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

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: August 14, 2009
DVD Release Date: February 9, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $

Conventional chick flicks aren’t my thing. I cringe at the prospect of watching and reviewing chick flicks. I admit it. If my mother says she loves a romantic movie, I more often than not will avoid said movie. I haven’t seen The Notebook for that very reason. When I was offered the chance to review The Time Traveler’s Wife, Rachel McAdams’ latest chick flick, I had to think long and hard about whether it would be worth it to check out this movie.

From watching the trailer, I was somewhat intrigued by the concept. I was able to ascertain that the guy in the movie was a time traveler. He could not control his traveling and he moved in and out of Rachel McAdams’ characters’ life throughout various stages of it. I figured that it was a little more complex then that. Her character seemed to be the woman the man loved, but it was unclear how she felt about his time-travelling ways. Once in the movie, you learn she has always known, since a young age, that the man would be in her life and anticipated their romance before he did.

The Time-Travelers Wife is based on a book of the same name by Audrey Niffenegger. I have not read the book, though I’m told that the book is much better. I found this movie to be kind of blah. I wasn’t particularly interested in watching it after it got going, but I wasn’t offended by it either. The acting was decent, but not breakout performance worthy. I’ve seen Eric Bana in Troy and The Other Boleyn Girl. I like him just fine as an actor, but I wasn’t in love with his performance here. I wasn’t wowed by it nor completely engaged by it. Ultimately, this film was just okay.

While I can blame the actors for a little bit of missing mojo, and lackluster performances, I primarily blame the writer. This type of book cannot be done justice in film. I understand the intent behind the movie, but the results ended up being sloppy and somewhat disjointed. The whole moving back and forth through time thing has to be better in written form, where the imagination is not bound by the constraints of a movie screen. I just feel like The Time Traveler’s Wife is missing something, an essential element that makes it a good movie, though putting what exactly that is into words is difficult.

The Time Traveler’s Wife Plot
Henry DeTamble (Bana) has a rare genetic disease that manifests itself during a traumatic event in the 70s, a car accident, which kills his mother. His disorder causes him to time-travel unexpectedly and he does so, going back two weeks, where he meets another, older version of himself. He travels on a whim with no control over where he is going or when, and he cannot seem to change past events that happen, for the most part. He also is naked wherever he ends up, and has to resort to theft and breaking and entering to get clothing after each arrival.

Several years pass and it’s now the 90s. Henry, now grown, meets Clare Abshire (McAdams), who seems to know him and is thrilled to see him. He has no idea who she is, but apparently, his older self went back in time to tell a young Clare about himself and that they are best friends. The two start dating, but Henry’s inability to control his time travelling affects their relationship. Henry often visits Clare in various stages, and she usually arrives, expecting him, with clothing.

Henry and Clare marry, but their life as parents is complicated by the fact that his disorder is hereditary, and each unborn child they have is capable of time travel, causing many miscarriages. A life full of suffering and pain seems to await Clare, who never knows when her husband will be coming or going and whether they can ever have a family is a question that weighs heavily on her mind, as she has nothing but her art and Henry’s leaving and returning to think about as she passes days between his trips.

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

Audio/Visual:
The Time Traveler’s Wife offers a 1080p transfer that looks beautiful. Despite the movie’s plot falling to the wayside, the quality here is nothing to complain about. The coloring of the picture is near perfect and the blacks are equally as strong. The detail found in the presentation is highly impressive. The only thing I noted worth complaining about was some edge enhancement. In most places it’s not too bad, but occasionally it does become quite annoying. Still, it’s the only thing holding this film back. Otherwise, the presentation is top notch.

The audio for The Time Traveler’s Wife is DTS-HD MA 5.1. It’s not an action track, but it will get the point across quite well. This film might have some sound effects and musical moments, but the dialogue is always on point and easily understood. Nothing takes priority over the other audio aspects. There are some whispered moments that you do not hear, but it is obvious that the whispers you cannot hear, you weren’t meant to hear. Multiple channels are utilized so nothing sounds flat or one dimensional. All in all, it’s a very worthwhile effort. In addition to English audio there are subtitles in German, Dutch, English, and Spanish.

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

Bonus Features:
Two special features beyond the previews are available. That’s all you get. If this was as good as they made it look from the trailers I might be upset, but since I was left wanting a whole lot more, I really don’t mind so much. In defense, of this weak package I will say that both features last for more than 20 minutes. On the downside, length does not make them worth watching more than once, if at all.

“The Time Traveler’s Wife Love Beyond Words” – This serves as the making of/documentary for the film. Unfortunately, it ends up being too fluffy and publicity oriented. I prefer the making of to offer a real look at what making the film was like. Here you just receive some cast and crew interviews with questions that feel like an entertainment journalist is asking them. It ends up being rather disappointing.

“An Unconventional Love Story” – In this feature, McAdams and Bana are on hand to talk about the love story that builds between their characters. The discussion does have some substance, but they don’t go too deep. On the plus side, fans of the movie will receive a fairly decent discussion. Of course, if you’re not a fan this isn’t going to change your opinion in any way.

Bonus Features: 2 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
I can’t pinpoint exactly what is wrong with this movie, but I was not in love with The Time Traveler’s Wife. I do not hate it, but I would be content if I never saw this movie again. It isn’t something I need to see to be content. I recommend that if you have read the book or even if you haven’t that you rent before buying. It may be something you only want to see once. Then again, it may be something you’ll love. Most people, though, won’t really care if they own this movie, or even remember it the next day. It’s just that forgettable.

Overall Rating: 2.93 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Movie Review, Blu-ray, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Films, Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Chick Flicks, Genetic Disorder

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: November 13, 1987
DVD Release Date: February 9, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $11.99

There are some action movies out there that are worth seeing. I was growing up, in the 80s, when this movie came out. I have a fondness for this movie because of my love for the 80s. Back then, we didn’t expect Academy award winning acting in action flicks. We didn’t care so much about minor plotholes or how unrealistic the stories were. We just wanted to be entertained by these kinds of movies. That is what many action movies from the 80s did. They weren’t cerebral. They simply entertained us.

Before there was Bruce Willis (ok, Bruce was around but he had hair and was working on less action oriented projects until Die Hard came along), Vin Diesel or Jason Statham, there was Arnold Schwarzenegger. This was before he was the Republican Governator of California aka when he was cool. Let’s be honest, Arnold is not the best actor. He does have pretty decent comedic timing and as an action star, his buff physique made him legendary. In the 80s, he was the action star to see.

I am a huge fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator. I love his part in the first two movies. The Running Man is along the same vein for him, when it comes to action movies. I can’t imagine another actor having the physical ability to play such a role. I also love this movie because it features a classic 80s actress, Maria Conchita Alonso. She is a great actress and I never see her in anything anymore. She is fondly one of the forgotten 80s actresses who helped to brighten my childhood.

I should add that I am a huge Stephen King fan. This is certainly not my favorite adaptation from a King novel. There are so many other good King-based films it is hard to say that this is indeed the only one worth watching. It is a good movie, don’t get me wrong, if you like action films, but it is not King’s best nor my favorite King-inspired movie. It should be noted that Ben Richards, the protagonist of the film, is quite different from King’s version in the book of the same name.

When I heard that Running Man was going to be released on Blu-Ray I was excited for the mere fact that action films seem to thrive when they are offered on Blu-Ray. The one thing I was worried about was the age of this movie. This review touches on how well the film is transferred to Blu-Ray and whether I believe it is worth the upgrade from previously released DVDs. Action flicks usually transfer well to Blu-Ray. Action flicks from the 80s can be hit or miss.

The Running Man Plot
In the near future (2019 – so it was about 30 yrs in the future for when this movie was made), a totalitarian, police run state has taken over. The world is censored, as the police are in control of everything, including television. In order to keep the general population appeased and under their control, the chief form of entertainment is a series of game shows that have criminals fighting to stay alive and often dying. The top rated show is called, “The Running Man”.

“The Running Man” is a staged show, that is guaranteed to kill those the state calls ruthless criminals. The criminals literally run for their lives, while the audience cheers on those who attempt to kill them. The criminals are guaranteed their freedom if only they survive. The show is hosted by a ruthless, vicious game show mogul, Damon Killian.

With so many deaths happening and the audiences starting to grow bored, Killian realizes he must step up the game to keep them in it. Enter Ben Richards. Ben used to be a part of the military police. When Richards refuses to go along with his unit and take out innocent people, he is deemed a criminal and sent to a prison labor camp. Falsified footage shows Ben as a ruthless, conniving murderer and a public threat is released to discredit him.

Ben and a series of inmates of the camp manage to escape, which gets Killian’s attention. The other inmates hide out in the outskirts of L.A. while Ben attempts to find his brother. However, his brother’s apartment is now inhabited by a composer working for the TV station named Amber Mendez. Using Amber to help him escape, she foils his plans and Richards is captured.

Wanting to play on the fear of the public concerning Richards, Killian convinces the police to allow him to have Ben Richards take part in “The Running Man” competition. As expected, the crowd goes wild over the new competitor, but the audience and Killian underestimate Ben Richards. When the woman who got him into this finds proof he may be innocent, she herself is in danger, though she wants to try to rectify this situation before Ben Richards is killed.

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

Audio/Visual:
My biggest worry concerning The Running Man on Blu-ray dealt with what it was going to look like in terms of quality. This is a movie from the 80s that didn’t have a huge budget to begin with. Now that it’s making it’s Blu-ray debut, I was figuring that like many 80s movies (sadly) it would not be given the red carpet treatment. While it’s true enough, Lionsgate did not pull out all the stops for Thr Running Man, it has been cleaned up and it looks much better than I expected it would, as a result.

The technical specs here include 1080p, AVC MPEG-4 and a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The result is a movie that is obviously not new and has some soft spots, but also offers fair coloring and a nice level of detail for an older movie. There is a small amount of grain that gets more noticeable at times, but these defects never become so annoying that it reduces the enjoyment level of watching the film.

The audio makes use of a Dolby DTS-HD MA 7.1 surround track, which is far more power than I think anyone would have expected for any 80s movie on Blu-ray. The results are that the sound does sound great, but some of this power was definitely wasted when it didn’t need to be. The sound effects are effective, the dialogue is clear, and the music is filled with a dynamic presence and 80s cheese effect.

This audio track not comparable to today’s sound but for something from the 80s it definitely sounds much better than you would expect. In addition to English audio, Spanish and English subtitles are also included.

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There are a few special features here, though don’t expect anything new or in Blu-ray because if you do you will be pretty disappointed. The special features here appear to be ported over from a previous DVD release of the movie. However, if I am correct I do not think they included all of the previous features. I don’t know why they decided to add some and leave some others off if they were just porting them over, but that’s apparently what they did. In any case, here is a rundown of what you end up with.

Audio Commentaries: The Running Man offers two audio commentaries. Both are fairly basic and somewhat technical at times, but they aren’t completely boring. I listened to them once and wasn’t, so moved that I would do it a second time, but I wasn’t writing my suicide note while listening either. So these fall somewhere in between really good and horrible.

The first commentary includes Tim Zinnemann (the producer) and the replacement director, Paul Michael Glaser. As I just mentioned, Glaser was actually a late replacement to the game, so we get to hear him talk about what it was like being a last minute addition. There is some time spent on the changes that were made when adapting the King story to the one that they ended up making in the film. Things like working with Arnold and the overall perception and ratings for the film are also discussed.

The second commentary is handled by Rob Cohen, the executive producer. Cohen gets more movie-making technical by talking about what it took to get the rights to the story, how financing went and the search for the right director. One of the most interesting things mentioned is that he did not originally realize this was a King story that they were adapting.

“Lockdown on Main Street” – This 25 minute featurette is funny to watch. I get the point of what these people are saying and the comparisons are incredibly easy to understand, but the way the piece was put together makes everyone in it and the theory behind it sound incredibly ridiculous.

The idea here is that the Bush-era has led us to the point where this country is becoming like the world you see in The Running Man. In order to emphasize these points they make use of a good deal of conspiracy theories and theorists. Stating the facts with some intelligent, rationally minded individuals would have gotten the job done nicely, but it ends up feeling a little more sensationalistic than it needs to in order to make its point.

“Game Theory” – Here you have 20 minutes of a featurette that discusses the movie and the Reality TV genre that has since emerged. Critics and experts weigh in on how well The Running Man told the future with this tale of reality television.

The only other feature included here, if you can call it that, is the theatrical trailer.

Bonus Features: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
This is a nice update from previously released versions on DVD. However, as far as outstanding quality goes when it comes to Blu-Ray, The Running Man is not able to wow. While the picture and sound are pretty good, they aren’t eye popping fantastic. Also, there aren’t too many bonuses to check out. Overall, whether you purchase The Running Man in Blu-Ray is going to depend on if you like Arnold Schwarzenegger and/or this movie. If you are a fan of the movie then I say the Blu-Ray is worth it. Otherwise, why would you want to buy any version of this in the first place?

Overall Rating: 3.43 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: The Running Man, Movie Review, Action, Blu Ray, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Conchita Alonso Stephen King, Future, Sci Fi, Story, Death

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: March 12, 2009
DVD Release Date: July 21, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $27.99

It’s hard to screw up an action picture. The guidelines are fairly simple. There has to be plenty of explosions, a pretty girl, and some semblance of a plot (generally meaning a beginning, middle, and end). Most importantly, the movie needs to be at least semi-plausible and it can’t be boring. Echelon Conspiracy fails in the action genre for a number of reasons. These issues are a million little things and when you put them all together it just means that this movie was never worth being made in the first place.

Greg Marcks is a relatively new director. He received some Indy acclaim for his work on 11:14, but Conspiracy is his first bigger budget action flick. I know that every director has a film in their lineup that ends up being one of those…”What was I thinking” kind of films, but it seems a little early in his career after winning a student Academy Award and receiving such acclaim for his first movie to end up with something so flat.

If this were to keep up he might not end up doing many action flicks or at least not any major ones. The director always gets the brunt of the bad review because it is their job to make sure the movie as a whole comes out looking good. Marcks seems to overlook the glaring plot holes, the sinkholes of boredom, and the lack of interest in each of the characters. You can explode as much as you want, but at the end of the day it doesn’t mean much if people want the entire movie to explode just so it will end.

The acting was touch and go. Shane West was completely unbelievable as the computer expert. He couldn’t even manage to trace a cell phone call. Not to mention you barely see him working on a computer at all in the movie. For a few minutes you see him finishing up a job and swinging some electrical cord, but other than typing you don’t get anymore computer action from West. Burns is a little more believable as the lawman turned casino security head. Of course, this is a part, in some way, that we have seen him play before. He’s tough, loud, and no nonsense. All good, but you can’t save a movie with one guy.

Ving Rhames also did a fair job though he was working with little. It was his job to chase the computer geek, so that he could find out what was up with the mystery cell phone. He chased so his job was accomplished though there isn’t much to be said about his character otherwise. There really isn’t much to be said about any of the characters. Development here is limited to the point of non-existence. When you consider the plot isn’t interesting enough to hold an action fans attention for too long the fact that character development is missing is a big no-no.

Sadly, there are few redeeming qualities to Echelon Conspiracy. I feel like Paramount attempted to make a movie that was as action packed as Eagle Eye and ended up making a conspiracy laden episode of a public television puppet show instead. In other words, if you’re looking for action you might want to look in the other direction.

The Echelon Conspiracy Plot
Max Peterson (West) is perhaps the luckiest computer technician on the planet. While on an assignment he receives a cell phone at his hotel. The phone sends life changing text messages randomly. First it tells him to miss his flight that later crashes and then he is told to buy a stock that ends up going up over 300%. By this time, Peterson realizes he’s been granted a special gift. The phone leads him to a hotel/casino in Prague and it’s not long before the slots and tables are paying off in a flurry of cash.

Peterson wonders why the phone is blessing him with such good luck and who is behind it, but is unable to find out originally. The casino is able to learn that the phone is giving him intel on where to play, but they also don’t understand the nature of the phone. Wanting to continue this great ride, Peterson looks for help from Russian cabdriver, Yuri (Sergey Gubanov). Yuri is able to help him out with an earpiece that will talk the messages to him and stop him from having to look at his phone.

John Reed (Burns), the head of casino security is certain that he is up to something though. Things turn into a chase and they only get worse for Peterson when he ends up being detained by Agent Grant (Ving Rhames). While Peterson is by no means your typical interrogation subject, he does not talk because he doesn’t know anything to relay to the agent.

Raymond Burke (Martin Sheen) is brought into the picture because it is learned that the text messages are coming from Echelon, the government’s communication surveillance computer. When Burke decides that Peterson knows too much, he has to fight off the NSA, evade the FBI, and stay alive to find out what Echelon wants even though Echelon and everyone else attempt to make that an incredibly difficult mission.

Storyline/Plot: 2 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 3 out of 5 stars
Directing: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The video for Echelon Conspiracy is 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with 1080p. The explosions are dazzling, the colors look bright and shiny, and the detail is on par for what you would expect from a movie like this. There is a level of grit and grain that you see in this film, though it’s obvious that it was meant to be there. I suppose it was meant to give things a harsh “action” feel, and though it doesn’t succeed, it does feel like it fits most scenes. All in all the video quality is nothing worth complaining about. Things look good throughout and there were no major noticeable issues to report.

The sound comes into play courtesy of Dolby TrueHD 5.1. Again, things here sound decent. The soundtrack is full bodied, the explosions and gunshots hit the mark, and the dialogue is generally easy to hear. Small amounts of volume toggling may be necessary from the action sequences to the general scenes (action does become much louder), but otherwise none is needed. There is a good balance to this track, with multiple channels being used. In addition to the standard English audio there are subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. No other languages are provided in spoken form or subtitles.

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

Bonus Features:
Interestingly there are absolutely no bonuses to report. I don’t know if that’s because the director realized it was going to be a flop, too or if he had other reasons. In any case, if you’re a fan of this you’ll get the movie and nothing more.

Bonus Features: 0 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
How much you like this movie will ultimately depend on your love of action films. If you’re a diehard fan you probably aren’t going to enjoy this one, too much. However if you have lower standards this might hit the mark. If it was on television and nothing else was on, I might end up watching it. However, I cannot, in good conscious recommend buying it. If you have to see it I would rent it or wait for it to come on cable instead.

Overall Rating: 2.43 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Blu-ray Review, BD, Blu-ray, Movie, Film Review, Echelon Conspiracy, Edward Burns, Shane West