January 22, 2015

Penguins of Madagascar on Blu-ray March 17, 2015






Dreamworks Animation have officially announced they will release Penguins of Madagascar to Blu-ray and DVD on March 17, 2015. The film stars the voices of Benedict Cumberbatch and John Malkovich. The Blu-ray specs are set to be 1080p video in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for audio. Below are the official details:


**SYNOPSIS**



They’re cute...they’re cuddly...they’re back! From the creators of MADAGASCAR comes the hilarious new movie that proves global espionage is for the birds! In DreamWorks’ PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR, your favorite super-spies—Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private—join forces with the elite North Wind team to save the world. It’s a side-splitting, globe-trotting adventure the whole family will love! Introduce the Penguin family to your family on March 17 when Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment releases DreamWorks’ PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR on Blu-ray and DVD.

And for a limited time, get 2 hopping Penguin toys only with the DreamWorks’ PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR Easter DVD and Blu-ray pack on March 17 making it the perfect gift for Easter baskets.

Directed by Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith, PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR features the voice talents of John Malkovich (“Crossbones” Red 2), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), and Ken Jeong (The Hangover), joining Tom McGrath, Chris Miller and Christopher Knights, who are reprising their roles as the Penguins from the beloved Madagascar franchise.

The Blu-ray and DVD feature hours of bonus materials that uncover the covert operations of the PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR including several exclusive featurettes, a deleted scene, a music video by Pitbull, a dance tutorial by tWitch, and more.


**SPECIAL FEATURES**



* Top Secret Guide to Becoming an Elite Agent – Contrary to popular belief, there’s much more to becoming an elite agent than having a bunch of cool toys...do you have what it takes?

* “He is Dave” Music Video – You can run, maybe even swim, but you can’t hide from Dave, the octo-armed and dangerous “creep of the deep” from Penguins of Madagascar!

* Flipper Slap Shake Waddle and Roll – Grab your accordion, flap your flippers, do the dance and join the fun. But don’t worry if you don’t get it right...just wing it!

* “Celebrate” Music Video by Pitbull – Get ready to celebrate watching music sensation Pitbull perform in this webbed foot-tapping music video, featuring scenes from the movie!

* Do The Penguin Shake with tWitch – Practice your best penguin moves and join hip-hop dance star tWitch for a fun-filled lesson on how to do the Penguin Shake dance!

* Deleted Scene – Direct from the top secret editing vault (even we don’t know where it is), watch a classified deleted scene you couldn’t see in theaters!

* Madagascar Mash Up – Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private aren’t new to the spy game...here’s a crazy compilation of mission madness from the Madagascar films!

* Global Flight Plan – Set a course for fun and adventure as you trace the Penguins’ path around the world, starting with the flipping frozen tundra of Antarctica!

* Cheezy Dibbles Ad – Do yourself a flavor and don’t miss this hilarious commercial for the world’s best and most cheesiest orange-colored delicacy. Dibble me!

* Theatrical Trailer

* Image Gallery

January 21, 2015

Dumb And Dumber To on Blu-ray February 17, 2015






Universal Studios Home Entertainment has officially announced they will release Dumb And Dumber To to Blu-ray and DVD on February 17, 2015. The film stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. The Blu-ray specs are set to be 1080p video in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for audio. Below are the official details:





**SYNOPSIS**



Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprise their signature roles as Lloyd and Harry in the sequel to the smash hit that took the physical comedy and kicked it in the nuts: Dumb and Dumber To. The original film’s directors, Peter and Bobby Farrelly, take Lloyd and Harry on a road trip to find a child Harry never knew he had and the responsibility neither should ever, ever be given. Along for the ride are co-stars Kathleen Turner, Laurie Holden, and Rob Riggle.


**SPECIAL FEATURES**



* Alternate Opening Blu-ray Exclusive

* Deleted and Extended Scenes Blu-ray Exclusive

* Gag Reel Blu-ray Exclusive

* What’s so Smart about Dumb and Dumber To? Blu-ray Exclusive From stress relief to providing a new perspective on life, the film’s cast and crew and the author of Psychology for Dummies make the case for why you sometimes need to step back from the seriousness of life and just get dumb.

* That’s Awesome! – The Story Of Dumb And Dumber To
Chapter 1 “I Like it a Lot” – The Beginning — Join Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels and the Farrelly Brothers on-set as they give you the hows, whats, whys and huhs behind making dumb magic all over again.
Chapter 2 “Gotcha” – The Cast
Chapter 2.5 “That’s Insane!” – The Cameos — Meet the fan favorites, powerful executives, brilliant musicians, and comedy legends who pop up throughout the film in surprising (and surprisingly dumb) ways!
Chapter 3 “We’re Gunna Need Some Wheels” – The Cars — Take a ride on the Zamboni, go inside the hearse, and discover the story behind the triumphant return of the Mutt Cutts van in this fun piece!
Chapter 4 “That’s Commitment!” – The Stunts — This chapter offers a high-paced peek into just a few of the hilarious stunts involved in the making of this movie.
Chapter 5 “There’s No Diamonds In Here” – The Editorial —Step into the edit bay with acclaimed comedy editor Steve Rasch (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) to learn about how some of the movie’s most memorable scenes came together.

Don't Go In The Woods ...Alone! coming to Blu-ray March 10, 2015






Vinegar Syndrome will release Don't Go In The Woods ...Alone! to Blu-ray on March 10, 2015. The Blu-ray specs are 1080p video in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio and a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 for audio. Below are the official details:





**SYNOPSIS**



In director James Bryan's 1981 cult classic, a group of obnoxious campers venture into the wilderness for what they assume will be a fun filled weekend. Unknown to them, a bloodthirsty maniac is hiding in the woods, watching their every move, and violently killing them, one by one, every chance he gets... Filled with low-fi gore effects and black humor, DON'T GO IN THE WOODS remains one of the quintessential regional slasher films of the early 80s, and is coming to Blu-ray for the very first time, newly restored in 2K from the 35mm Interpositive and loaded with extras.


**SPECIAL FEATURES**


* Director commentary
* Group commentary with Director, Star Mary Gail Arts & others
* Commentary with The Hysteria Continues!
* Cast & crew interviews
* Autograph signing party footage
* Press books & artwork gallery
* Production still images
* TV promo
* Theatrical trailer
* And more!

Tyrant: The Complete First Season DVD Review






**SYNOPSIS**



This addictive and shockingly intense drama explores the turbulent Middle East like no series in TV history. “Barry” Al-Fayeed, the son of a war-torn country’s controversial dictator, returns to his homeland after a self-imposed exile in the U.S. But the lives of Barry and his American family are suddenly upended when Barry’s volatile brother, Jamal, ascends to the throne. Barry’s western views are pitted against Jamal’s wife, Leila, who wants her husband to rule with an iron fist. As a national political crisis threatens to explode, Barry finds himself torn between the seductive lure of absolute power and sympathy for his country’s courageous freedom fighters. The Complete First Season includes the following episodes:


DISC ONE
Pilot
State of Emergency
My Brother's Keeper

DISC TWO
Sins of the Father
Hail Mary
What the World Needs Now
Preventative Medicine

DISC THREE

Meet the New Boss
Gaslight
Gone Fishing





**VIDEO QUALITY**



Tyrant: The Complete First Season arrives on DVD with a 480 transfer in the aspect ratio of 1.78:1 - The show has a cinematic quality to akin to shows like Homeland and 24. Colors range from crisp whites to sun drenched desert hues. Skin tones appear natural. Black levels were solid with good shadow delineation. The overall image is quite sharp and close ups feature details in facial hair and the various textures and fabrics being worn by the characters. 8.5/10


**AUDIO QUALITY**



Audio is provided by a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. - Dialogue was prioritized to the center channel and remained crisp and clear through each episode. Surrounds are used for environmental effects that were quite effective. LFE lends a decent amount of bass to the music. No audio anomalies to speak of. 8/10


**SPECIAL FEATURES**



* A Family of Tyranny: In-depth look at key family members and the pivotal roles they play in the epic drama
* Deleted Scenes

Annabelle Blu-ray Review






**SYNOPSIS**



She terrified you in “The Conjuring,” but this is where it all began for Annabelle. Capable of unspeakable evil, the actual doll exists locked up in an occult museum in Connecticut—visited only by a priest who blesses her twice a month.
New Line Cinema’s supernatural thriller “Annabelle” begins before the evil was unleashed.

John Form has found the perfect gift for his expectant wife, Mia—a beautiful, rare vintage doll in a pure white wedding dress. But Mia’s delight with Annabelle doesn’t last long.

On one horrific night, their home is invaded by members of a satanic cult, who violently attack the couple. Spilled blood and terror are not all they leave behind. The cultists have conjured an entity so malevolent that nothing they did will compare to the sinister conduit to the damned that is now...Annabelle.





**MOVIE REVIEW**



Director James Wan created one of the finest horror films in years with the The Conjuring and it was a surprise box office hit in the summer of 2013. Some of that films most effective chills came from the creepy doll Annabelle who only had about 3 minutes of screen time. Warner Bros. fast tracked a spinoff featuring Annabelle in her own film. Director John R. Leonetti takes the reigns for this pseudo prequel and does an okay job but the overall film just doesn't hold up as genuinely terrifying.

There are a bunch of cheap jump scares that tire over time. The cast also is nowhere near the talent level that was featured in The Conjuring save for Alfre Woodard. Annabelle was a modest hit at the box office and perhaps there will be a sequel one day , hopefully whomever works on that film can make a effectively scary film that features one of the creepiest dolls on film. 6.5/10


**VIDEO QUALITY**



Annabelle arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1 - Annabelle keeps most the same aesthetic as The Conjuring which features a desaturated and moody look. The color palette is made up of reserved browns, yellows and oranges that fit the 70's style. Black levels were inky and shadow delineation was solid. Details on clothing and textures were sharp and clearly defined. Every little imperfection on the vintage Annabelle doll was noticed. No signs of artifacts or anomalies. Warner delivers another brilliant transfer. 9.5/10


**AUDIO QUALITY**



Audio is provided by a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. - While I found the film never scared me this excellent track does. Hauntingly effective surround activity will have some folks ducking to the ground. Silky smooth directional effects attack the viewer. LFE performance exhibited deep and precise bass. Dialogue is placed perfectly in the mix and remained crisp and clear throughout the film. No faults to be found here. 9.5/10


**SPECIAL FEATURES**



* The Curse of Annabelle (HD, 5min30sec)

* Bloody Tears of Possession (HD, 5min32sec)

* Dolls of the Demon (HD, 4min4sec) - A closer look at the creepy dolls used to bring the demonic Annabelle to the screen.

* A Demonic Process (HD, 5min)

* Deleted Scenes (HD, 20min35sec) - There are a total of eight deleted scenes that can viewed via a Play All option or individually. Some interesting moments but nothing that would have saved the film as a whole.


January 18, 2015

Dallas: The Complete Third and Final Season DVD Review






**SYNOPSIS**



In season three, Ewing patriarch Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy), now the senior member of the family after the death of his older brother, J.R., butts heads with John Ross (Josh Henderson), who is out to prove he can be just as powerful an ally or enemy as his infamous father. Meanwhile, Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) is newly single and determined to make a name in the world of natural gas. Elena (Jordana Brewster) is blinded by thoughts of justice for previous wrongs, and Pamela Rebecca Barnes (Julie Gonzalo), the daughter of longtime Ewing rival Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval), is now married to John Ross and determined to have a happy ending.





**SERIES REVIEW**



The final season of the Dallas reboot was soapy as ever and the story takes a couple turns that will divide fans, while the show ends with not much resolution. The passing of Larry Hagman was a significant loss and the show never recovered. The cast that is left does an admirable job with the material they are given. 6.5/10. The season includes the following episodes:


The Return
Trust Me
Playing Chicken
Lifting the Veil
D.T.R.
Like Father, Like Son
Like a Bad Penny
Where There’s Smoke
Denial, Anger, Acceptance
Dead Reckoning
Hurt
Victims of Love
Boxed In
Endgame/Brave New World


**VIDEO QUALITY**



Dallas: The Complete Third Season arrives on DVD in the aspect ratio of 1.78:1 - Colors exhibit nice saturation and a varied palette. Black levels were solid. No glaring signs of compression artifacts. Overall detail was excellent and shows off the fine threads the characters wear. 8.5/10


**AUDIO QUALITY**



Audio is provided by a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. - Dialogue was consistently crisp and clear. The LFE channel adds some heft to the music and score. Surrounds were mostly quiet save for some environmental effects due to the tracks being front heavy. 7.5/10


**SPECIAL FEATURES**



* Deleted Scenes (SD)