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: January 29, 2010
DVD Release Date: June 15, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $21. 99

I don’t know how many times I have to write this in reviews, but I’m just not into Rom Coms. I’m not a fan of chick flicks. I don’t like curling up with my girlfriends with boxes of tissues and balling my eyes out as the guy finally gets the girl. That’s just not my cup of tea. On the other hand, my mom LOVES these kinds of movies. Usually, I’ll try to endure them for her, but I am miserable the entire time the movie is on.

I will admit, occasionally a Rom Com surprises me. I may even laugh and find myself enjoying the movie. I am still a woman, after all, and can occasionally appreciate mushy, feel good movies. I am going to tell you now that When in Rome is NOT one of these films. What an incredibly trite, excessively corny and overly cliché film! When in Rome was so bad, not even my mother liked it. I sometimes question her taste in films, but this is a rare occurrence where she and I are in agreement. We both agree that When in Rome is a horrid film that never should have been made.

I like Josh Duhamel. I have liked him ever since he was on All My Children. I like Kristen Bell. I have no problem with them as actors. I have a problem with two decent actors performing in such a horrible film. I have to wonder if this script was not cut all to hell after they filmed, and if not, what provoked them to make this film?

The whole chip thing is just ludicrous. The entire plot for this movie is dumb. I do not know where Mark Steven Johnson came up with this crap. I have to assume his less experienced co-writers provided most of the material. This is just pure garbage. You really do not have to read anymore of my review, which I am obliged to write, unless you truly are a glutton for punishment.

The When in Rome Plot
Beth (Bell) is a Guggenheim art curator, and she’s good at her job. Her job is her life, and therefore, she does not have any room for love. She’s become hardened by the years of trying to find the perfect man. You know, the one seen in movies. When her younger sister, Joan (Dziena), impulsively plans a wedding in Rome, she takes time from work to go to Italy. There, she meets a guy named Nick (Duhamel).

Nick saves Beth from a few interesting situations, but they are just perfect for one another and they hit it off (despite Beth being bitter and all). Everything is going perfect, until she spots Nick kissing another woman, the cousin of the man her sister is marrying. She gets drunk and takes coins from a fountain that is a part of a legend. The owner of the coins is said to fall in love with the person who took them, unless they return the coins to the fountain. Too busy with work and her boss (Huston) breathing down her neck, Beth just doesn’t have time to return them.

Of course, the prophecy comes true and suitors (DeVito, Heder, Arnett, and Shepard) are knocking at her door. Nick is there, too, but as she falls for him, she soon realizes he may just be falling for her because she has his coin.

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

Audio/Visual:
When in Rome offers the standard expected 1080p and AVC encode that you expect Blu-ray to have. However, the actual picture quality comes up feeling lifeless. Like many romantic comedies, the entire thing just lacks strength. Funnily enough, nothing is particularly wrong with the picture. There is no grain and no other big problems come up either. The print looks and feels rather flawless save for a few soft moments that occasionally creep up. Black levels are good and the detail, while not overly impressive, is acceptable. This looks like your typical romantic comedy. In short, you could easily buy the DVD if you have to own this, because films like this are wasted on Blu-Ray.

The DTS HD MA 5.1 could handle far more than it is forced to deal with here. In fact, When in Rome sticks to mainly the front channels and nothing dramatic ever happens where the sound is concerned. This is mainly a dialogue driven affair so there shouldn’t be much going on anyway, but it’s still disappointing. If you like romantic comedies, this is the kind of track that you are used to though so it shouldn’t bother you in the least. This presentation is even more forgettable than the film itself. Additional languages tracks include both French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1. Subtitles are included in English, French, and Spanish.

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Alternate Opening & Ending: I cannot even comment on this. I can see why they didn’t use this beginning and ending, but I am not sure why they were even made in the first place. These were just ridiculously stupid.

Crazy Casanovas: Mischief From the Set: This is nothing more than a selection of cast interviews and some goofy set moments. It’s not anything special. Unless you’re referring to the director’s reaction to this substandard film. That was pretty special, though not necessarily in a good way.

Extended Pain with The Suitors: This is a selection of three deleted scenes. As you might have guessed they all contain the suitors. The scenes are all of them crashing the Guggenheim party.

Kerplunk!: Bloopers From Rome: Three minutes of bloopers. In the end, these are no better or worse than the actual film.

Deleted Scenes: This is eight scenes totaling around seven minutes of additional deleted scenes. Considering the whole move should have been deleted, these aren’t necessary. Of course, they had to add something.

Music Videos: The music videos include “Starstrukk” by 3OH!3 and Katy Perry and “Stupid Love Letter” by the Friday Night Boys.

What’s the Craziest Thing You’ve Done For Love?: This is just a minute long look of what some of the cast members have done, stupidly in the name of love.

Sneak Peaks: Plenty of promos for Lost: The Final Season, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, ESPN World Cup 2010 and Alice in Wonderland.

Bonus Features: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Not only is When in Rome a terrible movie, but the Blu-Ray features and capabilities are not that impressive. I would not recommend When in Rome to my worst enemy. Ignore the release of When in Rome on Blu-Ray and DVD. Forget this movie was ever made. When in Rome is an embarrassment to not only movies in general, but also to the rom com genre. Avoid at ALL costs!!!!!

Overall Rating: 1.57 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Anjelica Huston, RomCom, Comedy, Disney, Movie Review, Bluray, BD Review, When in Rome

Directed by comedy maestro Shawn Levy (Night At The Museum films) Date Night also features an all-star supporting cast including Mark Wahlberg (Max Payne), James Franco (Pineapple Express), Mila Kunis (“That 70s Show”), Common (Just Wright), Taraji Henson (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button) and Leighton Meester (“Gossip Girl”). The Date Night two-disc Blu-ray with Digital Copy and DVD feature an all-new extended edition of the film with never-before-seen hilarious footage, plus a gag reel, Date Night PSAs, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and much more. The Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.99 U.S./$45.98 Canada and $29.98 U.S./$43.48 Canada, respectively. Prebook is July 14.

Blu-ray With Digital Copy Special Features:
Gag reel
Extended Car Chase
Directing Off Camera
Date Night PSAs (three versions)
Directing 301 with Shawn Levy
Audio Commentary with Shawn Levy
Deleted Scenes
Extended Scenes
Disaster Dates with the Cast
Steve and Tina Camera Tests
Live Lookup
Digital Copy

Single-Disc DVD Special Features
Gag reel
Extended Car Chase
Directing Off Camera
Date Night PSAs (three versions)
Directing 301 with Shawn Levy
Audio Commentary with Shawn Levy

DATE NIGHT
Street Date: August 10, 2010
Prebook Date: July 14, 2010
Screen Format: Widescreen: 2.35:1
Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital / Spanish and French Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, French & Spanish
U.S. Rating: PG-13
Run Time: 88 minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes

Technorati Tags: Bluray, DVD, Movie Details, Screenshots, Fox, Date Night, Steve Carell, Tina Fey

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: April 16, 2010
Online Availability: Pre-Order at Amazon for $19.49

For Derrick Borte’s first venture as a director, and first credit as a writer, The Joneses isn’t too bad. Considering he’s new, it could have been much worse. Borte, luckily, had two, very likable, veteran actors to help him through. David Duchovny and Demi Moore really steal the show. It is them that kept me watching and their chemistry together that sustained my interest. With lesser actors, I have no doubt that The Joneses would have been a massive failure, so for Borte’s and Fox’s sake, I’m glad these two were on board for this film.

Apparently, The Joneses is based on something written by Randy T. Dinzler. In Borte’s translation, some of the message behind Dinzler’s writing gets lost, particularly, those dealing with the dangers of consumerism. While there is some seriousness going on, and these moments are often unexpected, they are underscored by the comedy and the more predictable elements of the film. While I understood that the main characters and their path was predictable, I felt like this overshadowed other aspects of the story. This is probably because, as an audience member, you want them to get together, and waiting for that to happen somewhat monopolizes your thoughts.

I watched this with our teenager, CT. There were only one or two places where it was kind of embarrassing to be
watching it with your kid (two sex scenes), but these were quick and relatively harmless (one is just moaning with the image of a car). I wouldn’t recommend this film for little kids, but then again, what young child is going to be interested in this, anyway? CT seemed to like the movie and he said it was funny. I feel the message behind the movie was totally lost on him, but he was focusing more on the fact that this was a comedy than anything else.

The Joneses features a fairly decent supporting cast. I know I’ve seen Amber Heard in something. Ben Hollingsworth I only knew by name, but these two were pretty good as the faux children. The neighbors are played by Gary Cole and Glenne Headly. I recognized both of them, but wasn’t sure how I knew them. Both have been in numerous things, but I most recognized Cole as Mike Brady in the Brady Bunch movies and Headly from Mr. Holland’s Opus. The acting for this film was solid at every role, and I’m always appreciative of that, in any film. Honestly, though, it is the acting that saved this one, for me.

The Joneses Plot
Steve, Kate, Jenn and Mick Jones move into the biggest house in an upscale neighborhood. They live a lavish lifestyle that demands attention, and it isn’t too long before the entire town is eating them up. What video game is Mick Jones playing? He’s bound to tell everyone and when he does, they’ll all want to own it, too. Kate Jones has new jogging shoes on! No worries! Every other woman in town will be wearing their own pair. Even Steve is getting the men of town to indulge in the purchase of expensive golf clubs and luxury vehicles, and let’s not forget how he throws out the name of his travel agent, to make sure all those in town use the same agent, too.

Things seem too perfect at The Joneses, which is a great sign they are. Steve and Kate don’t even sleep in the same bed. That’s because she’s on husband #7, fake husband #7 that is. Jenn is a slut who seeks the attention of any man she can find, even Steve. Good thing he’s not really her dad. Mick has his own secrets, one that could lead to the destruction of the entire family that never really was. The Joneses are actually plants, a pretend family attempting to sell their wares by passing themselves off as the family all the others want to be. Living the high life makes them popular and the family is good at their jobs.

However, when Steve begins to see the impact his work is having on the people in the town, he begins to question why he is doing this job. He also tries to get through the steely exterior of Kate, who has so many rules about the work environment that Steve often eats dinner alone. He also tries to get through to and be there for Mick, who obviously has a lot on his mind. In the end, it looks like perfection might not be as great as The Joneses portray it, especially when real life feelings and attitudes seem to get in the way of the job.

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

At this point, it is unclear when exactly The Joneses will be available on DVD. As such, Fox has not commented on the Audio/Visual peripherals and whether the DVD and/or Blu-Ray will include bonus features. We, at LI Reviews, will make sure to let all of our readers know these things when this information become available to us.

Bottom Line:
The Joneses succeeds because of its cast. While the film tries to make an important point about life, consumerism and the human obsession with perfection, some of that gets muddied by the underlying love story you know is coming from the beginning. Still, Duchovny and Moore manage to keep the movie together enough to make it worthy of watching. Whether you’ll want to own this on DVD is another story, and we won’t have the answer to that for a few more months. Duchovny, especially, puts in a solid performance. If you’re going to watch this movie, watch it more for the actors and less for the message hidden in the plot. Otherwise, you’re bound to be disappointed.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: The Joneses, David Duchovny, Demi Moore, Movie Review, Comedy, Consumerism, Wealthy, Lauren Hutton, Film, Fox

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: February 12, 2010
DVD Release Date: May 18, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $12.99

I don’t like chick flicks, especially romantic comedies. I respect Garry Marshall, though. I might be willing to sit through a chick flick for my girlfriend, but usually, she doesn’t like them either. I am lucky that way. She doesn’t drag me off to the theater to see those films that most other girls make their boyfriends watch; the ones I call eye-gushers. She prefers the more hardcore films, though every once in a while she’ll find a chick flick she likes. Like a good boyfriend I will endure it for her since it is such a rare occurrence. As a reviewer, I endure chick flicks for another reason – it’s my job.

I knew from the previews I was not going to like Valentine’s Day. The vignette of what was meant to be cute and heartfelt love and relationship stories from the trailer made me throw up a little bit in my mouth. I wonder what Garry Marshall was thinking when he took on this project. I wonder what the half-dozen stars who acted in this were thinking when they chose to make it? Ultimately, who would review this DVD came down to the toss of a coin, and guess who didn’t pick tails?

Even if I did like romantic comedies, Valentine’s Day would still be a horrible mess of a movie. I don’t understand how a group of actors, most of whom have proven they can act, can do so in such a poor way that not even their acting can save this train wreck. How were they so willing to speak such unoriginal, clichéd, excessively cheesy dialogue? I cannot imagine what prompted Katherine Fugate to write such drivel. She did much better when writing that one episode of Xena. At least THAT was entertaining. How does a guy like GARRY MARSHALL get involved in this crap? I just don’t get it????

Valentine’s Day is not just awful. It’s BEYOND AWFUL. How can people stand to watch this crap? I can’t imagine who, if anyone, would like it. I found it to be one of the worst chick flicks I have ever seen. There is no celebrating during Valentine’s Day. Nobody is going to “fall in love” with this pitiful excuse for a movie. Essentially, I’m saying don’t watch this piece of shit film. AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE.

The Valentine’s Day Plot
This is about a bunch of relationships that tie into one another. Reed Bennett (Ashton Kutcher) is a florist. He proposes to his girlfriend, Morley (Jessica Alba), who accepts but then declines. Reed is friends with:

–Alphonso (George Lopez)

and

Julia Fitzpatrick (Jennifer Garner) a school teacher who is having an affair with a married man, Dr. Harrison Copeland (Patrick Dempsey). She does not know he is married though. She also has a young student, Edison (Bryce Robinson), who tries to buy her flowers from Reed.

Alphonso and Julia knew Reed and Morely wouldn’t last.

Edison’s grandparents, Edgar (Hector Elizondo) and Estelle (Shirley MacLaine), struggle with the longevity of their marriage. Estelle mentions an affair she had and it upsets Edgar. They also are worried about Edison’s babysitter, Grace (Emma Roberts), who wants her boyfriend, Alex (Carter Jenkins), to pop her cherry, but those plans are foiled by her mom. Her friends, Willy (Taylor Lautner) and Felicia (Taylor Swift) are in love, but have decided to wait to have sex. It has gotten them publicity and a TV interview.

Speaking of TV, Sean Jackson (Eric Dane) is a closeted gay male because he is a professional football player. Being in the closet is hard, so he has a powwow about his career with his publicist Kara (Jessica Biel) and his agent Paula (Queen Latifah). Kara hates Valentine’s Day and is planning an I Hate Valentines party, but she kind of likes Kelvin Moore (Jamie Foxx), a sports reporter who is covering Valentines Day thanks to his producer Susan (Kathy Bates). Apparently, sports news is lacking.

Several of these characters are tied to Kate Hazeltine (Julia Roberts), a captain in the U.S. Army and Holden Bristow (Bradley Cooper). The two meet on an airplane to L.A., since Kate is on one day leave and they forge a friendship.

Storyline/Plot: 0 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 0 out of 5 stars
Acting: 0.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 0 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Valentine’s Day is a newer movie, so I expected it to at least look good. Sure enough, this calamity of a movie looks good in all it’s stupendously horrible glory. You get to see the train wreck up close and personal thanks to the anamorphic widescreen transfer. Valentine’s Day is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. I did not really notice any visual flaws, though some blur might have done the movie good, by blurring out the terrible acting and story.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 English soundtrack sounds decent. Valentine’s Day isn’t an action flick, so it is not going to tax out the audio capabilities. This allows for dynamic dialogue, but a dialogue driven movie doesn’t benefit as much as one full of sound effects. Additional 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks are available in Spanish and French. Subtitles are also available in English, Spanish and French.

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

Bonus Features:
There isn’t really much here in the way of bonuses. Valentine’s Day was packaged rather cheaply, but then, I didn’t really want to spend any more time on this film than I already had to spend. What you get is mostly promotional crap.

First is an Exclusive Sex And The City 2 Sneak Peak Trailer. Whoop di doo. I wasn’t into the show and I think the films are dumb. Gone is my crush on Kim Cattrall from the 80s.

Next, there are additional scenes. The movie was bad enough. Why would I want to make myself suffer and torture myself by watching scenes that did not even make the cut?

That’s all that is here. The bonus section for Valentine’s Day is as lame as the film, itself.

Bonus Features: 0.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Valentine’s Day sucks. It is a horrid movie. The actors in it seem to have forgotten how to act. The plot for Valentine’s Day sucks. The dialogue sucks. The characters are cheesy and unrealistic. Therefore, they also suck. There is not ONE redeemable feature to Valentine’s Day. Everything about this DVD reeks. Don’t even consider buying it. As any child I know would say, this movie blows chunks or it makes you want to. So, just don’t buy it…or rent it…or watch it on TV. Save yourself.

Overall Rating: 1.21 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Valentine’s Day, Movie, New Line Cinema, Romantic Comedy, Garry Marshall, Romance, DVD

Originally formed at NYU, DERRICK Comedy’s five young members quickly rose to stardom via YouTube sketches that captured an incredible fanbase nationwide. DERRICK Comedy’s debut feature film, MYSTERY TEAM, follows the adventures of three high-school virgins who are stuck solving childish whodunit mysteries in their neighborhood. But when these bumbling boy detectives are tasked to investigate a real murder, they see the ultimate opportunity to prove themselves once and for all.

Mystery Team hits DVD on May 25, 2010.

Technorati Tags: Mystery Team, Screenshots, Video Clip, Synopsis, Coming Soon, Upcoming Movie

I just keep asking myself what one of my favorite actors was thinking being in this. I am hoping that it’s better than I think it will be, but I am sure it’s no When Harry Met Sally. In any case, this film is out in theaters now and if you’re a fan of this genre of movies I am sure that you won’t want to miss The Backup Plan.

To celebrate the release of The Backup Plan you can enjoy the following trailer and some different screenshots of the film. If you decide to go and see it, make sure to let us know what you think! I think I am going to wait until the release of the DVD on this one, so until we’d love to hear your thoughts if you decided to check it out in theater.

Synopsis:
The Back-up Plan is a comedy that explores dating, love, marriage and family “in reverse.” After years of dating, Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) has decided waiting for the right one is taking too long. Determined to become a mother, she commits to a plan, makes an appointment and decides to go it alone. That same day, Zoe meets Stan (Alex O’Loughlin) – a man with real possibilities. Trying to nurture a budding relationship and hide the early signs of pregnancy becomes a comedy of errors for Zoe and creates confusing signals for Stan. Anyone can fall in love, get married and have a baby but doing it backwards in hyper-drive is the real pregnancy test.

Jennifer Lopez (Monster-In-Law, Maid In Manhattan) and Alex O’Loughlin (“Three Rivers,” August Rush) star in The Back-up Plan for CBS Films, the film division within CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS). The project, which commenced principal photography in Los Angeles on May 11, is set to debut in theaters April 23, 2010.

The film is directed by Alan Poul (“Swingtown,” “Six Feet Under”) from a screenplay by Kate Angelo (“Will & Grace,” “What About Brian”). Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Taking of Pelham 123) produced through their Escape Artists banner. Rodney Liber and David Bloomfield are executive producers. Chris Coggins and Lance Johnson are co-producers.

Technorati Tags: The Backup Plan, Theaters, Screenshots, Video, Trailer, Alex O’Loughlin, Jennifer Lopez, Movie, Romantic Comedy, Parenthood

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: February 26, 2010 (limited)
DVD Release Date: April 13, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $20.99

Superhero movies have been big business for some time. You have your staples like X-Men, Batman, and Iron Man, to name a few. You even have your comic smartass ones that you never heard of like Blank Man. The common thing these movies all have in common is big name people. Defendor is certainly not a superhero movie like any of these. Well, at least not the first three. Created by Sony, this film is not going to offer you a big budget or lots of thrills. It will offer you Woody Harrelson and a basic plot, but that’s about all you’re getting.

I should point out that I like Woody Harrelson a great deal. He’s an unconventional actor with a boyish smile, plenty of talent, and he makes parts work that others would struggle with. At times though, I think he needs to lay off the hash. It’s hard to imagine going from The People vs. Larry Flynt to something like this. Harrelson did it though and despite this movie not being exceptional, I have no doubt that he will bounce back. Up until now I have made it sound like I hated Defendor and that’s not really a fair assumption. I didn’t hate it. That being said, it was mediocre and while it’s watchable enough to beat out an infomercial, I wouldn’t pit it against any of my favorite movies.

The huge problem, at least for me, is that this movie tries to do so much and fit into so many genres that it quickly loses itself and never manages to find its goal, once lost. Essentially, this is a mix of comedy and science fiction, but then the director tries to mix in some action (something most Sci-fi super hero movies have) and some drama, so it ends up being a jumble of not much of anything. It’s a story and there is a plot somewhere, but it doesn’t equal much at the end of the day.

I wanted to like Defendor, but I think the reason for that had more to do with Harrelson and less to do with the actual movie. I didn’t hate it, but I sure wasn’t impressed. It should have been a sign when I realized I never heard a thing about this movie being made. Even when it did it’s festival run (which was short and sweet) the buzz was nearly non-existant. So, this came as a surprise. I just wish it would have been more pleasant. Fans of Harrelson will probably watch this no matter what I say, and I can understand that. I just hope they’ll rent it first because it will save a lot of them money in the long run.

The Defendor Plot
Arthur Poppington (Harrelson) is Defendor. We learn this through flashbacks. In present, Poppington is under the care of a psychiatrist, Dr. Park (Oh) who is evaluating him prior to a criminal trial. The flashbacks teach us all we really need to know about Defendor. He’s an odd fellow that likes to dress in black or dark clothing and patrol the streets with the goal of helping those in need. He’s not your average crime fighter that’s for sure!

Defendor is obsessed with his arch nemesis, Captain Industry. He’s always on the lookout for him and Defendor is certain that he will one day capture him and bring him to justice. Unfortunately, he has more than one bout with the law before that day comes. The first time we see him get in trouble he allows a prostitute (Dennings) to get away from the detective (Koteas) that is forcing her to comply with sexual acts she’s uninterested in. While Defendor is taken in soon after this event, they let him go because he seems harmless enough.

Defendor spends time with the prostitute and forms a friendship with her. He tries to help her change her ways. Through this friendship he learns the identity of Captain Industry and becomes even more obsessed with bringing him down. Around this time the movie comes from primary flashbacks into the present day in order to offer the climax, and the eventual end.

You get 101 minutes and several themes are explored. It doesn’t seem like a lot and it’s not. Some central themes are rushed over and other unnecessary elements are made to look like key parts of the story. With a little more time and effort this could have been a lot better. Oh well, too little, too late.

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

Audio/Visual:
A good portion of Defendor occurs at night. That being said, I was glad to determine that the blacks are strong. If not, it could have offered serious problems for the film. Luckily the anamorphic widescreen (aspect ratio of 2.35:1) transfer looks fantastic for DVD. There is no Blu-ray offering for this lower budget superhero film, but it’s nice to see that it comes with a better than suitable transfer for DVD. There were minimal, if any, instances of grain, and no other visual issues to speak about. All in all coloring and detail are high, and things look great.

Like the video, the audio is acceptable, as well. It’s not as good as the video, but it’s certainly passable. The default audio is English Dolby Digital 5.1. The dialogue comes through without a problem. The surround sound could use a little work, but for a DVD it manages to be pleasing, but not perfect. Volume toggling was not a problem. In addition to English, there are audio tracks in Spanish, Thai, and Portuguese (also DD 5.1). Subtitles come in numerous languages including Chinese, English, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai.

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

Bonus Features:
Defendor offers a few bonus features, but not much in terms of true content or quality. Yes, all the usual suspects are here. That does not mean that the usual suspects are worth putting here. You receive a semi-entertaining commentary with Harrelson, Dennings, and various crew members. That serves as one of the main offerings on this disc. Production featurettes are included that take you through the filmmaking process from start to finish. This is basically what you receive. Nothing super essential is presented, but it’s worth a look if you really enjoy the movie.

Bonus Features: 3 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
The basic idea of Defendor has some sense of promise, but that soon fizzled and the audience is left with little to hold on to as the film progresses. This movie has a good cast, so it’s hard to say you should pass on it, but it’s really not that good of a movie. Often the writing will make or break a film and that’s what happened here. The acting wasn’t terrible, but the actors had little to work with and the film ends up feeling rushed and scrambled as a result. If you have to see this, rent it. It’s not worth buying because chances are, you’ll only watch it once.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, DVD Review, Woody Harrelson, Superhero, Defendor

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

Throughout the week, we’ve watched quite a few movies and shows. For the week of March 8 through March 14, here is a list of what we’ve watched, and what we thought of each Netflix selection!

Camelot: This film adaptation of the Lerner & Loewe musical of the same name stars Vanessa Redgrave and Richard Harris. Dominick had seen this before (he’d also been in the musical at his high school many years ago). Ash had not. This is a classic film that follows the story of King Arthur, the king of England who created the round table and who was betrayed when his wife Guenevere fell in love/had an affair with his top knight, Lancelot. Dom loves musicals, and this is no exception. Ashtyn enjoyed it as well, though she didn’t feel she connected emotionally with all of the songs, and had a hard time watching Vanessa Redgrave, at times, due to the remarkable resemblance to her daughter, Natasha Richardson, who tragically passed away last year.

Coral Reef Adventure: Originally presented in IMAX and narrated by Liam Neeson, this stunning documentary looks at various coral reefs located around the world. Underwater explorers/filmmakers Howard and Michele Hall are invited to a Pacific island nation (Fiji, we think?) where a reef off the coast is dying. They explore the Pacific’s various reef systems to try to discover the reason for why this and other coral reefs are dying. We thought this film was absolutely stunning. This documentary raises many questions that are important, especially those concerned with human impact on the underwater world. We only wish we could have seen what efforts were made to try to save this reef.

Whale Wars: A group of self-proclaimed ‘pirates’ that are captained by the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Paul Watson, sail the seas near Antarctica attempting to deter the Japanese from hunting whales in the area. Sailing on their boat the MV Steve Irwin, the antics of the crew include throwing ‘stinky stuff’ on Japanese boats (labeled research boats) and trying to stuff up their rudders with balloon type objects. Dom thinks the entire crew is made up of douche bags. While the intent is nice, there has to be a better way to stop the hunting and killing of whales. Ashtyn found the show hilarious because the crew is so dumb.

Civil War Journal: The Conflict Begins: Four episodes about various elements of the Civil War present themselves in this documentary style, PBS-presented, television experience. Narrated by Danny Glover, the episodes feature historians, present reenactments of battles and show real life, historical documentation that helps explain what life was like leading up to and during the beginning of our nation’s bloodiest war. Dom didn’t get a chance to see this. Ashtyn thought the music was incredibly cheesy, especially during the beginning and ending sequences. However, if you can ignore this, the entire series is incredibly interesting. She especially enjoyed learning more about John Brown in episode one.

Ink: Jamin Winans developed this fantasy film, which explores what happens when we fall asleep. An independent film that could not find a distributor, when Ink hit pirating programs like Limewire and BitTorrent sites the download rate in one week was so high, 400,000, it led to better DVD and Blu-Ray sales. When Emma, a little girl living with her grandparents after the death of her mother, falls asleep, a Storyteller gives her good dreams. However, when Ink, disfigured and desperate to become an Incubus, enters her dream world and kidnaps Emma, putting her in a coma outside her dreams, the Storytellers and a blind pathfinder must team up to find her before the Incubi sacrifice and kill her. Outside dreamland, Emma’s father, John, who lost custody of the girl and has poured himself fully into his work, as a result, must decide whether to visit her and reopen the wounds caused by losing her the first time. Ink’s concept is very intriguing. This film suffered a little because of the low budget visually, but with such a great plot, and decent acting especially by independent actors, this can easily be overlooked. This was the best fictional film we saw, this week.

Hurt: Melora Walters and William Mapother star in a movie that could possibly air on the Lifetime Network. Walters is Helen, a woman who is accustomed to her privileged life, with her husband and two children, Lenore and Conrad (Jackson Rathbone). Mapother plays Helen’s brother in law, Daryl. When Helen’s husband dies in an accident and they lose their house, they go to live in what looks like a junkyard, but is really a car recycling center, with Daryl. When Helen (a former foster child) finds out her husband was going to take in a girl named Sarah, she decides to open her home to the girl, but when bad things start happening, a terrible family secret is exposed. Dominick thought this story could have been interesting and the actors were all pretty decent, but the plot was so predictable it ruined the movie. Ashtyn also felt it was very predictable, so it was hard to view this movie as a horror flick. You know what’s going to happen, which ruins the elements of scariness and surprise. The key problem was the plot.

CSA: Confederate States of America: A mockumentary exploring what would happen if the Southern states/Confederacy won the war, this is supposed to be a funny piece. When the Confederates win, an entirely new history is written for this country. That country is revealed in CSA. Initially, we felt this sounded pretty funny. The commercials littered through the mockumentary were laugh worthy, but at some point, this film takes itself way too seriously. Presented as a dry as turkey, fact filled ‘documentary’ we would have much preferred if this film kept that lighthearted, silly feel most mockumentaries have. This wasn’t even absurd enough to be absurd. In the end, it was kind of boring.

Witch Hunt: The most riveting film we watched this week, every person needs to see Witch Hunt. In the 80s, when us kids were growing up, thousands of miles away, kids only a few years older than us were being shuffled around foster homes and forced to testify against their parents in a series of infamous, child molestation trials. This documentary explores how these false charges not only ruined the lives of the many Bakersfield residents who were convicted and served time in jail for crimes they did not commit, but also how it has ruined the lives of the children who were coerced into lying about these adults. We were shocked and disheartened by this documentary. We were disgusted juries could convict these people, that the authorities who did this are still in control and that the media didn’t investigate these false accusations. Most heartbreaking is the story of John Stoll, who lost 20 years of his life to prison and the only son he had, as an effect of his false conviction.

Nine Dead: Melissa Joan Hart returns to acting in this horror/thriller film. We were interested because this received pretty good ratings on Netflix. Hart is one of nine random people who are kidnapped and end up being chained in a room together. A masked man explains that they are all here for a specific reason. They have ten minutes to figure out what that reason is. Every ten minutes, the man will come in and kill one of them. If they discover the reason every single person is there (even the dead ones) the masked man will call the police, turn himself in, and let them all go. For the most part this film is pretty good, but it is ruined by a letdown of an ending that makes the whole movie feel like a drastic waste of time. We have a much better idea for the ending of this movie, but sadly, we weren’t the filmmakers, so we have to live with what is available in this film.

Crips and Bloods: Made in America: In California, segregated housing during the civil rights era meant that racial minorities kept to themselves and formed their own social groups within their communities. To an extent, this led to the inception to America’s two most powerful gangs, the Crips and the Bloods. While other documentaries have focused specifically on how these gangs form, this documentary looks into life prior to the gangs, the race riots, and how these kids could have come to form such gangs. From there, it explores the lives of gang members and looks at those who have died from gang violence.

Stacy Peralta takes viewers into south-Central L.A. and shows how such violence spiraled out of control so quickly, turning into over 40 years of bloodshed. We found this documentary to be informative, interesting to watch and unlike others on the subject matter. Looking back at the 50s and 60s to see what these segregated black communities were like helps to shed light on how a generation of kids felt they had to turn to gangs and why kids in these areas still choose to do so today.

Technorati Tags: Documentary, Horror, Classic Film, Thriller, History, Films, Watch, Netflix, True Crime, IMAX, nature, mockumentary