The Show

Superman and Lex Luthor, Batman and the Joker, Optimus Prime and Megatron—classic rivalries made to be fought until the end of time. Like these other duos, Tom and Jerry will mess with each other forever; it’s just in their nature. Employing the hyper-stylized sadistic violence of classic WB cartoons, many fond memories were formed out of watching the cat and mouse on their wild adventures. Tom and Jerry Tales: Volume 4 offers a new generation a chance to experience the classic rivalry in all of its outlandish goodness.

There’s not much to Tom and Jerry. Placed in different themed adventures, the two go at it in true cartoon form, using whatever methods and means they can to deliver a cartoon-whooping. Volume 4 contains 12 zany adventures.

“Zent Out of Shape” sees the pair fighting in Feudal Japan, complete with a Godzilla-like creature.

“I Dream of Meanie” is set in the ancient Middle East with Jerry getting revenge against Sultan Tom by the way of a genie.

“Which Witch” finds the pair being used by two witches to play pranks on each other.

“More Powers to You” has Tom assisting a group of superheroes by guarding their power rings, only to abuse the power with Jerry.

“Catch Me Though You Can’t” finds Jerry becoming the subject an experiment that gives him super speed.

“Power Tom” has Tom coming across a superhero suit, much to his delight, only to find out that he’s dressed as a female superhero!

“Don’t Bring Your Pet to School Day” has both Tom and Jerry being brought into school for Pet Day only to lead to one of their inevitable, chaotic chases.

“Cat Show Catastrophe” gives Tom a chance to be a part of a feline high society cat show only to have Jerry mess with his opportunity.

“The Cat Whisperer” finds Tom being trained by a cat whisperer after ruining a tea party, a process made more difficult by Jerry’s antics.

“Adventures in Penguin-sitting” has the pair in trouble after Jerry befriends a penguin and their freezer malfunctions, leaving the house in a state of ice.

“Cat of Prey” has Tom trying to snag Jerry at an ocean theme park only to run into troubles with various animals.

Lastly, “Jungle Love” finds Jerry enlisting the help of a baby rhino during his chase with Tom, who also encounters a number of other wildlife with other plans for him.

Tom and Jerry Tales: Volume 4 is fun because it is constantly playing with the formula. It’s not always Tom and Jerry on a chase in the house. The different settings and themes open the show up to new gags and laughs. It is good, old-fashioned entertainment and a sure-thing for any cartoon-loving kid or adult.

The DVD

The video is presented in 1.33:1 Full Frame. With rich, vibrant colors and smooth animation, Tom and Jerry continue to please the eyes with this transfer.

The audio is offered in English/French Dolby Digital Stereo with English subtitles. There are no issues with clarity and the sound travels well across the front channels. Not bad for a TV mix.

The Extras

None.

Final Thoughts

Tom and Jerry Tales: Volume 4 may not be as timeless as the classics, but it offers plenty of cartoony fun for the kids. I’d take this franchise over the newer schlock on TV any day.

The Show

Ben 10 is a massive success among its demographic. The tremendous success of the cartoon led to a live-action film that out-performed the mega-franchise Dragon Ball Z. The success has even translated into retail products, solidifying the fact that Ben 10 is here to stay. Season Three offers more of the same while continuing to build on the impressive mythology that has secured hordes of Ben 10-hungry fans.

The series follows 10-year-old Ben Tennyson who finds an alien device resembling a wristwatch called the Omnitrix inside of a crashed meteorite. The device permanently locks itself onto Ben’s wrist and he soon discovers that he can transform into ten different alien beings, each complete with their own set of powers and abilities. The catch is that he can only transform for 10 minutes at a time and still retains the personality traits of a ten-year-old. Throughout the series Ben learns to harness these powers and, with the help of his grandfather Max and cousin Gwen, decides to use his powers for good. The series has slowly built a mythology through continuing plotlines and themes, most notably Grandpa Max’s previous profession as an alien fighter and galactic adventurer. Capitalizing on every boy’s dream of being a superhero, Ben has become an icon for a young generation.

Season Three offers more of the same, and in this case that is very much a good thing. Plots include: a visit to the future featuring an adult Ben and Gwen in trouble from a returning alien; Ben stumbling upon Santa’s workshop in the middle of the desert; a wolf-creature attacking an Indian reservation; a trek through a virtual world; a battle with an alien mummy searching for a rare mineral; a shuttle launch in danger of being sabotaged by aliens; and the team having to save the Earth from total darkness from four super villains.

The 2-disc set contains all 13 episodes from Season Three: “Midnight Madness,” “Ben 10,000,” “A Chance of Face,” “Merry Christmas,” “Benwolf,” “Game Over,” “Monster Weather,” “Super Alien Hero Buddy Adventures,” “Under Wraps,” “The Unnaturals, “The Return,” “Be Afraid of the Dark,” and “The Visitor.”

The DVD

The video is presented in 1.33:1 Full Frame. The colors are bright and vibrant while the animation is fluid with very few instances of aliasing or other errors. There’s no doubt that it is a good-looking show.

The audio is offered in English/Spanish/French Dolby Digital Stereo with English/Spanish/French subtitles. The mix is well done, featuring crisp dialogue and exciting sound effects that make good use of the front channels.

The Extras

Deleted Scenes, Promos, and an Alien Character Gallery are offered.

Final Thoughts

Ben 10: The Complete Season Three continues to build a solid mythology for the series and is sure to be embraced by fans. It’s not my favorite superhero story, but the fanbase is out there and shouldn’t be disappointed.

The Film

Highlander is one of those franchises that seems like it has been around forever. The kind where even if you never watched the show or films, you still sort of know what it’s all about. After several films and a kitschy television series, Highlander seemed like it had sounded its final hurrah. Not so. The Source is an ill-fated attempt at resurrecting the franchise but is simply too different in tone from the original material to bring the masses back to the tales of the Immortals.

In Highlander mythology the world is populated by Immortals that have battled each other for thousands of years in epic sword fights that could only be concluded with decapitation. Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) is one such warrior. Despite having an entire series dedicated to chronicling his adventures, audiences were never given a true explanation about the origins of the Immortals—until now. “The Source” is supposedly the cosmic melting pot that created the Immortals. When Duncan learns of it he believes that he may have an opportunity to end his cursed existence. He concocts a team of followers, including Water Joe (Jim Byrnes) and ex-wife Anna (Thekla Reuten) in order to locate The Source and get some answers. The only problem is that The Source has a Guardian (Cristian Solimeno), a powerful Immortal who wants nothing more than to annihilate anyone interested in The Source.

The Source certainly has an interesting concept and is the first film based from the television series, but at this point so much has been thrown at the mythology that it is near impossible for anyone other than a die-hard fan to sort it all out. Also, the drama and more somber tone of the original films that launched the franchise have been replaced with fast-cut, super “cool” action that dumb down many of the original themes. I’m not going to completely bash The Source, I’m sure fans will enjoy it. Adrian Paul does good work all things considering and seems to have a handle on who his character is. Still, at the end of the day they had a great chance to draw more fans in with The Source, and I just don’t see that happening.

The DVD

The video is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. While the level of detail is impressive, it unfortunately shows off the sub-par production value and dull colors.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/Spanish subtitles. It is a hearty mix with the action scenes taking full use of every channel. In fact, the surround mix may be the best part of the disc and is an admirable attempt to make the film more exciting.

The Extras

“Highlander: The Process” is an 81-minute documentary covering the entire production process. If you enjoy the film there is a wealth of information here, from costume tests to behind-the-scenes shots of the production. It is a very well made documentary with more answers than most people will care for.

“Remembering Bill Panzer” is a 15-minute tribute piece at one of the main forces behind the Highlander franchise.

The “Storyboard-to-Scene Comparison” section runs 7-minutes and is self-explanatory.

Lastly, a 1-minute look at the upcoming videogame is offered as well as the Trailer.

Final Thoughts

Rather than resurrecting the dying franchise, Highlander: The Source may be the final axe that prevents it from once again seeing true, widespread popularity.

The Film

If a film premiere on the Hallmark Channel you know what you are in for: a film so sweet and contrived it will rot your teeth out. OK, that’s a bit harsh, but convenient plots and ultra-happy endings aren’t exactly representations of the real world. A Stranger’s Heart is certainly uplifting enough but the implausibility and at times inappropriate nature of the story will leave you wondering how to feel about the whole experience.

The film stars talented actress Samanta Mathis as Callie Morgan, a woman with a sad past that has led her to become emotionally isolated. To tug on your heartstrings (pun absolutely intended) a little more, she has a bad heart to match her grim persona. While in the hospital awaiting a transplant she finds herself in a group of incredibly positive patients, including a sly hunk named Jasper (Peter Dobson) that she cannot stand. Eventually Callie and Jasper are both lucky enough to get heart transplants.

This is where is turns unrealistic and strange. Against the advice of her doctor, Callie researches her donor and it turns out she received her heart from a woman who died with her husband in a car crash. A little girl survives her parents, and guess what, she lives in Callie’s town! To make things even stranger, Callie starts to hang around her school, leading the girl to believe that Callie is some sort of savior. Now lets make one more uncomfortable connection—guess who has the heart of the girl’s father? Jasper! Callie and Jasper start to fall for each other, bringing the little girl in the mix. Aw, a brand new family with the hearts of the old one.

I’m sorry but I can’t describe this film as anything other than inappropriate and weird. It’s a forced family unit and sets a bad example for grieving children. You don’t want them hoping they will get a new family with their dead parents’ hearts.

The DVD

The video is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. The transfer is crisp and shows off some gorgeous location shoots, maintaining a solid level of detail while keeping grain and other minor problems to a minimum.

The audio is presented in English Dolby Digital Stereo with no subtitles. The dialogue-heavy film doesn’t make use of any major surround effects with the exception on an occasional atmospheric sound. The mix is balanced ensuring you won’t have to tweak your volume levels while watching.

The Extras

None.

Final Thoughts

A Stranger’s Heart is a Hallmark card put to film. It’s sugar sweet, but borders on inappropriate with much of the plot considering the topic, making it an odd and unbalanced film.

The Film

CGI is becoming more and more integrated into filmmaking as it becomes increasingly convincing. Director Robert Zemeckis has always elevated the form, combining true actor performances in fully digital worlds. Beowulf: Director’s Cut marks the next step in digital filmmaking, and is a bloody, monster-slaying good time.

The film stars Ray Winstone as Beowulf, the legendary hero from the classic epic poem of the same name. Shot in a style that captures all of the nuances of the actors’ performances and then translated into a CGI world, Beowulf features a gorgeous recreation of the snowy kingdom of Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins). Hrothgar celebrates in his famous mead hall, drinking, singing and enjoying all the pleasures of life with his men and wife Wealthow (Robin Wright-Penn). Everything is fantastic until a horrible, deformed monster known as Grendel (Crispin Glover) attacks the hall, slaughtering countless people. Hrothgar sends out a notice calling for a hero to come slay the monster and end their plight. Enter Beowulf.

Beowulf is a classic hero full of outlandish tales of battle and manliness. His confidence is unwavering, and the very name lessens Hrothgar’s worries. He is Beowulf—ripper, slasher, tearer, and all other badass names. To the surprise of few, Beowulf handles the Grendel problem only to unleash the rage of his demon mother (Angelina Jolie).

A lot has been said about Beowulf. The action scenes are top-notch, featuring plenty of impressive effects and gore. Some of the sweeping, epic camera shots will make you forget you are watching a CGI film, even if the style hasn’t been perfected quite yet. The film also features the best man versus dragon battle I have ever seen. The criticisms, however, seem to stem from how the film strays from the poem. In the poem Beowulf was the perfect hero through and through, an iconic man full of righteousness. Zemeckis’ Beowulf is a more flawed, human character, driven by ego and emotion. He makes mistakes, horrible ones that cause massive problems for him and others. Still, even a flawed Beowulf is far more heroic than most, and perhaps more believable and relatable for today’s jaded viewers.

I did not notice any significant changes in the “Unrated Director’s Cut.” The only thing I can figure is that there may have been more blood, but from what I remember in the theatrical release, it is pretty close.

As one final note, I have to admit that the effects aimed at being 3-D in theatres become more glaring as gimmicky when watching it in 2-D. It doesn’t spoil the film by any means, but it can take you out of the moment.

The DVD

The video is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and looks impeccable. The level of detail is mind-blowing, down to the grain in the mead hall tables or the flaws in the characters’ skin. The colors are bold, from the deep reds of the bloods to the fiery oranges and subtle shades of blue. The detail and clarity remains throughout, even in the action scenes, avoiding any blurring of the image. With the exception of a few others, this is the highest quality best digital film I have seen on DVD.

The audio is offered in English/French/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/French/Spanish subtitles. The track is epic, from the atmospheric effects of the mead hall celebrations, to the chaos of the battle scenes. This is an aggressive, high-octane mix that perfectly complements the image. The only downside is that occasionally the dialogue can be too soft during the action scenes, but that is the rare occasion.

The Extras

“The Hero’s Journey” is a 24-minute “making of” piece that gives you a detailed lok into the motion-capture production of the film, truly letting you see the actors’ performances. This is a must-watch for everyone to understand the skill involved in making a film of this caliber.

“Beasts of Burden” is a 7-minute look at the creatures of the film from concept to final product. I would have preferred a lengthier look at this topic, but I’ll take what I can get.

“The Origins of Beowulf” is a 5-minute piece what made Zemeckis tackle the subject. Again, this could have been made into a very in-depth comparison piece between the film and the original material, but what can you do.

“Creating the Ultimate Beowulf” is a 2-minute piece that looks at the title character and bringing him to life.

“The Art of Beowulf” is a 6-minute featurette on the look of the film and the development of the visual style.

Six unfinished, Deleted Scenes are available as well, none of which are anything special.

The Trailer and Previews round out the special features.

Final Thoughts

Beowulf: Director’s Cut is a fast-paced, gorgeous action film featuring some of the best CGI to date, even if it isn’t the most faithful adaptation of the story.

The Film

No matter how many PG and PG-13 films about high school are released, the reality is that teenagers don’t talk like they do on the Disney Channel. They lead very R-rated lives so softening the content and making bubblegum movies about high school aimed at pre-teens seems very contradictory. Charm School retains all the clichés of a teenage angst film but portrays the story in a more realistic, R-rated world that automatically makes it better than ninety-percent of the pop teen films out there.

The film stars Martha Higareda as Adela Leon, a spunky teen who has no problem acting however she wants, which often lands her in trouble. Her father just happens to be the next potential, conservative candidate for governor of Mexico City. Fearing that Adela’s antics will cause him his political future, Adela is sent to a renowned “finishing school” with the hopes of turning her into a proper lady. As you can imagine, this doesn’t work out as planned. Adela immediately clashes with the schoolmistress and shocks the other students with her unbridled behavior. However, it is this same free-spiritedness that makes her different and ultimately draws people to her. What ensues is typical teenage girl stuff featuring boy drama, catty arguments, and the like. I don’t say that in a negative way, it is what it is.

Charm School may not break any new ground in terms of the structure of the plot, but at least it doesn’t hold back and turn it into High School Musical. These girls swear, they try drugs, they talk about sex—it’s R-rated material, but the truth–a throwback (in a very loose sense) to some teen films from the ‘80s. Mean Girls had the potential to be a vicious, cutting portrayal of teenage bitchiness, but was instead watered down and loss a lot of its bite. Charm School doesn’t hold back. I’m not saying it is American Pie, far from it, but at least the tone of the dialogue and situations is more on the realistic side.

If nothing else, Charm School is a film about teenage girls that can actually be enjoyed by teenage girls. It’s not aimed at twelve-year-olds wishing they had all the drama of a teenage life. That is a success in of itself.

The DVD

The video is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. Vibrant, bright colors pop on the screen, but the level of detail was a bit disappointing. Grain is a problem and the overall image seemed to lack a final bit of refinement.

The audio is offered in Spanish/French Dolby Digital 5. 1 Surround Sound with English/French subtitles. It’s far from an active track, but dialogue is clear and balanced with the rest of the audio elements.

The Extras

The disc boasts four short “making of” featurettes: The Start of Production, Fall of Adela, Adela’s Fight, and Performance. The segments provide a half-decent look at the production and certain segments from the film, but overall they are still very much an electronic pres kit.

The music video “Como Soy” by Ximena Sarinana is offered as well.

Final Thoughts

Charm School is a film that knows its target audience. However, if you aren’t a teenage girl, you might want to stay away from this one.

The Show

I don’t understand how people can continue to watch a reality series for multiple seasons. With few exceptions, every season follows exactly the same formula. The Girls Next Door: Season Three has lost its charm and simply reminds you that Hugh Hefner is far more successful than you will ever be, and has a lot more fun.

The Girls Next Door is a show about Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and his three main ladies: Holly, Bridget, and Kendra. With no real direction, the show simply shows us what goes on in their lives on a daily basis. For the first season this was quite a novelty; who hasn’t wondered what happens in the mansion? However, entering a third season you’ll find that nothing has really changed and it all comes off as, well, boring. You will already be familiar with the different personalities of the ladies and their goals if you’ve watched the previous seasons, so what more do you want? It’s not like the show is going to suddenly turn into exciting porn–it is what it is. The girls go around doing minor celebrity appearances and activities, taking part in luxuries that most people will never enjoy. This may be a revelation to some people, but why not go out and enjoy your own life instead of sitting back wishing you had Hef’s?

Despite my dislike for the continuing series, I can’t say a bad word about Hef. He is portrayed in a very positive light, is a talented businessman, and genuinely cares for his ladies.

The DVD

The video is presented in 1.33:1 Full Frame. The transfer is very pretty, featuring a very high level of detail, gorgeous colors, and a clean print. Grain does occasionally show up, but for the most part it is smooth sailing.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital Stereo with English/Spanish subtitles. There aren’t really any moments of panning effects or ambiance. It is a simple, television stereo track that offers a balanced mix and clear dialogue.

The Extras

“Bedtime Stories: The Best of The Girls Next Door” is a 50-minute segment with Hef and his ladies watching and commenting on clips from the show. It is far from tantalizing.

Commentary is offered on every episode with the girls. Reality commentary is actually pretty good because it offers them a chance to explain more about what you are seeing, so you get a feeling of what is “real” and what is “reality.”

Deleted/Extended scenes are available as well.

Final Thoughts

The Girls Next Door: Season Three is just more of the same, which is simultaneously a success and the kiss of death for a reality series.

The Film

Family Guy has always drawn its humor from popular culture, with Star Wars often receiving parody and praise across the seasons. Being a fan of both franchises, I was elated when I heard they were doing a Star Wars-themed double episode. Rather than being a stale parody, Blue Harvest is a faithful retelling of Episode IV with just the right amount of Family Guy style.

From the early days of the series, Family Guy has made us laugh with Star Wars references, whether they were short gags, or full segments. The creators exhibited a strong knowledge of the material that fanboys could relate to. They weren’t shy about their love for Star Wars and Lucasfilm had always given them their full support. Taking it to a new level, Blue Harvest is literally Star Wars but with the Family Guy characters taking on the roles. Chris Griffin is Luke Skywalker, Stewie is Darth Vader, Peter is Han Solo, Brian is Chewie, Lois is Leia, Quagmire is C-3PO, Cleveland is R2-D2, and Herbert the pedophile is Obi-Wan. Complete with all the licensed music and sound effects, the Family Guy team has painstakingly recreated the plot of Episode IV: A New Hope, putting in a level of detail that only a die-hard fan can really appreciate.

Some may wonder what the whole point of it is. Why tell the exact same story? Well, for one, it’s a fantastic story and they wanted to pay tribute to the groundbreaking film. Don’t worry, though, there are plenty of Family Guy-themed moments, whether it is riffing on the plot holes in the story or tossing around nerdy, inside jokes. Herbert as Obi-Wan alone is reason enough to give it a watch. Just don’t expect a gut-bursting experience, the main focus isn’t comedy, it’s telling the story. There are lots of hilarious asides, but Star Wars isn’t a comedy so Blue Harvest is notably less “funny” than most episodes.

Family Guy: Blue Havest is a passion project, made out of a need to celebrate a common interest. If you find yourself in that category, you’ll have a blast. If not, you can at least admire the amount of work it must have required to animate such a detailed recreation.

The DVD

The video is presented in 1.33:1 Full Frame. The screener disc featured solid colors, was plagued with compression errors, aliasing, and other unsightly problems.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/Spanish/French subtitles. Much more robust than previous efforts, the track blasts the Star Wars sound effects and music with excellent clarity across all of the speakers. Dialogue is crisp and balanced as well.

The Extras

A commentary track is provided with a variety of crew including Seth MacFarlane. While the joking continues, this is one of the more informative and thoughtful Family Guy tracks as the participants have a true admiration and love for the source material. A must-listen for fans of the show and Star Wars, which should be anyone buying this disc.

“A Conversation with George” is a laid-back, 12-minute interview with George Lucas conducted by Seth MacFarlane. Lucas is very much at ease answering MacFarlane’s mixture of legitimate and joke questions. It is a very solid segment.

“Once in a Lifetime: The Making of Blue Harvest” is a 19-minute behind-the-scenes look at what it took to morph Star Wars into the Family Guy universe.

The entire episode is available to watch in animatic form for you animation buffs.

Lastly, a Promo is offered as well as a 9-minute collection of Star Wars references from the series.

Final Thoughts

If you love Star Wars and Family Guy, then this is a no-brainer. However, if you don’t truly love both of those franchises, Blue Harvest has very little to offer.