Back in full force now. It’s really great to have this column back up and running. Is it me, or is it crazy that it is mid-July already? Anywho, let’s jump right in and get to all the goodies. As usual in this article, you will get some info about the disc and the extras that come with the movie as well as a personal opinion about the movie and a link to purchase the film over at AMAZON where you can save quite a bit of money, and it will give a small percentage kick back to this site so we can continue bringing you excellent stories and bizarre tales. So click on the pictures and start saving.
Enjoy and Here We Go!!
ALTERED STATES (BLURAY)
I’m very happy that this is out in HD. Finally. That being said, this is a bare bones release. The only thing you get is the film and the trailer. I have a feeling, that soon we will have an anniversary ultimate edition of this film with tons of extras. I love William Hurt in this movie. He is so good in it. If you don’t know about ‘Altered States’, it basically follows a scientist (Hurt) who creates a think tank of sorts that questions and experiments our different states of consciousness in that they are as real as our waking state of consciousness. With a lot of testing and a lot of drugs, we see that this think tank works and actually has physical consequences. It’s a big cult film nowadays. I’m upset with the new bluray cover art. I miss the old iconic DVD and poster art. Not sure why they did this, but for a price tag of $9.99, who can complain. They did an great job on the HD video and audio transfer.
EXTRAS
– Theatrical Trailer
AMERICAN REUNION (BLURAY+DVD+DIGITAL COPY)
It was summer 1999 when four small-town Michigan boys began a quest to lose their virginity. In the years that have passed, Jim (Jason Biggs,’Mad Love’) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan, ‘How I Met Your Mother’) got married while Stifler (Seann William Scott, Role Models) still refuses to grow up. Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas, Please Give) and Vicky (Tara Reid, ‘Scrubs’) said goodbye while Oz (Chris Klein, American Dreamz) and Heather (Mena Suvari, ‘American Horror Story’) grew apart. Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas, ‘How to Make It in America’) still longs for Stifler’s mom (Jennifer Coolidge, ‘Legally Blonde’) and Jim’s dad (Eugene Levy, ‘Best in Show’) is learning to date. I actually liked this 4th true installment of the pie-fucking franchise. Literally, everyone shows up from the past three films. I really liked that aspect of it. If you enjoyed the other ‘American Pie’ films, then you will enjoy this one. It’s basically the same film. Nothing more, nothing less. There are some really good extras, and the film sounds and looks great for a run of the mill comedy. Good purchase as well as to add to my ‘American Pie’ collection.
EXTRAS
7 Deleted Scenes
Gag Reel
The ‘Reunion’ Reunion: Re-Laughing the Series
Jim’s Dad
Ouch! My Balls!
Audio Commentary
13 Extended Scenes
Alternate Takes
The “Out of Control” Track
The Best of Biggs: Hangin’ with Jason B
Lake Bake
Dancing with Oz
American Gonad-iators: The Fight Scene
‘American Reunion’ Yearbook
BEING FLYNN (BLURAY)
Being Flynn was pretty good. Not the best, but not the worst. Robert De Niro and Paul Dano are in this film, and they just knock it out of the park acting-wise. However, the story never gets over that hill to be great, even with these two great actors. Robert De Niro, Paul Dano and Julianne Moore give powerhouse performances in this compelling exploration of the unbreakable yet fragile bonds between parent and child, written and directed by Paul Weitz (About a Boy). Nick Flynn (Dano) is a young writer seeking to define himself. His father Jonathan (De Niro), however, scrapes through life on his own terms and has not seen his son in 18 years. Taking a job at a homeless shelter, Nick finds purpose in his own life and work until one night Jonathan arrives seeking a bed. To give the two of them a shot at a real future, Nick wrestles with the notion of reaching out to his dad in this adaptation of Nick Flynn’s award-winning memoir Another Bullshit Night in Suck City. There is only one extra on this disc, which I find annoying. There needs to be more. The video and audio are great.
EXTRAS
– Making Of Featurette
BIG BANG THEORY SEASON 1 (BLURAY+DVD+ULTRAVIOLET)
Your favorite nerd and geek television show is here on bluray. University physicists Leonard and Sheldon know whether to use an integral or a differential to solve the area under a curve. But they don’t have a clue about girls. Or dating. Or clothes. Or parties. Or having fun. Or, basically, life. So when a pretty blonde named Penny moves in the apartment across the hall, the guys decide to get an education outside of the classroom. Looks like a lot of you will have to double dip with this release to replace your DVD copy.
EXTRAS
Quantum Mechanics of The Big Bang Theory behind-the-scenes featurette
Gag Reel
BIG BANG THEORY SEASON 2 (BLURAY+DVD+ULTRAVIOLET)
And they decided to release two seasons at once in order to catch up. At work, physicists Leonard and Sheldon and their geek pals conquer the cosmos. At home, real life from dating to driving conquers them. This season, Leonard gets a girl. So does Sheldon (Sheldon?!). Howard drives the Mars Rover into a ditch. Raj woos a terminator. Gorgeous girl-next-door Penny falls under the spell of Age of Conan. And super-smart, überconfident Leslie Winkle reduces mere men to spineless jellyfish. Glad this is finally out on bluray.
EXTRAS
Physicist to the Stars featurette on show consultant and real-life physicist/UCLA professor David Saltzberg
Testing the Infinite Hilarity Hypothesis in Relation to the Big Bang Theory behind-the-scenes featurette
Gag reel
BITCH SLAP (BLURAY)
I watched this for the first time on netflix on my XBOX with a friend in another state on our headsets. We decided on this film by the title alone and knew within the first couple of minutes it was going to be hilarious. I have never seen, nor do I think I will ever see a ten minute scene fully dedicated to a girl pouring one bucket of water on herself. Ten fucking minute scene, that just involves that. A modern throwback to the “B” movie exploitation films of the 50’s-70’s, mixing beautiful women, fast cars, big guns, nasty tongues, outrageous action, and jaw-dropping eye candy. The movie follows three bad girls, a down-and-out stripper, a drug running killer, and a corporate power broker as they arrive at a remote desert hideaway to extort massive booty from an underworld kingpin. This movie is completely an utterly stupid on all levels. If you love terrible films (like I do) and want to add to your collection a movie that you and your friends can get drunk to at 3am, then get this movie. Plus, this is unrated, so you know it’s going to be better than good.
BLADE II (BLURAY)
I love this ‘Blade’ movie. Even with its terrible female lead, I believe this is my favorite of the Blade films. Guillermo Del Toro did an amazing job with the franchise. His vampire mutants were terrifying. When the world is threatened by a new and deadlier breed of super vampire, the legendary Blade (Wesley Snipes) and his mentor Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) must join forces with the Bloodpack, an elite team of vampire warriors made up of Blade’s sworn enemies. These ravenous fiends must be destroyed at all costs in this high-voltage adventure exploding with spectacular effects and martial arts action. The electrifying Snipes reprises his role from the original cult classic, Blade. So, not only do you get all the extras from the DVD version, but there are some new extras to tickle your fancy including a new commentary by Guillermo himself. Everything is badass on this release.
EXTRAS
All Special Edition DVD features
All-new commentary with Guillermo Del Toro
Director’s Notebook
Blade II: Blood Brothers featurette with writer David Goyer
CHARIOTS OF FIRE (BLURAY+CD)
This is such a delight to have on bluray finally and it got the special and right treatment it deserves. Eric (Charleson), a devout Scottish missionary runs because he knows it must please God. Harold (Cross), the son of a newly rich Jew runs to prove his place in Cambridge society. This won Best Picture at the Oscars in 1981, and after seeing it again or for the first time, you’ll know why. The HD transfer is stunning on all levels. And I still have the theme song stuck in my head. There are some really wonderful extras and the audio/video transfers are all excellent. Definitely pick this one up. Plus it comes with the soundtrack on cd.
EXTRAS
Commentary by Hugh Hudson
Wings on their Heels: The Making of Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire: A Reunion
Sprint Around the Quad
Famous Opening Shot
Deleted scenes
Screen tests
Paris, 1924: Birth of the Modern Olympics
David Puttnam: A Cinematic Champion
Hugh Hudson: Journey to the Gold
BRAINSTORM (BLURAY)
This film is infamous in that this is the film that Natalie Wood was filming when she died. Just recently, her case went from “accident” to “undetermined” as the case was reopened a few months ago. Her costar in the film, Christopher Walken was with her when she died. Research scientists Louise Fletcher (“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”) and Christopher Walken (“The Deer Hunter”) invent a machine that can record sensory experiences only to have devastating results when Fletcher records her own death. I enjoyed this movie for the most part, but it’s not the best. It has an average video and audio transfer and only one extra. If you are a die hard fan of the film or any of the actors, then I’d imagine you will be the only people picking this one up.
EXTRAS
– Theatrical Trailer
JIMI HENDRIX: JIMI PLAYS BERKLEY (BLURAY)
Any Hendrix is a must own. This special, expanded edition of Jimi Plays Berkeley showcases some of Jimi’s finest ever performances filmed over two concerts at the Berkeley Community Theatre on May 30, 1970. The film documented the political unrest and student uprisings in Berkeley juxtaposed against such legendary Hendrix live performances as “Johnny B. Goode,” “Star Spangled Banner,” “I Don’t Live Today” and “Purple Haze.” This deluxe edition also includes a new, digitally restored transfer from the original 16mm negative. More than fifteen minutes of newly discovered, previously unseen documentary and performance footage of such classic songs as “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” “Machine Gun” and “Hear My Train A Comin'” not featured in the original film release.
JIMI HENDRIX: VOODOO CHILD (WEST COAST SEATTLE BOY) (BLURAY)
Over the course of just four extraordinary years, Jimi Hendrix left an indelible stamp on the world, shaping not only popular music but popular culture as well. He remains the most innovative musician of his, or any other, era having virtually reshaped the vocabulary of the electric guitar for future generations. “Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child” is an autobiographical journey that reveals the man as never before, featuring the legendary musician’s own words to tell the story of his remarkable life. Drawing upon interviews granted by Hendrix, coupled with letters, writings and recordings, “Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child” provides new insight into one of the most enduring icons of popular culture. The special is filled with never before seen photographs and film footage from the Hendrix family archive and features a soundtrack that includes such legendary Hendrix recordings as “Purple Haze,” “Hey Joe,” “Fire,” “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” together with never before heard live performances. Funk legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Bootsy Collins of Parliament-Funkadelic renown, is featured as the voice of Jimi Hendrix. This is a must own.
OUTLAND (BLURAY)
It should be noted that any film involving sci-fi, space, and Sean Connery is a must purchase. That’s the case with Outland. And I’m willing to bet most of you have never even heard of this film. Io, Jupiters innermost moon, hosts mining colony Con-am 27, a high-tech hellhole. There Marchal William T. O’Niel probes some mysterious deaths among the miners. In pursuit of the truth, he’s alone. I’m glad this is out on bluray. Much needed transfer. Very cool.
EXTRAS
Trailer
Audio Commentary
SPAWN (BLURAY)
So, Spawn wasn’t the greatest film. But it did give us Michael Jai White and we say that John Lequizamo is completely awesome. But, the film is down right laughable most of the time. But not to fear, McFarlane and White plan to bring us a genre pushing and hardcore new Spawn film. They want to push it to NC-17 rating. But, for now, we have the director’s cut of Spawn. Do with that what you will. Five years after he was murdered by his own colleagues in a covert government operation, Al Simmons makes a pact with the devil to be resurrected so that he may see his wife Wanda once more. In return for the favor, the devil requires, in typically Faustian fashion, that Simmons lead Hell’s Army for the destruction of humankind. Blessed in life with extraordinary killing skills, Simmons is even more deadly with the backing of his new master and the changling powers he has at his disposal. As he begins to discover and exercise his new strengths, he encounters two figures who direct him to use his powers in order to serve two different agendas. Cogliostro encourages Spawn to fight the devil and become a new champion for humankind, while Clown goads Spawn into continuing to serve his new master and lead the Armageddon.
That’s it for this week folks. Stay tuned for next week for some more great releases.
Former husky model, real-life Comic Book Guy, genre-bending screenwriter, nude filmmaker, hairy podcaster, pro-wrestling idiot-savant, who has a penchant for solving Rubik's Cubes and rolling candy cigarettes on unreleased bootlegs of Frank Zappa records.
