Star Wars: The Force Awakens Blu-ray April 5th

Walt Disney Home Entertainment has officially announced they will be releasing Star Wars: The Force Awakens to Blu-ray and DVD on April 5, 2016. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video in the 2.40:1 aspect ratio and a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. Below are the official details:





**SYNOPSIS**


Lucasfilm and visionary director J.J. Abrams join forces to take you back again to a galaxy far, far away as Star Wars returns with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The film stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt.


**SPECIAL FEATURES**


* Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey – For the first time, discover the complete story behind the making of The Force Awakens, revealed through in-depth footage and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers in this feature documentary.

* The Story Awakens: The Table Read – Cast members familiar and new reflect on the memorable day they all first came together to read the movie's script.

* Building BB-8 – See how the filmmakers brought the newest droid to the screen, creating an instant fan favorite in the Star Wars universe.

* Crafting Creatures – Watch movie magic as the filmmakers bring a cast of new creatures to life.

* Blueprint of a Battle: The Snow Fight – Go deeper into the epic, climactic lightsaber battle between Rey and Kylo Ren.

* John Williams: The Seventh Symphony – The legendary composer shares personal insights of his work on Star Wars and The Force Awakens.

* ILM: The Visual Magic of The Force – An insider's look into the remarkable digital artistry of the movie's visual effects.

* Force For Change – Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. See how the Star Wars: Force for Change initiative has united Star Wars fans all over the globe to help others.

* Deleted Scenes

Sisters Unrated Blu-ray Review

**SYNOPSIS**


Tina Fey (TV’s Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock) and Amy Poehler (TV’s Saturday Night Live, Parks and Recreation) reunite in Sisters, the story of two disconnected sisters summoned home to clean out their childhood bedroom before their parents sell the family house. Looking to recapture their glory days, they throw one final high-school-style party for their classmates, which turns into the cathartic rager that a bunch of ground-down adults really need.





**VIDEO QUALITY**


Sisters arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1 - Just as bright as the personalities in this comedy so is the color palette. It pops with lush greens, hot pinks, deep blues and crisp whites. Skintones look natural save for a few instances where Fey's face looked a little orange. Fine details in the outrageous outfits and the destruction of the family home due to a wild party come through with striking clarity. Black levels are perfectly balanced and inky. Contrast was also solid. No signs of artifacts or noise. 9/10


**AUDIO QUALITY**


Audio is provided by a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. - The raunchy dialogue was presented crisp and clear throughout both cuts of the movie. Surround activity is minimal until the party ramps up and then there is a more defined soundfield and environmental effects. The fun selection of music chosen gets some deep bass performance. The LFE channel also adds some crunchy bass when a pool caves into a sink hole. No pops or cracks to speak on. 8.5/10


**SPECIAL FEATURES**


* Unrated Cut (HD, 2:02:24), Theatrical Cut (HD, 1:57:46)

* Feature Commentary - With Director Jason Moore, Star/Producer Tina Fey, Star/Executive Producer Amy Poehler and Writer Paula Pell

* Deleted Scenes (HD, Play All 18:03)
- The Dan And Kim Story (06:29)
- The Cover Charge Runner (02:29)
- Arrival At The Parent's Condo (01:14)
- Kate's Tale Of Woe (01:24)
- Maura Controls Her Feelings (01:38)
- Maura Pushes Too Hard (01:29)
- Brinda Wreaks More Havoc (00:57)
- The Geernts Get Theirs (01:56)
- Maura Takes One Last Look (00:29)

* Extended Scenes (HD, Play All 16:54)
- Shopping With Brinda (04:25)
- Hae-Won Arrives (00:59)
- Uh-Oh It's A Popo (01:41)
- Kate Has To Party-Mom Kelly (02:19)
- Kate And Alex Go Downhill (00:58)
- Maura And James Review High School (01:14)
- Hae-Won And Kate Reminisce (01:12)
- Brinda Gets The Sale (01:25)
- Be That You (02:42)

* Gag Reel (HD, 03:17)

* The Improvorama (HD, 08:40)

* How to Throw a Party (HD, 01:36) (Blu-ray Exclusive)

* Grown-Up Parties Suck (HD, 05:18) (Blu-ray Exclusive)

* The Alex Chronicles (HD, 02:51) (Blu-ray Exclusive)

* The Kate And Pazuzu Chronicles (HD, 02:05) (Blu-ray Exclusive)

* A Teen Movie … For Adults (HD, 10:26) (Blu-ray Exclusive)

* The Original Sister (HD, 06:40) (Blu-ray Exclusive)

* Pool Collapse Visual Effects (Blu-ray Exclusive)

Sesame Street: The Cookie Thief DVD Review

**SYNOPSIS**


In Sesame Street: The Cookie Thief, a cookie art museum has just opened on Sesame Street. Surrounded by beautiful cookie paintings, like “Girl with the Cookie Earring,” and the “Muncha Lisa,” The museum is full of excitement with learning opportunities around each corner. Cookie Monster and his friends feel like they’re in a whole new world. But when art suddenly starts to disappear, Cookie Monster quickly becomes a suspect. Can Cookie Monster clear his name? Will they find the missing art in time, or will Cookie Monster be banished from the museum forever?





**SERIES REVIEW**


I was pleasantly surprised to see Cookie Monster get away from Sesame Street and visit a cookie art museum. Of course he is just adorable and has been one of my favorites fro over 30 years. Rachel Dratch really goes all in as the museum security guard. Cameos by other celebrities are fun and clever, adding to the enjoyment for any ault who may watch this with their little ones. Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Terry Crews also puts in an appearance and you can tell he is having a blast working with the Sesame Street crew. 8.5/10


**VIDEO QUALITY**


The Cookie Thief arrives on DVD with a 480 transfer in the aspect ratio of 1.33:1 - The color palette is a rainbow of bright and bold primaries. Cookie looks great and his blue fur pops. Contrast was just right. Fine details in clothing and the fabrics of the puppets were sharp. 8/10


**AUDIO QUALITY**


Audio is provided by a Dolby Digital 2.0 track. - "Cookies, yum" The beloved Cookie Monster has a gravely voice and it presented crisp and cleat during this special. Music bits exhibit good dynamics and fidelity. A nice presentation overall for this type of program. 8/10


**SPECIAL FEATURES**


* Full length "Cookie Hood" episode

* Elmo's World: Drawing

Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! Season 1 Part 1 DVD Review

**SYNOPSIS**


Be Cool Scooby-Doo! is an all-new 22-minute animated comedy series from Warner Bros. Animation. The Scooby gang is back, with a modern comedic twist on the beloved classic. With high school over and one last summer to live it up, the gang hits the road in the Mystery Machine, chasing fun and adventure. But monsters and mayhem keep getting in the way!





**SERIES REVIEW**


This collection gives us the first 13 epsiodes of the newest version of the beloved Scooby-Doo. The show has a new animated style over the classic series but it was visually appealing still. I've been a fan of Scooby-Doo! since the early 80's and found this latest vision of to be fun to watch and easy to binge through. Kids and big kids will find a lot of humor in every episode with an intriguing mystery to solve. Sadly Casey Kasem is no longer with us so the voice cast has change significantly but the new ones do an admirable job. For fans of the series or those looking to introduce their children to the Scooby Gang picking up this set is a good choice. 8/10


**VIDEO QUALITY**


Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! Season 1 Part 1 arrives on DVD with a 480 transfer in the aspect ratio of 1.78:1 - The show has a new animation style that takes a little getting used to but looks good. The Scooby Gang's wardrobe pops with color. Black levels and animation lines were rich and inky. The overall image clarity was sharp and detailed. 8/10


**AUDIO QUALITY**


Audio is provided by a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. - The voice acting and dialogue was crisp and crystal clear throughout. Stereo separation was good with decent dynamic range. No problems to speak of. 7.5/10

The Revenant Blu-ray April 19th

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has officially announced they will be releasing The Revenant to 4K Ultra Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on April 19, 2016. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video in the 2.40:1 aspect ratio and a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. Below are the official details:





**SYNOPSIS**


Leonardo DiCaprio gives an OSCAR® WINNING performance in OSCAR® WINNER Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s cinematic masterpiece. Inspired by true events and the winner of 3 OSCARS®, The Revenant follows the story of legendary explorer Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) on his quest for survival and justice. After a brutal bear attack, Glass is left for dead by a treacherous member of his hunting team (Tom Hardy). Against extraordinary odds, and enduring unimaginable grief, Glass battles a relentless winter in uncharted terrain. This “boldly original” (Calvin Wilson, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH) epic adventure captures the extraordinary power of the human spirit in an immersive and visceral experience “unlike anything you have ever seen” (Jake Hamilton, FOX-TV).


**SPECIAL FEATURES**


* "A World Unseen" – A Documentary of The Revenant

ROOTS: The Complete Original Series Blu-ray Debut June 7th

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has officially announced they will be releasing ROOTS: The Complete Original Series to Blu-ray on June 7, 2016. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Technical specs for audio have not been finalized. Below are the official details:


**SYNOPSIS**



BURBANK, CA (March 1, 2016) -- The groundbreaking, acclaimed television miniseries that captivated the entire nation and won multiple awards, Roots, will be released on Blu-ray™ for the first time, by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) on June 7, 2016. The legendary family saga, which follows the inspiring story of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, Transformers: Rescue Bots, Star Trek: The Next Generation) a West African teen who is captured and sold into slavery, has been beautifully remastered in eye-catching 1080p high definition from its original eight 1977 broadcast masters. Roots’ original broadcast was watched by an estimated 140 million viewers total, more than half of the US population and was the largest viewership ever attracted by any television series at the time. This release marks the powerful, Emmy®, Golden Globe® and Peabody Award-winning series’ 40th anniversary. Titled Roots: The Complete Original Series, this release will retail for $44.98 SRP.

Roots: The Complete Original Series will also be available to own in Digital HD for the very first time via purchase from digital retailers on May 16th, 2016. Consumers can enjoy the classic original series and all new HD special features before the premiere broadcast of the remake of Roots airs on cable television.

Adapted from author, Alex Haley’s best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Roots: The Complete Original Series chronicles the expansion of Haley’s own family across many generations. The eight-part series follows the legacy of Kunta Kinte, (portrayed by Burton, who earned a Primetime Emmy® Award nomination for his role), a young, 18th century African warrior who is brought to the United States and sold into slavery. The saga follows the generations of his descendants in the United States through the Civil War and beyond, and shows the heartbreaking struggles they face trying to survive slavery and attain their freedom.

Roots: The Complete Original Series features an all-star cast that includes John Amos, Maya Angelou, Edward Asner, Lloyd Bridges, Georg Stanford Brown, LeVar Burton, Macdonald Carey, Olivia Cole, Gary Collins, Chuck Connors, Scatman Crothers, Ji-Tu Cumbuka, Brad Davis, Sandy Duncan, Lynda Day George, Louis Gossett Jr., Lorne Greene, Moses Gunn, George Hamilton, Hilly Hicks, Burl Ives, Lawrence Hilton Jacobs, Carolyn Jones, Doug McClure, Ian McShane, Lynne Moody, Vic Morrow, Thalmus Rasulala, Robert Reed, Harry Rhodes, Richard Roundtree, Raymond St. Jacques, John Schuck, Paul Shenar, O.J. Simpson, Madge Sinclair, Beverly Todd, Cicely Tyson, Leslie Uggams, Ben Vereen, Ralph Waite, William Watson and Ren Woods.

Originally premiering in 1977, Roots earned an impressive 37 Emmy® Award nominations, which resulted in nine Emmy® wins. The series also won a Golden Globe® Award for Best Television Series – Drama. Roots was additionally honored with a prestigious George Foster Peabody Award in 1978.

“Roots had a profound impact on television audiences when it first aired forty years ago. Today, Alex Haley’s inspiring and important story continues to touch and affect viewers deeply. It’s one of the most powerful miniseries in TV history,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, TV Marketing. She added, “We are pleased to release this exceptional program on Blu-ray and Digital HD. In this new, digitally remastered format, Roots will continue to appeal to new generations for years to come.”

**SPECIAL FEATURES**


* Roots: The American Story Continues (New Featurette) – Whoopi Goldberg, James Earl Jones, Blair Underwood, Debbie Allen, Tavis Smiley, Shonda Rhimes and Reverend Al Sharpton reveal how Roots impacted their lives and the thinking of the world. Dr. Rex Ellis of the Smithsonian Institution shares with us how the story chronicled by Alex Haley in Roots lives on in Washington’s new Museum of African American History and Culture; and Christopher Haley recalls his uncle Alex, whose legacy he continues as a slavery historian.

* The Cast Looks Back (New Featurette) – Original cast members LeVar Burton, John Amos, Louis Gossett Jr., Ben Vereen, Cicely Tyson, Ed Asner, Sandy Duncan, Georg Stanford Brown and Lynne Moody share emotional stories about the 1976 filming of Roots. They also discuss how making the miniseries changed their lives, why it endures, and why for some it remains their greatest artistic experience.

* Crossing Over: How Roots Captivated an Entire Nation (Featurette)
* Connecting With the Past (Featurette)
* The Struggle to Make Roots (Featurette)
* LeVar Burton: Original Screen Test (Screen Test)
* Alex Haley Interview by David Frost (Featurette)
* Roots: One Year Later (Featurette)

Creed Blu-ray Review

**SYNOPSIS**


Adonis Johnson (Micheal B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring.

With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?





**MOVIE REVIEW**


When Creed was announced I don't think anyone could have imagined that this would be end being the second best film in the Rocky franchise after the original. Director Ryan Coogler shows his passion for the character and the films that came before this one. Sylvester Stallone gives a beautifully organic performance that sees the older Rocky settled in his day to day life and just waiting move on since everyone he loved already has passed or moved away. He adds nuances to the character that we haven't seen before and it makes the film all the more special for it.

Michael B. Jordan was overlooked this awards season and that is a shame as he is clearly a fine young actor and took on the heavy burden of playing Apollo Creed's son with a grace and confidence that deserves your attention. You can see the pain in his eyes of not having Apollo around and also you can see his rage when he feels he has no family but at when it comes down to it Adonis is a solid human being and the relationship he develops with Rocky and the growth he shows over the course of the film pays off and I hope we get to see Adonis Creed in another film.

The training montages are exciting and the score by Ludwig Göransson is a rousing success in getting the viewer pumped up and cheering Rocky and Adonis to accomplish their goals. I highly recommend adding this one to your collection on release day. 9.5/10


**VIDEO QUALITY**


Creed arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1 - The color palette has a very naturalistic look to it and being a frequent traveler to Philly the city looks just right. There are some flashes of bold primaries and when blood flows you believe it's real. Skintones appear to be accurate. Fine detail is where this presentation shines. You can clearly read print from newspapers, see the stitching in trunks and clothing, and the elderly but still powerful Rocky shows a fair share of his age in his weathered face. Black levels were top tier and lend a richness and depth without ever sacrificing shadow detail. No signs of compression artifacts or noise. 9/10


**AUDIO QUALITY**


Audio is provided by a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. - Creed is a champion in it's audio presentation as well. Dialogue was clearly prioritized to the center channel with crystal clear reproduction. Surrounds are effective in conveying a sense of environment whether in various boxing gyms, the streets of Philly or the wall of sound from a large crowd at the final fight. Fidelity and dynamic range was excellent highlighting the gorgeous score by Ludwig Göransson. The LFE channel adds deep and tight bass to the hip hop tracks on rest of the soundtrack and depth to the punches. No problems to speak of with track. 9/10


**SPECIAL FEATURES**


* Know The Past, Own The Future (HD, 14:49) - A nice look at the legacy of the Rocky franchise and the inspiration for making Creed. Includes clips from the previous films and some brief behind-the-scenes moments. Insight is provided by Director Ryan Coogler, Irwin Winkler, Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Phylicia Rahsad, Tessa Thompson, Tony Bellwe, Michael Buffer, Chuck Liddell,Freddie Roach and Miesha Tate

* Becoming Adonis (HD, 05:46) - We get a look at Michael B. Jordan training and preparing for his most important role to date, which included nearly 8 months of boxing, exercising and dieting.

* Deleted Scenes (HD, 19:36) - A collection of 11 scenes that feature some excellent character moments. The best one has Rocky going down in the basement of his home to watch a dusty VHS of his match with Apollo, he then gathers a a box of mementos and brings them upstairs looking through a photo book with all the years and memories seen clearly through Rocky's expressions as he looks at pictures of Adrian and his son.