Top Shot: Reloaded Season 2 - DVD Review

***SYNOPSIS***

HISTORY’s explosive competition series targets another hit season.

Sixteen fearless marksmen take aim for the $100,000 prize and the title of “Top Shot.” The all-new cast of 14 men and 2 women face more intense challenges and surprising twists inspired by history. Trials include shooting from the back of a moving vehicle, shooting while hanging from a 125-foot crane or while being turned upside down.

You’ll see the iconic “Tommy Gun” and .44 Magnum — but not just firearms, the marksmen’s skills will also be tested with tomahawks, compound bows, and blow guns. High-speed HD cameras capture the skillful execution of each test in extreme slow motion. Survivor contestant Colby Donaldson returns as host of HISTORY’s first elimination series where every contender must possess speed, precision and skill. In the end, only one can be the “Top Shot.”

Includes all 13 episodes on 4 discs, plus over 85 minutes of exclusive bonus.

DISC ONE - Sharpshooter Surprise / Shoot or Be Shot / Uphill Battle / Compound Fracture

DISC TWO - Quickfire Face-off / Bury The Hatchet / Trick Shot Showdown II

DISC THREE - Catch .22 / The 1000 Yard Shot / The Shakedown / Down To The Wire

DISC FOUR - Season Two Finale / Behind the Bullet / Bonus


***VIDEO QUALITY***

Top Shot: Reloaded arrives on DVD with a 480p transfer in the original aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The shot on location footage looks great with natural color reproduction and skintones. Detail was sharp with clothing textures and natural outdoor scenes coming across the best. There was some noise in the image from time to time but nothing to distract from an overall pleasing image. 8/10



***AUDIO QUALITY***

Audio is provided by a Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 track. A front heavy track with little in the way of stereo separation which is a disappointment due to the nature of the show. Would have been great to have an LFE channel for the gun blasts but what is here is perfectly serviceable and clear just not thrilling. 6.5


***SPECIAL FEATURES***

* The Top Shot Experience
* Extended Team Selection
* Weapons Rundown
* Anatomy of a Shot

American Pickers: Volume Two - DVD Review

***SYNOPSIS***

In small towns, and along America’s back roads, treasures are waiting to be uncovered— valuable relics from our history that are hidden in junk piles, buried in barns and stacked in garages. It takes experts to find them – and turn rust to riches. AMERICAN PICKERS follows two of the most skilled “pickers”— Mike Wolfe, owner of Antique Archaeology, and his business partner, Frank Fritz— as they hunt down objects with historical, collectible and pop culture value that have been long forgotten by their owners. Along the way, they meet people whose own stories open a window into American lives and history. In this collection, Mike and Frank try to strike a deal with NASCAR Champion Ryan Newman, explore the appropriately named Pickens, South Carolina and try to buy a 300-pound boot.

AMERICAN PICKERS VOLUME 2 includes eight fan-favorite episodes on two discs.

DISC ONE - Art of the Deal / Buddy’s Booby Trap / Gordon’s Gold Mine / Smooth Operators

DISC TWO - Getting the Boot / Easy Riders / Psychic Pickings / One Pony Town


***MOVIE REVIEW***

I have been a fan of the since its debut and this is another strong collection of episodes. Mike and Frank are a bit loud bit their enthusiasm is great. The best aspect of the show is meeting all the strange and enchanting characters they meet on their journey. Sometimes the people are the real treasure here. I have a minor problem with the show is that the pickers sometimes say they want the item for themselves and they turn around and sell it for 5x profit or more. As a viewer you really get the sense of being in the places they pick from and you can almost smell the old musty storage sheds that haven't been opened for 20 years. An overall enjoyable show to watch. 8.5/10



***VIDEO QUALITY***

American Pickers arrives on DVD with a 480p transfer in the original aspect ratio of 1.78:1. I was pleased overall with the image on display here. Colors consist mostly of earth tones and browns due to the old dusty locations the pickers rummage through. Detail was quite good and helps in showing the items that Mike and Frankie are looking at. Black levels were consistent. There were some moments of noise but nothing to distract from the presentation. 7.5/10



***AUDIO QUALITY***

Audio is provided by a Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 track. The on location dialogue is crisp and clean. The theme music is upbeat with a country twang. Bass was nonexistent. The audio presentation was fine. 7/10

Pawn Stars: Volume 3 - DVD Review

***SYNOPSIS***

The history of money-lending dates back thousands of years. Long before the HISTORY hit series PAWN STARS, pawnbrokers helped people make ends meet by providing loans in exchange for personal items of value. There is no better example of today’s pawnbrokers than the Harrison family’s Gold and Silver Pawn shop on the outskirts of Las Vegas – the modern day Mecca for people in need of quick cash. Three generations of Harrison men clash with friendly camaraderie over items from classic cars to samurai swords. Here, everything has a history, and everything has a price. And you never know what’s going to walk through the door. In this collection, the boys haggle over a penny made by Paul Revere, battle plans for Iwo Jima, a 1939 Allied Forces World War II plane and a human shrunken head.

PAWN STARS VOLUME 3 includes sixteen fan-favorite episodes on two discs.

DISC ONE - Trail Breaker / Top Secret / Whale of a Time / Gold Diggers / Aw Shucks! / Deals From Hell / Chumlee’s Dummies / Strike, Spare, BOOM

DISC TWO - Message in a Bottle / Rough Riders / Phoning It In / Moon Walking / Peeping Pawn / Ace in the Hole / Double Trouble / Getting A Head



***MOVIE REVIEW***

Another volume of Pawn Stars arrive and it is still a delight to watch. Rick Harrison and his son Corey, his father The Old Man, and Chumlee are still very charismatic characters. It is a treat to see the odd items people think are "treasure" and it turns out to be a fake or a family heirloom that is worthless. If I have one problem with the show is there are too many times where a rare gun or autograph will come in and you know Rick is going to say "I got a buddy of mine who could look at it" and we then are given a recap later and the item is explained all over again until the professional tells him its value or authenticity. As far as "reality shows" go this is just a fun time and well worth taking the time to watch. 9/10



***VIDEO QUALITY***

Pawn Stars arrives on DVD with a 480p transfer in the original aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The show is filmed in HD and the downgrade to standard definition doesn't suffer any glaring problems. Colors were warm and friendly. Black levels were strong and contrast was just right. There were instances of noise in the image but nothing to wash over the fine details of the interesting items that are brought into the shop. 7.5/10



***AUDIO QUALITY***

Audio is provided by a Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 track. Dialogue is crisp and clean. The music that is used in between segments was a little thin but this is a "reality show" so I wasn't expecting an aural knockout. 7/10

Father of Invention Blu-ray Disc Review

***SYNOPSIS***

"Two-time Academy Award® winner Kevin Spacey gives one of the most unexpectedly funny performances of his career as Robert Axle, an arrogant infomercial mogul whose empire collapses after one of his products maims thousands of consumers. After 8 years in prison, he tries to rebuild his fortune, but must first reconnect with his estranged daughter (Camilla Belle), her man-hating roommate (Heather Graham), his boneheaded new employer (Johnny Knoxville), the ex-wife who squandered his fortune (Academy Award® nominee Virginia Madsen of Sideways), and the ruthless executive who took over his company (John Stamos). Can a man who’s lost everything devise a way to get back on top? Craig Robinson (“The Office”), Michael Rosenbaum (“Smallville”) and Anna Annisimova co-star in this surprising comedy about fabrications, complications, and the situations people invent to find out who they really are "


***MOVIE REVIEW***

Kevin Spacey gives another solid performance and the quirky characters are grounded by a terrific cast. The film switches moods on the fly. There were quite a few laughable moments as well as some decent dramatic work as well. Johnny Knoxville of Jackass fame does some good work here and plays off Spacey really well. Heather Graham I have always had a soft spot for and she was a delight in the film. I enjoyed the movie and was surprised to see it didn't get at least a short run in theaters. Well worth a rental and possible purchase with a good sale. 7.5/10


***VIDEO QUALITY***

Father of Invention arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer in the original aspect ratio of 2.40:1. We are treated to a very pleasing image. The transfer is crisp with strong color reproduction. Fine detail was above average with clothing and facial textures benefiting the most. Black levels were solid throughout. 8/10


***AUDIO QUALITY***

Audio is provided by a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track. Dialogue was crisp and clean. This is a front heavy mix but there were a few moments of subtle surround usage. The music bleeds to the rears and gains some heft from the LFE. 8/10


***SPECIAL FEATURES***

* The Making of Father of Invention