dubbed: English

Aspect Ratio: Unknown

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

Release Date: November 6, 2012

Run Time: 98 minutes

            Steven Seagal has slowed down considerably from his earlier days. He was always more mass than speed. Seagal was famous for breaking bones in the same way Van Damme was known for his agile kicks and Chuck Norris for his moustache. The problem with Seagal is that his mass just keeps increasing, and many of his more recent action films have relied far more on the editing than any abilities from the former action star. Surprisingly, Maximum Conviction does a far better job of hiding this, perhaps somewhat helped by the addition of another action star.

            Steve Austin joins the cast alongside Seagal with a story that feels a great deal like Under Siege 3. Seagal and Austin are former Special Forces commandos turned private security contractor named Steele and Manning. They are on a top secret mission in a secret military prison, guarding a special prisoner when a group of hired mercenaries take control of the facility and begin to hunt down their target. Matters are made even worse when all of the deadly prisoners are released, making it a free for all which Steele and Manning must survive, along with their prisoner.

            The action is sub-par for a theatrical film, but for straight-to-video it comes closer than I expected to the action films of Seagal’s glory days. There is even a compound fracture within one of the fight scenes, which is sure to please fans of the 80s action star. The Blu-ray high definition enhances the action further, though the gunplay is far from impressive in the audio track. The special features include a commentary track with executive producer/director Keoni Waxman and executive producer Binh Dang. There is also a behind-the-scenes featurette, a featurette about the two action stars and interviews with them as well. 

Touch: The Complete First Season DVD review

            Although the premise seems slightly different, “Touch” has so many similarities “Heroes” that it becomes impossible not to compare the two. There are even locations which seem similar to those in “Heroes,” and it almost feels like the leftovers from a one-hit-wonder. “Heroes” had an ensemble of characters that intermingled throughout the seasons and ultimately the series. “Touch” has a myriad of characters which intermingle and connect throughout each individual episode, with only a few major characters returning week after week.

            “Heroes” was about a select group of mutant human beings with special abilities, whereas “Touch” is about a select group of humans with special abilities that are more mental and less physical. Our narrator is a mute boy with the ability to see connections and patterns that nobody else can see, and he uses this to help people around him and far from him. This becomes complexly reliant on how small changes in our life can have a ripple effect that has massive repercussions.

            Although Jake is the one with the ability, he is only able to achieve his goals with the help of his single father, Martin Bohm (Kiefer Sutherland), whose ability to communicate with his son is limited to say the least. With the help of a Child Protective Services employee and a brilliant professor with special knowledge (Danny Glover), Martin and his son are able to work together to change people’s lives.

            This show is often melodramatic and cheesy, and what it does have going for it is remarkably similar to what made “Heroes” work. Sutherland is over-the-top and over-acting as usual, even without trying to save the country from terrorist attacks. With all that is wrong with this show, I still found myself drawn in to each episode. The first season has 11 episodes, all included on three discs with special features. There is an extended pilot episode, some featurettes and a few select deleted scenes.

Holliston: The Complete First Season Blu-ray review

Actors: Adam Green, Joe Lynch, Laura Ortiz, Corri English, Dee Snider

Directors: Adam Green, Sean Becker

Format: Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT

Release Date: October 9, 2012

Run Time: 223 minutes

            The premise for “Holliston” is clever and fairly original, though this does not always mean that it works. There are extra points awarded for the boldness of the concept. Creating a horror sitcom is certainly an achievement on its own, but that does not mean that I care to see any further seasons. These guys should stick to making horror movies instead, but I commend them for trying. If nothing else, horror fans with a sick sense of humor will enjoy the lower budget horror special effects used for the show.

            “Holliston” is a sitcom in the most traditional sense, with a simple apartment set that carries a majority of the action. There are the usual one-liners and laugh tracks, but where this sitcom varies is in the addition to this formula. Starring horror newcomers Adam Green (Hatchet) and Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2: Dead End), who both play characters with their own first names and a similar love for the horror genre. They essentially seem to be playing themselves, but versions which are not yet successful. They are broke roommates and aspiring filmmakers who spend most of their time dreaming up plans for their big break.

            When they aren’t planning their big chance to make it from Holliston, Massachusetts to Hollywood, Adam and Joe are struggling with women problems. The pilot is overlong and all about Adam’s attempt to hire a hooker to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. Adam’s ex-girlfriend Corri (Corri English) is a regular member of the cast, along with Joe’s ditzy girlfriend, Laura (Laura Ortiz). There are also the more than occasional horror icon cameos, and a re-occurring imaginary friend played by Dave Brockie of GWAR and a glam rock boss played by Twisted Sister member Dee Snider.

            This Fear.net original series is unique and worth checking out for horror fans. All of season one is fit onto Blu-ray disc, with a running time of just under four hours. There are cast commentaries on select episodes, as well as bloopers and deleted scenes. There are also some making of featurettes and behind-the-scenes footage.

Excision Blu-ray review

Actors: AnnaLynne McCord, Traci Lords, Roger Bart, Malcom McDowell, Ariel Winter

Director: Richard Bates Jr.

Format: Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Dubbed: English

Aspect Ratio: Unknown

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

Release Date: October 16, 2012

Run Time: 81 minutes

            This is not an attractive film. I don’t say that because it is poorly shot, because some of the fantasy sequences are absolutely gorgeous in a way. The images are gloriously vibrant, and they might even be enjoyable to look at if they weren’t filled with gruesome and disgusting images. The main star is made to look purposefully unattractive much of the film. Even when she does look glamorous in her fantasies, her actions are always disturbing enough to counter this. This is a film filled with unattractive images and ideas, making it far from easy to sit through without squirming uncomfortably.

            AnnaLynne McCord gives a bold performance as Pauline, a role which calls for her to be as unattractive as possible for much of the film. Only within fantasy sequences does she look glamorous, and this is countered with gruesome and graphic images of blood and carnage. Pauline is an unpopular high school student who exists within her own demented world of bizarre ideas and a strange secret fetish. Though she is an outcast, Pauline pays little attention to what anybody else says or thinks of her. When she gets an idea in her head, it doesn’t matter what obstacles are in her way.

            In one particularly disturbing sequence, Pauline decides that she is ready to lose her virginity. Though she is unpopular, a blunt proposal to a popular kid proves all that is needed. What is more disturbing is the manner in which Pauline desires to lose her virginity, and even more upsetting are the implications of her determination. Throughout the film Pauline’s ultimate psychosexual fantasies are of graphic surgery, and it becomes clear that she may even be disturbed enough to carry out a fantasy of her own in real life.

            The Blu-ray release has an audio commentary track with director Richard Bates, Jr. and McCord. This is the only special feature, though the fantasies are filmed in a way which is enhanced by the high definition presentation of the Blu-ray. The film is disturbing regardless, but it is the contradiction of beauty and destruction that makes Excision far more sophisticated than and layered than your average horror film.  

Coma DVD review

Actors: Lauren Ambrose, Steve Pasquale, Geena Davis, Ellen Burstyn, James Woods

Director: Mikael Salomon

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

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French

Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: October 30, 2012

Run Time: 160 minutes

            This medical conspiracy miniseries is chock-full of celebrity supporting cast and a near-theatrical approach to the adaptation of Robin Cook’s novel, though that simply begs the question of the need for the 160 minute run time. Although I don’t imagine the demand would have been great for another theatrical film for Coma, I also think that a great deal of entertainment value could have been increased had there been somewhat more of a time constraint. The way it stands now, Coma is often a little too slow in revealing the twists in the plot, allowing the audience to figure them out long before the characters do.

            Our investigative protagonist is Dr. Susan Wheeler (Lauren Ambrose of HBO’s “Six Feet Under”), a medical student who risks her career when she finds some discrepancies at the hospital she works at. After discovering that a number of patients all fell into comas after routine operations in the same room, Susan digs deeper to find out what is happening to the patients. The suspenseful investigation only becomes more dangerous the deeper that she digs.

           

With the help of a young surgeon (Steven Pasquale of “Rescue Me”), Susan traces the patients to a highly secretive medical facility. With this discovery it is more than just Susan’s career which is at risk, each revelation bringing forth more danger. The cast is full of seasoned actors such as Geena Davis and James Woods, with Ellen Burstyn and Richard Dreyfuss also giving special appearances. The miniseries is all included on one disc, with no special features included or called for.

The Courier Blu-ray review

Actors: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Mickey Rourke, Til Schweiger, Mark Margolis, Miguel Ferrer

Director: Hany Abu-Assad

Format: THX, Widescreen

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: October 9, 2012

Run Time: 99 minutes

            Action shouldn’t be this complicated, but I spent a majority of the running time for The Courier trying to piece together what was happening and why any of the action was relevant to the storyline. Despite a seemingly straightforward premise, The Courier is ripe with flashbacks and secret identities, not to mention far too many characters and names to keep track of. If only the approach had been simplified, there may have been a great action film in here somewhere. Instead, The Courier is a convoluted thriller with a few scenes of action.

            Jeffrey Dean Morgan stars as an underworld courier who finishes the jobs without asking questions. When he is giving a job to deliver a briefcase to a man that is seemingly impossible to find, the reward is as high as the risk. If he succeeds, there is a million dollar payday waiting, but failure will mean the death of his family. The difficulty finding the man in question lies in his underworld connections and the elusive qualities of his personality and reputation. The deeper into the underworld our courier gets in tracking down his target, the less the storyline feels familiar or comprehensible.

            The bonus features on the Blu-ray release of The Courier includes a behind-the-scenes featurette as well as extended/deleted scenes from the film. The high definition presentation of the movie is hardly impressive, if only because of how forgettable the film is. This is an interesting failure, but not nearly interesting enough for me to recommend to anyone I respect.

The Barrens Blu-ray review

Actors: Stephen Moyer, Mia Kirshner, Erik Knudsen, Allie MacDonald, Shawn Ashmore

Director: Darren Lynn Bousman

Format: Color, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: Spanish, English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

Release Date: October 9, 2012

Run Time: 97 minutes

            The sanity of the father figure has come into question a great deal recently in horror, which leads me to question the reasoning. Father figures in horror movies have taken a hit, though their insecurities about an inability to protect their family from menacing outside forces is usually overcome with a climax that has them stand up and fight against these villains. This alludes to a mass social insecurity on the part of the male figures in America, and their fear of an inability to care for their family. Horror is therapeutic, allowing us to face and overcome our fears within the confines of a predetermined dramatic structure. The fathers must seem inept, if only to overcome this obstacle and prove themselves a worthy protector and provider for their family.

            The Barrens is about a father who is desperate to protect his family from a creature deep in the woods of southern New Jersey. Richard Vineyard (Stephen Moyer of TVs “True Blood”) is vacationing with his family while also spreading the ashes of his father, but the camping trip turns into a nightmare when Richard becomes convinced that the mythical creature known as the Jersey Devil exists and is hunting them from with the wilderness.

            From this point in the story on there are some cliché devices which can weigh down the plot, including the tiresome point in which nobody believes what Richard says he has seen in the woods. The only saving grace for this film is the fact that the question of Richard’s sanity is not answered for the audience either, allowing us to wait to find out whether the creature is real or simply a figment of a delusional man’s imagination.

            The Blu-ray includes an audio commentary from writer/director Darren Lynn Bousman, perhaps best known for his contributions to the Saw franchise, along with his director of photography, Joseph White. There is also a deleted scene.

           

That’s My Boy Blu-ray review

Actors: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Leighton Meester, Vanilla Ice, James Caan

Director: Sean Anders

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

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Region: All Regions

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: October 16, 2012

Run Time: 116 minutes

            Adam Sandler has made a career out of acting like a buffoon, creating characters that talk in silly childlike voices. There have been moments of glory within these roles, such as his earlier successes with Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison, but lately they have just been desperate and awful. Though That’s My Boy is not nearly as bad as Jack and Jill, it is also infinitely worse than the more adult roles that Sandler has done recently. Even Sandler’s voice acting in Hotel Transylvania is more mature than That’s My Boy. There has to be middle ground, and that would be in films like Grown Ups and Just Go With It. Nobody can question the range of comedy Sandler has done, but everyone in their right mind should question the quality of this particular film.

            That’s My Boy begins with an extended introduction that shows us the unique situation that led to the upbringing of our actual protagonist, by first showing us the teenage years of his father. Donny (Sandler) fathers a son when he is still in high school after having an affair with one of his teachers. This makes him a dad, but more importantly to him, it also makes him something of a minor celebrity. Years later his son, Han Solo (Andy Samberg) is going by the name Todd and has told his fiancé and her family that his parents are dead.

            The predictable scenario of the father arriving at the wedding unannounced becomes even more cliché when Todd lies and tells everyone that Donny is just a friend instead of his father. This lie is hidden among many other among the wedding party, which is strange enough without the addition of the often vulgar Donny. He has a beer in his hand at all times and has a propensity for inappropriate stories, but everybody seems to like him more than his uptight son trying to keep his family a secret.

            The Blu-ray release of That’s My Boy includes the exclusive extras, from a featurette about the celebrity cameos within the film to a humorous featurette about the strip club Donnie frequents. There are also deleted scenes and a gag reel.

Prometheus Blu-ray review

Actors: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, director

Director: Ridley Scott

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

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Date: October 9, 2012

Run Time: 124 minutes

            I would rather watch an interesting failure than a predictable film which is decently made. Prometheus swings for the fences, and yet it fails to come together as a complete film. What we have here are aspects of spectacular filmmaking that are muddled together within a shaky script and a director who has seemingly lost some of the fire from the filmmaking of his youth. At the very least, I can honestly say that I enjoyed Prometheus far more than Ridley Scott’s last film, Robin Hood. Compared to Robin Hood, Prometheus is a near masterpiece while still remaining light-years away from the quality of a film like Alien.

            Though Ridley Scott refused to refer to this film as an Alien prequel, there are clear lines in similarity. There is a great deal more happening within this screenplay, but there are many of the franchise’s familiar elements, from body invading alien life forms to cybernetic human beings aboard a spaceship. That being said, the aliens come in a different form than we are accustomed to, mostly because this is a film about the origins of the alien life as well as humanity. There is a certain level of absurdity within this storyline, but at the very least it is original.

             There seem to be several different films in this one movie, and aspects of each are compelling. Discussions of the origins of life dominate the dialogue along with discussions of souls and what it means to be human. Occasionally this is weighs down what would otherwise be a rather straightforward alien monster movie, though the different types of action and horror make each sequence different from the last. These scenes are mostly paired with astounding visual effects and some great suspense, though they are also plagued with nonsensical logic and very little consistency. Overall I would say that Prometheus is not a great film, while individual sequences are worth admiring.

            The Blu-ray release includes a DVD and digital copy of the film, along with a second screen application for the Blu-ray disc. The special features include a number of deleted scenes, which include a number of deleted scenes and an alternate opening and close of the film. The highlight, however, are the two commentary tracks, especially the one with director Ridley Scott. The second commentary is with the film’s writers.

People Like Us Blu-ray review

Actors: Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks

Format: Color, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English (DTS-HD High Res Audio), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Subtitles: French, Spanish, English

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Walt Disney Video

Release Date: October 2, 2012

Run Time: 113 minutes

            People Like Us is a family drama, though one which is far from traditional considering the secrecy of the family ties. Inspired by true events, this tale has been warped to fit into the melodrama and predictable character arcs of studio films. There are some truly engaging moments thanks to the talented cast and a capable director, though there are more than a few cliché moments with the story. It is as though real life has been filtered through the movie world, where everything is safely predictable with a happy outcome.

            Chris Pine stars as a Sam, a fast-talking salesman with a past that he would rather forget and a predictably supportive girlfriend (Olivia Wilde) by his side encouraging him to deal with the very issues he would rather suppress. When Sam gets the news that his father has dies, he is forced to deal with everything he thought he had left behind, including a resentful mother (Michelle Pfeiffer). What Sam also discovers after his father’s death is a secret second life, one which left him with a half sister (Elizabeth Banks) he never knew about.

            Where the story gets a little tiresome is in the choice that Sam makes to keep his relation a secret from his newfound sister, allowing for a misunderstanding about sexual intentions to occur. Even more tiresome is the predictable reaction of anger at a secret being withheld, which is only slightly less predictable than the inevitable moment of forgiveness. There are some great performances here, but the movie itself is easily forgettable melodrama.

            The Blu-ray combo pack also includes a DVD of the film. The DVD has an audio commentary with director Alex Kurtzman and actors Pine and Banks. There is also select scene commentary with the director and Pfeiffer. These are included on the Blu-ray as well, on top of a number of exclusive features. There is a featurette about the real story that inspired the film, along with a featurette about a taco stand used in one of the scenes, deleted scenes and bloopers, and an additional commentary track with the director and writer Jody Lambert.

General Education Blu-ray review

Actors: Chris Sheffield, Maiara Walsh, Elaine Hendrix, Janeane Garofalo, Bobby Campo

Director: Tom Morris

Format: Widescreen

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: October 2, 2012

Run Time: 94 minutes

            General Education attempts slick comedic entertainment, though there is nothing particularly comical about the scenario of the film, and the actors all play the story so straight that the laughs are more than occasionally forgotten. While originally I had figured this film to be a rip-off of Billy Madison, about a man forced to return to summer school. It turns out, this is just a film about a slacker high school student who fails a class and is forced to secretly take summer school in order to hide this secret from his parents. This scenario is so boringly ordinary that I feel as though it would have been more entertaining to have had a friend in high school go through this than watch some poorly made up character in a painfully dull situation.

            Levi Collins (Chris Sheffield) is a decent tennis player, although none of the footage in this film would convince you of that. The only problem is that his school doesn’t have a tennis team and his father is overbearing about his need to play tennis in college, so school is often missed for tennis matches at a private club his family belongs to. His father insists that he miss school for tennis, but apparently he doesn’t take any of the responsibility for the negative outcome this has on Levi’s schooling, so failure because of these games is still hidden.

            The logic of this film makes no sense, but even more offensive than that is this comedy’s inability to manufacture humor in any possible way. The characters aren’t particularly humorous and neither is the situation, making this film somewhat dead in the water. Even the addition of comedy legends such as Janeane Garofalo is a waste, because she plays the mother without any humor added to her character. The Blu-ray release of this film is just as unimpressive. There is an audio commentary with the director, producers and the sound editor of all people. There are also outtakes, which are slightly more enjoyable, and a generic making-of featurette.