First, check out the movie widget for The Hunger Games:

You can click on the following pictures to access them at a higher resolution!

The pictures feature Josh Hutcherson (PEETA), Liam Hemsworth (GALE) and Jennifer Lawrence (KATNISS), on the set of The Hunger Games.

The story explores a dystopian universe and follows the experience of a young girl who partakes in a survival contest to save her community. It also stars Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks and Stanley Tucci.

You can find out more about The Hunger Games at it’s official website, official Facebook Page and official Twitter.

The Hunger Games will debut in theaters on March 23, 2012!

Technorati Tags: The Hunger Games, Screen Images, Pictures, Information, countdown, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Suzanne Collins, dystopian

Synopsis:
Taylor Lautner stars as a young man unwittingly thrust into a deadly world of covert espionage in Lionsgate’s action-thriller, ABDUCTION, directed by John Singleton.

For as long as he can remember, Nathan Harper (Taylor Lautner) has had the uneasy feeling that he’s living someone else’s life. When he stumbles upon an image of himself as a little boy on a missing persons website, all of Nathan’s darkest fears come true: he realizes his parents are not his own and his life is a lie, carefully fabricated to hide something more mysterious and dangerous than he could have ever imagined.

Just as he begins to piece together his true identity, Nathan is targeted by a team of trained killers, forcing him on the run with the only person he can trust, his neighbor, Karen (Lily Collins). Every second counts as Nathan and Karen race to evade an army of assassins and federal operatives. But as his opponents close in, Nathan realizes that the only way he’ll survive – and solve the mystery of his elusive biological father – is to stop running and take matters into his own hands.

ABDUCTION stars Taylor Lautner (Valentine’s Day, Twilight), Lily Collins (The Blind Side), Alfred Molina (Prince of Persia, Jason Issacs, Maria Bello (Permanent Midnight, Michael Nyqvist and Sigourney Weaver (Alien). The film is directed by John Singleton and written by Shawn Christensen.

Technorati Tags: John Singleton, Taylor Lautner, Abduction, Movie Trailer, Synopsis, Sigourney Weaver, Maria Bello, Alfred Molina, Movie

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: May 25, 2010
DVD Release Date: September 14, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $26.99

I am a gamer. I love gaming. I love games that involve shooting, action/adventure, and swords. I love me some Prince of Persia. There is action, adventure, swordfights, and more. The fights are the best. Getting into them and really letting loose on the ol’ game console is an exhilarating experience. However, making a movie about games has not always paid off in the past. To make the movie successful, it has to be full of the same elements the game made famous. For example, Lara Croft had to feature lots of kick butt action and a sexy woman. Angelina Jolie brought that to the first Tomb Raider movie. Fans did not watch to get something significantly cerebral from the movie. We watched it because Angelina Jolie is super fine and there were some crazy fun action sequences.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time had to be like Tomb Raider. It had to contain elements that made this game series so successful. Essentially, it had to have a fun, Persian setting and insanely cool fighting sequences. If the movie did not bring it when it came to action then the entire film would be screwed and those of us who were Prince of Persia fans would be pissed off. Well, let me tell you now. When it comes to action, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time brought it! The action sequences are downright dirty and kept me completely enthralled. They are the best parts of the movie and what kept me watching.

As much as I enjoyed the film aesthetically, I also found certain parts of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time to be hilarious. These moments primarily revolve around the love story between Dastan, the prince of Persia, and Princess Tamina. When I say that Newell and his cast threw on the cheese, I mean it. This is a typical love story. It is the girl meets boy – girl despises boy – boy does stuff to keep girl despising boy – girl sees something about boy that makes him likable – girl falls in love with boy. Along the way, boy finds it amusing to tease and perhaps even torture girl and the audience finds it equally amusing as he does. It was obvious that the creators of this film were trying to appeal to men with the action and women with the love story. Girls will love this story because it is classic, but most guys will think it’s cheesy and will not care because hey, the fight scenes rock.

Don’t get me wrong, though. I did enjoy Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. I watched it with my girl and while she enjoyed the cat and mouse games between Dastan and Tamina, I spent my time marveling at how sweet the fight sequences were. These are the types of fights you would experience in a game like Assassin’s Creed, which is one of my all time favorite game franchises. Because of this, as a viewer, you practically feel like you are a part of the action. As a gamer, there is no better feeling and as a movie goer, you hope that other action films take their cue from Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and make their fight scenes as kick ass as these fight scenes.

The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Plot
When a young orphan named Dastan (William Foster) stands up for what he believes is right, during King Sharaman’s (Ronald Pickup) visit amongst his people in the Persian Empire, the intelligent and caring King is impressed. Despite having two sons already, Tus (Richard Coyle) and Garsiv (Toby Kebbell), the king adopts Dastan, who accepted by his royal family as one of them. Overseeing the king’s reign and helping to raise the boys is his twin brother, Nizam (Ben Kingsley).

Once the boys are older, Tus is in charge of his father’s army, while Garsiv and Dastan run their own teams of men, who fight for them. Dastan runs a ragtag group who is constantly looking to prove themselves. When Nizam advises Tus to attack the ancient city of Alamut, because they are supposedly selling arms to enemies of Persia, Dastan looks to lead in the attack. Tus, thinking he is not ready, gives the advanced attack to Garsiv and his men. However, the night before, Dastan and his men make sure that his brother’s army can enter the city, by immobilizing it’s massive sets of guards, and therefore proving he and his men do have what it takes to get the job done. This, of course, makes Garsiv unhappy.

Princess Tamina, who is charged with guarding a sacred dagger, is shocked when Dastan shows up with the dagger. With no choices left, she agrees to marry Tus to reach a peace agreement, but the King has other plans for her. When the King arrives he is very upset that Tus has attacked without being certain that the city was dealing arms. He also thinks that Tus has enough wives for now and that Dastan should take Tamina as his first wife, a fact both abhor. However, nothing can be decided, as the gift Dastan gives his father, a robe Tus had prepared for him, has been poisoned and burns him to death.

When Dastan is blamed for the murder, he must escape and surprisingly, it is Tamina who leads him on the escape. After getting him out of the city, he is grateful, but she has ulterior motives. She wants the dagger, which contains the sands of time, and when pressed can turn back time, since she is its guardian. Not understanding the power of the dagger initially, Dastan sets out to prove his innocence and find out who was responsible for his father’s death. With his brother, Garsiv, hunting him down this is not easy. Along the way they meet a crazy entrepeneur Sheik Amar (Alfred Molina), and his knife-wielding African friend Seso (Steve Toussaint). Along the way he, and Tamina, discover an evil plot far bigger than they imagined, involving the theft of the dagger, and an attempt to change the past to ruin the future.

Storyline/Plot: 3 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a gamers movie in all possible visual aspects. Disney has been known for putting out amazing Blurays for years now, but this one seems to go above and beyond what I’ve come to expect from them. Like usual there are no compression errors, the color is perfect, and there is an excellent blend of background ambiance to go with the up front graphics. You could not possibly ask for more. The graphics will leave you stunned if you have never played the game behind the film and if you have you will probably love them even more. The finest detail comes to life in Prince of Persia including, but not limited to the sand as it drifts through the air and the stubble on Gyllenhaal’s face. The scenary is nothing short of perfection and the special features just wrap things up nicely, complementing the entire film in just the right ways.

The visual aspects of Prince of Persia are further complimented by a strong, impressive DTS HD MA 5.1 soundtrack that hits all the right marks and leaves you completely satisfied by the end of the film. Audio cannot be understated in an action film. Gamers would expect nothing less than what they received here. There is something satisfying about hearing the clash of the swords, the racing feet of the ostriches in the marketplace, and the blowing sand as it propells the story forward. The dialogue is always crisp, clear, and right on target. The music offers a robust aspect to the soundtrack and the sound effects are excellent. Even the background noise works to get a nice layered sound. Best of all, everything is clear and nothing overpowers any other aspect of the films sound. Needless to say, both gaming fans and action movie fans should love this audio presentation. Additional audio tracks are available in French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1. Subtitles are also offered in English, Spanish, and French.

Visual: 5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
The only place that Disney really fails Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is with the special features. Sure, you receive BD Live functionality, a plethora of sneak peaks (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Fantasia/Fantasia 2000, The Lion King, A Christmas Carol, Toy Story 3, and others), and a few minutes of deleted scenes, but that isn’t all that impressive.

The most disappointing part comes in the CineExplore: The Sands of Time feature. There are between forty and fifty featurettes here that span for about two hours worth of content. Normally I would explain how utterly excellent these are (and they are excellent), but there is one main problem. As cool as these featurettes are and as in depth as they go with the behind the scenes knowledge, there is no play all feature. In fact, you have to watch the entire film, and wait for a prompt to access each featurette. As impressive as it is, it’s also a huge letdown.

Bonus Features: 2 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time looks downright wicked in Blu-Ray and not too shabby in DVD, either. This is a fun action flick with some of the best fighting I’ve seen in a long time. This is not a thinking man’s movie nor is it a film you should take too seriously. The love story is full of cheesiness and yet you are bound to have a goofy grin while watching. Great for date nights, friend gatherings, or just to pass a few hours on the weekend, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has plenty of entertainment value, to the right audience. Just remember, it’s based on a video game and don’t bring The Godfather type expectations and you’ll be fine watching this film.

Overall Rating: 3.79 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Blu-ray, DVD Combo, Digital Copy, BD Review, Movie Review, Disney, Prince of Persia, Video Game, Action, Jake Gyllenhaal

The Ultimate Collection Featuring All Four ALIEN Films Hatches On Blu-ray from October 25 With Never-Before-Seen Bonus Material And The Debut Of The Exclusive and Groundbreaking Interactive Experience, MU-TH-UR Mode

Fans Had A Chance To Board The Nostromo During Comic-Con At Booth #3528 And Enter The Hibernation Chamber Of The Doomed Intergalactic Crew

Sometimes, the scariest things come from within. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents one of the most successful and terrifying film franchises of all time when the ALIEN ANTHOLOGY debuts on Blu-ray for the first time ever from October 25 internationally and on October 26 in North America. All four ALIEN films have been reinvigorated for an intense Blu-ray high-definition viewing experience. The release also marks the debut of MU-TH-UR Mode, a fully interactive companion that takes the extensive materials in the ALIEN ANTHOLOGY and puts them in the user’s hand – connecting fans to special features on all six discs and instantly providing an index of all available ALIEN content, including over 60 hours of special features and over 12,000 images.

The ALIEN ANTHOLOGY is a truly unique home entertainment experience. For the first time ever, the studio has united the material from every home video release of the ALIEN saga including the 1991/1992 laserdisc releases, the 1999 “Legacy” release and 2003’s groundbreaking ALIEN QUADRILOGY release into one complete Blu-ray collection. The set also includes two versions of each film and over four hours of previously unreleased exclusive material such as original screentests of Sigourney Weaver prior to filming the original ALIEN, unseen deleted scenes, thousands of still photographs from the Fox archives, the previously unseen original cut of “Wreckage and Rage: The Making of ALIEN3,” and much, much more.

The ALIEN ANTHOLOGY will be available for a suggested retail price of $139.99 U.S. / $179.99 Canada. Prebook is September 22.

The ALIEN ANTHOLOGY is just one aspect of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s yearlong campaign to honor the studio’s 75th birthday. This year the division will debut several select fan-favorites on Blu-ray for the first time ever including The Rocky Horror Picture Show, William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, The Last of the Mohicans and The Sound of Music.

ALIEN ANTHOLOGY
Street Date: October 26, 2010
Screen Format: ALIEN: Widescreen 2.35:1/ALIENS: Widescreen 1.85:1/ALIEN3: Widescreen 2.35:1/ALIEN RESURRECTION: Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: ALIEN: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 4.1 Dolby Surround, English Dolby Surround, French 5.1 DTS, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital/ALIENS: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 4.1 Dolby Surround, English Dolby Surround, French 5.1 DTS, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital/ALIEN3: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English, French 5.1 DTS, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital/ALIEN RESURRECTION: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English, French 5.1 DTS, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese

Technorati Tags: Alien, Anthology, The Complete Anthology, Bluray, Sigorney Weaver, SciFi

It seems just like yesterday that Marty McFly flew into my life on his skateboard, which turned into a hoverboard, which isn’t real by the way (Michael J Fox points that out in his book).

Despite the fact that it is shocking that it has been that long, I cannot wait for this box set to come out! Below we’ve listed all the highlights from the press release including Bluray specs, special features, and synopsis’ (just in case). Mark your calendars, just like the movie points out, October 26 is the day!

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-rayTM: Unleash the power of your HDTV with perfect picture and the purest digital sound available.
U-CONTROL: Universal’s exclusive signature feature allows viewers to learn more about their favorite film without ever leaving the movie.
Setups & Payoffs: As you watch each of the three films, each “set up” showcases items in the scene that prepare you for a future plot point. When you get to that moment in the film, the “payoff” is shown to complete the correlation.
Storyboard Comparison: Compare key scenes in the movie with the original storyboards.
Trivia Track: Get inside trivia and facts while you watch the movies.
BD-LIVETM: Access the BD-LiveTM Center through your Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest trailers and more!
My Scenes: Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movies.
pocket BLU™: USHE’s groundbreaking pocket BLU app uses iPhone®, iPod® touch, iPad®, Blackberry®, Android™, Windows and Macintosh computers and more to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-rayTM player and offers advanced features such as:
Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease.
Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in their favorite episode.
Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there’s a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy exclusive content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
Keyboard: Enter data into a Blu-ray™ player with your device’s easy and intuitive keyboard.
Archival Featurette Back to the Future Night: Hosted by Leslie Nielson, this original 30-minute special aired on NBC prior to the first television screening of the Back to the Future.

BLU-RAYTM and DVD BONUS FEATURES
Tales from the Future: New six-part retrospective documentary featuring interviews with Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Director Robert Zemeckis, Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton, plus Executive Producer Steven Spielberg.*
In the Beginning . . .: Delve into the genesis of the project, casting, re-casting, the DeLorean, sets and overall pre-production.
Time to Go: Production stories through the release of the first film.
Keeping Time: The score and the songs of the Back to the Future Trilogy.
Time Flies: Learn more about how the sequel came about, the futuristic look, the special and visual effects, recreating 1955 and more.
Third Time’s the Charm: Learn about building a western town, Doc Brown’s love story, the casting of Mary Steenburgen, the train sequence and completing the Trilogy.
The Test of Time: Back to the Future becomes a phenomenon! President Reagan quotes the film, the Back to the Future ride opens at Universal Studios theme park and fans rebuild the iconic DeLorean. The film’s cast and crew take a look back and discuss why these beloved movies live on.
The Physics of Back To The Future: A discussion with celebrity best-selling author and physicist Dr. Michio Kaku about the overall appreciation of the science in the Back to the Future Trilogy*
Nuclear Test Site Ending Storyboard Sequence: Storyboard sequence of the original proposed ending of the film.*
16 Deleted Scenes
Michael J. Fox Q&A
Q&A Commentaries with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
Feature Commentaries with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton
Archival Featurettes
Making the Trilogy: Chapters One, Two & Three: Original 2002 DVD documentary that takes a look back in time.
The Making Of Back to the Future Part I, II & III: Provides a vintage and historic first look at the making of all three films.
The Secrets of the Back to the Future Trilogy: a televised special hosted by Kirk Cameron addressing fans unanswered Back to the Future questions.
Behind-the-Scenes
Outtakes
Original Makeup Tests
Production Design
Storyboarding
Designing the DeLorean
Designing Time Travel
Hoverboard Test
Designing Hill Valley
Designing the Campaign
Back to the Future: The Ride
Music Videos:
Huey Lewis and the News “Power of Love”
ZZ Top “DoubleBack”
Photo Galleries, Including Production Art, Additional Storyboards, Photographs, Marketing Materials and Character Portraits
Theatrical Trailers

* Denotes new footage debuting on the 25th Anniversary Trilogy

SYNOPSES
Back to the Future
From the Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis comes Back to the Future, the original, groundbreaking adventure that sparked one of the most successful trilogies in Hollywood history. When teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is blasted to 1955 in the DeLorean time machine created by the eccentric Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), he finds himself mixed up in a time-shattering chain reaction that could vaporize his future—and leave him trapped in the past. Powered by innovative special effects, unforgettable songs and non-stop action, Back to the Future is an unrivaled adventure that stands the test of time.

Back to the Future Part II
Getting back was only the beginning as the most spectacular time-travel adventure ever continues in Back to the Future Part II—the sequel that proves that lightning can strike twice! Picking up precisely where they left off, Marty and Doc (Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd) launch themselves to the year 2015 to fine-tune the future and inadvertently disrupt the space-time continuum. Now, their only chance to fix the present is by going back to 1955 again before it’s too late. From Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, Back to the Future Part II provides more of the timeless excitement that made Back to the Future an unforgettable adventure.

Back to the Future Part III
They’ve saved the biggest trip for last as the most popular time-traveling movie trilogy ever comes to a rousing conclusion in Back to the Future Part III. Stranded in 1955 after a freak accident, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) discovers he must travel back to 1885 to rescue Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) before he becomes smitten with schoolteacher Clara Clayton (Mary Steenburgen). Now, it’s up to Marty to keep Doc out of trouble, get the DeLorean running, and put the past, present and future on track so they can all get back to where—and when—they belong. From the Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, Back to the Future Part III is a spectacular grand finale to the unforgettable blockbuster series.

About Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™:
Street Date: October 26, 2010
Copyright: 2010 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen, 1.85:1
Rating: PG
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish DTS Surround 5.1, French DTS Surround 5.1

Technorati Tags: Back to the Future, Bluray, DVD, Trilogy, 25th Anniversary Edition, Upcoming Release, Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: January 29, 2010
DVD Release Date: May 11, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $22.99

Any film that has Mel Gibson’s name attached to it these days has a small amount of controversy that comes with it. This controversy was not as much negative as some of the other films Gibson has worked on. If anything, Edge of Darkness was built around the hype that Gibson had not worked in some time. One of the last films that he did prior to this one was Signs. After seeing part of that film (I couldn’t make it through the whole thing) I could see why he opted out of future roles for a while. I am not sure why anyone made a fuss about his return, but people will do what they do.

In seeing the cast list I was more curious about why Robert De Niro dropped out at the very last minute (he cited creative differences). I was also glad to see that Ray Winstone was the one hired to replace De Niro. At least with Winstone, I could hope to be entertained where Gibson might fail. Of course, at this point, the only thing I had heard about the movie was that Gibson was in it and that this was originally a television show in the UK. That’s not a whole lot to go on.

Being fair, I will say that Gibson tends to be a capable actor. My problem with him is the same problem that I have with the also capable, Tom Cruise. At some point, an actor can become so ridiculous that no matter how good of an actor they are, you cannot see past their ridiculousness to see the character they are playing. This is what happens to me with Gibson. So, to be honest I wasn’t expecting a lot here.

Edge of Darkness worked, on a basic level, for me for two reasons. The first is that it’s fairly similar to the movie, Taken, which I loved. Having the same framework for Darkness didn’t hurt it at all. The second is that Winstone’s character offers intensity and made me want to keep watching. Gibson remains Gibson throughout, but you see more of his acting ability here then you did in previous “thrillers” like Signs.

In the end, this is entertaining, but not essential. The ending really ruins it for me, and I am sure that I’m not alone in that. Gibson and Winstone fans will enjoy it, but they will not feel it’s a classic for either actor. It ends up being one of those movies you can watch when it’s on television or if nothing else is on the video store shelf, but it never feels like the movie that you need to own.

The Edge of Darkness Plot
Thomas Craven (Gibson) is a Boston police detective in the center of a family crisis. When his daughter, Emma (Bojana Novakovic) comes home to visit she begins having signs of sickness, she announces that she needs to see a doctor. On the way out of the house, a masked gunman shoots and kills Emma, who dies in her father’s arms.

It is originally believed that the target was Craven, being that he is a police detective and therefore not very liked by the criminal element. It does not take long for him to find a gun in Emma’s possessions though and realize that the opposite must be true. Emma’s boyfriend, David (Shawn Roberts) is the owner of the gun. Before long, Craven pieces together the facts that Emma learned that the company she worked for was manufacturing nuclear weapons.

Jedburgh (Winstone) is in charge of taking out Craven if he learns what Emma knew. Rather than just killing him, he gives him some time to investigate. This leads Craven towards the truth. It also leads him towards the visions of his daughter, which is explained later in the movie. As Craven makes his way towards the truth he comes in contact with good and bad people and plenty of violence to fill some time.

At some point Craven realizes that time is running out. It’s up to him to take down Northmoor before it’s too late. With every conceivable thing standing in his way, Craven attempts to make it to the finish line and expose the huge cover-up that seemingly killed his darling daughter.

Storyline/Plot: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 2 out of 5 stars
Acting: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Edge of Darkness doesn’t appear to have been given an exciting transfer. In fact, while it is semi-capable, it’s never blu-ray fabulous. The biggest problem is an overall soft picture. It feels like a funny complaint, because I am sure this is a better quality than a DVD would offer, but for Blu-ray it ends up being rather depressing. There is a level of inconsistency that makes Edge of Darkness stand out when those soft moments appear, as well. If it was soft all the way through it might be possible to ignore it, but when the film is solid one minute and weak the next, it certainly stands out more.

The Dolby DTS-HD MA works out much better for Edge of Darkness. You receive a consistent sound with crisp dialogue, dynamic explosions, and effective music. The music is one of the things that stand out because it is so well placed. The background noise melds in easily, ensuring that nothing overpowers anything else. It works well for an action/conspiracy flick. In addition to the DTS-HD MA there are tracks in both French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1. Subtitles are available in English, French and Spanish.

Visual: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
It’s no surprise that Warner didn’t roll out the red carpet for Edge of Darkness since most people didn’t even know it appeared at the theaters in the first place. With that in mind, there are some special features, but there aren’t many. Additionally, what you receive isn’t overly impressive.

Focus Points: This is actually a series of about nine mini-featurettes. You can make the decision to watch them all together or as separate featurettes. The nine segments include Mel’s Back, Making a Ghost Character Real, Scoring the Edge of Darkness, Revisiting the Edge of Darkness Miniseries, Adapting the Edge of Darkness Miniseries, Thomas Craven’s War of Attrition, Boston as a Character, Director Profile: Martin Campbell, and Edge of Your Seat. These seem more interesting when they play as one, though that could just be a personal opinion, since the information is the same. There isn’t a huge wealth of information here, so don’t expect anything too deep. It seems that things tease at getting good, but never get all the way there.

Deleted and Alternate Scenes: Here you get two deleted scenes and another pair of alternate scenes. You won’t find these any different than any other set of deleted scenes. It’s obvious that other, seemingly better scenes were added in or picked for a reason.

All that is left here is BD Live functionality, which includes some trailers and promos. Nothing real interesting or important seems to be available in this section.

Bonus Features: 2 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Edge of Darkness had some promise. The storyline is the basis of any good action film. Unfortunately, a crap ending made this mediocre at best. Action/conspiracy fans will be able to sit through this, but I highly doubt this is going to make anyone’s favorite movie list. If you have to see Edge of Darkness we recommend either renting it or waiting until it’s on cable. This will allow you to make the decision on whether this movie is worth watching more than once, if at all.

Overall Rating: 2.79 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Edge of Darkness, Bluray Review, BD Review, Action, Conspiracy, Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: December 25, 1993
DVD Release Date: April 27, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $18.99

I saw Tombstone when it came out. That was when I was 12 years old. I hadn’t seen the movie since then, so 17 years later I had a very foggy recollection of the movie. I knew that I had liked it, but that is about it. It turns out that Tombstone gets better with age. This movie is great. As plagued as it was with problems, Kurt Russell did a nice job of holding the cast together and turning the movie into something worth watching. Without his guidance and direction this film probably would not have been completed.

I love movies about real life, interesting people. I also like when movies try to stick to the story as much as possible. Sure, Tombstone takes liberties, but the big events of the movie really did happen. Legend/Lore about what was said in pivotal moments during the events that occur in this movie are placed into the dialogue. While it would be nearly impossible to verify the validity of such things (since they happened many years ago and there were no video cameras or camera phones readily available), it is pretty neat that they were integrated into the movie anyway.

The acting in Tombstone is excellent. The cast is made up of so many amazing actors. This is truly an all-star cast. Kurt Russell leads this cast as Wyatt Earp. Russell also did a lot of the directing for the film because the original director quit and he was afraid the cast would disband, ending the chance to make the movie. Wyatt’s brothers, Virgil and Morgan are played by Sam Elliott and Bill Paxton, while Doc Holliday is played by Val Kilmer. These actors are superb at their craft and they have great chemistry with one another. Kilmer gave a breakout performance that won him many accolades, which were rightly deserved.

Wyatt’s two love interests are played by Dana Delany and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson. Wheeler-Nicholson looked very familiar to me, and I realized she was Chevy Chase’s love interest in Fletch. Delany is good in most of the roles I’ve seen her in. Adding in supporting roles by Billy Bob Thorton, Charlton Heston, Jason Priestley, Thomas Haden Church, Billy Zane, John Corbett, Terry O’Quinn and many other familiar actors just adds the icing on the cake of this magnificent film. The plot and story are well written. Dialogue flows smoothly. The directing is fantastic. The movie is full of engaging action sequences that add spice to the already cool plot. All the elements that make a film come together are present in Tombstone. I didn’t remember what I was missing out on by not owning this before.

The Tombstone Plot
Wyatt Earp (Russell) has decided to retire. By now he’s a living legend. Earp and his brothers, Virgil (Sam Elliott) and Morgan (Bill Paxton) decide to head from Tucson, Arizona to Tombstone. The town is not very big, but it has the potential to grow. Their hope is to settle down, have families and make money, preferably with their own business. In Tombstone, the brothers meet up with Wyatt’s longtime buddy, Doc Holliday (val Kilmer). He is now suffering from tuberculosis, so he is hoping the chance of scenery will do his health some good. The brothers also have wives, with whom they wish to settle down. Wyatt’s common law wife is Mattie Blaylock (Wheeler-Nicholson), and while she is as pretty as a peach, she also quickly grows addicted to opium (laudanum), which puts a strain on their relationship.

Tombstone seems like the perfect place for the brothers, but the town also has to deal with a group of men known as the Cowboys. The Cowboys do what they want and believe they are above the law. The red sashed Cowboys tempt Wyatt to handle the problem, but he insists that he is retired and his days of maintaining the peace and enacting justice are over. In the meantime, Doc and Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn), a fast gunslinger have a tete a tete with neither one particularly caring for the other.

Wyatt is enchanted by the arrival of Josephine Marcus (Delany) and her companion Mr. Fabian (Zane). The two arrive in Tombstone with a travelling theatre troupe. While there, the troupe performs for an often reckless crowd. Josephine and Wyatt feel an instant attraction and Mr. Fabian has an admirer of his own. This adds more strain on Wyatt’s common law marriage and Mattie grows further addicted and dependent on her drugs.

With the Cowboys causing chaos in and around the town, Wyatt and his brothers are pressured by the town Marshal Fred White (Carey, Jr.) to take care of the problem. When the attacks become much more personal in nature, the Earps and Doc Holliday have no choice but to show these dirty outlaws why they are the best lawmakers in the West. With plenty of gunslinging action, things are bound to get ugly.

Storyline/Plot: 5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
I love the movie Tombstone, so I was hoping for a truly awesome presentation in terms of audio and visual qualities. I ended up being slightly disappointed due to an inconsistent picture. Despite Tombstone not being new, there still could have been ways to clean up a picture that looks gorgeous one minute and substandard the next. The biggest issues deal with things like black levels, coloring of skin tones, and occasional softness. I also noticed rare occurrences of edge enhancement and noise. Now that we’ve discussed the bad parts, the main coloring is nothing to complain about and the detail is usually on the mark. I think that’s what makes the overall quality a letdown. With a number of gorgeous shots throughour this film, you cannot help but want to see this quality throughout the entire movie. Unfortunately, you don’t. In the end, it’s an acceptable/watchable presentation, but by no means perfect.

While the video tends to leave something to be desired, the audio shines in ways that I hoped for, but did not expect. The 5.1 DTS-MA turned out beautifully and as a result I have few complaints. The score rumbles through the speakers, signifying magnificence and the sound effects are equally as strong. You will be able to enjoy the sounds of rumbling horse hooves, gun fights, and crackling thunder as a storm rolls through town rather poetically. Every small detail is emphasized in the audio to make for a near perfect track. The dialogue also leaves no complaints as it remains crisp and clear the entire time. Fans of this movie will love this audio track. In addition to the English audio there are Dolby Digital 2.0 tracks in French and Spanish. Subtitles are also included in English for the hearing impaired, French and Spanish.

Visual: 3 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Tombstone has been released in previous incarnations on DVD. One of those releases included a significant amount of special features. Unfortunately, many of those special features have been left out of this release. Things like the commentary, timeline, and historical accounts of Earp are missing. You do receive an awesome “Making of Tombstone” documentary that lasts for nearly 30 minutes. This includes moderate back patting and the usual additions to a making of.

Cast and crew weigh in and production, history, and making the film are discussed here. The Original Storyboards are also in this bonus section. Seven TV spots are available on this DVD, though these add little in terms of content. Things wrap up with two Tombstone trailers and a selection of previews. All in all, this is a fairly disappointing bonus section.

Bonus Features: 2 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Since the DVDs of Tombstone were released in multiple versions and there were bonuses not included in this release, I have to imagine a super, bonus filled Tombstone is on the horizon in the near future. The quality of the Blu-Ray is decent, but not magnificent, so if you already own the DVD, it might not be worth the upgrade, especially if a new, better release is coming eventually. This is pretty much a bare bones release and while this movie is definitely worth owning, this might not be the release to get. While Tombstone is highly recommended, Tombstone on Blu-Ray is an optional purchase.

Overall Rating: 4.21 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Tombstone, Western, Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Movie, Bluray Review, Kurt Russell, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, Blu-Ray

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: July 1, 1998
DVD Release Date: April 27, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99

Back when Armageddon came out, I was getting movies at our library. This was one of the new movies I got and watched at home. I liked it so much that once I had a DVD player, I made sure to get a copy of this DVD. It’s a great action flick with a fun little plot. I am a fan of Bruce Willis and have been for years, so it is pretty safe to say that I was going to like Armageddon. Sure, it’s no Oscar contender, but it is interesting, engaging and has as much of a plot as it does action.

The acting for Armageddon is pretty good. I already mentioned I like Bruce Willis. Ben Affleck is in this, as well. He’s not my favorite actor, but he’s not a bad one. He has great chemistry with Liv Tyler. I like Liv in most of the movies she has done (though she hasn’t been in anything worth noting lately). Liv’s father, Steven, and his band, Aerosmith, had a big hit with the main theme to Armageddon.

I can remember radio stations all over playing, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”. The song became almost bigger than the actual film. Either way, it added to the hype of the movie. Other actors that made an impact that helped to make Armageddon a better movie include Billy Bob Thorton, Jason Isaacs, Will Patton and Steve Buscemi. I do not remember Owen Wilson being a big star yet, but he is in this, too as is the excellent Michael Clarke Duncan. Essentially, Armageddon has a rockin’ cast that helped to make the movie worth watching.

Armageddon was a collaboration between Michael Bay, who directed the film, and Jerry Bruckheimer. The two had previously worked together on Bay’s second feature, The Rock. Known for high budgets and action packed films, Bay was the right choice for this movie. It calls for a lot of high tech, special effects, that would have made the movie cheesy if executed poorly. The bad thing about this is that special effects direction is Bay’s strong area of directing. He is less effective in directing the human emotion and, at times, it can make characters appear superficial. The cast of Armageddon does a nice job of keeping it real and it is their acting that I believe makes this film a success, in my eyes.

While Armageddon did well at the box office, most critics, at the time of its release, weren’t in love with the film. The plot is decent yet unrealistic, but this is sci fi/fantasy. I don’t expect these types of stories to be realistic. Some of the dialogue is goofy, and that makes the movie have moments of cheese, but overall, I liked it. I liked the story, the actors, and the action sequences that propelled them through the plot. By the time you read this review, you should know whether you want to buy this movie or not. It has been out long enough for you to catch it on pretty much every television channel that airs movies, and you’ve probably already rented it, if you wanted to. The real question is whether it is worth it to purchase this Blu-Ray, which this review should help to answer.

The Armageddon Plot
In space, Atlantis, a space shuttle that is attempting to fix a satellite is obliterated. The cause of destruction is a meteor shower. More meteors appear, causing damage in a number of cities across the world. NASA begins to investigate the slew of space material flying into the Earth’s path and the agency discovers that an asteroid, which they nickname Dottie, is on a collision course with the Earth. In 18 days, the massive asteroid will hit the Earth and the entire planet will be destroyed. The great space agencies of the world, including NASA, decide to work together to find a solution, if they can, to prevent the collision.

It is agreed upon that the best course of action is to try to get the asteroid to split in two. Nuclear power could achieve such an explosion, but only if someone or something can get the explosive material into the core of the asteroid. If the Earth is to survive, the asteroid needs to be stopped at least four hours prior to its collision. This top secret mission and the asteroids existence are kept hidden from the public. This is to prevent a widespread epidemic of panic and the preying on the innocent of doomsday enthusiasts.

To get the bomb 800 feet into the asteroid, NASA contacts an oil rigger who has experience drilling holes in delicate places. Harry Stamper (Willis) is sent to NASA headquarters. He brings along his daughter, Grace (Tyler). This is mostly to prevent her from seeing her lover, A.J. (Affleck) who works on the oil rig and is a part of Stamper’s crew. NASA head Dan Truman (Thorton) explains the life or death situation to Stamper, and Stamper agrees to help, but he and his crew must go into space with the astronauts assigned to the mission. After some tension between Stamper’s crew and NASA, the group goes through a rush training program. In 12 days they are ready to head into space.

In the meantime, Grace is having trouble dealing with both A.J. and her father going on such a dangerous mission. Harry continues to try to keep the couple apart and the level of predictability with where this goes is pretty much guaranteed. Once the crew and the NASA team head up into space, they soon realize this mission was much more dangerous, complex, and harder than they anticipated. With things in space growing tense and deadly, the countdown to the Earth’s destruction looms as those in space try to prevent such an inevitable ending to the Earth from happening.

Storyline/Plot: 3 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Armageddon hits blu-ray with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. There were some worries about whether or not the Blu-Ray quality would impress, which is common with an older film. However, Armageddon manages to look, at the very least, pretty good. Softness only creeps up on rare occasions. Otherwise, you’re left with a detailed picture with generally good coloring. There is some grain that shows up, but as with many Bay films, some of this is his doing rather than damage to the film itself. All in all, it’s not a new quality, but it’s definitely better than I was imaging it would be.

The audio is handled with an English 5.1 DTS – MA track that meets and beats most expectations. The surrounds really work in Armageddon. You will be immersed in sounds of explosions, airplanes/space ships, drill machines, and machine blasts. This doesn’t include the depth that the musical soundtrack offers to the film. Dialogue is crisp and clear at all times, too, making Armageddon a winner when it comes to all things audio. Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks are also available in French and Spanish. Subtitles are also available in all three languages.

Visual: 4 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
So, here’s my issue with these special features. Armageddon has been released at least twice on DVD. There could have been several special features that were ported over that weren’t. At least one of the releases was a special release that had a nice selection of special features. However, this Blu-ray does not include any of those special features, nor does it seem to include anything new. Instead, you get the original features on the more or less barebones original release. What a major fail on the part of the studio.

What you do, disappointingly, receive, is a teaser trailer and original, theatrical trailer for Armageddon, new trailers for upcoming films, and the Aerosmith video, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” It’s nice to have the trailers, but I am not going to watch them over and over again. Likewise, the video is definitely a step above some of the others that I have seen, but the studio left out so many optional features that this one video does not make me feel like this section is a success. I am left assuming that either the studio doesn’t care about the fans surrounding this film or they are planning a special Blu-ray edition. If the latter is true that is just ridiculous. If the former is true that is equally unfortunate.

Bonus Features: 2 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
The audio and visual qualities are a step up on Blu-Ray, but the bonus features stink. This leads me to believe that Touchstone might be holding out for a totally cool, special features packed release of Armageddon. With this in mind, you may want to wait a little while before deciding whether to purchase this in Blu-Ray. It is not so drastically different from the DVD quality that you have to drop everything and get this release. However, if you are a Blu-Ray junkie and an Armageddon, you may want to buy this and any future releases of the movie. It just seems disappointing that other than the movie quality, nothing has improved, even a little bit, with this Blu-Ray release.

Overall Rating: 3.57 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Armageddon, Bluray Review, Ben Affleck, Bruce Willis, Aerosmith, Action, NASA, Movie, Touchstone

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: December 25, 2009
DVD Release Date: March 30, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $14.49

Ever since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about the world’s greatest detective, people from all over have been enthralled with Sherlock Holmes. I have to admit that I was expecting major cheese after watching the trailer for this film. Honestly, it looked like a film making fun of itself. I am glad to report that while Sherlock Holmes is a fun little film, it also has substance, adventure, action, great acting, and a plot. I should have expected surprises from a film with Robert Downey Jr. in it. He is a superb actor and I usually like the films he is in.

It is refreshing to see Jude Law with his natural accent. It seems like every film we see him in has him pretending to be American. This time, the American Downey Jr. is the one pretending to have a British accent. Downey Jr.’s Brit accent is near flawless. I doubt Guy Ritchie would accept nothing less when it comes to a native sounding British tongue. Not only that but Downey Jr. brings new layers to Holmes. Yes, he is amazing and insanely talented as an investigator and observer. However, he is also eccentrically human, which Downey Jr. is able to accurately capture in his performance.

Fans of the original series of Holmes books need to realize that Ritchie adapted the movie from the initial stories, but that he also took several liberties in telling the story. By the same token, Ritchie also made sure to pay homage to Sir Arthur’s original work, such as quotes from the books peppered throughout the dialogue and various other tidbits that reflect upon the novels, which you’ll want to discover on your own. Ritchie’s interpretation of the most famous British detective the world has ever seen is fun, adventurous and well directed. The writing for the film adds to Ritchie’s direction, by providing an intriguing, action-packed, yet story-filled plot. Add in terrific acting and you get a film that pretty much everyone, including us critics, seem to like.

What works well for Holmes is the witty repartee between Law and Downey Jr. as Holmes and Dr. Watson. Their relationship is far more interesting than the one Watson shares with his future wife. The two actors have a chemistry that makes their comraderie believable. Though I initially questioned the much younger McAdams as a suitable love interest for Downey Jr.’s Holmes, her unusual yet effective chemistry with him made her both worthy of the role and believable in it. Most importantly, all three of them can act, which does wonders for any film.

The Sherlock Holmes Plot
It is 1891, and Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) is on a case. Holmes and his partner, Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) are on the hunt for a serial killer. Set in London, they are trying to prevent a girl from being murdered by a man who has killed five others, Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). They are able to stop Blackwood and he is arrested by the police, led by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan).

A few months pass and Blackwood is going to be executed for his crimes. His last request before he dies is to see Sherlock Holmes. Holmes visits the criminal and Blackwood gives an ominous message; three more people will die after he dies, and their deaths will impact the world. Blackwood is hung and Dr. Watson is the one who declares him dead. In the meantime, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), a former acquaintance and master manipulator/thief, visits Holmes in his home on Baker St. After some witty wordplay, she asks him to find a guy named Reordan.

Aroused by the surprise visit of Irena, Holmes adopts a disguise and follows her. She ends up meeting a secret, violent man in a carriage. The man has hired her to hire Holmes, and there is much more to what she has asked of him. The man believes Reordan is the key to the Lord Blackwood mystery, which, of course, further intrigues Holmes.

When Blackwood’s grave is messed up, Holmes and the police soon realize that Blackwood is dead and that Reordan is in his grave. Watson, who is certain he was dead, is baffled. Sherlock is hot on the trail of finding out what really is going on with Blackwood, Reordan and Irene, but Watson, who has found the girl of his dreams, says he wants no part of it.

Appealing to the adventurous side of Watson who cannot say no, Sherlock further alienates himself from his friend, who believes he wants to move on and find a normal life, as a doctor, outside detective work. Further complicating matters is the fact that Blaokwood’s premonition before his death is coming true and the unfolding events might be too much for even Sherlock Holmes to handle.

Storyline/Plot: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Guy Ritchie is known for creating movies that, while new, offer a grittier look and feel than the average modern film. I don’t count this as looking poor though because it’s obvious that the quality of the camera is high and that this look is what the director was trying to achieve. That being said, keep in mind that London is going to look dark and grimy in this version of Sherlock Holmes.

The color palette is fairly dark with excellent browns, blacks, and blues making up the core colors of the film. Some might be bothered by the absence of other colors (or the fact that they seem in small supply), but it doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I kind of love it. The aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and the anamorphic widescreen are to be expected with this modern film. I imagine that Blu-ray could probably blow this quality away, but for DVD things look close to perfect. There are no issues with spots, dirt, artifacting, aliasing, or common issues that commonly crop up on DVDs.

The audio packs quite the punch for Sherlock Holmes which leads me to think this is even more impressive on Blu-ray. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack hits all the right notes. The track is dynamic, makes great use of the surround sound, and offers crystal clear dialogue. The clarity of the action sequences and fight scenes are appreciated and only seem to enhance the movie. The sound runs loud so if you don’t want to burst an eardrum you might want to lower your regular volume a notch. This is the only volume toggling that will be necessary. French and Spanish voice tracks are included with this DVD, as well. Subtitles in English, French and Spanish have also been included.

Visual: 5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
While you could purchase this DVD and we recommend you do purchase Sherlock Holmes if you have a Blu-ray player you might want to save some money and pick up the Combo pack, which has the Blu-ray and the DVD. This is likely what Warner was thinking when they left out plenty of opportunities for special features. In fact, there is only one special feature on this DVD.

“Sherlock Holmes Reinvented” lasts for roughly fourteen minutes. This is your standard behind the scenes with actors and crew weighing in on their thoughts concerning the movie and what it was like making it. Other than that the only thing here is previews, which don’t truly count as a special feature.

Bonus Features: 3 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
I like Sherlock Holmes. It is a fun, engaging film with great acting and a pretty cool story. I am looking forward to the sequel. Brad Pitt is supposedly in negotiations for a role, which should add another interesting layer to this already diversely talented cast. If you like Robert Downey Jr., you’ll be fond of his performance as Holmes. I recommend most everyone, but RDJ haters, purchase this, whether you’ve seen it or not. After seeing the DVD, I can only imagine what it looks like on Blu-Ray! Sherlock Holmes comes recommended!

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Sherlock Holmes, Warner Home Video, Robert Downey Jr., Detective, Action, Mystery, Film, Jude Law, DVD Movies

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: November 25, 2009
DVD Release Date: March 16, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $17.99

I am not a big Ninja/Kung Fu movie fan. I think the extent of my martial arts movie repertoire would belong to movies like Karate Kid, which really don’t even count. So, when Ninja Assassiin showed up on my doorstep for review I tried to watch it with an enthusiastic mindset. I think that mindset lasted for about 10 minutes and if it really lasted that long, I was being generous. The main reason I wanted to like this deals with the Andy and Larry Wachowski. They are the men behind The Matrix and V for Vendetta, so I thought if there was any movie in this genre that would thrill me, it might be this one. The problem is that the movie cannot be taken seriously no matter how hard the creators try to make it look like it should be.

The only possible way you can like Ninja Assassin is if you prefer a movie that gets straight to the point, sticks to it, and remains tiresomely one dimensional throughout. The goal here is violence and blood. You receive both things in shocking amounts. Don’t get me wrong, I like movies with blood, action, and violence. In fact, I love them. They are some of my favorite kinds of movies. However, I also prefer that these movies have a plot. A head is sliced down the middle in the very first scene of Ninja Assassin. I don’t have a problem with this in theory. The problem is the plot never develops and none of the characters are interesting enough to care about. It’s not as exciting when you’re hoping everyone dies so the entire movie will just have to end.

I suppose shock value was the purpose of this movie, whether the creators realize that or not. The opening sequence is just the beginning. In fact, when the limbs start flying around the screen and the fight sequences just keep going, the opening scene appears to be relatively mild in contrast. On the positive side, they certainly got the name right. Ninja Assassin fits this movie perfectly. It’s just too bad the title alone doesn’t make it worth watching. The blood, guts, gore, and fights don’t bother me. I welcome them. I also welcome a plot though and this is where Ninja Assassin fails on every level possible. Let’s be honest nearly 100 minutes is a long time to sit through a movie that offers nothing but tons of blood and lots of dead people at the end (many whose name you don’t even recall).

The Ninja Assassin Plot
It honestly feels like a lie trying to write a plot for this thing because it can be described in a sentence or two at best. To be as fair as we possibly can though we are going to try to stretch it for your benefit. Feel free to take what you can from this and remember, it isn’t much.

The life of a ninja isn’t easy. There are lots of fights and they could break out anywhere at any time. However, in Ninja Assassin that’s just the way things are. It’s the way things always have been. The big boss in the land is the Ozunu Clan. They are your typical bad guys, only in this scenario they own a bunch of badass ninja killers that can be purchased by any foreign government or rich guy looking to off someone else. Enter Raizo (Rain). He is a man that was raised from the age of a small boy to become a ninja for hire. Raizo works for the Ozunu clan. Throughout the course of the movie we see his life both as a child in training and in present day.

Like most ninjas, Raizo is fearless, silent, and deadly. He does his job well and is fiercely loyal to the clan that he works for. He is even more loyal to his leader, Ozunu (Sho Kosugi). Ozunu has taken care of Raizo all of his life and treats him like a son. Of course, when a ninja betrays his master all is fair in love and war, as this movie soon shows when Raizo decides that he needs to become a new man.

When Raizo decides that he can no longer be a ninja for hire he drops his day job and moves on his way. Ozunu does not take this news well and sends out his ninjas to kill him for his disobedience. Raizo is not the only person on Ozunu’s hit list though. When a forensics agent, Mika (Naomie Harris) discovers a series of assassins that could be ninja related, her supervisor Ryan (Ben Miles) ignores her. Eventually she wears him down and is able to go off on her ninja hunch to see if she can find out the truth.

If this is a plot, this is about where it ends. Two people are running from Ozunu and in the midst of running, they find each other. It was like they put them together because they needed something to do. It’s a really long game of cat and mouse with a lot of dead people littering the streets during the chase scenes.

Storyline/Plot: 1 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 0 out of 5 stars
Acting: 2 out of 5 stars
Directing: 1 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Ninja Assassin might be terrible in every single way, but like many horrid movies it sure does excel in picture quality. I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s even more depressing when a bad movie has an awesome quality. I want it to be bad in every way because I feel like the quality was wasted on a bad film. Unfortunately, Ninja Assassin looks good. With Ninja Assassin you get anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 2.40:1. The colors are deep and lavish, the detail is high for a DVD, and there are no negative aspects to speak of in terms of defects. This is a movie that looks and feels brand new, no matter how bad it really is.

Again, the audio here also succeeds as a newer movie should. Dolby Digital 5.1 sets the stage for a dynamic, strong edged action track. The surround sound works well, especially during the neverending fight scenes where you will hear knives and blades wooshing through the air in multiple directions giving you a more accurate sound quality. The big problem here is that the sound quality was not consistent. During moments of dialogue the sound would need to be turned up. However, the dialogue volume was much too high for the fight scenes. So, there is a fair amount of volume toggling that needs to be done. Otherwise, there isn’t much to complain about here in terms of the audio. In addition to English audio there are tracks available in both French and Spanish. Closed Captioning and Spanish and French subtitles are also included.

Visual: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
If you’re buying the DVD you will not be able to enjoy many special features. This was not a problem for me. In fact, I was rather thankful that I wouldn’t have to watch all of the features that might have been available. Apparently the Blu-ray offers a bigger selection of special features, so on the off chance you are a fan you might want to look that up instead of the DVD. As for the DVD, the only thing you receive in terms of special features are a few deleted scenes and the previews/trailers that start the film.

Bonus Features: 0.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Don’t waste your money. If you have to see this movie, watch it on Netflix if you have an account because at least you won’t end up having to waste money on an additional rental fee. Ninja Assassin is a movie with no plot, lots of violence, and few redeemable qualities. Sadly, the talent behind the movie is quite impressive. The actors were talented and could have handled a much meatier script, unfortunately they had absolutely nothing to work with. If you’re a fan of ninja movies you can find a much better selection. There is no point in bothering with this one.

Overall Rating: 1.71 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Ninja Assassin, Kung Fu, Bloody, Violent, Warner Bros., Home Entertainment, Movie