Astro Boy (2009)

so with this remake/version, I'm didn't have too many preconceptions. it's pretty good, and at 94 minutes (at least 5 minutes of closing and BORING credits) it's just about the right length of time.

it is another retelling of Astro's origin, but done in about the same time as the original cartoon did it. it's set in the further future than "the year 2000", which is also fine. the rest of the story revolves around Astro finding his purpose in life. it gets a little cutesy with the introduction of the orphans, but right when you think it's gonna be sidetracked it brings it altogether for a pretty satisfying finish.

the actors all do a fine job as well. it's odd not to hear Billie Lou Watt as Astro though.

the CG characters look pretty good, but as none of Tezuka's original work was designed to be 3-D, they still look a little weird, especially Dr. Elefun. it's OK, but I kept thinking how much better a real cartoon would have looked. it was nice to see a few of Tezuka's characters there, including Hamegg. Mr. Moustache was in the credits, but I didn't remember seeing him in the movie at all.

so it's worth a look. it's apparently not making ANY money, but I think it will find a life on DVD, since it's pretty good. alas, they didn't use the original Astro Boy theme song, not even over those long extensive credits.

oh yeah, and Astro himself barely spent any time looking like his comic book counterpart- he was always in blue jeans and a shirt. weak.

Astro Boy (2009)

YELLOWSTONE: BATTLE FOR LIFE -- DVD review by porfle

I always thought of Yellowstone National Park as just this nice, pretty park with a big geyser. And also the place where Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo live (sorta). But now I feel almost like Ash in ALIEN when he says, in awe of the strange planet: "It's almost primordial." And as presented in this DVD for the impeccably-made "BBC Earth" documentary series YELLOWSTONE: BATTLE FOR LIFE (2009), it's also fascinating, beautiful, and utterly awe-inspiring.

I never realized there were so many interesting things to know about Yellowstone, the world's first national park. "Perhaps the most treasured wilderness in the world" as the dulcet-voiced narrator Peter Firth tells us, "a hard, cold plateau 8,000 feet up, surrounded by the spires of the Rocky Mountains." This 50-mile-wide bowl rests over a vast underground volcanic chamber--which could erupt again at any time--which causes geysers such as Old Faithful to spew thousands of gallons of boiling water up to 150 feet in the air. This underground furnace also reacts in interesting and unpredictable ways with the often frigid temperatures on the surface.

The first episode in the series is entitled "Winter", and what a winter it is--at forty degrees below zero and beyond, with four feet of snow covering the ground and the lakes and streams frozen over, survival for most of the wildlife is a constant struggle. Packs of Druid wolves stalk the elk, great bald eagles battle each other over carcasses, and massive bison use their thick necks to sweep the snow aside as they search for grass to eat.

With "Summer" comes a brief respite from the cold which heralds the return of the pronghorn antelope, who evolved in order to outrun a now-extinct North American cheetah (becoming the fastest antelope on earth), and the emergence of the grizzly bears and their cubs from a long hibernation. A variety of birds from as far away as the Arctic and Mexico come to feed. Teeming with life, Yellowstone is, for a short time, a lush paradise of incredible beauty.


"Autumn", the shortest season, brings the end of the easy life and the beginning of a frantic dash to store food for the coming winter and the need to breed. Like scenes out of THE LOST WORLD, we witness life-or-death battles between male elk, bison, and Bighorn rams for dominance over the pack and the right to procreate. Elsewhere, a mother grizzly fends off a male to protect her cubs in a furious clash of claws and teeth.

And just as compelling in its own way is the industrious beaver, cutting down whole trees with its teeth and engineering dams and canals with admirable skill. You may even find yourself deeply involved in the symbiotic relationship between the Clark's Nutcracker and the whitebirch pine. These are but a few of the compelling creatures who are shown going about their daily routines in the continuing struggle to survive.

We see all of this through some of the most gorgeous photography imaginable, which captures the breathtaking grandeur of Yellowstone and follows the lives and activities of its inhabitants in intimate detail. In scene after scene, an almost otherworldly beauty is depicted in painterly images that no special effects could surpass. Combined with a rich and emotionally powerful musical score, the result is almost intoxicating.

The DVD from BBC Warner is 16 x 9 with Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo and English subtitles for the deaf and hearing-impaired. Image and sound quality are very good. Bonus features consist of three featurettes entitled "The People of Yellowstone", which tell the stories of some dedicated geyser gazers, a man whose job is to shovel snow off the roofs of Yellowstone's buildings in winter to keep them from caving in, and a human fish whose love affair with the Yellowstone River reminded me of the character in "B.C." who always had his head underwater.

Naturally, this isn't the sort of DVD you'll want to pop in for a houseful of rowdy drunk guys after the Super Bowl. But whenever you're in the mood to drift away with something that's engrossing, educational, and utterly enchanting--after the guys have all gone home, of course--then YELLOWSTONE: BATTLE FOR LIFE will take you there in style.

Buy it at Amazon.com
DVD
Blu-Ray

YELLOWSTONE: BATTLE FOR LIFE -- DVD review by porfle

Just Announced - THE BEST OF STAR TREK: TOS, TNG Vol. 2 on DVD November 17 from CBS and Paramount Home Entertainment

EXPERIENCE MORE OF THE CULTURAL PHENOMENON


THE BEST OF STAR TREK®: THE ORIGINAL SERIES and THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION® VOLUME 2

More Sensational Episodes Arrive On Two DVD Collections November 17 From CBS Home Entertainment And Paramount Home Entertainment

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (October, 26 2009) - Go deeper into the world of one of the greatest action-adventure sagas of all-time with THE BEST OF STAR TREK®: THE ORIGINAL SERIES, VOL. 2 and THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION®, VOL. 2 landing on DVD November 17 from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment.

The original and iconic series set in the 23rd century where Earth has survived World War III and humans have moved on to explore the stars, STAR TREK®: THE ORIGINAL SERIES explores many strange worlds and new civilizations with the fantastic adventures of Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and the Starship Enterprise crewmembers. THE BEST OF STAR TREK®: THE ORIGINAL SERIES, VOL. 2 features four of the series' most memorable episodes including Where No Man Has Gone Before, the series' second pilot episode where audiences meet Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Scotty (James Doohan) and Sulu (George Takei); Journey to Babel, that introduces Spock's parents, Sarek and Amanda; Space Seed; and A Piece of the Action. Digitally remastered with brilliant picture quality and enhanced special effects, THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES, VOL. 2 serves as a perfect way to further explore the epic and legendary world of Star Trek®.

The only syndicated series to ever receive an Emmy® nomination for Best Dramatic Series, STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION®is hailed as "one of the greatest television shows of all time" by TV Guide. The long-awaited successor to the original series is set in the 24th century and follows the all-new Enterprise crew under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) as they travel to distant planets to seek out new life forms and boldly go where no man has gone before.

THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION®, VOL. 2 features episodes including Relics, starring original series cast member James Doohan reprising his role as Montgomery Scott; The Inner Light, one of the official Star Trek website's highest-rated episodes of all the Star Trek® series; Cause and Effect, guest starring Kelsey Grammer; and Tapestry, which delves into Picard's back story and lays all his secrets bare.

Affordably priced for new and loyal fans, both DVD setswill each be available for the suggested retail price of $14.99 U.S. and $15.99 CAN.


THE BEST OF STAR TREK®: THE ORIGINAL SERIES, VOL. 2 and THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION®, VOL. 2 are each one-disc DVDs presented in Full Screen with English 5.1, LAS Mono and Brazilian Portuguese Mono as well as English, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles. Both DVDs are Not Rated in the U.S. In Canada, THE BEST OF STAR TREK®: THE ORIGINAL SERIES, VOL. 2 is rated G, while THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION®, VOL. 2 is rated PG. THE BEST OF STAR TREK®: THE ORIGINAL SERIES, VOL. 2 has a total running time of 3 Hrs. and 21 Min and THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION®, VOL. 2 has a total running time 3 Hrs. and 01 Min.

The DVD disc breakdowns are as follows:

THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES, VOL. 2

Where No Man Has Gone Before - After the Enterprise attempts to cross an energy barrier at the edge of the galaxy, crewmembers develop "godlike" psychic powers.

Space Seed - The Enterprise discovers an ancient sleeper ship, led by war criminal Khan Noonien Singh, who attempts to commandeer the Enterprise.

A Piece of the Action - The Enterprise visits a planet with an Earth-like, violent, 1920s gangster culture.

Journey to Babel - While transporting dignitaries to an important peace conference, the Enterprise crew discovers an assassin.

THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, VOL. 2

Relics - The Enterprise investigates a vessel that crashed on the surface of a Dyson Sphere 75 years ago. An away team discovers Scotty who has been kept alive within a transporter diagnostic loop.

The Inner Light - A space probe creates a telepathic tether and causes Picard to experience a lifetime as a married man on a world long destroyed.

Cause and Effect - The Enterprise becomes stuck in a causality loop, each time ending in a crash with another Starfleet ship, and it's up to Data to savethem.

Tapestry - An accident gravely injures Picard and he awakens in a white limbo to find Q, who takes him back to a turning point in his past.


THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES, VOL. 2
Street Date: November 17, 2009
Pricing: $14.99 US/ $15.99 CAN
Catalog #: 075634
Runtime: 3 Hrs., 21 Min.
U.S. Rating: Not Rated
Canadian Rating: G
Buy it at Amazon.com

THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, VOL.2
Street Date: November 17, 2009
Pricing: $14.99 US/ $15.99 CAN
Catalog #: 075644
Runtime: 3 Hrs., 1 Min.
U.S. Rating: Not Rated
Canadian Rating: PG
Buy it at Amazon.com

Just Announced - THE BEST OF STAR TREK: TOS, TNG Vol. 2 on DVD November 17 from CBS and Paramount Home Entertainment

"SMOKIN' ACES 2: ASSASSINS' BALL" From Universal Home Entertainment 1/19/2010

THE DIRECTOR OF SMOKIN’ ACES AND NARC PRESENTS:

A New Target and More Murder, Mayhem & EXPLOSIVE ACTION than Ever…

Own The Unrated and rated versions of the movie Exclusively on Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def, DVD & digital download from Universal Studios Home Entertainment January 19th, 2010


Universal City, California, October 27, 2009 –Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball, the all-new movie about the adrenaline-pumping world of blood, bullets and badasses, is blasting its way onto Blu-ray™ Hi-Def, DVD and digital download January 19, 2010. Executive produced by Joe Carnahan (Narc), the writer-director behind the shockingly edgy hit Smokin’ Aces, and directed by P.J. Pesce (Lost Boys: The Tribe), Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball features a sexy cast, whip-smart script and hyper-kinetic visuals. And, with the return of infamous assassins Lazlo Soot and the Tremor Brothers from the original theatrical film, audiences will experience a furious frenzy of explosive action that will keep them guessing until the very last scene. Both the Blu-ray™ and DVD editions include the rated and unrated versions of the movie and an arsenal of explosive bonus features.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment presents a Working Title Production of Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball, starring Tom Berenger (Training Day), Clayne Crawford (Brooklyn to Manhattan), Martha Higareda (Street Kings), Ernie Hudson (“Heroes”), Michael Parks (Grindhouse), Autumn Reeser (“Entourage”) and Vinnie Jones (X-Men: The Last Stand, Lock, Stock and Two Smokin’ Barrels), as well as returning stars from the original theatrical release Tommy Flanagan (Sin City), Maury Sterling (Smokin’ Aces) and Christopher Michael Holley (Smokin’ Aces).

The latest in Universal’s DVD Originals™ series, Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball lives up to its predecessor with an all-star group of assassins, vicious sociopaths and other murderous freelancers who battle to bring down a single, high-priced target. The Universal DVD OriginalsTM line of high-quality, aggressively marketed features has included some of the most successful, live-action, non-family made-for-DVD titles of all time including Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior, Bring It On: All Or Nothing, American Pie Presents Band Camp, American Pie Presents The Naked Mile and Bring It On Again.

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAY HI-DEF:

· BD-LIVETM – Fans can access exclusive online and interactive features through their Internet-connected Blu-rayTM player, including:
· MY SCENES SHARING – Show your BD-LiveTM friends your favorite scenes from the film.

BONUS FEATURES AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY HI-DEF AND DVD:

· Deleted Scenes
· Gag Reel
· Behind the Scenes with Joe Carnahan: Executive producer Joe Carnahan, producer Mike Elliott, writers Olatunde Osunsanmi and Olumide Odebunmi and director P.J. Pesce talk about the process of jumping back into the world of Smokin’ Aces.
· CONFESSIONS OF AN ASSASSIN: director P.J. Pesce and the stars of the movie take us through production, from the ground, amidst the mayhem, blood, guts, bullets and all.
· Ready, Aim, Fire: the weapons of smokin’ aces 2: Meet the armorer who equipped the gang with the over 20 guns in the film.
· CUE THE CLOWN: A behind the scenes look at what it took to produce one of the most explosive stunts in the movie.
· The Bunker Mentality: designing the set: Production designer Chris August, along with director P.J. Pesce and executive producer Joe Carnahan discuss the Art Deco look and feel of the sets as well as the little details that gave them the freedom them to shoot quickly and in every direction.
· Feature Commentary with executive producer Joe Carnahan and director P.J. Pesce

SYNOPSIS

Federal agents once again match wits with a cadre of creative killers in the high-octane feature-length film Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball. Walter Weed (Tom Berenger) is an unassuming desk jockey at the FBI when the Bureau uncovers a plot to assassinate him. A team of degenerate, psychotic assassins dispatched by mystery man Hal Leuco to win a huge bounty includes a resourceful beauty who has a unique method of killing her prey (Martha Higareda), a power-tool wielding psychopath (Vinnie Jones) and a deadly master of disguise (Tommy Flanagan). Also in the hunt is the fan-favorite Tremor family from the original film, featuring nymphomaniacal gun-nut (Autumn Reeser) and her lethal kinfolk (Maury Sterling, Michael Parks and C. Ernst Harth). Baker (Clayne Crawford), the agent in charge of the operation, puts himself and his team in the line of fire to defend Weed, but it’s not until the smoke clears on the film’s explosive climax that the surprising identity of the plot’s mastermind is revealed.

www.smokinacesdvd.com

CAST AND FILMMAKERS

Cast: Tom Berenger, Clayne Crawford, Tommy Flanagan, Maury Sterling, Martha Higareda, Christopher Michael Holley, Ernie Hudson, Michael Parks, Autumn Reeser, and Vinnie Jones
Directed By: P.J. Pesce
Screenplay By: Olatunde Osunsanmi & Olumide Odebunmi and Tom Abrams, P.J. Pesce
Story By: Olatunde Osunsanmi & Olumide Odebunmi & Joe Carnahan
Based on Characters Created by: Joe Carnahan
Produced By: Mike Elliott
Executive Producer: Joe Carnahan
Casting By: Nancy Nayor Battino CSA, Sean Cossey CSA, and Stuart Aikins CSA
Director of Photography: David Geddes
Production Designer: Chris August
Edited By: Angela M. Catanzaro
Costume Designer: Kerry Weinrauch
Music By: Tim Jones

TECHNICAL INFORMATION --Blu-rayTM Hi-Def
Street Date: January 19, 2010
Copyright: 2010 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 63112382
Running Time: 1 Hour 26 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.78:1
Rating: R for bloody violence and language
Technical Info: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; Spanish and French DTS Surround 5.1; English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles

TECHNICAL INFORMATION--Single Disc DVD
Street Date: January 19, 2010
Copyright: 2010 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 63104821
Running time: 1 Hour 28 Minutes
Layers: Dual Layers
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Rating: R for bloody violence and language
Technical Info: English, Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1; English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles

"SMOKIN' ACES 2: ASSASSINS' BALL" From Universal Home Entertainment 1/19/2010

Kick or Treat! Have a JET LI Halloween!

Like most people, you've thought of dressing up as martial-arts superstar Jet Li for Halloween. But do you know enough of his legendary moves to successfully pull off such an impersonation without looking like a doofus? Are you able to lay waste to everyone else at the costume party without breaking a sweat, using only a few well-placed chops and kicks? And look really cool doing it?

If not, have no fear. All you need in order to learn how to be the very best butt-kicking Jet Li impersonator that you can be (while enjoying some of the greatest action flicks of all time) is to check out the following thrill-packed DVDs from Dragon Dynasty. Watch and learn!


THE ENFORCER
Special Collector's Edition

Martial arts legend Jet Li explodes off the screen in this high-octane, bone-crushing hit. Li is at his lightning-quick best, starring as an undercover detective embedded with a ruthless gang. When another cop (Anita Mui, Rumble in the Bronx) accidentally blows his cover, the only way to protect his family is to take on the gang’s psychopathic leader head-to-head. Featuring an astonishing kung fu performance from the fiery Tse Mui (New Legend of Shaolin) as Li’s young son and groundbreaking fight scenes from acclaimed director/action choreographer Corey Yuen (The Transporter), The Enforcer is a "slam bang, balls-out action film" (DVDCult.com).

SPECIAL FEATURES
FEATURE COMMENTARY BY HONG KONG CINEMA EXPERT BEY LOGAN
CROWD PLEASER: An Exclusive Interview With Legendary Producer Wong Jing
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: An Exclusive Interview With Star & Former Child Prodigy Tse Miu
BORN TO BE BAD: An Exclusive Interview With Super Kicking Nemesis Ken Lo
Buy it at Amazon.com


FIST OF LEGEND
Two Disc Ultimate Edition

Widely regarded as the greatest film of two legendary careers, Fist of Legend teams superstar Jet Li with martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo-ping (The Matrix) for "some of the best fight sequences you will ever see" (Dan Mitchell, IGN Movies). In this tribute to Bruce Lee's classic The Chinese Connection (aka Fists of Fury), Li radiates sheer power and coolness as a kung fu phenom living abroad who returns home to avenge the death of his master and save his martial arts school. Shifting effortlessly among diverse fighting styles, Li even fights blindfolded and wields his belt as a deadly weapon. Fist of Legend is essential viewing for any Jet Li fan and "the promised land for kung fu cinema" (HongKongCinema.com).

SPECIAL FEATURES
DISC 1
Feature Length Commentary by Hong Kong Cinema expert Bey Logan

DISC 2
The Man Behind The Legend - An Exclusive Interview With Director Gordon Chan
Brothers In Arms - An Exclusive Interview With Kung Fu Impresario Chin Siu-ho
The Way Of The Warrior
An Exclusive Interview With Japanese Action Legend Kurata Yasuaki
The School Of Hard Knocks - A Screen Fighting Seminar At The Celebrated Kurata Action School
A Hollywood Look At Fist Of Legend With Director Brett Ratner & Critic Elvis Mitchell
Deleted Scenes
Trailer Gallery
Buy it at Amazon.com


TAI CHI MASTER
Special Collectors Edition

Superstar Jet Li shows off his legendary speed, power, and agility at the peak of his martial arts prowess in this sweeping action epic. In an age of swordsmen and rebellion, two best friends and fellow martial arts students are expelled from the storied temple of Shaolin, only to meet again on the battlefield -- one a power-hungry general, the other a freedom-fighting rebel, both mortal enemies. Featuring Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’s Michelle Yeoh and directed by the celebrated Yuen Wo-ping (action choreographer of The Matrix films), Tai Chi Master is a quintessential martial arts classic.

SPECIAL FEATURES
Feature Length Commentary By Hong Kong Cinema Expert Bey Logan
Nemesis: An Exclusive Interview With Star Chin Siu Ho
The Birthplace of Tai Chi: On Location In Chen Village
Meditations On The Master: Director Brett Ratner And Critic Elvis Mitchell On Director Yuen Wo-ping
Twin Warriors: Critic Elvis Mitchell And Director Brett Ratner On Stars Jet Li And Michelle Yeoh
Original Home Video Trailer
Buy it at Amazon.com


THE LEGEND OF FONG SAI-YUK
Special Collector's Edition

Jet Li stars as a carefree young martial arts expert who gets involved with a government official’s daughter just as he discovers his family is part of a rebel resistance movement. While his fighting ability and charm made him a local champion, his epic battle for freedom would make him alegendary hero. Acclaimed choreographer Corey Yuen (The Transporter) directs Li at his jaw-dropping best, including an unbelievable sequence fought entirely atop the heads of stunned onlookers. Winner of Best Action Choreography at the Hong Kong Film Awards, The Legend ranks "waaaaay up there on the list of great Hong Kong Cinema experiences" (LoveHKFilm.com).

SPECIAL FEATURES
FEATURE COMMENTARY BY HONG KONG CINEMA EXPERT BEY LOGAN
HIT HARD & FLY HIGH: An Exclusive Interview With Director & Legendary Hollywood Fight Choreographer Corey Yuen
THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD:
An Exclusive Interview With Writer Jeff Lau
Languages: Cantonese Mono, English Dolby 5.1
Subtitles: English, Spanish, English SDH
Buy it at Amazon.com

For more up-to-date info, visit Dragon Dynasty's website or check out their pages at:
Facebook
YouTube
MySpace

Kick or Treat! Have a JET LI Halloween!

STAN HELSING -- DVD review by porfle

I don't want to say that I had low expectations for this movie, because actually, it would be more accurate to say that I had no expectations. Therefore, the fact that STAN HELSING (2009) turned out to be such a breezy, inventive, and consistently funny romp through some of our favorite horror film cliches of recent years (mainly the 80s and 90s) came as a delightful surprise.

Stan Helsing (Steve Howey in a likable performance) is a slacker and a stoner, but he isn't terminally out to lunch like such characters usually are. Basically he's a horny, fun-loving clod who happens to be shallow, conceited, and totally self-absorbed, but in a likable way. As the story begins, Stan has just gotten off work at Schlockbuster and is headed for what promises to be a fun Halloween party. Traveling there with his ex-girlfriend Nadine, his best friend Teddy, and Teddy's new girlfriend Mia, Stan announces that he has to drop off some DVDs for his boss' mom on the way. This takes them deep into the scary part of town (with street names such as Elm Street and Mockingbird Lane) where they promptly get lost and end up in a horrific gated community called Stormy Night Estates.

Stopping into a redneck bar, they're told by an incredibly ugly waitress (Leslie Nielsen as "Kay") that the community is cursed by monsters and that their only hope is the return of legendary monster hunter Van Helsing. Well, our non-hero Stan Helsing, it turns out, is actually Stan VAN Helsing, a descendant of the original monster hunter, which makes him and his friends the target of every monster, supernatural creature, and homicidal maniac within killing distance.

The gags fly fast and furious from start to finish, and most of them stick (or splat, as the case may be). Stan is ordered by his dweeby boss at Schlockbuster to go kill a cockroach that's been reported in the ladies' restroom. It turns out to be six feet tall and spewing some kind of disgusting goop from its nether regions. Stan also barges in on a couple of gorgeous lesbians, dressed as a cop and a French maid, who are making out in one of the stalls. Watching them flounce away after he bungles his chance to join in, he laments, "I cockblocked myself!" And that's just the first few minutes.

The road trip in search of Stan's boss' mom's house to deliver the DVDs (which turn out to be gay porn such as GRAZING RYAN'S PRIVATES and SOREST RUMP) is a mini-movie in itself as the group encounter a Charles Manson-like hitchhiker with a swastika carved on the end of his nose and a rage-stoked redneck who vows to kill them all after they run over his dog a la I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER. An innocent stopover at a gas station brings them into conflict with a scary shotgun-wielding hippie chick and a Native American pervert who videotapes them in the bathroom so he can sell DVDs of it to his customers. And we haven't even gotten to the actual monsters yet.

As for the monsters, you get Fweddy (last name Kwueger, I assume), the nightmare guy with the Swiss army knife glove; Michael Criers (Get it? It rhymes with "Myers" *cough, cough*); Pleatherface, a leafblower-wielding maniac whose face looks like a purse Mia bought in Tijuana; Needlehead ('nuff said); Mason, who now wears the entire hockey uniform; and a "Chucky" clone.

During their terror-filled night in Stormy Night Estates, our heroes also encounter the Brides of Dracula. This part's fun, because the fanged femmes are gorgeous and because Stan and Teddy have a shared fantasy sequence with the BOD (Brides of Dracula) as topless dancers. Yeah, baby! Later, they duck into a church and meet a cross-dressing altar boy (a funny Jeremy Crittenden) who gives them a super soaker filled with holy water, which, of course, Teddy drinks. The climactic karaoke contest between the good guys and the monsters is fun, especially when the monsters hit the stage as the Village People. The rest of the film is loaded with references to other horror flicks and it's fun picking them out.

With his ad-libs, funny expressions, expert delivery, and dumb-looking Superman costume, Kenan Thompson is a lot of fun to watch. The same and more can be said for Desi Lydic as the deliriously dizzy Mia. Not only is she cute as a button, but Desi's comedy sense is sharp as a bloody talon. Her exquisitely-delivered deadpan stupid-isms are often hilarious---she's probably the funniest thing about the whole movie. As Nadine, Diora Baird is not only an appealing actress but she's also gorgeous and has a great rack, which is prominently featured in every single shot that she's in and which you can also Google. Woo-hoo!

SCARY MOVIE executive producer Bo Zenga does a nice job directing and the film has a great look. Zenga provides a commentary track for the Anchor Bay DVD along with Desi Lydic and Kenan Thompson. Bonuses also include the featurette "Killer Parody: The Making of Stan Helsing", extended, alternate, and deleted scenes, outtakes, still gallery, storyboard gallery (yawn), and theatrical trailer. The film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Surround 5.1 and English subtitles.

With its AIRPLANE!-type comedy style and kitchen-sink story, STAN HELSING is just as dumb as it sounds--but it's a good dumb. I don't know how it compares to the SCARY MOVIE series, since I stopped watching those after the first one. One thing's for sure...it beats the hell out of VAN HELSING.

Buy it at Amazon.com:
DVD
Blu-Ray

STAN HELSING -- DVD review by porfle

"THE WOLFMAN" New Trailer and Pics -- from Universal Pictures 2/12/2010

Check out the NEW trailer at:

http://www.apple.com/trailers

http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/thewolfman/

Website: http://www.thewolfmanmovie.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheWolfman

Synopsis:

Inspired by the classic Universal film that launched a legacy of horror, The Wolfman brings the myth of a cursed man back to its iconic origins. Oscar® winner Benicio Del Toro stars as Lawrence Talbot, a haunted nobleman lured back to his family estate after his brother vanishes. Reunited with his estranged father (Oscar® winner Anthony Hopkins), Talbot sets out to find his brother...and discovers a horrifying destiny for himself.

Lawrence Talbot’s childhood ended the night his mother died. After he left the sleepy Victorian hamlet of Blackmoor, he spent decades recovering and trying to forget. But when his brother’s fiancée, Gwen Conliffe (Emily Blunt), tracks him down to help find her missing love, Talbot returns home to join the search. He learns that something with brute strength and insatiable bloodlust has been killing the villagers, and that a suspicious Scotland Yard inspector named Aberline (Hugo Weaving) has come to investigate.

As he pieces together the gory puzzle, he hears of an ancient curse that turns the afflicted into werewolves when the moon is full. Now, if he has any chance at ending the slaughter and protecting the woman he has grown to love, Talbot must destroy the vicious creature in the woods surrounding Blackmoor. But as he hunts for the nightmarish beast, a simple man with a tortured past will uncover a primal side to himself…one he never imagined existed.

Joe Johnston (Jurassic Park III) directs The Wolfman, and six-time Oscar®-winning special effects artist Rick Baker brings his design and makeup talents to transform Del Toro into the fearsome title character.

Release date: February 12, 2010
Genre: Action-Horror
Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, Art Malik
Directed by: Joe Johnston
Screenplay by: Andrew Kevin Walker and David Self
Based on the Motion Picture Screenplay by: Curt Siodmak
Produced by: Scott Stuber, Benicio Del Toro, Rick Yorn, Sean Daniel
Executive Producers: Bill Carraro, Ryan Kavanaugh

"THE WOLFMAN" New Trailer and Pics -- from Universal Pictures 2/12/2010

IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE DVD review

since this DVD came out in May of 2002 I won't be talking too much about the actual movie, aside to say it's easily one of the best that Universal made in the 50s. the print looks great and the sound is good. buy it here.

mostly I want to talk about the extras, starting with movie historian Tom Weaver's excellent commentary. I rarely listen to commentary tracks, since most of them are not that informative (maybe I've listened to the wrong ones, hello GIANT BEHEMOTH) but Tom does an exemplary job at talking about every part of the movie, from Ray Bradbury's two treatments for the scripts to the actors, directors, effects and locations used for filming. he also had a good sense of humor about some things but never treated any of the subject matter as a joke.

the other great extra is (I believe) a TCM produced documentary called "The Universe According to Universal" and it talks about many of the classic 50s sci-fi movies and aliens. not too long and not too short.

of course, the DVD itself has one glaring problem- that cover! while it's a cool looking alien, nothing like that appears in the movie at all. ever. did the moron who designed THE VALLEY OF GWANGI make this cover as well?

and for the record, I am glad they showed the xenomorphs in all their one eyed glory.

IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE DVD review

December Releases From CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment

THE FUGITIVE: SEASON THREE, VOLUME TWO

Dr. Richard Kimble is accused of murdering his wife. The night before his execution, he escapes. The only chance to prove his innocence is to find the man who killed his wife. Kimble, persecuted by Lt. Gerard, risks his life several times when he shows his identity to help other people out of trouble.

Actors: David Janssen, Barry Morse, William Conrad, Bill Raisch
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 4
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: December 8, 2009
Run Time: 722 minutes

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PERRY MASON: THE FOURTH SEASON, VOLUME TWO

Perry Mason is an attorney who specializes in defending seemingly indefensible cases. With the aid of his secretary Della Street and his investigator Paul Drake, he often finds that by digging deeply into the facts, startling secrets can be revealed. Relying on his outstanding courtroom skills, he often tricks or traps people into unwittingly admitting their guilt.

Actors: Raymond Burr, William Talman, Ray Collins, William Hooper
Format: Box set, Black & White, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 3
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: December 8, 2009
Run Time: 623 minutes

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TAXI: THE FINAL SEASON

"Taxi" followed the life of a group of cabbies in New York. The group, employees of the Sunshine Cab Company, was a motley crew including Bobby (Jeff Conaway), a frustrated actor, Tony (Tony Danza), a struggling boxer, Louie (Danny DeVito), the tyrannical dispatcher, and Reverend Jim (Christopher Lloyd), a spacey ex-hippie. The classic ensemble sitcom was hailed by critics and audiences alike after premiering on ABC Sept. 12, 1978.

Actors: Danny DeVito, Tony Danza, Christopher Lloyd, Andy Kaufman, Judd Hirsch
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 3
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: December 22, 2009
Run Time: 571 minutes

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UNITED STATES OF TARA: THE FIRST SEASON

Tara Gregson (Toni Collette) is a wife and mother with dissociative identity disorder (DID). After deciding to take a break from her medication to discover the real cause of her disorder, her alternate personalities re-emerge: wild and flirty teenager T; old-fashioned housewife Alice; and male, loud, beer-drinking Vietnam vet Buck. Tara is supported by her calm and level-headed husband Max (John Corbett), her somewhat troubled teenage daughter Kate (Brie Larson), and quirky, good-natured gay son Marshall (Keir Gilchrist). Her sister, Charmaine (Rosemarie DeWitt), is not so supportive, often expressing her doubt about the validity of Tara's disorder.

Actors: Toni Collette, John Corbett
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)

Number of discs: 1
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Showtime / Paramount
DVD Release Date: December 29, 2009
Run Time: 332 minutes

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THE TUDORS: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON (US ONLY)

"The Tudors" presents the rarely dramatized, tumultuous early years of King Henry VIII's nearly 40 year, omnipotent reign (1509-1547). In additionl to his famous female consorts and 20+ year marriage to Catherine of Aragorn to the infamous dalliance with Anne Boleyn, the series delves into Henry's most notable political relationship and the deconstruction of the Roman Catholic Church in England.

Actors: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Henry Cavill, James Frain
Format: AC-3, Box set, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
Number of discs: 3
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Showtime / Paramount
DVD Release Date: December 15, 2009
Run Time: 413 minutes

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December Releases From CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment

SPACEBALLS: THE TOTALLY WARPED ANIMATED ADVENTURES! On DVD December 29

THE ANIMATED RETURN TO A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY--
THE TOTALLY WARPED ANIMATED ADVENTURES!

Mel Brooks Lends His Voice And Writing Talent To The HilariousRe-Imagination Of The Greatest Star Wars Spoof Of All Time, Blasting Onto DVD December 29 From MGM Home Entertainment

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – May the farce be with you! Modern filmdom and popular culture get lampooned at ludicrous speed as “Spaceballs: The Totally Warped Animated Adventures!” comes to DVD December 29 from MGM Home Entertainment. Re-introducing the art of ridiculous satire to the small screen, the animated half-hour episodes pick up where the cult-classic feature film left off, showcasing rollicking parody of pop culture for a new generation of fans, including hilarious imitations of James Bond, Harry Potter and the video game “Grand Theft Auto.” Executive produced and Co-Created by Academy Award® winner Mel Brooks* (The Producers, Young Frankenstein), “Spaceballs: The Totally Warped Animated Adventures!” reprises the roles of the original Spaceballs cast, including Joan Rivers (“The Joan Rivers Show,” Shrek 2) as the droid Dot Matrix, Daphne Zuniga (“Melrose Place,” “One Tree Hill”) as the lovely Princess Vespa and Brooks as the comic sage Yogurt. Joining the fight against the evil Dark Helmet are unforgettable characters Captain Lone Starr and his half-human-half-canine sidekick, Barf.

Featuring hilarious intermission shorts between each of the four episodes, the “Spaceballs: The Totally Warped Animated Adventures!” DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.98 U.S. / $21.98 Canada. Prebook is December 2.

“Spaceballs: The Totally Warped Animated Adventures!” DVD Specs (Catalog #M113603):
● The Moron’s Guide
● Episode I – “Outbreak”
● Intermission – “Satisfied Customers”
● Episode II – “Skroobinator”
● Intermission – “Thanks For Your Order”
● Episode III – “The Deep Ship”
● Intermission – “Sing Along With Skyroob”
● Episode IV – “Grand Theft Starship”
● And That’s Not All
● One More Goodie
# # #
A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD) and Digital Copy as well as acquisitions and original productions. The company also releases all products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets – from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce - throughout the world. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company.

Follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Twitter @FoxHomeEnt

“Spaceballs: The Totally Warped Animated Adventures!” DVD
Street Date:
December 29, 2009
Order Date:
December 2, 2009
Screen Format:
Full

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SPACEBALLS: THE TOTALLY WARPED ANIMATED ADVENTURES! On DVD December 29

"BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT" on DVD and Blu-ray December 22nd

From Anchor Bay Entertainment
JESSE METCALFE, AMBER TAMBLYN AND ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER MICHAEL DOUGLAS STAR IN "BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT"

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Jesse Metcalfe (“Desperate Housewives”), Amber Tamblyn (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, “Joan of Arcadia”), and Academy Award® Winner Michael Douglas (Traffic, Wall Street) star in the gripping courtroom thriller Beyond A Reasonable Doubt, available on DVD and Blu-ray™ Tuesday, December 22^nd from Anchor Bay Entertainment (Pre-Book November 19^th). Directed by Peter Hyams (Running Scared, End of Days), Beyond A Reasonable Doubt is a remake of the 1956 film noir classic in which a writer's plan to expose a corrupt district attorney takes an unexpected turn. SRP is $29.98 for the DVD and $34.98 for the Blu-ray™ edition.

In Beyond A Reasonable Doubt, high profile District Attorney Mark Hunter (Michael Douglas) has an impeccable record putting criminals behind bars and is a shoo-in for governor in the upcoming election. But when ambitious rookie journalist, C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe) begins investigating Hunter for tampering with evidence to secure his convictions, the district attorney’s perfect record is up for scrutiny. Commencing a risky game of cat and mouse with Hunter, C.J. frames himself as a murder suspect to catch the corrupt D.A. in the act. Romantically involved with C.J. but unaware of his assignment, Assistant D.A. Ella Crystal (Amber Tamblyn) becomes caught between her boss’s political ambitions and C.J.’s dangerous exposé. As mounting evidence stacks up against both men, Ella’s own life becomes threatened when she discovers incriminating proof that puts the fate of both Nicholas’s innocence and Hunter’s reputation in her hands.

Beyond A Reasonable Doubt also features a stellar supporting cast that includes Joel David Moore (Avatar, “Bones”) and Orlando Jones (Drumline, “Everybody Hates Chris”).

Bonus features on Beyond A Reasonable Doubt DVD and Blu-ray™ include audio commentary with writer/director/cinematographer Peter Hyams and actor Jesse Metcalfe; The Whole Truth - The Making Of Beyond A Reasonable Doubt; Criminal Forensics - The Burden Of Proof; and the theatrical trailer.

About Anchor Bay Entertainment

Anchor Bay Entertainment is the home entertainment division of Starz Media, LLC. It includes the Anchor Bay Films and Manga Entertainment brands. It distributes feature films, children’s entertainment, fitness, TV series, documentaries, anime and other filmed entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray™ formats. It is the exclusive distributor in the U.S. of the theatrical titles from Overture Films. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment has offices in Troy, MI, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Starz Media (www.starzmedia.com) is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Capital Group.

BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT DVD

Street Date: December 22, 2009

Pre-book: November 19, 2009

Run Time: 105 minutes

Rating: PG-13

SRP: $29.98

Format: 1.85:1 / 16x9

Audio: Dolby Surround 5.1

Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish

Bonus Features: Audio Commentary with Writer/Director/Cinematographer Peter Hyams and Actor Jesse Metcalfe

The Whole Truth - The Making Of Beyond A Reasonable Doubt

Criminal Forensics - The Burden Of Proof

Theatrical Trailer

BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT BLU-RAY™

Street Date: December 22, 2009

Pre-book: November 19, 2009

Run Time: 105 minutes

Rating: PG-13

SRP: $34.98

Format: 1.85:1 / 16x9

Audio: Dolby Surround 5.1

Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish

Bonus Features: Audio Commentary with Writer/Director/Cinematographer Peter Hyams and Actor Jesse Metcalfe

The Whole Truth - The Making Of Beyond A Reasonable Doubt

Criminal Forensics - The Burden Of Proof

Theatrical Trailer

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"BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT" on DVD and Blu-ray December 22nd

"MENTAL" SEASON ONE -- On DVD December 1

THERE IS NO MYSTERY GREATER THAN THE HUMAN MIND

Delve Into The Disturbed When The Four-Disc Set Arrives On DVD December 1 From Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

LOS ANGELES, CA. – (October 9, 2009) – Get ready to go mental for the fresh and compelling medical mystery drama with a titillating touch of insanity when “Mental” Season One debuts on DVD December 1 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. As the new Director of Psychiatric Services at Wharton Memorial Hospital, Dr. Jack Gallagher (Chris Vance; “Prison Break”) has a lot to cope with. Gallagher uses his unique talent to probe the intriguing psyches of his troubled patients, but his unorthodox methods place him at odds with his quirky colleagues, including his new boss (Annabella Sciorra; “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”), who just happens to be his ex-lover. Meanwhile, Gallagher must search for the missing pieces of his own troubled past.

Brightly funny and utterly riveting, “Mental” is not to be missed! Featuring a strong supporting cast including Jacqueline McKenzie (“The 4400”) and Marisa Ramirez (“The Young And The Restless”) the saucy series’ DVD bonus features include an unrated alternate pilot and ‘Paging Dr. Gallagher’ featurette. “Mental” Season One will be available on DVD for the suggested retail price of $49.98 U.S. / $59.98 Canada. Prebook is November 4.

Standard DVD Features: (Catalog #2263880)
Disc One
Pilot

Beautiful Delusion

Book Of Judges

Disc Two
Manic At The Disco
Roles Of Engagement
Rainy Days
Obsessively Yours

Disc Three
House Of Mirrors
Coda
Do Over
Lines In The Sand

Disc Four
Life And Limb
Bad Moon Rising

Special Features:
Unrated Alternate Pilot
Paging Dr. Gallagher

Follow TCFHE on Twitter @foxhomeent

“MENTAL” SEASON ONE
Street Date: December 1, 2009
Order Date: November 4, 2009
Screen Format: Widescreen – 1.78:1
Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound with English, Spanish and French subtitles
Total Run Time: 623 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Closed Captioned: Yes

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"MENTAL" SEASON ONE -- On DVD December 1

November Releases From CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL TV SEASON

The classic spy series "Mission Impossible" returns for Season Seven, the most exciting one yet! The action drama about the activities of the IMF (Impossible Missions Force) was a sensation from the beginning. The inspired cast, fast-moving plots, neat gadgets, pre-recorded tapes that self-destruct--all these elements made this brilliant show one of television's crowning achievements. For the final season, Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) continues to focus on targets outside the reach of conventional law enforcement, as he and special effects whiz Barney (Greg Morris), muscle man Willy (Peter Lupus), and the gorgeous Casey (Lynda Day George) help smash organized crime rings.

Actors: Peter Graves, Greg Morris, Peter Lupus, Lynda Day George, Barbara Anderson
Format: AC-3, Box set, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Portuguese, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 6
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount Home Video
DVD Release Date: November 3, 2009
Run Time: 1115 minutes

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THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION VOLUME TWO

Set in the 24th century decades after the adventures of the original crew of the starship Enterprise, this new series is the long-awaited successor to the original "Star Trek" (1966). Under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the all new Enterprise NCC 1701-D travels out to distant planets to seek out new lilfe and to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Actors: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Levar Burton, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Number of discs: 1
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009
Run Time: 181 minutes

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THE BEST OF STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES VOLUME TWO

"Space...The Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before!" The series is set in the 23rd century where Earth has survived World War III then moved on to explore the stars.

Actors: Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Number of discs: 1
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009
Run Time: 201 minutes

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NASH BRIDGES: THE THIRD SEASON

"Nash Bridges" starring Don Johnson is a high-action drama about a San Francisco police investigator who deserves his reputation as a topnotch cop, but who's not always so successful when it comes to his personal life. As a member of the elite Special Investigations Unit, Nash relies on his streetwise instincts, keen sense of humor and charm to work his magic on the streets of San Francisco.

Actors: Don Johnson, Cheech Marin, Jeff Perry, Jaime Gomez, James Gammon
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: November 10, 2009
Run Time: 1059 minutes

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THE UNTOUCHABLES: SEASON THREE, VOLUME TWO

"The Untouchables" chronicles the campaign of Eliot Ness (Robert Stack), the young U.S. Prohibition Bureau agent, to smash the beer and booze empire of Al Capone in 1920s Chicago.

Actors: Robert Stack, Walter Winchell, Nicholas Georgiade, Paul Picerni, Abel Fernandez
Format: Box set, Black & White, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Portuguese, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: November 10, 2009
Run Time: 603 minutes

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JAG: THE NINTH SEASON

A one-hour dramatic series that follows the adventures of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) team as they investigate, defend, and prosecute military-related cases from their home base near Washington, D.C. Commander Harmon "Harm" Rabb Jr. (David James Elliott) is a daring Navy officer and lawyer who works together with partner Lt. Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie (Catherine Bell), commanding officer Admiral Chegwidden (John M. Jackson), and attorney Lieutenant Bud Roberts (Patrick Labyorteaux). "JAG: The Ninth Season" combines all the intensity of the battlefield and all the suspense of a criminal investigation into an action-packed collectable DVD set.

Actors: Chuck Carrington, David James Elliott, Scott Lawrence, Patrick Labyorteaux, John M. Jackson
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Number of discs: 1
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: November 10, 2009
Run Time: 1012 minutes

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HOGAN'S HEROES: THE KOMPLEAT SERIES, KOMMANDANT'S KOLLECTION

The inmates of a German World War II prisoners of war camp conduct espionage and sabotage campaigns right under the noses of their warders. While the enemy is often gullible, easily fooled or downright incompetent--the real strengths of Hogan's men are the elaborate ruses and sometimes dangerous lengths they will go to in order to complete their mission.

Actors: Richard Dawson, Larry Hovis, Robert Clary, Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Restored, NTSC
Language: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 28
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: November 24, 2009

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TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL: INSPIRATION COLLECTION (HOPE)
TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL INSPIRATION COLLECTION (HOLIDAY)

"Touched By an Angel" the Inspiration Collection features select episodes from the critically-acclaimed and landmark show that brought a message of hope and faith to millions of families. Get inspired again with the Emmy nominated show that followed the adventures of angels Monica (Roma Downey), Tess (Della Reese), and Andrew (John Dye).

Hope
Holiday

Also coming in November:

7TH HEAVEN: SEASON NINE
BEVERLY HILLS 90210: THE EIGHTH SEASON
MELROSE PLACE: THE FIFTH SEASON

November Releases From CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment

"THE TOURNAMENT" -- Fast-Paced, Action Thriller Bows Onto DVD October 20

With a $10 million cash prize and title of World’s No. 1 Assassin on the line, a group of contestants comprised of the world’s greatest professional killers fight it out to the death in THE TOURNAMENT, debuting on DVD October 20 from Vivendi Entertainment and The Weinstein Company. Boasting a stellar cast including Golden Globe®-winner Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible Trilogy), Robert Carlyle (28 Weeks Later), Ian Somerhalder (“Lost”) and Kelly Hu (X-Men: The Last Stand), the tension mounts as the number of players decreases and the stakes get higher for each of the assassins.

Watching the assassins hunt each other down from the safety of a secret room, all bets are off and the tables are turned when the gamblers’ location is revealed. Including “The Making of The Tournament” featurette, THE TOURNAMENT will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.97.

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"THE TOURNAMENT" -- Fast-Paced, Action Thriller Bows Onto DVD October 20

CHILDREN OF THE CORN -- DVD review by porfle

I've heard the original 1984 version of this movie described as a "classic", but the only things I remember from when I saw it back in the 80s are Linda Hamilton (lookin' good) and Courtney Gains (lookin', unfortunately, like Courtney Gains). And also the fact that, for me, it seems to have been pretty unmemorable. How, then, would I react to a made-for-TV remake of this Stephen King story? Why am I asking you?

Having just watched it, I can now state unequivocally that the 2009 TV-remake of CHILDREN OF THE CORN is...okay. Looking very much like a TV-movie with extra gore and nudity added for the DVD, it begins in 1975 with Burt Stanton (David Anders) and his wife Vicki (Kandyse McClure) driving through Nebraska farm country and trying to find their way out of it. These people hate each other and are constantly arguing, which distracts Burt long enough for him to accidentally run over a little kid who darts out from the tall corn. Shocked and horrified, they discover that the boy's throat has been cut.

Burt decides to take the body to the nearest town and report the incident, but the small village of Gatlin seems deserted. Suddenly, Burt and Vicki are surrounded and attacked by hordes of creepy children who are devoted members of a religious cult led by the diminutive Isaac (Preston Bailey), whom they believe is in direct contact with the wrathful God of the Old Testament. Isaac preaches that all adults over the age of 19 are sinful and must be killed, which is why there aren't any grownups around. Burt and Vicki, naturally, become the next targets of this twisted cult and potential sacrifices to their unusually corn-centric God.

Probably the most noticeable thing about this movie at first is that Kandyse McClure's "Vicki" is one of the most insufferable characters in film history. Crabby, vindictive, self-centered, whiny, verbally sadistic (she berates Burt for being a Viet Nam vet), incessantly bitchy--and these are her good qualities--Vicki is automatically the character we most want to see die horribly.

Others, including perfidious pipsqueak Isaac and his older punk toady Malachai, will join her on that list, along with just about every other brat in the movie, but Vicki tops them all. McClure, who played Sue Snell in another Stephen King TV-remake (the much-superior CARRIE), must be credited for making this character every bit as hateworthy as written.

David Anders' "Burt" thus becomes the only person that we can root for, and the movie is at its best when the former Marine is kicking some serious little-kid butt. His wartime experience comes back to haunt him as he's being chased through the cornfields and has flashbacks in which he imagines himself eluding the Viet Cong, making the protracted chase sequence more interesting. Anders, who I found impressive in the nifty 2006 supernatural flick LEFT IN DARKNESS, does a good job as Burt and gives us just about the only reason we have to care about anything that happens in this movie.

Preston Bailey, who plays Rita's son Cody on "Dexter", tries to be forceful and imposing as cult leader "Isaac" but still looks like he belongs in a Sugar Pops commercial. The kid does manage to spout a heck of a lot of unwieldy dialogue, though, laden with Old Testament-style threats and pronouncements, so you've got to hand it to him. A homicidal fire-and-brimstone wackjob isn't the kind of character that nine-year-old actors are usually asked to portray.

The direction by Donald P. Borchers, who co-produced the original film, is competent but unexceptional. Borchers also wrote the teleplay (inspired by the unused screenplay by King for the first version), which contains some groan-worthy lines such as "Put that in your God and smoke it!" and a whole lot of faux-Biblical blather.

On the sex-and-violence front, some grievous-looking wounds are among the nice gore effects--a broken arm with protruding bone, a spurting throat gash or two, a couple of horribly mutilated victims--and there's a surprising sex scene which takes place on the altar of Isaac's church when he announces that it's time for "fertilization." The score by Jonathan Elias, who also did the music for the original version, is noisy and overbearing. Even the edits make noise.

The DVD from Anchor Bay is 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Surround 5.1 and English subtitles for the hearing-impaired. The bonus feature is an in-depth, entertaining 45-minute documentary, "Rough Cuts: Remaking 'Children of the Corn'", which is broken into four chapters--"New Directions", "Cast of the Corn", "To Live and Die in Gatlin", and "Fly on the Wall." Included are lots of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and filmmakers.

Borchers states that he'd love to hear Stephen King's opinion of the new film, in which the author chose not to participate, since it sticks much closer to his original vision. I've definitely seen worse films that enjoyed King's direct involvement. CHILDREN OF THE CORN redux isn't all that bad for a low-budget TV-movie, although I doubt if very many people will still be talking about it fifteen years from now.

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CHILDREN OF THE CORN -- DVD review by porfle

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 2 DVD Review

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was a show that despite having a devoted fanbase was canceled after only two seasons due to poor ratings. Its attempt to expand the Terminator mythos via TV was an interesting idea that few people thought would work. However, thefurther adventures of John and Sarah Connor and their new terminator turned guardian was certainly an enjoyable experience for its short lifespan. The final season arrives on DVD and Blu-Ray from Warner Brothers Home Video allowing fans the chance to complete the series and send off of a great show with an excellent DVD package.

Video: The show is 1:78:1 Anamorphically enhanced and spots generally excellent video quality. There are no print defects of any type or errors brought about by digital encoding. In short the picture on Terminator is great and helps enhance an already great program.

Audio: The DVD has an excellent 5.1 Dolby soundtrack that conveys both the action, music and the dialogue quite well without one drowning out the other. Since this show is heavily based on action having a great sound mix is a huge plus.

Extras: Terminator is loaded with a ton of extras. Besides the usual commentary (on 4 episodes), deleted scenes, and gag reel there is an excellent and fairly lengthy 8 part featurette about the making of the show. Since the show was not picked up for a third season, this may be the closest thing fans will get to a comprehensive documentary about the show. The extras go above and beyond the call of normal extras and make a great show an amazing DVD package.

Overview: While it is a shame that Terminator did not get picked up for a third seasons, fans can console themselves with having the full second season on DVD and some excellent extras. If you are a fan of the show this is a must buy.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 2 DVD Review

STAUNTON HILL -- DVD review by porfle

After directing an obscure 1995 film called "Plant Life" and another one in 2007 called "The Screening" that I hadn't heard of, George Romero's son Cameron is going for a little name recognition with his DTV gorefest STAUNTON HILL (2009), or "Cameron Romero's Staunton Hill" as it says on the DVD cover. The back cover blurb--"This is as scary as it gets"--sounds like a great recommendation, except that it's from the director's dad. But this movie, despite being a gorehound's delight, needs all the help it can get.

The story takes place in the backwoods of Virginia in 1969 (which takes care of that pesky cell phone problem) where a group of young people are hitching to D.C. to attend "the rallies." A guy named Quintin (Charlie Bodin) gives them a lift in his pickup, but it breaks down and they have to hike to a secluded farmhouse. After spending the night in a barn, they wake up the next morning to find the place run by a family of kooks--a sickly-sweet toad of a woman named Louise (Kathy Lamkin), her freaky wheelchair-bound mama Geraldine (Sherry Weston), and her lumbering oaf of a son, Buddy (B.J. Hendricks).

It doesn't take long for our dull protagonists to realize that the Stauntons' main business isn't cattle, but humans. We keep seeing flashes of a mad doctor and his sexy nurse hovering over a young female patient for whom illicit replacement parts must be procured, and the Stauntons are well-equipped to supply them. This results in some incredibly grisly scenes of dismemberment.

Buddy, who appears to have been kicked in the face by a horse some time in the past, literally disassembles one of his victims in one of the most shockingly graphic sequences imaginable. Later, the slow, scalping and disemboweling of another live subject recalls films such as Joe Spinell's MANIAC and Romero Sr.'s DAWN OF THE DEAD. Overall, these are some of the best gore SPFX I've ever seen.

Earlier flashes of the victims in happier times are inserted into these gore scenes, which almost makes us care about their cardboard characters but not quite. The leads do their best with their unlikable roles but there's not much to work with, and the dialogue is often so dumb that it makes them look bad. Written by David Rountree, who plays "Cole", the script builds slowly to some horrific setpieces, features a long hunt-and-chase sequence, and then fizzles out into a disappointing and somewhat confusing ending.

Kiko Ellsworth as "Boone" provides what are probably the most effective moments as his character watches helplessly while his girlfriend is mutilated. As "Trish", Paula Rhodes manages to evoke some sympathy just by being so kewpie-doll cute. Cristen Coppen, Christine Carlo, and Rountree are okay but unmemorable, as is Cooper Huckabee (THE FUNHOUSE) in a small role. Meanwhile, the demented yokels who end up terrorizing them are odd but not in a particularly entertaining or original way. B.J. Hendricks gets points for portraying "Buddy" in a fairly convincing manner instead of trying to be a comic book super-psycho.

Romero displays a deft visual sense and the camerawork is good, with some really nice helicopter shots here and there. The editing is also good when it isn't too indulgent. Jesper Kyd contributes an interesting and unusual musical score.

The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and English subtitles for the hard-of-hearing. No extras.

STAUNTON HILL suffices as a run-of-the-mill murder flick that looks good but isn't anywhere near good enough to distinguish Cameron Romero from the rest of the pack. It wants to be a worthy successor to films like TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE--not to mention the elder Romero's classics--but while it's got the guts (and plenty of them), it just doesn't have the brains.

Buy it at Amazon.com

STAUNTON HILL -- DVD review by porfle