BEYOND SHERWOOD FOREST -- DVD Review by Porfle

 

 

Originally posted on 2/13/10

 

 

After having recently watched the third season of the British TV series "Robin Hood", I found SyFy Channel's BEYOND SHERWOOD FOREST to be woefully bland and uninspired by comparison. Even the fact that it has a big, dumb bad-CGI dragon flying around doesn't help.

In a flashback, young Robin Hood watches as the dragon kills the Sheriff of Nottingham and is felled by arrows from his father and the Sheriff's successor, Malcolm (Julian Sands). Wounded, the creature reverts to its true form, that of a naked woman named Alina (Katharine Isabelle, GINGER SNAPS, FREDDY VS. JASON, CARRIE remake) with hyper regenerative powers. Malcolm wants to capture her in hopes that he can use her blood to give himself immortality, and when Robin's dad objects, Malcolm kills him.

Jump forward a couple of decades, and it's the old story of Robin stealing from the rich and giving to the poor while Malcolm, now the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, struggles endlessly to capture him and gain the favor of the equally-evil Prince John. He orders Alina, whose still-beating heart he holds hostage in a jar, to find Robin and his merry men and kill them. Robin, meanwhile, sets off on a quest to enter the mystical Dark Woods (from which Alina was banished as a child) and find the Keepers of the Trees, who possess a plant which can neutralize her dragon powers and make her mortal.

You're probably well aware that "Robin Hood" stories don't usually feature stuff like sorcerers and flying dragons, but this is SyFy and they have to squeeze some wince-inducing CGI in there somewhere. The idea that somewhere in Sherwood Forest there's this big floating doorway into the Dark Woods which has somehow escaped the notice of the general public for several years is equally farfetched, and the thought of Robin Hood and his small and lackluster band of Merry Men wandering around in there trying to locate the "Keepers of the Trees" struck me as a pretty non-thrilling quest.

Besides Little John and Will Scarlett running into some typically bad-CGI wolves along the way, their lengthy encounter with these robed bores is about as enchanting as a Rotary Club meeting. ("It is the law of the woods," their leader informs Robin at one point, to which he responds, "Where I come from, it is the men who make the laws...not the trees.") Later, they get captured by the Sheriff's men and, after the usual clever escape from jail, have it out with the bad guys as Robin and Malcolm go at it sword-to-sword in desultory fashion. To make things worse, our hero performs rather unheroically during this battle and comes off as a decidedly smaller-than-life character.

With his fussily-trimmed beard, costume-like clothing, and less than rugged demeanor, Robin Dunne makes one of the least impressive Robin Hoods ever. Mark Gibbon is a passable Little John (although both he and Katharine Isabelle currently fail to list this film on their IMDb pages), while Richard de Klerk's Will Scarlett reminds me of a belligerent Gilligan. Erica Durance makes a nice-looking Maid Marian, but since this is a "modern" retelling she is given the fighting skills of a warrior woman and further diminishes our hero by besting him with a staff.

As Prince John, David Richmond-Peck does a fairly good job although he resembles a grown-up version of Butch from "Our Gang" and falls far short of Toby Stephens' delightful interpretation of the character in the recent TV series. Julian Sands, of course, does his best as the Sheriff but can't manage to rise above the dull script (which boasts such anachronistic lines as "I've taken out an insurance policy") and murky, unappealing production values.

The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Surround 5.1, with English subtitles. A "making-of" featurette and a trailer are the extras.

Okay if there's nothing else to watch but hardly worth going out of your way to see, BEYOND SHERWOOD FOREST is a lackluster effort that may leave you pining for Errol Flynn, or even Kevin Costner.

BEYOND SHERWOOD FOREST -- DVD Review by Porfle

SPARTACUS: THE COMPLETE SERIES -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle

 

 

  Originally posted on 9/14/2014

 

"This show is what you get when you cross a riveting, exquisitely-produced story with a meat grinder." That's how I described the first season DVD set ("Blood and Sand") of the shockingly graphic, richly dramatic, and blazingly entertaining Starz series "Spartacus", with subsequent sets ("Gods of the Arena", "Vengeance", and "War of the Damned") matching if not surpassing it with each hypnotically watchable episode.

If you're new to the series, or have missed parts of it along the way, fear not. Anchor Bay and Starz have collected the entire sweeping saga in the 13-disc box set SPARTACUS: THE COMPLETE SERIES (available in either DVD or Blu-ray+Digital HD with Ultraviolet™) containing all 39 episodes and original bonus features plus an extra all-new bonus disc. And if you're like me, this just might become your brand new stranded-on-a-desert-island pick of the week, month--maybe even year.

Those with even a passing knowledge of the historical account and/or the Stanley Kubrick film will be familiar with the story of Spartacus, a free man cast into slavery by the Romans circa 73 B.C. and forced to fight in the gladiatorial arena until at last he led a slave revolt whose growing legions, for a short while anyway, threatened to conquer Rome itself.

While hailed by the arena's bloodthirsty spectators as its greatest and most heroic gladiator of all, Spartacus' growing horror at the mistreatment and oppression of his fellow slaves, coupled with an overwhelming lust to avenge his beloved wife's death at Roman hands, finally drives him and his followers into all-out war at the mind-boggling climax of "Blood and Sand."

But first we get to see our hero's constant struggle to survive one harrowing fight for life after another against a never-ending procession of the deadliest foes ever to wield swords and shields. And the clashes continue even in the gladiators' off-time as well, as Spartacus must coexist not only with brave allies like Varro (Jai Courtney) and harsh but noble trainer Doctore (Peter Mensah, 300), but with such bitter rivals as super-warrior Crixus (Manu Bennett)--whose aid he'll desperately court when the time comes to revolt--and various others who wish his downfall either through fair competition or more devious means.

When it comes to deviousness, however, none can match that of the spoiled, entitled Roman elite who enjoy lives of leisure and idle intrigue while using their slaves as either beasts of burden or objects of sexual and sadistic gratification. Of these, most entertaining are John Hannah (THE MUMMY) as gladiator master Batiatus and his scheming wife Lucretia, played to perfection by "Xena: Warrior Princess" herself, Lucy Lawless.

Joining them in the delightfully dark and sinister goings-on of the Roman upper class is Viva Bianca (SCORNED) as vain, condescending Ilithyia, wife of super soldier Gaius Claudius Glaber (Craig Parker), who will one day be charged with defeating Spartacus in battle. Ilithyia proves a vile young seductress who feigns friendship while forever plotting against Lucretia and Batiatus to improve her social status.

At times, the lengths to which these characters will go (perhaps "stoop" would be a better word) to outwit each other are dazzlingly perverse, as are many of their diversions. "Spartacus" is rife with more steamy softcore sex than a whole month's worth of "Cinemax After Dark", and whether you fancy the male or female form in all its unfettered glory, you're sure to get more than an eyeful with each episode. Careful, though--several of these sexual couplings have not-so-happy endings.

What impresses most about this series, however, are the battle scenes--perhaps the goriest and most graphically violent ever filmed, and without a doubt some of the most exciting. No horror film ever boasted this level of carnage--heads roll, limbs are severed, blood fills the air--all done with a combination of practical and computer effects that match the semi-unreal green-screen ambience of the series as a whole (which I find appealing in its own way).

Both arena and battlefield fights are a blend of styles from such films as 300, THE MATRIX, and the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, using lots of bullet-time shots and super-slo-mo tableaux that resemble splash pages from exquisitely-drawn comic books. All of which is of feature-film quality and keeps us entertained on a purely visceral level while also moving the plot relentlessly forward.

With star Andy Whitfield sidelined by illness (which, to every fan's great sorrow, the likable and talented actor would not survive), the producers chose the prequel path as a follow-up to season one. "Gods of the Arena" concentrates on the gladiator business with John Hannah and Lucy Lawless coming to the fore to enact some of their characters' most outlandish dealings in both the gladiatorial and social arenas.

Again, arena action dominates all else as we get to see not only the origin of Crixus, but the introduction of a new gladiator hero known as Gannicus (Dustin Clare), a devil-may-care fighter with the insouciant air of a rock star. At first superficial, Gannicus will eventually reveal a depth that makes him and his story both fascinating and moving. Getting to know Crixus better also enriches his backstory, enhancing his later relationships with Spartacus and others. The "Star Wars" saga's own "Jango Fett", Temuera Morrison, appears as Batiatus' head gladiator-trainer.

In elevating his status in Roman society, John Hannah's Batiatus proves so cunning, willful, and prone to sudden bursts of extreme violence that his plotlines often have the feel of a Mario Puzo underworld thriller from an earlier time. Lucy Lawless' Lucretia, of course, is involved in equally calculating pursuits of her own. Both will be taken aback when Batiatus' domineering father returns from exile to take over the family gladiator business from his errant son. As in season one, the storylines all come together to end in jarring fashion that will leave viewers breathless.

The third series, "Vengeance" (officially referred to as "season two", with "Gods of the Arena" being considered a separate miniseries), introduces Liam McIntyre in place of the late Andy Whitfield as Spartacus. The change is jarring at first, to be sure, but give him time--eventually McIntyre will make the role his own. We finally get to rejoin the slave revolt already in progress, with Spartacus' army increasing in number with each Roman household they lay waste to and each group of slaves that they liberate.

Cynthia Addai-Robinson replaces Lesley-Ann Brandt as Naevia, former "body slave" to Lucretia who is now the love of Crixus' life. In time, Naevia will become a fierce warrior herself and fight alongside Crixus and the others as Addai-Robinson, like McIntyre, grows into the character.
 

Ilithyia returns in a surprising new storyline, as does her husband Gaius Claudius Glaber, who leads the Roman forces against Spartacus and finds the slave army and its leader--who is fast becoming a living legend to both slave and Roman alike--more formidable than he dared imagine.

It all leads up to the final season, "War of the Damned", in which the series reaches a level of visual spectacle and dramatic intensity that serves as a fitting climax to the saga. Battlefield action rivals that of RETURN OF THE KING, with each blood-drenched clash topping the last in a fury of blunt and bladed weapons thudding and slicing their way through oceans of writhing combatants.

The title character now fully belongs to Liam McIntyre, who plays the role with a conviction and depth much improved over the previous season. Manu Bennett's Crixus and Dustin Clare's Gannicus are also far more rounded characters who add to the series' dramatic tension as well as continuing to provide some of its most thrilling battle action.
 

One ambitious plotline involves the conquering of an entire city as a home for Spartacus' forces, which will prove as hard to hold as it is to manage when a brash young Gaius Julius Caesar (Todd Lasance, who recalls Brad Pitt in TROY) infiltrates their ranks and leads a devastating attack from within.

But Spartacus has an even greater new foe, perhaps his most fearsome of all, in the brilliant military leader Crassus (an outstanding Simon Merrells, THE WOLFMAN), a vastly wealthy man who, after being implored by a beleaguered Roman senate, purchases an army of 10,000 men with his own money and leads them into battle against the rebels.

While ruthless and unyielding, Crassus proves a more interesting antagonist than the usual "boo-hiss" villain in that he respects Spartacus as both man and warrior, and displays emotional depth in his dealings with an ambitious but incompetent son, Tiberius (Christian Antidormi), and a beautiful slave woman, Kore (Jenna Lind), whom he loves over his own wife.

The usual liberal doses of softcore porn are depicted with the same matter-of-fact frankness as the battle scenes. The latter are, as always, rendered with the utmost imagination and visual creativity. Often an impeccably choreographed moment is staged and frozen in time as to resemble a Barry Smith painting or Jim Steranko gatefold brought to life.

As usual, there's more blood and gore here than in just about any horror film you can imagine. Nothing is held back in the depiction of extreme, graphic violence that shows in hyper-realistic detail just what carnage would reign during one of these vicious hand-to-hand battles with thousands of men and women ferociously flailing and hacking away at each other in close quarters.

With the slave revolt an ever-growing threat to Rome's way of life, Spartacus and Crassus continue to match strategy and armed might in a battle of wits that has heartrending repercussions for both sides. In this, the final season, beloved characters fall and the unthinkable happens time and again.

Because the characters are, by this time, so familiar and well-drawn, the dramatic passages carry an impact just as riveting if not more so than the action scenes, especially since history already tells us that this story, at least in some key aspects, won't have a happy ending. But as far as that goes, the writers still have a number of ways to keep things from being too downbeat and predictable as we near the inevitable conclusion.

The Blu-ray and DVD box sets from Anchor Bay/Starz are in 1.78:1 widescreen with English Dolby Digital 5.1 and Spanish mono sound. Subtitles are in English and Spanish. Runtime is 2173 minutes for Blu-ray and 2136 minutes for DVD. (A complete list of bonus features follows this review.)

All in all, SPARTACUS: THE COMPLETE SERIES is one of the most solidly and consistently compelling series I've ever seen. With endlessly impressive battle scenes filled to the brim with action and excitement, and dramatic storylines that are shocking, suspenseful, and scintillating, it belongs on any hardy cinephile's bucket list of must-see entertainment.

Buy it at Amazon.com:

Blu-ray
Limited Edition Blu-ray
DVD

1st season ("Blood and Sand") bonus features:

DVD and Blu-ray™ bonus features:

Featurettes:
•Gladiator Camp
•History Rewritten
•Make-up Effects
•The Hole

And more!
•Audio Commentaries

•Episodes with Enhanced Digital Effects

•Behind-The-Scenes Footage
•Bloopers
•Trailers

 Exclusive Blu-ray™ bonus feature:

•Four "Directors’ Cut Extended Episodes" personally selected by Executive Producer Rob Tapert

Prequel season ("Gods of the Arena") bonus features:

Blu-ray and DVD bonus features include:

•Starz Studios: Gods of the Arena
•Weapons Of Mass Disruption
•Battle Royale: Anatomy Of A Scene
•On Set With Lucy Lawless
•10 Easy Steps To Dismemberment
•Post Production: The Final Execution
•Enter The Arena: Production Design
•Dressed To Kill
•Convention Panel
•Arena Bloopers

Exclusive Blu-ray bonus features include:

•3D "Ring Of Fire" Battle Sequence
•Extended Episodes
•Audio Commentaries On All Episodes (including: Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, Executive Producer Rob Tapert and actors John Hannah, Lucy Lawless, Dustin Clare, Jaime Murray, Peter Mensah – and more

2nd season ("Vengeance") bonus features:

•Starz Studios: Spartacus: Vengeance
•The Making of Spartacus: Vengeance
•Behind the Camera: Directing the Rebellion
•On Set with Liam McIntyre
•The Legend of Spartacus
•Famous Last Words
•Bloopers

•BLU-RAY EXCLUSIVE – 9 Extended Episodes and Audio Commentaries!

3rd season ("War of the Damned") bonus features:

•SPARTACUS: The Legend Retold
•The Price Of Being A Gladiator
•A Bloody Farewell

•The Spoils Of War Revealed: Visual Effects

•Adorning The Damned
•The Mind Behind SPARTACUS
 •BLU-RAY™ EXCLUSIVES – Extended Episodes and Audio Commentaries!

 

New Bonus-Disc Features:

•SPARTACUS Fan Favorites With Liam McIntyre
•Scoring A Hit: Composer Joseph LoDuca
•An Eye Full: Roger Murray
•SPARTACUS: Paul Grinder
•The Last Word: John Hannah

 

1st season ("Blood and Sand") review

Prequel season ("Gods of the Arena") review

2nd season ("Vengeance") review

 

 

 



SPARTACUS: THE COMPLETE SERIES -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle

SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND--THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON -- DVD Review by Porfle

 

Originally posted on 9/14/10

The Starz original series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is a heady mix of extremely violent action, gore, nudity and softcore sex, riveting drama, and even romance.  There's something for everybody here, but especially for people who love movies like 300 and GLADIATOR.  SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND--THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (2010) contains thirteen powerful episodes on four discs, and, if you're like me, you'll devour the whole heady concoction as fast as you can.

It's 73 B.C., and Rome has just asked the men of Thrace for help in their war against the Greeks.  Of course, Thracian warrior Spartacus (a perfectly-cast Andy Whitfield) and his men get screwed over by the snide young Roman commander Claudius Glaber (Craig Parker), who decides to pursue glory elsewhere while Thracian villages are pillaged.  After a bloody confrontation with the Romans, the surviving Thracians find themselves sentenced to fight and die in the arena for the entertainment of jaded Roman citizens.  But Spartacus manages to defeat all six of his burly, sword-slinging executioners and becomes a hero.

Batiatus (John Hannah, THE MUMMY) and his wife, Lucretia (Lucy Lawless, "Xena: Warrior Princess"), who are in the business of training gladiators for sport, see their new prize Spartacus as a means of gaining political power and social advancement.  But as devious and underhanded as they are, there are always others, such as Glaber's venomous wife Ilithyia (Viva Bianca) and Batiatus' backstabbing competitor Solonius (Craig Walsh Wrightson), whose own unscrupulous schemes threaten to destroy them.  Meanwhile, Spartacus endures grueling gladiator training under the whip of the invincible Doctore (Peter Mensah, 300) while reigning arena champion Crixus (Manu Bennett) becomes his bitter enemy.

I've barely scratched the surface of all the various subplots and machinations that crackle throughout this show's first season.  Spartacus' one goal is to make himself so valuable to Batiatus as a gladiator that he may someday win freedom for his beloved wife Sura (BITCH SLAP's Erin Cummings), who was sold into slavery by Glaber.  Batiatus and Lucretia are so supremely vain, selfish, and cruel that their unending villainy becomes fascinating, especially with Hannah and Lawless playing the roles with such reptilian relish.  In his own way, Batiatus is as ruthless as Don Corleone or Tony Montana during his "come-up", and his story sometimes has a GODFATHER B.C. feel to it.  Viva Bianca's spoiled, condescending Ilithyia is equally vile. 

The plight of their hapless slaves is the heart of the story--even our hero's bitter rival Crixus, who might have been depicted as a standard bad guy, gains our sympathy with his desperate love for Lucretia's servant girl Naevia (Lesley-Ann Brandt), which is complicated by the fact that Lucretia has chosen him as her virile sexual slave.  Spartacus' friend Varro (Jai Courtney) fights in the arena to repay his debts so that he can rejoin his wife and son, but fate conspires to keep them apart.  Spartacus himself will endure a series of tragic betrayals which will reveal to him the true monstrous nature of his Roman captors and eventually force him to contemplate a dangerous and deadly slave revolt.

While the slaves eke out their meager existence, the Romans wallow in decadence and perversion.  There's enough nudity (much of it full-frontal) and simulated sex in these episodes to equal a month's worth of Skinemax.  Some couples go at it in artistically-lensed romantic fashion, as in the case of Spartacus and Sura or Crixus and Naevia, while the Romans crudely indulge every aspect of their carnal lust with unwilling slaves.  Naturally, the occasional full-blown orgy pops up now and then.  There are some great-looking women in this cast--"Xena" fans will particularly enjoy the frequent views of naked Lucy Lawless.  For those who fancy the male physique, there's tons of bulging beefcake on display wherever you look.

With its sumptuous cinematography and imaginative direction, the show is like a graphic novel come to life.  (I was often reminded of Barry Smith's classic "Conan" comics from the 70s.)  Frequent use of green screen also lends a storybook quality.  Much of the battle action is visually stylized and accentuated by sudden moments of extreme slow-motion that look like extravagantly-rendered comic panels.  As for the violence itself, it is extremely graphic as heads, limbs, and entrails go flying and the frame is often awash in great crimson splashes of blood.  The staging of the numerous fights is outstanding, the action gritty, hard-hitting, and realistic. 

Even out of the arena, the shocking violence continues with a combination crucifixion-castration and an unexpected murder scene in which one woman impulsively bashes another woman's head to an unrecognizable pulp against a stone floor.  The season comes to a blood-drenched climax in a deadly frenzy of killing that is titled, fittingly enough, "Kill Them All."

The four-disc DVD set from Anchor Bay is 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and English and Spanish subtitles.  Several episodes feature cast and crew commentary tracks.  There are nine behind-the-scenes featurettes exploring various aspects of the production.  The discs are encased in lavishly-illustrated book form, the only drawback being that it's a bit difficult sliding them in and out of their page slots without getting fingerprints on them. 

Often the curse of watching a single season of a great television serial is that you're left hanging at the end.  With SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND--THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, we may not get the full story of how he eventually leads a massive slave rebellion against the Romans and the tragic fate that awaits him at the end of his quest, but what we do get ends, satisfyingly enough, with a big, bloody bang.  This show is what you get when you cross a riveting, exquisitely-produced story with a meat grinder.

SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND--THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON -- DVD Review by Porfle

SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA -- DVD Review by Porfle

Originally posted on 8/26/11

 

With the bloody slave revolt and slaughter of their Roman masters which ended SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND with such a resounding bang, it was hard to imagine that a prequel about earlier events not even involving the title hero would amount to much.  SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA (2011), however, proves a worthy follow-up that almost matches its predecessor.

Not only do we already know that Batiatus (John Hannah), who runs a gladiator-training school (or "ludus"), and his equally scheming and ambitious wife Lucretia (Lucy Lawless), are dead, but we're shown how it happened in a brief recap of the earlier season finale.  Next thing we know, it's years earlier, and Batiatus has just begun his quest to become top dog in his chosen field amidst a host of more powerful and influential men (including Jeffrey Thomas as his own domineering father, Titus, who will make a highly unwelcome return from exile to take over).

Hannah and Lawless delight in playing this scheming couple united in their lust for power and social status, and we find ourselves rooting for them since they're often the lesser of many evils.  These include Tullius (Stephen Lovatt) and his young toady Vettius (a wonderfully supercilious Gareth Williams), vile competitors who pull the city's strings and run their business like an ancient version of the Mafia.  In fact, much of the brutal retribution, terror tactics, and ruthless strategies that result from Batiatus' rivalry with them are reminiscent of THE GODFATHER and GOODFELLAS, and often result in the unexpected and violent deaths of major characters.



As in "Upstairs, Downstairs", the activities of the privileged class are contrasted with the trials of their indentured inferiors--in this case, the gladiators and other household slaves.  Chief among these is Gannicus (Dustin Clare), greatest of all gladiators despite his cavalier attitude.  Much of the series involves a tug-o-war over him by Batiatus and Tullius, each of whom want him as their prized gladiator in the grand new arena that's under construction.  A somewhat superficial character at first, Gannicus soon reveals a depth that makes his story the most compelling one of all and leads to the season's emotional climax.

Back from last season is Peter Mensah as Oenomaus, not yet the ludus' Doctore (head trainer) as the position is filled by an almost unrecognizable Temuera "Jango Fett" Morrison.  His beautiful wife Melitta (Marisa Ramirez) is Lucretia's personal slave and struggles against a doomed mutual attraction to Gannicus.  Barca (Antonio Te Maioha) returns along with the cowardly Ashur (Nick Tarabay), who demonstrates why he was so reviled in the previous series.  Of particular interest is the origin of Crixus (Manu Bennett), who will one day be champion but is now seen as a lowly recruit fighting to stay alive and gain stature in the eyes of his peers.

With all of this going on, there's never a dull moment in SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA.  Batiatus and Lucretia's devious machinations are an endless source of amusement, with Lucretia's recently-widowed friend Gaia (Jaime Murray) aiding their cause in hopes of landing a man with a fat purse while renewing lustful intentions toward Lucretia herself.  This leads to some of the show's many softcore sex scenes, which erupt with such eye-popping regularity that it's like a month's worth of "Cinemax After Dark" crammed into each episode. 

While the gladiators enjoy their post-arena "rewards", jaded, repellent Romans indulge in perverse sexual scenarios with hapless slaves.  Lucy Lawless fans are apt to freak out during Lucretia's frenzied lesbian couplings with Gaia, with an enthusiastic Batiata squeezing in for the occasional threesome.



Aside from the carnal aspects of the series, however, the main attraction is what goes on in the arena.  Amidst frenzied crowd reactions (people either cheer like they're at a rock concert, flash their boobs at the gladiators, fight amongst themselves, get splattered with blood, or screw), each bone-crushing battle between these bloodthirsty behemoths is a heady concoction of wildly stylized visuals, eye-pleasing SPFX, and imaginative staging.  Slow-motion is used very well to accentuate and prolong particular moments that would normally pass too quickly to be fully savored. 

A street brawl between one of Vettius' men and a blindfolded Gannicus (the result of a poorly-worded challenge taken literally) is an early highlight.  The older, smaller fight venue provides a more intimate setting for most of the clashes seen here, with spectators being liberally doused with errant gore or even finding themselves minus a few fingers.  The inaugural games of the massive new arena end the final episode with a spectacular free-for-all pitting all of Batiatus' men against those of his two-faced friend Solonius (Craig Walsh Wrightson) in a battle royale. 

Here, as in every other episode, the gore factor is sky-high--H.G. Lewis himself never imagined the graphic carnage on display thanks to skillful use of both practical effects and CGI.  The screen is splattered with geysers of blood, severed limbs, and jaw-dropping (in one case, literally) acts of bodily harm.  Gorehounds will be in hemoglobin heaven. 

The look of the show is a non-stop wallow in lush visuals with so much detail that I often had to rewind to catch dialogue I'd missed while taking it all in.  Speaking of dialogue, these characters are such serious potty mouths--every other sentence contains the word "cock" and/or crude references to various bodily functions--that listening to them talk is consistently amusing.  In one scene, a drunken Gannicus favors us with the song "My Cock Rages On", while elsewhere the prospect of having sex with him prompts Gaia to remark, "One moistens at the very thought."  All our other favorite four-letter words are generously and creatively featured as well.

The 2-disc, six-episode set from Anchor Bay and Starz is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound and subtitles in English and Spanish.  Extras consist of ten featurettes focusing on behind-the-scenes, weapons, costumes, SPFX, post-production, production design, and other aspects of the show.  Also included is a ComicCon panel session, "On Set With Lucy Lawless", and bloopers.

A must for anyone who enjoyed the earlier saga, SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA is like crack for fans of sex, violence, and gore done with impeccable production values and no-holds-barred storytelling.  Now if only Andy Whitfield can return from his unfortunate illness so we can resume the story of Spartacus himself. 

SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA -- DVD Review by Porfle

CAMELOT: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON -- DVD Review by Porfle

Originally posted on 8/27/11

 

One of these days I'm going to sit down and read the original legend of King Arthur just so I'll be able to sort out all the differing cinematic versions of the tale.  It certainly inspires filmmakers to come up with their own interpretations, as we've seen in everything from John Boorman's stunning EXCALIBUR (still my favorite King Arthur movie) to the recent TV series "Merlin."  I guess the good thing about this is that instead of getting the same old rehash every time, with all the elements dutifully falling into place as expected, we're treated to some surprising retellings each with its own unique spin.  "Camelot", a Starz original series, is one of the latest and most interesting of these.

During the ten-episode saga of the DVD set CAMELOT: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (2011) we see an origin story stripped of much of the usual pomp and wizardry, grounded in the grimy, oppressive atmopshere of a Dark Ages-era England struggling to climb out of destitution and disarray.  The murder of King Uther Pendragon prompts the wizard Merlin (Joseph Fiennes, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE) to reveal the existence of Uther's bastard son, Arthur, who has been raised by foster parents since being taken from his mother Queen Igraine (Claire Forlani) at birth.  Now barely out of his teens, Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower of the "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" films) is suddenly informed that his destiny is to rule England as heir to the Pendragon throne, with Merlin as his manipulative mentor.

Complicating things is Arthur's half-sister Morgan Pendragon, who believes herself the rightful heir to the crown and will stop at nothing to get it.  With her piercing eyes and haughty, intimidating presence, CASINO ROYALE's Eva Green steals the show as Morgan and is without a doubt its most watchable asset.  She plays the role with such intensity and obvious relish that we almost sympathize with the evil Morgan as she plots against Arthur within the walls of Pendragon castle and conspires to turn his subjects against him.
   


No gleaming fortress of silver and gold, the Camelot in which Arthur and his men take up residence is a crumbling, overgrown ruin overlooking the sea.  Everything we take for granted in an Arthurian film is developed from the ground up here, including Arthur himself.  As played by Bower, he initially has more in common with Jeff Spicoli than a royal personage and comes off as the sort of arrogant horndog that you might have hated in high school.  It's a long, tough character arc for this callow Arthur before he begins to gain our respect (roughly around the last couple of episodes), especially when he can't keep his hands, among other things, off the bride-to-be of his most gallant warrior, Leontes (Philip Winchester).  The lady in question, of course, is Guinevere (Tamsin Egerton), burdened by guilt after a wedding-day roll on the beach with Arthur.

Playing the role of Merlin even more offbeat than EXCALIBUR's Nicole Williamson, a bald and beardless Joseph Fiennes surprises by being smaller-than-life and eschewing sorcery.  The dark arts, we find, are both addictive and hazardous to one's health, forcing Merlin to rely on his wits more than we're used to.  Fiennes' interpretation of the character takes some getting used to but he began to grow on me after a few episodes.  His counterpart in sorcery, the scheming Morgan, uses her powers with much less restraint and, while suffering the consequences, manages to create a good deal of havoc in Camelot. 

"Camelot" is in no hurry to plunk all the pieces of the story as we know it into place or to reveal them in ways we expect.  Rather than portraying a legend, it depicts gritty, realistic events that will become legend in the retelling.  This is particularly true when we see how the tales of the sword in the stone and the lady of the lake are handled, with Merlin often twisting the facts and making up future history as he goes along. 

With verdant Irish locations, plus great sets and production design, the series looks fantastic.  It does, however, resemble the sort of semi-juvenile television fare seen so often in recent years, yet with occasional attempts at a more adult sensibility that are often jarring.  While most of the episodes would be suitable viewing for kids, there are several softcore sex scenes which seem out of place, especially when, during their romantic beach rendezvous, Arthur drops his pants and starts humping Guinevere like a dog.  And while I must admit finding it quite nice to finally get a look at Eva Green's outstanding assets, it really isn't necessary for "Camelot" to try and come off as adult-oriented entertainment along the lines of the recent "Spartacus" series and indeed sacrifices some of its sense of wonder because of this.



A definite plus is the lack of moronic comedy relief or bad-CGI monsters, with the supernatural elements kept to a more believable minimum and no hinky-looking dragons popping up to pad out the scripts.  Dialogue is modern-sounding but rarely overly so.  The stories are a bit episodic but the overall story arc is enough to bind them together. 

Supporting characters are finely cast, with Sinéad Cusack a standout as Morgan's devious cohort, Sybil, an evil nun riding the aspiring Queen's coattails to the throne, and Claire Forlani as Arthur's true mother, Igraine.  Forlani has a field day in the episode in which Morgan takes on Igraine's physical appearance to cause unrest in Camelot.  Guest stars include Sean Pertwee as Arthur's foster father Ector and James Purefoy as one of Morgan's early allies against Arthur.

While there isn't an abundance of action, "Camelot" does have a number of exciting sword battles that are well-executed.  The season finale, "Reckoning", features a vastly outnumbered Arthur and his men desperately fighting off Morgan's soldiers even as, back in Camelot, she is on the verge of ascending the throne.  Major characters die, and there are enticing hints of what's to come including a foreshadowing of the imminent appearance of Lancelot (who, as we already know, will give Arthur a taste of his own medicine in the heartbreak department). 

There are few nagging cliffhangers as such (I hate season cliffhangers), but one of the most intriguing events in the Arthurian saga is wonderfully and surprisingly depicted in the last scene, setting us up for season two with keen anticipation.  We're also left with the initial core of Arthur's brave knights along with the first wedge of the fabled round table.

The three-disc set from Anchor Bay and Starz is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound and subtitles in English and Spanish.  Extras consist of eight featurettes including behind-the-scenes, character profiles, scene breakdowns, and bloopers. 

As an addition to the host of King Arthur movies and TV series, CAMELOT: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON holds its own while not quite slashing its way to the front of the pack.  Fans of the legend will definitely want to give it a look.

CAMELOT: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON -- DVD Review by Porfle

DANTE'S INFERNO: AN ANIMATED EPIC -- DVD Review by Porfle

 

Originally posted on 2/8/10

 

 

Four separate anime studios were brought together to collaborate on DANTE'S INFERNO: AN ANIMATED EPIC (2010), and the result is a non-stop visual feast that takes us through all nine levels of Hell without spending quite enough time on the emotional level.

When young warrior knight Dante goes off to fight in the Holy Wars, Lucifer makes a bet with his beloved Beatrice that Dante will betray her. Figuring it's a sure thing, Beatrice takes him up on it and the next thing you know, she's in Hell. Dante returns from the war to find his loved ones dead by an unknown hand, and sees Beatrice's soul rise from her bloody body only to be dragged down into the pit.

Dante enters in pursuit and finds that he must fight his way through the nine circles of Hell--limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery--in order to rescue Beatrice's soul from eternal damnation. With guidance from the ghost of Roman poet Virgil, Dante slices and dices his way through hordes of infernal minions, only to find that Lucifer plans to wed Beatrice and make her Queen of Hell.

As this is based on a videogame from Visceral Games, both of which are to be released at the same time, Dante's journey through the nine circles of Hell mirrors the progression from one level of gameplay to the next. Upon his arrival, animated by Film Roman studio, he and Virgil sport big, impossibly muscular superhero bodies and little heads, and Dante tends to fly around doing aerial flips just to emphasize certain lines of dialogue. When Charon, the demon boatman who transports newly-arrived souls to their destinations, orders Dante to begone, he hops about thirty feet in the air and does a somersault before telling him no. Charon, incidentally, gets to deliver the famous line "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here" before doing battle with Dante.

This film is interesting to look at from start to finish although the frequent changes in character design and direction can be a little disconcerting. My favorite segments are the ones by the Manglobe studio, who give the characters a classical dramatic style and a beautifully baroque look. Manglobe handles the "Limbo" section--that ring of Hell which is home to virtuous pagans and unbaptized babies, souls which did not sin but lacked the required faith--which often looks like illustrations from some classic volume brought to life.

Here we're treated to the haunting sight of a hall of damned rulers and philosophers such as Caesar, Plato and Aristotle, their ghostly shells still endlessly engaged in pointless theological debates and the like.On this level Dante battles Minos, who judges souls and "sorts them out" to the various circles for their appropriate punishments. He also must flee from a bizarre, scuttling army of demon-babies with scythelike arms.

The most comic book-looking artwork and animation, which resembles stuff you might see in Marvel Comics or Heavy Metal, is done by Dong Woo studio and it's very dynamic. If I'm not mistaken, Dong Woo handled the "Lust", "Greed", and "Gluttony" segments, which take Dante through some of his most fierce and emotionally taxing confrontations. One of these involves his own father, Alighiero (Mark Hamill), whom Lucifer has promised a thousand torture-free years and endless gold if he will kill his son.

Flashbacks show Alighiero as a greedy, violent abuser who will eventually drive Dante's mother, Bella (Victoria Tennant), to suicide. Later, while traveling through the circle known as "Violence" (via JM Animation's lush, classic anime-style artwork), Dante discovers her in the Wood of Suicide, where, to his horror, her soul has been banished for doing violence to herself. "You must look into your deepest sin to save Beatrice," she tells him.

Also on this level he encounters the damned souls of fellow Crusaders including Beatrice's brother, Francesco, who lashes out at Dante in classic anime-style battle. Francesco blames Dante for his own damnation, and in some ultra-downbeat flashbacks we find out that Dante committed quite a few rather deadly sins during the Holy Wars--any of which would earn him a place in one of the circles of Hell through which he's just passed. In fact, the more we find out about his past, the more we're convinced Dante is destined to remain there for eternity unless he can redeem himself while he still lives.

The "Fraud" level is where the brimstone really hits the fan. Beatrice, who has maintained a staunch faith in Dante through her many tortures, discovers at last how utterly he betrayed her trust while in the Holy Land and gives herself over to Lucifer as his bride. With JM Animation at the helm, Beatrice's transformation into the fearsome Queen of Hell (with an awesome rack) is pretty cool. This finally leads to the "Treachery" level (by Production I.G. studio), an icy wasteland which is "the furthest place in all of creation from the divine light of God." In the final showdown, Dante must face Lucifer on his own and discover the shocking truth behind his whole ordeal.

Through it all, DANTE'S INFERNO is an endless display of incredibly rich and dense artwork and imaginative animation. The subject matter gives the animators license to indulge in the most outlandish visuals they can muster (the "Lust" level, for example), with lots and lots of over-the-top action. So much so, in fact, that it tends to get a little tiresome after the umpteenth bloody-bladed battle with some raging behemoth or angry spirit.

The "acting", as it were, is a little hokey at times, especially in the introductory passage with its melodramatic line readings and character expressions. And for all of the drama and passion it strains to evoke, the story just isn't very emotionally involving. Mostly it's a lot of sound and fury, strident declarations and curses, blood and thunder, sex and ultra-violence--neat stuff, to be sure--without much going on underneath. But it's fun to look at.

The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 surround, with English and Spanish subtitles. Extras include some animatics and a game trailer.

While not a total success, DANTE'S INFERNO: AN ANIMATED EPIC is still a pretty dazzling achievement that really does manage an epic quality. If you're a fan of animation in general and anime in particular, it's definitely worth checking out. But not quite worth going to Hell for.

DANTE'S INFERNO: AN ANIMATED EPIC -- DVD Review by Porfle

FIRST SQUAD: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH -- DVD review by porfle

Originally posted on 1/3/12

 

A Russian-Japanese co-production, FIRST SQUAD: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH (2009) is a deliriously atmospheric WWII anime about how supernatural intervention threatens to turn the tide in a crucial battle between Soviet and German troops.

The year is 1942, seven centuries after the evil Baron von Wolff and his Teutonic Knights were defeated and sent to the bottom of an icy lake.  Now, with the help of a group of Nazi mystics known as the "Ahnenerbe", von Wolff and his minions will re-enter the world of the living at the titular "moment of truth" and cause a major Russian defeat on the Eastern front, while at the same time opening up a rift between the two worlds which may be catastrophic to every living being.

To prevent this, Division Six of the Soviet Military Intelligence has enlisted a group of young people with special abilities.  During a bombing raid on their training camp, four members of the First Squad are killed, with only a young clairvoyant girl named Nadya surviving.  Stricken with amnesia, the orphan girl is recovered by the Kremlin in time to send her back into action against the Teutonic Knights, with the help of her dead comrades whose spirits gain entrance into our world through Nadya's subconscious.



A mix of traditional animation and CGI, FIRST SQUAD: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH is brimming with exquisite artwork that can be savored as one would the pages of a meticulously drawn graphic novel.  With colors that are rich yet muted, much of it has an aged effect that contributes to the sumptuous period atmosphere. 

Digital enhancements augment the somewhat limited animation with varying degrees of subtlety and help to breathe life into the drawings.  Desolate Russian landscapes alternate with scenes that radiate nostalgic warmth, as in Nadya's flashbacks to her earlier life in the circus with her deceased parents.

There's a satisfying retro look to everything from the settings and costumes to some of the gadgets used, such as an "astro-radar" for pinpointing supernatural activity and the "Sputnik 01" machine (like a 40s version of the "Rekall" device from TOTAL RECALL) which transports Nadya into the netherworld.  While in the Gloomy Valley, she witnesses the spirits of dead soldiers still fighting their various wars and first encounters von Wolff as he readies his men for battle in the real world before being reunited with the rest of the First Squad. 

We don't get to know Leo, Monk, Valya, and Zena very well this time around--the story, which concentrates solely on Nadya, is left partially open-ended and plays like the first installment of a larger saga.  Not light entertainment by any means (although there are the occasional fanciful elements), it's a sober tale with several haunting passages, as when Nadya performs her clairvoyant act for Russian soldiers and suddenly visualizes most of them in the death state they'll assume during an imminent air attack.
 


Hovering between life and death after a bomb blast, Nadya relives events from her past by viewing them on a screen in an empty movie theater, while later the spirits of the First Squad will return to the world of the living by passing through a carnival spookhouse ride filled with surreal images from Nadya's subconscious mind.  Action and suspense are further provided by a pair of murderous blonde Nazi babes who pursue Nadya at various points in the story.

The final battle takes place as supernatural opponents First Squad and the Teutonic Knights clash amidst the Russian and German troops who stand frozen in the instant of their "moment of truth."  Punctuated by machine guns, flamethrowers, and swordplay, it's an exciting sequence that's imaginatively directed and, like the rest of the movie, is augmented by a dynamic and suitably baroque musical score by DJ Krush. 

The DVD on Anchor Bay's "Manga" label is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 and 2.0 soundtracks in English, Russian, and Japanese.  Subtitles are in English.  No extras besides trailers for BATTLE ROYALE and REDLINE.  The original longer version of the film (approx. 75 minutes) contains live-action interview footage with WWII veterans and historians intercut throughout, which is missing from this shorter (approx. 60 minutes) version.  Judging from some of the fan reactions I've read online, the film would seem to be better off without this added material, but I'd have to see both versions to make a fair judgement.

Definitely one of the more unusual films of its kind that I've seen in quite a while, FIRST SQUAD: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH is an impressive achievement that should provide solid entertainment for animation fans.


 

 

FIRST SQUAD: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH -- DVD review by porfle

"ASH VS. EVIL DEAD: SEASON 3" - Bring Home the Final Season on Blu-ray and DVD Today! See the Trailer HERE!

“Another season of wise-crackin’ Deadite-slayin’ insanity” – Mike Cecchini, Den of Geek   

A SUPERNATURAL WAR IS BREWING!

ASH VS. EVIL DEAD: SEASON 3

The Final Season Buzzes onto Digital May 25 and on Blu-ray™ and DVD on August 21 from Lionsgate

SANTA MONICA, CA (May 23, 2018) – Legendary horror icon Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead Franchise) stars in the “truly insane, awe-inspiring, and gruesome” (Merrill Barr, Forbes) final season of “Ash vs Evil Dead”: Season 3, arriving on Digital May 25 and on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital) and DVD August 21 from Lionsgate. Experience the final season of the hilarious, critically acclaimed, most-watched comedy series on Starz® that follows-up the classic horror film The Evil Dead.

Alongside Campbell, “Ash vs Evil Dead”: Season 3 also stars Lucy Lawless (TV’s “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “Spartacus: War of the Damned”), Ray Santiago (Meet the Fockers), Dana DeLorenzo (A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas), and newcomer Arielle Carver-O’Neill (TV’s “Worst Year of My Life, Again!” and “Suburbs”).

“Ash vs Evil Dead”: Season 3 features Ash, who – having gone from urban legend to hometown hero –discovers that he has a daughter. And, when Kelly witnesses a massacre with Ruby’s fingerprints all over it, she returns to warn Ash and Pablo.

The “Ash vs Evil Dead”: Season 3 Blu-ray and DVD include audio commentary with executive producer Rob Tapert on every single episode, and will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.97 and $34.98, respectively.

BLU-RAY / DVD / DIGITAL SPECIAL FEATURES
⦁ Audio Commentary with Executive Producer Rob Tapert on every episode

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Facebook: facebook.com/ashvsevildead/
Twitter: @AshvsEvilDead
Instagram: @AshvsEvilDead
#AshVsEvilDead

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 2018
Title Copyright: Ash vs Evil Dead © 2018 Starz Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Artwork & Supplementary Materials © 2018 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Type: TV-on-DVD
Rating: TV-MA (for Adult Content, Adult Language, Graphic Violence)
Genre: Horror, Comedy, Action
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH
Feature Run Time: approx. 300 Minutes
Blu-ray Format: 1080p High Definition 16x9 Widescreen 1.78:1 Presentation
DVD Format: 16x9 Widescreen 1.78:1 Presentation
Blu-ray Audio: English 7.1 Dolby TrueHD, French 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio, Spanish 2.0 Dolby Surround
DVD Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio, Spanish 2.0 Dolby Surround

ABOUT LIONSGATE
The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a global content platform whose films, television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next generation audiences around the world.  In addition to its filmed entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content drives a growing presence in interactive and location-based entertainment, gaming, virtual reality and other new entertainment technologies.  Lionsgate’s content initiatives are backed by a 16,000-title film and television library and delivered through a global licensing infrastructure.  The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition of the Company’s worldwide consumer base.

"ASH VS. EVIL DEAD: SEASON 3" - Bring Home the Final Season on Blu-ray and DVD Today! See the Trailer HERE!

"THE UNSPOKEN": Opening Theatrically in NY, LA and Major Cities (And on VOD) on October 28

THE UNSPOKEN

In Theaters and on Digital HD October 28, 2016 from Starz Digital, and on
DVD December 6, 2016 from Anchor Bay Entertainment

Opens theatrically on October 28 in New York (Cinema Village), Los Angeles (Noho 7) and regional territories including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis, Orlando and more.

From the Executive Producer of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY and INSIDIOUS comes THE UNSPOKEN, starring Neal McDonough (Suits, Arrow) and Jodelle Ferland (Silent Hill). Directed by Award-winning filmmaker Sheldon Wilson (Kaw, Shallow Ground), THE UNSPOKEN is an eerie thrill ride into the horror that lurks in an unsuspecting small town.

In 1997 the close-knit Anderson family vanished from their country home without a trace without an explanation. No bodies were ever found and for 17 years the house has remained undisturbed...until now. A sinister tale of haunting and murder, THE UNSPOKEN is a refreshing twist on the horror genre just in time for Halloween.

Executive Producer: Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity, Insidious)

Written & Directed by: Sheldon Wilson (Kaw, Shallow Ground)

Starring: Jodelle Ferland (Silent Hill), Neal McDonough (Suits, Arrow)
Sunny Suljic and Matt Bellefleur.

Not rated, Runtime 90 minutes (Canada/USA)

"THE UNSPOKEN": Opening Theatrically in NY, LA and Major Cities (And on VOD) on October 28

SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA with 3D Bonus Feature coming to Blu-ray and DVD September 13 from Anchor Bay Entertainment

“Epic and freakishly compelling.” – TV GUIDE

ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT UNLEASHES “SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA”
WITH ITS FIRST-EVER 3D BONUS FEATURE!

Two-Disc Set Contains All Six Episodes and An Amazing Array Of Bonus Features!

Beverly Hills, CA – “SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA,” the exciting STARZ Original series, is ready for battle when Anchor Bay Entertainment releases the prequel to the acclaimed “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” on Blu-ray™ and DVD September 13, 2011.  The two-disc collection contains a muscular amount of bonus features including never-before-seen featurettes, bloopers and behind-the-scenes footage (including a set tour with star Lucy Lawless). The Blu-ray is even mightier with extended episodes, audio commentary on all six episodes and a mind-blowing battle sequence in 3D - a first for a TV on Blu-Ray™ release! A sneak peek of the 3D bonus feature will happen at the STARZ booth at Comic-Con 2011 in San Diego. 

“SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA” premiered January 21, 2011 on STARZ and delivered record ratings for the network.  With each new episode, the series continued to gain devoted viewers.  Executive produced by Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Joshua Donen and Steven S. DeKnight, this exhilarating season follows Gannicus, the charismatic gladiator aspiring to become Champion of Capua and of the House of Batiatus.  With political ambitions and poised to overthrow his father and take control of the House, a young Batiatus will freely betray anyone to ensure his gladiators are in the highest demand.  With his loyal and calculating wife Lucretia by his side, they will stop at nothing to deceive the masses.

Joining returning stars, John Hannah (The Mummy, Four Weddings and A Funeral) as Batiatus, Peter Mensah (300, The Incredible Hulk) as Oenomaus and Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess”) as Lucretia, are new cast members Dustin Clare (“Underbelly”) as Gannicus, Jaime Murray (“Hu$tle”) as Gaia and Marisa Ramirez (“General Hospital”) as Melitta.

With content too hot for cable TV, behind-the-scenes featurettes, deluxe packaging and an amazing 3D battle scene from the final episode, “SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA” is sure to have fans of the show cheering, while capturing the attention of all those uninitiated into the world of Spartacus - thumbs up, indeed!

Blu-ray and DVD bonus features include:

STARZ Studios: GODS OF THE ARENA              
Weapons Of Mass Disruption            
Battle Royale: Anatomy Of A Scene            
On Set With Lucy Lawless                
10 Easy Steps To Dismemberment                
Post Production: The Final Execution                       
Enter The Arena: Production Design             
Dressed To Kill                      
Convention Panel                   
Arena Bloopers
                      
Exclusive Blu-ray bonus features include:

3D "Ring Of Fire" Battle Sequence
Extended Episodes
Audio Commentaries On All Episodes (including: Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, Executive Producer Rob Tapert and actors John Hannah, Lucy Lawless, Dustin Clare, Jaime Murray, Peter Mensah – and more


SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA - BLU-RAY™
Street Date:                 September 13, 2011   
Pre-book:                    August 17, 2011
Cat. #:                         BD23094
UPC:                           0 1313 23094-9 1
Run Time:                    347 Minutes
Rating:                         Not Rated
SRP:                            $49.99
Format:                       Widescreen (1.78:1) 1080p
Audio:                         English Dolby TrueHD 5.1/Spanish Mono
Subtitles:                      English, Spanish

SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA - DVD
Street Date:                 September 13, 2011   
Pre-book:                    August 17, 2011
Cat. #:                         ST23093
UPC:                           0 1313 23093-9 2
Run Time:                    335 Minutes
Rating:                         Not Rated
SRP:                            $39.98
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                         English Dolby Digital 5.1/Spanish Mono
Subtitles:                     English, Spanish


Buy it at Amazon.com:
DVD
Blu-Ray

SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA with 3D Bonus Feature coming to Blu-ray and DVD September 13 from Anchor Bay Entertainment

Anchor Bay Entertainment announces "SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA" and "CAMELOT"

THIS SEPTEMBER, JOURNEY INTO THE PAST… 
ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES “SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA” AND “CAMELOT”

On Blu-Ray™ and DVD September 13, 2011

BEVERLY HILLS, CA –Anchor Bay Entertainment announced today that it will release two of the Starz Original series, “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” and “Camelot - The Complete First Season” on Blu-ray™ and DVD in the U.S. and Canada on September 13, 2011.  Each has become a fan favorite with their unique mix of visceral action, thrilling adventure and revealing romance. Both sets will roll out with extensive bonus features yet to be announced. 

“We’re pleased to be bringing both of these series to Blu-ray™ and DVD,” said Kevin J. Carney, Executive Director of Marketing for Anchor Bay Entertainment.  “Releasing both on the same date will give fans a chance to check each series out, catch up on those they’ve missed and prepare for future episodes.”

“Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” is the prequel to the widely popular Starz Original series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.”  Executive produced by Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Joshua Donen and Steven S. DeKnight, the 6 exhilarating episodes explore the House of Batiatus as it rises -- basking in the glow of its infamous champion Gannicus, whose skill with a sword is matched only by his thirst for wine and women.  These are the times a young Batiatus has been waiting for. Poised to overthrow his father and take control, he’ll freely betray anyone to ensure his gladiators are in the highest demand.  And he’ll have his loyal and calculating wife, Lucretia, by his side for every underhanded scheme, drawing on the brazen talents of her seductive friend Gaia when it counts.  Together, they will stop at nothing to deceive the masses, seize power and bleed Capua dry.

Joining returning stars, John Hannah (The Mummy, Four Weddings and A Funeral) as Batiatus, Lucy Lawless ("Xena: Warrior Princess") as Lucretia and Peter Mensah (300, The Incredible Hulk) as Oenomaus, are  talented new cast members Dustin Clare (“Underbelly”) as Gannicus, Jaime Murray (“Hu$tle”) as Gaia and Marisa Ramirez (“General Hospital”) as Melitta.

“Camelot,” premiered April 1, 2011 and was the most watched series debut ever on Starz.  The 10-episode epic drama, redefines the classic medieval tale of King Arthur with an exciting ensemble cast including Joseph Fiennes reimagining the iconic role of Merlin, Jamie Campbell Bower as the young and reckless Arthur, and Eva Green in her television debut as the darkly powerful Morgan. The character-driven series also features Tamsin Egerton (Guinevere), Claire Forlani (Igraine) and Peter Mooney (Kay).  Beginning in the wake of King Uther’s sudden death, the sorcerer Merlin has visions of a dark future and installs Arthur as king.  But Arthur’s cold and ambitious half-sister Morgan will fight him to the bitter end for control of the crown.  Faced with the challenge of uniting a kingdom broken by war and steeped in deception, Arthur is tested beyond imagination.

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. 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 Starz tracking stock group.

About Starz Entertainment
Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 17 premium channels including the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® brands with approximately 18.8 million and 33.1 million subscribers respectively.  Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its STARZ, ENCORE and MOVIEPLEX brands.  Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation and is attributed to the Liberty Starz tracking stock group.

Anchor Bay Entertainment announces "SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA" and "CAMELOT"

Starz Sells Equity Stake to The Weinstein Company; Anchor Bay & TWC Enter into Multi-Year Agreement

Starz Sells 25% Equity Stake in Starz Media to The Weinstein Company;
Anchor Bay and TWC Enter into Multi-Year, Multi-Platform Entertainment/Distribution Agreement

Englewood, Colo. and New York, NY (January 4, 2011) – In a significant strategic partnership within the ever-changing home/digital entertainment market, Starz, LLC has agreed to sell The Weinstein Company (TWC) a 25% stake in Starz Media, LLC, a programming production, home entertainment and international TV distribution company which includes Anchor Bay Entertainment and other TV/home entertainment assets.  Separately, Anchor Bay has entered into a multi-year domestic distribution agreement for new theatrical content from TWC and its Dimension Films label.

The agreements were announced today by Starz, LLC President and CEO Chris Albrecht and TWC Co-Chairmen Bob and Harvey Weinstein.  Financial terms of the strategic partnership were not disclosed.

The home/digital entertainment deal, which does not include television rights but spans Blu-ray™, DVD and EST/VOD/PPV electronic/digital distribution, covers up to 20 TWC and Dimension titles per year including the seven-time Golden Globe-nominated Tom Hooper drama The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter; Derek Cianfrance’s Blue Valentine, starring Golden Globe nominees Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling; and John Wells’ feature directorial debut Company Men, starring Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner and Chris Cooper.  Other titles include the Kristin Scott Thomas drama Sarah’s Key, upcoming sequels in the successful Scream, Spy Kids, and Scary Movie franchises, and new installments in the Hellraiser, Halloween, and Children of the Corn film series.

“The distribution agreement leverages the scale of the strong Anchor Bay home entertainment business and the Starz Digital Media distribution platform. The Weinstein Company new release content is a quality addition to our distribution pipeline of new releases from Anchor Bay Films and Starz Originals,” Albrecht said.  “Harvey and Bob Weinstein are terrific business partners and we are very pleased to have them as part of Starz Media.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Starz and appreciate the commitment of Liberty Media in bolstering Anchor Bay, allowing it to become a much bigger player in non-theatrical distribution,” offered Bob and Harvey Weinstein in a joint statement.  “We hope this strategic partnership is a first step in not only making Anchor Bay a home for our product, but in potentially housing other companies’ product as well, giving quality independent films the kind of care needed in today’s marketplace.”

“This is an opportunity that excited us, especially given the strong management team and infrastructure at Starz,” stated TWC COO David Glasser.  “It’s a smart, forward-looking partnership that will benefit from the superb skills of Chris Albrecht and everyone at Starz and Anchor Bay.”

"Anchor Bay Entertainment is thrilled to be adding the quality films from The Weinstein Company and its Dimension Films label to our first-class home entertainment and digital distribution businesses. Their track record within the home entertainment category is superb.  The TWC films will allow Anchor Bay to continue its expansion, offering consumers and our retail partners excellent independent films featuring leading Hollywood talent," said Bill Clark, president of Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Starz Sells Equity Stake to The Weinstein Company; Anchor Bay & TWC Enter into Multi-Year Agreement