"Walking Dead" Fans: SAVE THE DATE! August 25, 2015

SAVE THE DATE!

AUGUST 25, 2015

Dear "Walking Dead" Fans:

For the past five years, we have followed the amazing tale of survival that is "The Walking Dead." With the end of every season, comes the knowledge that-- for the moment-- we must part with the characters we have come to embrace. While it won’t be too long before their story resumes, Anchor Bay Entertainment proudly continues the tradition of offering fans one more chance to revisit the exciting season that was...

"The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season" will be released on Blu-ray™ + Digital HD and DVD on August 25th. Just like the award winning previous home entertainment releases, "The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season" will dazzle viewers with state-of-the-art video and audio presentations.

More information, including bonus feature content, technical specs, and limited edition will be available soon.

Until we meet again at Alexandria...
 

"Walking Dead" Fans: SAVE THE DATE! August 25, 2015

Movies and More TV--This Week's Free Online Features

 

This week's features:

Movies were never more stylish and stars more sophisticated than in the late 1930's. Cases in point: MoviesAndMore.tv's four feature films for this week. Judge for yourself from performances by Carole Lombard, William Powell, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy and Frederic March. Plus, a double dose of the inimitable Cary Grant.



Check Today's Attractions on Moviesandmore.tv for dates and times (ET) for these features as well as for all the great free movies on Moviesandmore.tv.

Watch a movie
Coming attractions
Subscribe
Contact us

Published by MoviesAndMore.tv A Division of M&M Television Inc.

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest

Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.

Movies and More TV--This Week's Free Online Features

"Against the Sun" -- Available on DVD May 5th from Anchor Bay Entertainment and Amplify Releasing

"…features three strong no-frills performances…" ~ Sheila O’Malley, RogerEbert.com


From Anchor Bay Entertainment and Amplify Releasing comes Against the Sun, a true story out of World War II of three U.S. Navy airmen who have crash landed in the South Pacific and must find a way to survive the most impossible of odds. A story of the danger of hope, the temptation of despair and man’s ultimate power to endure, Against the Sun will be available on DVD on May 5, 2015 for an SRP of $22.98.

The Against the Sun DVD bonus features include a Behind the Scenes look; A Plane Takes Flight; Starving At Sea; Working On Water; F/X: On Set And Off; Blisters, Burns And Bites; and Dressing The Part.

While hunting Japanese fighter planes, three airmen are forced to crash land their torpedo bomber in the worst of all places: the endless expanse of the ocean, where there is no end, no shade, nowhere to hide. Pilot Harold Dixon (Garret Dillahunt, "Deadwood", 12 Years a Slave), bombardier Tony Pastula (Tom Felton, the Harry Potter film series, Rise of the Planet of the Apes), and radioman Gene Aldrich (Jake Abel, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, The Host) are surrounded by open ocean with no food, no water and with no help in sight. These strangers become suddenly dependent on each other as they try to encompass the thousand miles that separate them from safety.

Three distinct personalities are thrown together to battle sharks, starvation, and the unceasing sun – a battle that none of them signed up for. A stirring tale of both strength and weakness, Against the Sun is a study of loneliness, of desolation, and the courage that is born when human endurance can seemingly fight no more.

AGAINST THE SUN – DVD
Street Date: May 5, 2015
Cat. #: DV62850
UPC: 013132628509
Run Time: 99 minutes
SRP: $22.98
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish

Buy it at Amazon.com 

"Against the Sun" -- Available on DVD May 5th from Anchor Bay Entertainment and Amplify Releasing

"The Admiral: Roaring Currents" Thrilling War Epic Available on DVD and Blu-ray April 28

The sea battles are absolutely epic, more realistic and thrilling than John Woo's 2008 "Red Cliff" or even Peter Weir's 2003 "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World."- The Los Angeles Times

THE ADMIRAL: ROARING CURRENTS DVD AND BLU-RAY
HITS STORES THIS APRIL

Oldboy’s CHOI Min-Sik Leads 12 Ships against a Fleet of 330 in
Gripping Hour Long Battle Sequence

Highest Grossing Korean Language Film Ever Released in North America

Los Angeles, CA – March 16, 2015 - South Korea’s thrilling war epic, The Admiral: Roaring Currents, starring international film star CHOI Min-sik (Oldboy, Lucy), will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 28, 2015. This stirring naval drama, which chronicles the real-life battle of Myeong-Nyang, includes a gripping, critically acclaimed hour long sea battle sequence.

The Admiral is the brutal retelling of the battle of Myeong-Nyang, the legendary naval conflict that occurred during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1597. On the 16th of September in 1597, Admiral Yi Sun-shin (CHOI Min-sik) was left with only 12 battleships to face an insurmountable fleet of 330 Japanese battleships. This battle and its result is the most well-known conflict in Korean history, as the Japanese military relentlessly charged towards the capital and the nation faced the possibility of losing the war.

Last summer, theater-goers took notice of The Admiral’s high-octane brand of military action when during its theatrical run it became the highest grossing Korean language film ever released in North America. In addition to its strong box office showing in North America, The Admiral made $127 million in ticket sales in South Korea, making it the most watched film in South Korean film history.

The title will retail for $26.98 SRP (DVD) and $29.98 SRP (Blu-ray). Bonus features offered on Blu-ray include an exclusive "The Making of The Admiral: Roaring Currents" video, The Admiral highlights, teaser, and trailer. Bonus features offered on DVD are The Admiral highlights, teaser, and trailer.

The Admiral: Roaring Currents is presented, produced, and distributed by CJ Entertainment.

Buy it at Amazon.com:
Blu-ray
DVD 

"The Admiral: Roaring Currents" Thrilling War Epic Available on DVD and Blu-ray April 28

"Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn" Available on DVD/VOD April 7, 2015

Entertainment One Presents:

TOM SAWYER & HUCKLEBERRY FINN

Available on DVD/VOD April 7, 2015

Directed by Jo Kastner
Starring Jake T. Austin, Joel Courtney, Katherine McNamara, and Val Kilmer

Based on the classic novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" comes the newest adaptation of this timeless tale. The story unfolds as Mark Twain (Val Kilmer) narrates his masterpiece and brings his beloved characters to life. Tom Sawyer (Joel Courtney) has nothing but pranks and mischief on his mind, but luckily his fearless friend Huckleberry ‘Huck’ Finn (Jake T. Austin) loves adventure as much as he does. When the daring duo witness trouble in a graveyard, Tom and Huck are thrown headfirst into adventure, putting their courage to the test!

Written and directed by Jo Kastner and based on Mark Twain’s novel, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." TOM SAWYER & HUCKLEBERRY FINN stars Jake T. Austin, Joel Courtney, Katherine McNamara, and Val Kilmer. Gabriel Georgiev and Jo Kastner are the producers, and Andrew Relis and Marcus Weinhart are the Executive Producers.

Actors: Val Kilmer, Jake T. Austin, Joel Courtney
Format: Multiple Formats, AC-3, DTS Surround Sound, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Ent. One Music
DVD Release Date: April 7, 2015
Run Time: 91 minutes

Buy it at Amazon.com

"Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn" Available on DVD/VOD April 7, 2015

Movies and More TV--This Week's Free Online Features

This week's features:

With Fashion Weeks winding down in style capitals across the globe, MoviesAndMore.tv pays homage to Hollywood trendsetters across the decades with four feature films where the wardrobes have starring roles.

Check Today's Attractions on Moviesandmore.tv for dates and times (ET) for these features as well as for all the great free movies on Moviesandmore.tv.

Read HK and Cult Film News' review of THE WOMEN.

Watch a movie
Coming attractions
Subscribe
Contact us

Published by MoviesAndMore.tv A Division of M&M Television Inc.

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest

Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.

Movies and More TV--This Week's Free Online Features

FRAILTY -- DVD Review by Porfle

[NOTE: This is one of my first reviews, which was posted at the now-defunct Bumscorner.com back in 2005. Contains spoilers.]

Every once in a great while, if you dig deep enough in Wal-Mart's budget DVD bin, you find buried treasure. The other day I was rummaging through the mass of crummy movies, cringing whenever I touched a particularly rancid one, when suddenly I saw it: FRAILTY. For $5.50? Now that's a deal!

FRAILTY (2002) is the directing debut of Bill Paxton, best known as Pvt. Hudson in ALIENS, and he does an excellent job. He also stars as "Dad" (we never find out his name), a widower raising two young sons in rural East Texas. He's a good father, and strives to provide his boys Fenton and Adam with a stable, happy life. The three of them form a close, loving family which seemingly nothing could tear asunder.

Until late one night, that is, when suddenly the light in the boys' bedroom snaps on and they wake to see Dad at the door, shaken and profoundly disturbed. He tells them that he's just been visited by an angel with a fiery sword, delivering a message straight from God. A war between good and evil is coming, the angel told him, and there are demons in the world. Dad has been chosen to be among those on the side of good, whose task will be to seek out these demons (who look just like normal people) and destroy them. Soon he will be given three magical weapons (which turn out to be a metal pipe for disabling the demons, a pair of work gloves to allow him to touch them without seeing visions of their past evil deeds until the time for this has come -- and an axe) and a list of seven names -- the first seven which must be dispatched. Dad has no doubt whatsoever that he has seen this vision, and that it is absolutely real.

The younger son, Adam, is excited by the news. "Does this mean we're like superheroes, Dad?" he asks, eager to get started. But his older brother, Fenton, finds it all a bit hard to take, fearing for Dad's sanity and the fate of their family should such a plan actually be put into motion. He hopes that all of this is just a bad dream, or some weird anomaly that will pass away on its own. Until the night he wakes to see Dad outside his window, carrying what appears to be a writhing, blanket-wrapped body into the tool shed...

All of this is told in flashback one rainy night in the office of an FBI agent (Powers Boothe) by a strange visitor (Matthew McConaughey) who claims to be the adult Fenton. He says that he knows the identity of the killer responsible for a recent string of violent murders, and that the killer is his own brother, Adam, now carrying on Dad's holy quest to rid the world of demons. Boothe is skeptical at first, but little by little the story begins to sound more believable. At last he agrees to accompany Fenton to the old rose garden beside his boyhood home, where he claims the bodies are buried...but at the end of this journey the FBI agent will find more than he ever bargained for.

FRAILTY is a top-notch mystery/horror/thriller that had me riveted from beginning to end. The performances are excellent -- Paxton, unfairly maligned by some critics throughout his career, has never been better, and the two boys (Matt O'Leary and Jeremy Sumpter) who play Fenton and Adam are very good. McConaughey and Boothe add a great intensity to their scenes together, and it's nice to see two Texans (who both hail from the same town less than ten miles from where I'm sitting) investing their characters with such regional authenticity. They're aided by a great script by Brent Hanley and a production team that includes master cinematographer Bill Butler, whose lighting and skill with practical effects greatly enhance the visual mood. The supporting cast, especially Luke Askew (the hitchhiker in EASY RIDER) as the town sheriff, are also fine.

The DVD itself is a real keeper, with two documentaries, deleted scenes, a trailer, a photo gallery, and three seperate commentary tracks that are all among the best and most enthusiastic I've ever heard, with lots of interesting facts and anecdotes, and nary a dead spot. Paxton's director's commentary is the best, but there's also a track by screenwriter Hanley and a production commentary featuring three participants -- and in all three cases, the speakers keep talking through the closing credits instead of clearing out as soon as their obligations have been fulfilled. For $5.50 (or $9.98 as it's listed on Amazon), this DVD is a steal. [NOTE: Amazon is currently offering the DVD for $5.00 and the Blu-ray for $6.55.]

FRAILTY contains many acts of extreme violence, but Paxton wisely cuts away before we see them -- the events depicted are creepy and upsetting enough without the need for graphic detail. The story will have you guessing until the end -- has Dad suddenly gone totally insane? Or did God really give him a vision, and a horrible task to fulfill, as he claims? Will Fenton be able to prevent the ghastly carnage that is sure to ensue if this "vision" is carried out? And what of the younger boy, Adam, who believes every word of Dad's story without reservation?

Buy it at Amazon.com:
Blu-ray
DVD

FRAILTY -- DVD Review by Porfle

THIRTEENTH ANNUAL RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS -- Voting Under Way NOW!

IT'S MONDO RONDO TIME AGAIN!

"Long live the Rondos!" - Ain't It Cool News
"I love Rondo!" - Guillermo del Toro

Forget the Oscars--forget the Emmys--it's time to cast your vote for the awards that really matter. Namely, the THIRTEENTH ANNUAL RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS!

Growing in popularity by leaps and bounds is this increasingly prestigious annual award which was created by fans (David Colton and Kerry Gammill) for fans (this means you!) and is a fond tribute to the one and only Rondo Hatton of THE BRUTE MAN and HOUSE OF HORRORS fame. The eerily lifelike bust itself was sculpted by illustrator Gammill, and cast by modeler Tim Lindsey.

Everything you need to know about the Rondos, including nominees, past winners, upcoming unsanity, and tons of other stuff--not to mention THE OFFICIAL BALLOT--can be found at The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards website.

And to find out how to participate in the excitement yourself, along with a crypt-load of other creepy threads on the subject, check out the Rondo folder at the Classic Horror Film Board.

All together now: "Da doo ron Rondo, da doo ron ron!"

 

THIRTEENTH ANNUAL RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS -- Voting Under Way NOW!

LOVE IN THE TIME OF MONSTERS -- DVD Review by Porfle

I like a good horror movie spoof, but I'm getting a little tired of the ones that keep winking at us and trying to impress us with how self-aware and "meta" they are. That's why I liked LOVE IN THE TIME OF MONSTERS (2014)--because, instead of constantly letting us know that it knows it's a horror spoof, it just concentrates on being one.

Sisters Marla (Gena Shaw) and Carla (Marissa Skell, SORORITY PARTY MASSACRE), who lost their dad in a tragic family vacation mishap years earlier, travel deep into the forest to Uncle Slavko's All-American Family Lodge where Carla's husband-to-be Johnny (Jade Carter) works as a costumed Bigfoot performer. But as they spend a boring weekend in tourist trap hell, Johnny and the other performing Bigfoots fall into a lake contaminated by deadly industrial waste and are transformed into mindless, flesh-eating monsters who attack the lodge and everyone in it.

I don't remember this particular premise turning up in very many other movies, which makes this one refreshingly unique even as it pays homage to various genre tropes here and there. Aside from the sisters, you got Brandi the bimbo (2010 Playboy Playmate of the Month Heather Rae Young, CHILLERAMA), macho hunk Armando (Danny Vasquez), bossy bitch Agatha (Paula Rhodes as Uncle Slavko's ultra-efficient employee wrangler), crazy backwoods Bigfoot hunter Chester (Hugo Armstrong, LAY THE FAVORITE), sassy gay guy "Big Kahuna" (Ben Palacios), sassy black lady Jade (Zylan Brooks), cowardly nerd Dan (Alex Sanborn), and egghead know-it-all Dr. Lincoln (Doug Jones, who played Silver Surfer in FANTASTIC 4: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER).

Everyone's favorite Jason Voorhees, Kane Hodder, gets to freak out to his heart's content as the head Bigfoot when he and his bloodthirsty companions--still snug inside their fluffy, furry Bigfoot costumes--come staggering out of the woods and descend upon everyone in sight in an orgy of cannibalistic carnage that should satisfy the gorehound in you while somehow still managing to tickle your funnybone.

Not that LOVE IN THE TIME OF MONSTERS reaches any dizzying heights of hilarity--some of the humor, in fact, is groan-worthy, and two or three times in the latter half things grind to a dead stop for some really ill-conceived stabs at seriousness (such as the secret unrequited love between crazy Chester and Slavko's lonesome wife, Marianna, played by former "Baywatch" babe Shawn Weatherly).

But overall, the whole thing is just so pleasantly goofy and, at times, genuinely amusing that it can't help being likable. A few touches are downright surreal, as when the surrounding wildlife itself becomes infected by industrial waste and our heroes find themselves being attacked by hordes of crazed birds, fish, a killer moose, and more. Even so, the film gets points for not desperately bombarding us with so much random, over-the-top nonsense that we get numbed by it.

Production values are good considering the low budget, and performances are generally above-average. The gore and other practical effects, while not always convincing, are plentiful and often comical. (I particularly liked the chest-burster scene.) While the film really drags in the third act, it cranks up again for a big frenetic finale that sends us away smiling.

The DVD from Indican Pictures is in anamorphic widescreen with 5.1 surround and stereo sound, plus subtitles in English. Extras consist of a genial director/ writer/producer commentary, "making-of" video blogs, outtakes, deleted scenes, and a music video for the song "Magnum Love" by Thunderdikk, which I listened to for about five seconds.

Aside from the misguided attempts at actual drama (funny dialogue--GOOD! Serious dialogue--BAD!), LOVE IN THE TIME OF MONSTERS is just simple, dumb fun, and proud of it.

Buy it at Amazon.com

Trailer

Official site

LOVE IN THE TIME OF MONSTERS -- DVD Review by Porfle

Screenwriter Richard Christian Matheson Joins Most Realistic Sci-Fi TV Series Ever

Writer Richard Christian Matheson to Join Voyager Crew!

Prolific screenwriter and producer Richard Christian Matheson has just signed on to join the team of VOYAGER, which aims to be the most innovative and realistic television series about space exploration ever made.

The son of award-winning novelist and screenwriter Richard Matheson (I Am Legend), his many credits include last year's Big Driver (story by Stephen King), Happy Face Killer (starring David Arquette) Chemistry, NIghtmares & Dreamscapes, Masters of Horror, Tales From The Crypt, Knight Rider, and The A-Team.

Richard joins the team weeks away from the project's launch on Kickstarter, where he'll work with series' creator Nabil Sioufi to create the series using the crowd sourced ideas given to them by backers of the project.

VOYAGER will be the first TV Series of its kind, developed in part by its audience. Make sure to stay up to date on the VOYAGER social media accounts below, and stay tuned for more updates on the show over the weeks leading up to the launch!

See you next week!
The VOYAGER Team

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn


Copyright © 2015 Who You Know, LLC, All rights reserved.

Screenwriter Richard Christian Matheson Joins Most Realistic Sci-Fi TV Series Ever

New Harrison Ford-Narrated "LIVING IN THE AGE OF AIRPLANES" Opens Apr 10th

LIVING IN THE AGE OF AIRPLANES

Harrison Ford Narrates Breathtaking Film of How Aviation Has Changed the World,
Shot in 95 locations, 18 countries, 7 continents

Opens in IMAX®, Giant Screen, 15/70 Dome and Digital Cinemas in North America
Beginning April 10, 2015

WASHINGTON (March 19, 2015)—This spring, National Geographic Studios presents an immersive new giant screen film experience that offers a fresh perspective on a modern-day miracle that many of us take for granted: flying. Using spectacular aerial and nature photography, LIVING IN THE AGE OF AIRPLANES carries audiences across 200,000 years of history and around the globe on an epic journey to 95 locations in 18 countries spanning seven continents to remind us how, in a single century, aviation has changed our world forever. The world premiere of LIVING IN THE AGE OF AIRPLANES will take place at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., on April 8, 2015.

Narrated by actor and pilot Harrison Ford, LIVING IN THE AGE OF AIRPLANES will premiere in IMAX®, giant screen, 15/70mm dome screens and digital cinemas nationwide beginning April 10, 2015.

Produced and directed by Brian J. Terwilliger ("One Six Right"), LIVING IN THE AGE OF AIRPLANES features an original score by Academy Award®-winning composer and pilot James Horner ("Avatar," "Titanic") and cinematography by Andrew Waruszewski.

The film highlights the astonishingly rapid advancements that have led to a world in which 100,000 flights take off and land every day. During the vast majority of mankind’s existence, walking was the fastest means of travel. Yet today, just 175 years after the introduction of the steam engine, boarding a jet to travel thousands of miles in a matter of hours is more often viewed as an inconvenience than a world-changing technological marvel.

"Since we were all born into a world with airplanes, it’s hard to imagine that jet travel itself is only 60 years old, just a tick on the timeline of human history," said Terwilliger. "With this film, we want to reignite people’s wonder for one of the most extraordinary aspects of the modern world."

"LIVING IN THE AGE OF AIRPLANES is the perfect film for National Geographic," said Mark Katz, president of distribution for National Geographic Studios. "It combines the best of exploration and adventure, anthropology, geography and aviation — using captivating visuals to inspire and engage audiences on a variety of levels."

LIVING IN THE AGE OF AIRPLANES will open nationwide in close to 20 locations including Washington, Boston, New York and Dallas. For a full list of theaters or to view the trailer, visit www.airplanesmovie.com. Become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/livingintheageofairplanes or follow us on Twitter @airplanesmovie.

About National Geographic Studios

National Geographic Studios is the video and film production division of the National Geographic Society, one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations, whose mission is to inspire, illuminate and teach. From television series and specials to giant screen, from mobile video to digital news and educational content, National Geographic Studios’ productions embody the Society’s long-standing reputation for stunning visuals and captivating storytelling. National Geographic Studios has received nearly 150 Emmy Awards and almost 1,000 other industry accolades, including recognition from the Peabody Awards, DuPont Columbia Awards, multiple film and museum industry awards and the highest honors from natural history film festivals. National Geographic Studios also produces and distributes giant screen and digital 3D films for the museum cinema industry. Brooke Runnette is president of National Geographic Studios.

About Terwilliger Productions Terwilliger Productions is an independent production company based in Los Angeles that produces high-quality, thought-provoking films. The company is best known for the aviation documentary "One Six Right," a film that celebrates local airports as unsung heroes, which was distributed worldwide. For more information, visit www.terwilligerproductions.com.

New Harrison Ford-Narrated "LIVING IN THE AGE OF AIRPLANES" Opens Apr 10th

MUCK -- DVD Review by Porfle

Slasher movies have become so predictable these days that first time writer-director Steve Wolsh decided to dispense with the entire opening set-up, plunk his dopey teen characters right in the middle of the MUCK (2015)--namely, a swamp in Cape Cod--and get things started with a big, wet squish.

I'm still not sure how they got there or why two of their number are already dead, but after we watch dumb blonde Mia (Lauren Francesca) slog around in her underwear for awhile the rest of her group emerge from the darkness in a similar state of panic and confusion. Before long they've stumbled upon a big, empty house to break into for shelter and, hopefully, a phone. (Which, as you might guess, it doesn't have.)

Now that we've already got the same old group of teens into the same old isolated location so they can be killed off one at a time, MUCK takes a moment to get meta (a la SCREAM) as the badly-wounded Billy (Grant Alan Ouzts) not only points out the slasher-flick familiarity of their predicament but also matches the members of the group with their movie counterparts (dumb blonde, guy who goes for help and never comes back, probable final girl).

Naturally, as soon as they get into the house, members of the gang start doing just what you'd expect--namely, wandering off by themselves. After Noah (Bryce Draper) sets off on a cross-country jog for help, his girlfriend Kylie (Stephanie Danielson) ventures into the dark, scary cellar, which is exactly what any normal person would do in that situation. Except me. Meanwhile, Desiree (Laura Jacobs), another dumb blonde (this movie has at least two or three), goes upstairs to take a shower so that we can watch her take a shower.

Noah makes it to a nearby bar, but instead of immediately calling for help he goes into the men's room to "freshen up" and then buys himself and some ditzy party girl a shot of tequila--you know, while his pal Billy is back at the house practically bleeding to death. Finally he borrows her cell phone and calls not the police but his cousin Troit (Lachlan Buchanan), who's in another bar somewhere, to come and rescue them.

To pass the time while waiting for the killings to begin, the story wanders off on little tangents such as an extended conversation between Troit and a Hindu girl named Chandi (Puja Mohindra) which has a vague air of "Tarantinoesque" about it as does the way the script plays around with time. Little shout-outs to other genre films include a location known as "West Craven", which is repeated three or four times so we'll be sure to "get" it.

And then there's the scene of Troit's gorgeous girlfriend Terra (Playboy's 2012 Playmate of the Year Jaclyn Swedberg) primping in the bathroom mirror for about five minutes, during which the movie might be more appropriately titled "Fap-tasm." What we don't know at this point is that once the action finally starts, it'll be pretty much non-stop so the movie wants to get an ample amount of quality T 'n' A under its belt while there's still time. (Noah actually stops off on his way back to the house in order to peep through some blinds at Miss Cape Cod 2013, Audra Van Hees, as she parades topless around her living room.)

From that point on, you really can't call MUCK "scary" or "horrific" as much as it is wildly frenetic. Once Noah, Troit, and the rest are ensconced in the house again with an army of pasty-skinned "creepers" (we never find out quite what they are) swarming through the windows, it's all just a bunch of blood-drenched sound and fury that's both amusing and tiresome in equal measures.

Deadpan melodrama rubs shoulders with tongue-in-cheek humor (several of Troit's lines are giggle-worthy) and the performances are okay (especially by Lauren Francesca's ass, which gets special billing at the end). Don't expect to see much of Kane Hodder, though--aside from one juicy kill, it looks like they're saving him for the direct follow-up which, according to IMDb, is in pre-production under the title "Muck: Feast of Saint Patrick" and is the reason that this movie has such an abrupt and unsatisfying ending.

The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound and subtitles in English and Spanish. No extras.

MUCK is so willfully derivative that you start hoping it's going to spoof the genre in some clever way, which it kinda does to one degree or another. It's certainly somewhat different, and there are moments in which I was entertained. But mainly it's like one of those dark, irrational, unpleasant dreams that drags on too long before you're finally allowed to wake up.

Buy it at Amazon.com:
Blu-ray
DVD

MUCK -- DVD Review by Porfle

DIAMOND HEIST -- DVD Review by Porfle

Imagine sitting down to watch a movie with Michael Madsen and Vinnie Jones called DIAMOND HEIST (2012)--thinking, quite understandably, that it's going to be about a diamond heist--and then finding out that it's a dreary, unfunny crime comedy about two Hungarian schlubs mistaken for a pair of popular male strippers known as "The Magic Boys." (Which, incidentally, was the film's original title.)

Even if you think that sounds like comedy gold, chances are you're going to find this mess disappointing. It's one of those bad direct-to-DVD flicks that guys like Michael Madsen and Vinnie Jones lend their names and faces to for an easy paycheck and then mug their way through like it was a home video. (Which I think would be a cool way to make a living and would totally do myself if I could.)

The story opens with Madsen--in the role of Terence, an eccentric strip-club tycoon and diamond smuggler--smashing a yogurt buffet in the restaurant of the posh London hotel where he lives because he's lactose intolerant and his special goat's milk yogurt is nowhere to be seen. I wasn't sure if this was in the script, or if they'd just secretly filmed him at the craft services table between shots.

There's a lot of crosscutting while the film throws a passel of new characters at us along with some really annoying music and visuals. The best I could decipher it, two male strippers ("The Magic Boys") disappear from one of Michael Madsen's clubs and he sends his mousey assistant "Bad News" to Hungary to find two more. As fate would have it, the two Hungarian schlubs, David and Zoli, are on the run after witnessing Vinnie knocking off a guy, and they end up posing as the missing Magic Boys for free passage to London.

David and Zoli are like a cross between "Dumb and Dumber" and the two "Wild and Crazy Guys" when they hit town and are situated in their luxury suite. Bad comedy ensues when they take the stage at Madsen's club and reveal their incompetence while big Mike makes faces and groans.

He later gets the two on their knees at gunpoint in his office and does the whole "I'm the last guy you want to f*** with!" routine, which is always great for a few laughs. Then, inexplicably, he decides that the act will be improved if he forces his right-hand man Splendid Ben (an understandably embarrassed-looking Tamer Hassan, KICK-ASS, FREERUNNER, THE DOUBLE) to join it. You can almost hear Kenny Banya bleating "It's gold, Jerry! Gold!" when the three next appear onstage in full drag. It's as though my sense of humor has been injected with novocaine.

(Meanwhile, elsewhere in London, the REAL Magic Boys also end up on the wrong stage and find themselves getting raped by a hairy, leather-bound gay behemoth. It's fun for the whole family!)

The movie tries to get cute and charming here and there, with one of the Hungarian guys getting cutely chummy with the cute black lady (singer Jamelia as "Cherry Valentine") who works for Mikey as a diamond smuggler but is really not what she seems and zzzzzzzz. As an example of the film's cliched dialogue, the following exchange takes place when he asks about her past:

"That's a bit of a long story."
"I have time."

We find that Cherry's past is actually key to the whole thing, and the lovestruck Hungarian guy decides he must help her in her mission against Mike and/or Vinnie, which is complicated when Vinnie suddenly shows up in London. Things finally perk up when Cherry makes her move during a lavish birthday bash Mike holds for himself, but the whole male stripper angle continues to dumb thing up when the real and fake Magic Boys clash-dance onstage during a lame imitation of the opera scene from THE FIFTH ELEMENT.

The DVD from Random Media is in letterboxed widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound. No subtitles, but closed-captions are available. No extras.

However lacking it is in other areas, the most disappointing thing about DIAMOND HEIST is that there's no diamond heist. That's like calling a movie GONE WITH THE WIND and not having anything actually blow away. Or changing the name of GONE WITH THE WIND to DIAMOND HEIST.

Buy it at Amazon.com

DIAMOND HEIST -- DVD Review by Porfle

Movies and More TV--This Week's Free Online Features

This week's features:

In honor of St. Patrick's Day on March 17th, MoviesAndMore.tv has curated four films with plot lines that are sure to get your Irish up.



Check Today's Attractions on Moviesandmore.tv for dates and times (ET) for these features as well as for all the great free movies on Moviesandmore.tv.

Watch a movie
Coming attractions
Subscribe
Contact us

Published by MoviesAndMore.tv A Division of M&M Television Inc.

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest


Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.

Movies and More TV--This Week's Free Online Features

TURN: WASHINGTON'S SPIES: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle

If they'd shown us "Turn: Washington's Spies" back in History class, I might've made A's instead of B's and C's. I'm not sure how historically accurate this AMC series is, but with all its undercover intrigue and under-the-covers illicit sex, it certainly isn't as boring and dry as the average textbook.

Anchor Bay's 3-disc, 10-episode Blu-ray set TURN: WASHINGTON'S SPIES: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON is more of a "ripping yarn" than blockbuster entertainment. But that's okay because once you've settled into this slow-simmering story it really starts to grow on you.

The year is 1776, and in a small British-occupied town on Long Island, farmer and family man Abraham Woodhull (Jamie Bell, who played "Jimmy" in Peter Jackson's KING KONG) is chafing under the oppressive rule of Major Hewlett (Burn Gorman, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES) and the ambitious, supercilious Lt. Simcoe (Samuel Roukin). Abe's father (Kevin McNally, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN) is the town magistrate, a loyalist in whose home Major Hewlett resides, and their disagreement over the current situation keeps father and son at odds.

 

When Abe's friend Selah Strong is imprisoned for a minor offense, he makes Abe promise to take care of his wife Anna (Heather Lind). This isn't a good idea since Abe and Anna are former lovers. (If you can predict how this will eventually turn out, you get a Johnny cake.) Plus, Lt. Simcoe is stationed in the Strong home and has his eyes on Anna as well, which only exacerbates what will become a deadly ongoing rivalry between the two men.

As Hewlett tightens his grip on the town--with Simcoe egging him on--an increasingly disgruntled Abe encounters some former friends who have joined the underground rebellion and ends up doing some spying for them. This turns out to be such a success that General Washington himself decides to create a whole new spy network with Abe (code named "Mr. Culpepper") as his main agent.

Anna and her former slave Abigail (Idara Victor) will later join the budding "spy ring" as well, with their most exciting mission being to infiltrate a wild booze-and-hookers stag party in the home of Major John Andre (JJ Feild) in New York City. Major Andre, it turns out, has recruited a beautiful prostitute as his own spy in order to root out suspected traitors in his ranks.

"Turn" has an ongoing air of suspense as we fear the rebel spies will be discovered sooner or later, by either the British or their own loyalist families and friends. The ever-encroaching war grows closer as well, with the town on the verge of open rebellion when citizens start being framed by Simcoe for various crimes and convicted in Hewlett's court. This is compounded by the further outrage of having the gravestones in the local cemetery dug up to serve as shields for Hewlett's artillery crew.

Also making things more interesting is a bloodthirsty guerilla warfare squad, the Queen's Rangers, led by deadly and cunning Scotsman Robert Rogers (Angus Macfadyen). The series doesn't shy away from violence, which we see right off the bat when one of the Rangers passes amongst the fallen enemy after a battle and admininsters a coup de grâce to each with his bayonet. (At least they're equal opportunity--former slave Jordan, played by Aldis Hodge of DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE, becomes one of their fiercest fighters.)

Action is confined mainly to the occasional gunfight or small skirmish until the final episode when the town's garrison of British soldiers is attacked by rebel forces at last and our season-long anticipation is rewarded with an exciting battle sequence.

As mentioned before, the show finds ample time during all this to indulge in drama of the sex-and-scandal variety, with the affair between Abe and Anna (who thinks her husband is dead) serving as the main course. What gives it more import is the fact that adultery in those days was no small matter and discovery could have tremendous consequences. Which, of course, makes it more exciting.

The series is a triumph of production design, using a combination of impressive sets, ideal historical locations, and well-rendered CGI for a convincing recreation of the era. Costumes and other aspects of the show's look are fine as well.

Among the uniformly excellent cast, Jamie Bell makes the most of a role much more substantial than the one he was stuck with in KING KONG. Beautiful Heather Lind is also well-cast as Anna Strong. Stephen Root of OFFICE SPACE inhabits the officious role of Washington's espionage coordinator, Nathaniel Sackett. As Major Hewlett, Burn Gorman manages to make his character not so much a heartless martinet as an insecure man who finds solace in strict abidance to regulations as well as a childlike attachment to his horse.

For me, though, it's Samuel Roukin's exquisitely villainous Lt. Simcoe who gives "Turn" its most interesting character. Enduring torture and hardship with an upper-crust smirk, Simcoe is a roguish, arrogant officer who's totally out for himself, and when he finally challenges Hewlett's authority in the climactic battle(in one of the most memorable high points of the season) this ruthless scoundrel is almost my hero.

The 3-disc Blu-ray set from Anchor Bay is in 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound and subtitles in English and Spanish. Extras consist of deleted scenes and two featurettes, "The History Of TURN: WASHINGTON'S SPIES" and "From Art To Image." Also included are instructions for downloading or streaming a digital HD copy.

TURN: WASHINGTON'S SPIES: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON isn't quite the most riveting television series I've seen, but its rich atmosphere, intriguing characters, and engrossing storylines make for satisfying viewing.

Buy it at Amazon.com:
Blu-ray
DVD

TURN: WASHINGTON'S SPIES: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle

"Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest" - Tom and Jerry Are Teaming Up With Johnny Quest For a Top Secret Mission!

TOM AND JERRY: SPY QUEST
AN ALL-NEW ORIGINAL ANIMATED FILM

FROM WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT
AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME JUNE 23, 2015

Release Features Bonus Episodes from Tom and Jerry, New Adventures of Jonny Quest, and Jonny Quest

BURBANK, CA (March 12, 2015) – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings popular, classic cartoon characters together in a brand new, action-packed, full-length animated film, Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest. Fans of all ages won’t want to miss this heart-stopping adventure, featuring Tom and Jerry, that tussling twosome, along with Jonny Quest and his pal Hadji from the classic, action-adventure animated series The Adventures of Jonny Quest, as they embark on a dangerous spy mission in order to save the world. This entertaining new title is set for release June 23, 2015, on DVD. Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest will retail for $19.98 SRP. Order due date has been set for May 19, 2015.

Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest will be available early through EST for download June 9, 2015.

Tom and Jerry set out on one of their biggest, boldest adventures yet in Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest. Get set for intrigue, thrills, suspense and high-action as the animated duo get wrapped up in a top secret, spy-tacular, fun-filled mission the whole family can enjoy together. It’s just another day at the beach for the dueling Tom and Jerry…that is until they bump into world-class junior spies Jonny Quest, Hadji and their canine companion Bandit. When longtime Quest family nemesis Dr. Zin discovers that Jonny’s father, Dr. Benton Quest, has a device to solve the world’s energy problems, he sends his evil cat army to steal it and capture him and his bodyguard, Race Bannon. Jonny and his new furry friends set out on an action-packed quest to find his father and save the world from the malicious Dr. Zin.

"We have combined two of our most popular cartoon franchises, Tom and Jerry and The Adventures of Jonny Quest, and created a highly entertaining new film that will appeal to a broad audience," said Mary Ellen Thomas, Vice President Family & Animation Marketing. She added, "This film presents viewers with an engaging, original new story, eye-catching animation and legendary cartoon characters that have been loved by generations. It offers something for every viewer. We’re excited about the release of Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest."

Originally created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Tom and Jerry centers on the never-ending rivalry between Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse. Oftentimes a one-sided battle of wits, a determined Tom is fueled by the quick and clever Jerry who always seems to get the best of him in any situation.

The Adventures of Jonny Quest is the popular action-adventure animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The program focuses on Jonny Quest, a boy who goes on extraordinary adventures around the world with his father, Dr. Benton Quest, a leading scientist, their bodyguard, Roger "Race" Bannon, Hadji, Jonny’s best friend and Bandit, their pet dog. The original television is series is available on DVD from WBHE.

Bonus Episodes from The Tom and Jerry Show:

· Birthday Bashed/Feline Fatale
· For the Love of Ruggles/Sleuth or Consequences

Bonus Episode from Jonny Quest:

· The Fraudulent Volcano

Bonus Episode from New Adventures of Jonny Quest:

· Deadly Junket

About Warner Bros. Animation
Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) is one of the leading producers of animation in the entertainment industry, producing and developing both CG and traditionally animated projects for multiple platforms, both domestically and internationally. For TV, WBA produces series such as Teen Titans Go!, The Tom and Jerry Show and the upcoming Be Cool Scooby-Doo! and Wabbit – A Looney Tunes Production for Cartoon Network, as well as Mike Tyson Mysteries for Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. As the home of the iconic animated characters from the DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney Tunes libraries, WBA also produces highly successful animated films — including the DC Universe Animated Original Movies — for DVD. One of the most-honored animation studios in history, WBA has won six Academy Awards®, 35 Emmy® Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents’ Choice Award, the HUMANITAS Prize, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie Awards (honoring excellence in animation).


Academy Award(s)® & Oscar(s)® are registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.

"Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest" - Tom and Jerry Are Teaming Up With Johnny Quest For a Top Secret Mission!

"IT FOLLOWS" Only In Theaters March 13th

IT FOLLOWS

A Film by David Robert Mitchell

Opening Only In Theaters March 13th

"A must-see...nothing short of amazing!" - ROLLING STONE

**********
2014 Cannes Film Festival – Critics’ Week
2014 Toronto Film Festival – Midnight Madness
2014 Fantastic Fest - Official Selection
2015 Sundance Film Festival - Park City at Midnight

**********

SYNOPSIS

IT FOLLOWS took the 2014 Cannes, Toronto, Fantastic Fest AFI and 2015 Sundance film festivals by storm, and will be released by RADiUS theatrically March 13th.

For 19-year-old Jay (Maika Monroe, THE GUEST), the fall should be about school, boys and weekends at the lake. Yet after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter she suddenly finds herself plagued by nightmarish visions; she can't shake the sensation that someone, or something, is following her. As the threat closes in, Jay and her friends must somehow escape the horrors that are only a few steps behind.

With a riveting central performance from Monroe and a strikingly ominous electronic score by Disasterpeace, IT FOLLOWS is an artful psychosexual thriller from David Robert Mitchell (whose THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVERS premiered at Critics' Week in 2010). The film also stars Keir Gilchrist ("The United States of Tara"), Daniel Zovatto (LAGGIES), Jake Weary ("Chicago Fire"), Olivia Luccardi ("Orange is the New Black"), and Lili Sepe (SPORK).

OFFICIAL TRAILER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tyMi1Hn32I

CAST

Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Jake Weary, Olivia Luccardi, Lili Sepe

TRT: 100 minutes
Genre: Thriller/Drama/Horror
Country: USA
Language: English

- RADIUS WILL RELEASE THE FILM IN THEATERS MARCH 13TH -


   

"IT FOLLOWS" Only In Theaters March 13th

THE RED ROAD: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON -- DVD Review by Porfle

When legendary director John Ford saw John Wayne's performance in the classic Howard Hawks western RED RIVER, he reportedly remarked: "I didn't know the big son of a bitch could act!" Now, seeing Jason Momoa take on the role of Native American ex-con Phillip Kopus in the SundanceTV series "The Red Road", I find myself thinking the very same thing.

Anchor Bay's 2-disc, 6-episode DVD set THE RED ROAD: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON is a real showcase for Momoa, whom I'd only seen previously in the not-so-challenging role of Ronon in the sci-fi series "Stargate: Atlantis" (he's also appeared in CONAN THE BARBARIAN and "Game of Thrones"). Not only does the tall and physically-imposing actor remind me of the masculine, smoldering leading men of yesteryear, but there's a mesmerizing intensity and intelligence in his acting that keep a firm hold one's attention.

The series itself is well worth that attention as well. "The Red Road" is the story of two men on opposite sides of the proverbial tracks and how fate brings them together as both enemies and unwilling allies. One is Momoa's Phillip Kopus, fresh out of prison and back in his rural hometown of Walpole, New Jersey where his close-knit tribe live in sometimes uneasy conjunction with the surrounding white populace. Kopus returns to the only living he knows--stealing and selling prescription drugs for his Brooklyn-based bastard of a father, Jack (Tom Sizemore at his lowlife best).

The other is police officer Harold Jensen (Martin Henderson, THE RING, LITTLE FISH), who lives with teenage daughters Rachel (Allie Gonino) and Katie (Annalise Basso) and wife Jean (Julianne Nicholson, "Boardwalk Empire", "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"). Long haunted by the drowning death of her twin brother Brian, Jean is now showing signs of advancing schizophrenia which is exacerbated by a defiant Rachel's illicit romance with Kopus' young half-brother Junior (Kiowa Gordon, (TWILIGHT series).

When a drunken Jean is involved in a hit-and-run accident, Harold risks his career to cover up her guilt. But Kopus knows the truth and sees this as an opportunity to blackmail Harold into keeping the police out of his hair. Harold's agonizing moral conflicts are compounded when murder enters the picture, bringing with it two dogged New York investigators who suspect him of being involved.

Having stepped fully through the looking glass, the frazzled Harold is forced to take increasingly desperate and illegal measures to protect his now-suicidal wife and fragile family unit from the corruption in which Kopus has involved him. It's interesting to see this "good cop" starting using "bad cop" methods toward questionable ends and wonder if he'll go too far to ever redeem himself.

Momoa's character, meanwhile, has his own problems with unreliable accomplices, the dangerously unscrupulous Jack, and a little brother torn between a life of crime and his love for Rachel. Worse, he's made some "kill first, don't bother to ask questions later" foreign gangsters really, really mad at him.

Lean, fluid direction and very sharp writing keep this fast-moving backwoods noir bristling with excitement and suspense. Its deceptively low-key atmosphere is often punctuated by moments of harsh violence and hypnotic character interplay by a first-rate cast. Each subplot adds to the overall dramatic impact, notably Jean's struggle with her deteriorating mental state--which Harold uses to convince her that the hit-and-run never really happened--and her lingering connection to Phillip Kopus himself, whom she knew intimately in high school and blames for her twin brother's death.

We also see Junior's innate decency conflicting with the bad example set for him by his older brother (which we suspect is similar to Kopus' own formative experiences with his loathsome father) and wonder whether or not he'll break free from his influence, if only for Rachel's sake.

In addition to the always watchable Sizemore, the supporting cast includes a white-haired Mike Farrell (B.J. of TV's "M*A*S*H") as Jean's wealthy, influential father, and "The Cosby Show"s Lisa Bonet as an activist lawyer who strikes up an unlikely relationship with Kopus while defending the interests of their tribe. Tamara Tunie (WALL STREET, THE PEACEMAKER) is fine as Kopus' long-suffering mother Marie.

The 2-disc DVD from Anchor Bay is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound and subtitles in English and Spanish. Extras consist of the featurettes "Sundance on Set: The Red Road" and "The Red Road: Cast and Crew", as well as "The Red Road: Behind the Screen" which briefly focuses on each of the six episodes.

All the plotlines converge in a thrilling shoot-em-up climax to THE RED ROAD: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, and for once the cliffhanger ending doesn't leave us totally unsatisfied. But I'm still anxious to find out what happens next season.

Buy it at Amazon.com

THE RED ROAD: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON -- DVD Review by Porfle

"Ron Jeremy: Life After the Buffet" Documentary May 5th

RON JEREMY: LIFE AFTER THE BUFFET ON DVD/VOD MAY 5
 
Breaking Glass Pictures will be releasing their latest documentary Ron Jeremy: Life After the Buffet on DVD and VOD (iTunes, Amazon Instant, Vudu, Google Play, Xbox, Vubiquity) on May 5, 2015.

Ron Jeremy is a cultural icon, known as the King of Porn. Even with his eccentric features, he is a sex guru to millions of fans. Ron Jeremy: Life After the Buffet is an explosive film that exposes Ron, at age 60, in a surprising and very real way.

In 2013, Ron made a different kind of headline. Death came knocking at his door like a bolt of lightening when he started experiencing pains in his chest. The film follows Ron on his spiritual awakening and personal journey to discover the existence of a greater power than what is here on earth.

DVD Special Features will include "Behind The Scenes with Ron Jeremy."

Ron Jeremy "Life After the Buffet" Documentary promo

 

"Ron Jeremy: Life After the Buffet" Documentary May 5th

DA VINCI'S DEMONS: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle

We tend to think of Leonardo da Vinci as that wizened old guy with the long grey beard and flowing locks, huddled inside his Renaissance workshop creating monumental works of art, science, and invention. But before he got that way, according to the fanciful Starz series "Da Vinci's Demons", young Leo first blazed his way through history as a sword-slinging, seafaring adventurer whose highly advanced intellect constantly got him both in and out of danger.

David S. Goyer's DA VINCI'S DEMONS: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON (Anchor Bay) drops us right in the middle of several riveting subplots left simmering from the previous season, with first-time viewers such as myself forced to hang on and piece it all together on the fly. But it only takes an episode or two to assimilate enough of what's going on to start really getting caught up in it all.

The young Italian genius Leonardo (Tom Riley, I WANT CANDY), already a noted artist, inventor, and all-around seeker of knowledge, is caught up in a raging street war between the Medici and Pazzi families for control of the city of Florence. Leo helps a greviously injured Lorenzo de' Medici (Elliot Cowan) escape through underground tunnels with his nemesis, Riario (Blake Ritson), hot on his heels. (In our first look at da Vinci's brilliance, he'll save Lorenzo's life before the episode's end by inventing the blood transfusion!)

Riario, we find, is not only head of the Vatican guard but also the bastard son of the man who has usurped the identity of his identical twin brother, Pope Sixtus IV. This subplot, which is not unlike something out of Dumas, grows increasingly intense as the false Pope wields the power of the Catholic church against his enemies--including excommunicating the entire city of Florence--while his brother, imprisoned in a dungeon, plots his escape with the help of his daughter Lucrezia (Laura Haddock, "Upstairs, Downstairs", GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY), who is Riario's cousin.

Several intertwined plotlines bubble with intrigue surrounding these and a multitude of other characters such as Lorenzo's strong-willed wife Clarice (Lara Pulver, "Robin Hood"), who will do anything to protect her family's interests including hanging her own brother, a cardinal, for treason. Familiar actor David Schofield (GLADIATOR, FROM HELL, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON) is Leo's eternally disapproving father Piero da Vinci. Alexander Siddig, formerly Dr. Bashir of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", plays the enigmatic Al-Rahim, a mystical figure who appears unexpectedly from time to time to guide Leo on his journey.

But it's Leonardo's obsessive quest to find both his mother and a tome of ancient knowledge known as "The Book of Leaves" (also sought by the Vatican) which drives the series more than anything else. For this he will set sail with his loyal apprentices Zoroaster (Greg Chillin) and Nico (Eros Vlahos) towards the fabled "New World" despite warnings against venturing over the edge of the Earth. Joining them is none other than Amerigo Vespucci (Lee Boardman), portrayed here as a rapscallion who gets some of the show's funniest lines.

Here, "Da Vinci's Demons" excites us with swashbuckling swordfights and pirate-movie adventure while at the same time allowing us to watch da Vinci use his exceptional mind to devise solutions to each predicament (including the world's first two-man submarine). Often we see this presented in graphic terms (reminiscent of the crime scene deductions of Benedict Cumberbatch's "Sherlock") and can follow his thought processes from frustration to cathartic enlightenment, as in the wonderful sequence in which he realizes that the sun, not the Earth, is the center of the solar system.

The lushly exotic New World scenes where Leo and company are captured by the Incas feature a lengthy sequence which plays much like INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, with our heroes on a perilous quest for their own version of the Holy Grail. Upon their return to Florence, the season reaches its peak with some of the most exciting and surprising plot twists of all, ending right at the brink of war with the Ottoman Empire just as a more sinister group, the shadowy Enemies of Man, begin setting their own plans into motion. It's one of those teasing cliffhangers that really leave you frustrated.

The series is replete with lavish, meticulous period detail and fantastic sets, as well as beautiful use of CGI. Direction, editing, and cinematography are dynamic, and the pace rarely lets up. The series doesn't shy away from nudity and softcore sex and the violence is often quite graphic, somtimes making early gore films such as BLOOD FEAST look tame by comparison.

The 3-disc, 10-episode Blu-ray set (also available in DVD) from Anchor Bay is in 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby 5.1 English stereo and Spanish mono. Subtitles are in English and Spanish. Extras consist of four featurettes--"The Journey Begins: Season 1 Recap", "A Closer Look" (detailed behind-the-scenes stuff), "Creating the New World" (SPFX, costumes, etc.), and "New Sets", which shows how much larger the show's scale has grown from one season to the next.

Da Vinci's on-the-spot brilliance is like his super-power in this delightful, challenging fantasy version of his life. DA VINCI'S DEMONS: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON has all the geeky appeal of a great graphic novel come to life, mixing beautiful visuals and scintillating concepts with riveting political intrigue.

Buy it at Amazon.com:
Blu-ray
DVD

DA VINCI'S DEMONS: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle