August 30, 2013

Sons of Anarchy Season Five Blu-ray Review








***SYNOPSIS***



From creator Kurt Sutter comes the adrenaline-charged Sons of Anarchy, featuring exclusive "creator's cut" episodes and kicking into high gear with its biggest, most explosive season ever! As SAMCRO's new president, Jax is surrounded by ruthless enemies and gut-wrenching betrayal. With Gemma fighting for control of the family and a bloodthirsty Clay out for revenge, Jax finds himself haunted by the sins of his past. Alliances are forged, friends are murdered, and loyalties are put to the ultimate test. Now, with the truth in sight, Jax must do whatever it takes to secure the legacy of brotherhood and protect his family-even if it costs him everything.





***SERIES REVIEW***



The SAMCRO comes rumbling down the road with this electric fifth season of the most badass show going. There are some pretty brutal turns of events and a beloved character is killed off in one of the most intense scenes on cable last year. The show added some stellar new cast members to the show that include Jimmy Smits, Lost's Harold Perrineau, and later in the season Donal Logue. The 13 episode run breezes by and will leave you breathless waiting for the sixth season premiere debuting on FX Tuesday September 10th. 9/10


***VIDEO QUALITY***



Sons of Anarchy Season Five arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer in the original aspect ratio 1.78:1 - Fox continues their string of consistently excellent SOA releases. Colors were natural with desert hues, warm earth tones, and natural greens. Fine detail is superb showing all the detail in worn and life hardened faces of the crew, the textures of the mc club walls and table and the cuts on their backs all pop with striking clarity. Black levels were consistently deep with shadow delineation strong. 9/10


***AUDIO QUALITY***


Audio is provided by a DTS -HD Master Audio 5.1 track. - We get another stellar listen that brings the viewer into the world of the Sons. This is a testosterone laced mix with booming , rumbling growls of the choppers and weapons used in the show. Surrounds were used to great effect for atmosphere. LFE was deep and powerful when called upon. Dialogue is crisp and easily heard through the action. 9/10



***SPECIAL FEATURES***



* Audio Commentaries - We get commentary for the episodes "Soverign" and "Darthy". Participants include Kurt Sutter, Katey Sagal, Paris Barclay, Maggie Siff, Dayton Callie and Peter Weller.

* Deleted Scenes (HD, 14min43sec) - We get a nice collection of scenes spread over the three discs.

* Opie Winston (HD, 6min48sec) - **SPOILER ALERT** , please don't watch this extra until you have watched the complete season first. Nice supplement once you understand the context.

* Kurt Sutter: Creating Anarchy (HD, 3min41sec) - Creator Kurt Sutter discusses his thoughts on the fifth season.

* Gag Reel (HD, 4min51sec) - This was actually a surprisingly funny look at cast and crew having fun.

* Fan Concert at the Club House (HD 19min29sec) - A really fun look at the day fans had an opportunity to attend a concert and visit the set of the show.

August 28, 2013

Glee: The Complete Fourth Season on Blu-ray and DVD October 1








20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has officially announced they will be bringing home the super popular teen drama/comedy Glee: The Complete Fourth Season to Blu-ray and DVD on October 1, 2013 The series stars Leah Michelle andChris Colfer. Technical specs for the Blu-ray features 1080p video in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio and a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track. Below are official details:





**SYNOPSIS**



Season Four of the exhilarating Emmy®-winning series* finds Rachel and Kurt in New York City, Finn with a surprising new career, Will and Emma at a crossroads and Sue confronting a shocking situation! Meanwhile, tension mounts as the kids in New Directions head for regionals, facing new challenges. Featuring exciting new cast members, electrifying musical numbers, and superstar guests like Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson and Whoopi Goldberg, Glee remains TV’s most enthralling, most topically relevant show!


**SPECIAL FEATURES**



* Glee Music Jukebox
* Glee Premiere Party
* Deleted Scenes
* Movin' On Up: Glee in NYC
* Girls (and Boys) On Film
* Glee on Film
* The Road to 500

Argo Extended Edition coming to Blu-ray December 3rd








Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has officially announced they will be bringing the 2013 Best Picture winner Argo in an all new collector's set with Argo Extended Edition set to release on Blu-ray December 3, 2013. The film was directed and stars Ben Affleck. Below are official details:





BURBANK, Calif, August 27, 2013 - – On December 3, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) will release Argo Extended Edition on Blu-ray™, featuring an additional nine minutes of footage that delves deeper into CIA specialist Tony Mendez’s personal relationships with his wife and son. Based on the true story of the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans during the Iran hostage crisis, the film also focuses on the little-known role that the CIA and Hollywood played. Ben Affleck (The Town) directed.

Available in Blu-ray (at $49.99 SRP) with UltraViolet* digital copy, Argo Extended Edition will be offered in time for holiday gift giving. This new edition includes three brand new special features: Ben Affleck’s Balancing Act and Argo Declassified featurettes; plus a mash-up entitled Argo F*ck! Yourself. In addition, there are collectible premiums of a one-sheet poster, map of Tehran, reproduction of Tony Mendez’s CIA ID card, and a 40-page book with behind-the-scenes photos, production notes, cast bios and more.

Jeff Baker, WBHE’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, Theatrical Catalog, commented, “We are very pleased to be collaborating with Ben and his team for a second time. This new edition of Argo is even more enriched by the never-before-seen bonus footage and fascinating collectible memorabilia.”

Argo was one of the most honored and best reviewed movies of 2012. In addition to the Oscar® presented to producers Grant Heslov, Affleck and George Clooney for Best Picture, Argo won the Golden Globe®, BAFTA and Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Picture. The film earned two additional Oscars® – for Best Achievement in Film Editing and for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay – and was nominated for an additional four (Best Supporting Actor for Alan Arkin; Best Original Score, Best Achievement in Sound Editing; Best Achievement in Sound Mixing)

Affleck also stars in the film, leading an ensemble cast, which won the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® for Outstanding Motion Picture Cast Performance. Arkin was recognized with Oscar®, Golden Globe®, BAFTA Award, Critics’ Choice and SAG Award® nominations for his performance. Argo also stars Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, Rory Cochrane, Christopher Denham, Kerry Bishé, Kyle Chandler and Chris Messina.

Screenwriter Chris Terrio won Oscar® and Writers Guild of America awards for his screenplay, based on a selection from The Master of Disguise by Antonio J. Mendez and the Wired Magazine article “The Great Escape” by Joshuah Bearman.

**SYNOPSIS**



On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. In the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, the Canadian and American governments ask the CIA to intervene. The CIA turns to their top “exfiltration” specialist, Tony Mendez, to come up with a plan to get the six Americans safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.


**BRAND-NEW SPECIAL FEATURES**


* Argo Declassified - Tony Mendez’s daring operation gets honored as part of the CIA’s 50th anniversary

* Ben Affleck’s Balancing Act - Balancing humor, politics, Hollywood and international intrigue as only Affleck and his team could do

* Argo F*ck Yourself - Ben Affleck leads an all-star review of Argo’s classic line


**ADDITIONAL SPECIAL FEATURES**


* Picture in Picture: Eyewitness Account: - Relive the takeover of the US Embassy in November of 1979 and the daring rescue mission in January of 1980 through the eyes of those that lived it.

* Feature length audio commentary - with director Ben Affleck and writer Chris Terrio

* Rescued from Tehran: We Were There - President Jimmy Carter, Tony Mendez and the actual houseguests recount the real-life harrowing experience they endured.

* Argo: Absolute Authenticity - From characters to heart-stopping action, Ben Affleck’s eye and ear for hard-hitting realism and attention to exacting detail has become his signature as an A-list filmmaker.

* Argo: The CIA & Hollywood Connection - Director Ben Affleck and former CIA agent Tony Mendez give a firsthand view of the actual documents and cover story used to create the phony movie Argo that had all of Hollywood believing in.

* Escape from Iran: The Hollywood Option - Escape from Iran commemorates the 25th anniversary of the "Canadian Caper," taking us back to this startling affair through the direct testimony of the Americans who found sanctuary at the Canadian embassy in Tehran, and the Canadians who risked their own safety to shelter their closest neighbors.

* Argo Files:

- A Discussion with the Cast of Argo - Ben Affleck joins Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Clea Duvall and Rory Cochran for a live conversation about their experiences while making Argo
- Tony Mendez on Tony Mendez - Former CIA agent Tony Mendez shares additional details and stories from the mission
- The Istanbul Journey - Ben Affleck shows us why Istanbul was the ideal place to shoot Argo


All-new Collectible Memorabilia:

* Argo one-sheet Poster

* Map of Tehran

* Reproduction of Tony Mendez’s CIA ID card

* 40-page book premium featuring behind the scenes photos, production notes, bios and more