Release Date: August 19th, 2008
Running Time: 394 minutes

The Show

Few franchises achieve the iconic status that the Terminator films have earned. With strong characters, ground-breaking effects, and a unique vision of the future, the films are some of the best representations of sci-fi action ever put to celluloid. Having such a rich world and mythology, the opportunity has always existed to expand upon the franchise. Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles: The Complete First Season is not only successful as a Terminator product, but is simply good television.

The film picks up a few years after T2. Sarah (Lena Headey) and John (Thomas Dekker) are living their lives under fake names as they are still wanted fugitives hunted by Agent James Ellison (Richard T. Jones). Things have settled down and they have a semblance of a normal life. However, after Sarah has a nightmare about a terminator killing John and then her boyfriend Charley (Dean Winters) proposes, she realizes they have gotten too secure in their situation. They pack up and disappear over night to start yet another new life.

In their new location, John begins school and hits it off with a pretty girl named Cameron Phillips (Summer Glau). Things seem fine until a substitute teacher named Cromartie takes roll call and tries to execute John. He’s a terminator. As it turns out, Cameron is also a terminator, but a new, different kind capable of understanding more emotions, and even eating. Cameron saves John and explains to Sarah and him that they didn’t stop Judgment Day—someone else builds Skynet. Realizing that they were found at the new location in less than two days, Cameron decides to take drastic measures to save the Connors. Under the guise of holding up a bank, she takes them to the vault where there is a time machine and a nuclear gun capable of destroying Cromartie. Cameron activates the machine, and Sarah blasts Cromartie to hell just before they are whisked to the future.

The trio arrive completely naked on an LA freeway in 2007. They are in the future where no one is after them. Cameron explains that there are resistance fighters sent back from the future to help with the war, as well as terminators sent back to stop those fighters and ensure the creation of Skynet. Armed once again with a mission, to stop the genesis of Skynet, the series officially commences. What they don’t know, however, is that parts of Cromartie’s body were also blown through the time machine, and he begins the process of rebuilding himself so he can complete his mission—kill John Connor.

First and foremost the acting is really impressive. Headey’s Sarah Connor is simultaneously a tough-as-nails leader, but also retains a femininity and vulnerability rarely seen in the films. Dekker’s John is a perfect blend of a normal, hormonal teenager, but he still has a weight of the world, literally, on his shoulders. The dynamic between the mother and son is explored in great detail. John wants to have a normal life, but Sarah is always in full-blown protection mode, leading to many clashes between the two. Brian Austin Green is also introduced as Derek Reese, one of the resistance fighters. His character gives us the perfect look into the future and the attitude of people living in a war-torn world, fighting for their very existence against the machines. The hidden fact that he is actually John’s uncle adds another rich layer to the character dynamics.

The action and effects are incredible; some of the best I have ever seen in a television series. The violence, while censored compared to the R-rated films, is still very hectic and brutal. We also get to see a lot more of the future and cool technology throughout the season, adding more depth to the mythology. The show plays out like a mini-action film every episode, making for an adrenalin-fueled, extremely fun series. I only wish the season wasn’t cut short due to the writer’s strike.

It has to be noted that the events taking place in The Sarah Connor Chronicles exist on an alternate timeline from those in T3. Initially, this really annoyed me as I wanted it to be canon for the franchise, but if you can get past this fact and accept it as its own entity, it really isn’t an issue. Whenever you have a franchise dealing with time travel, things get so muddled anyway. Who knows, maybe they will eventually end up tying it in with the films.

The 3-disc set contains all 9 episodes from the first season: “Pilot,” “Gnothi Seauton,” “The Turk,” “Heavy Metal,” “Queen’s Gambit,” “Dungeons & Dragons,” “The Demon Hand,” “Vick’s Chip,” and “What He Beheld.”

The DVD

The video is presented in a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The print is pristine with no damage or dust. Colors are natural, and the level of detail is very solid for standard DVD. A few compression errors and grain pop up now and again, as well as some edge enhancement, but the transfer is still quite pretty.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/French/Spanish/Chinese/Korean/Thai/Portuguese Subtitles. I was blown away by the surround usage considering this is a television show. It is a very active mix, constantly throwing action across all of the channels. The mix is balanced as well, never drowning out the various sound elements. It isn’t as multi-dimensional as a theatrical action mix, but it is definitely one of the best television efforts I have heard on DVD.

The Extras

Commentary is offered on “Pilot” with Josh Friedman, James Middleton, David Nutter, and Summer Glau; “The Turk with Josh Friedman, John Wirth, Lena Headey, and Thomas Dekker; and “What He Beheld” with Ian Goldberg, Summer Glau, and Brian Austin Green. The commentaries are more scene-specific with the participants providing plenty of anecdotal information regarding the production rather than tons of background information. They are good tracks, and worth a listen if you really dug one of these episodes.

“Creating the Chronicles” is a 3-part, 40 minute documentary that covers the history of the show from the conception to production. It has a ton of cast/crew interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and more. It is a complete, in-depth piece that is far more informative than any of the commentaries.

“Terminated Scenes” are a collection of deleted scenes split across all three discs. They are mostly character moments that would interrupt the high octane pace of the show.

“Cast Audition Tapes” shows auditions for Lena Headey, Thomas Dekker, and Richard T. Jones. Acting buffs will appreciate these, but personally, I thought seeing one for Summer Glau would have been the most interesting and revealing.

“Summer Glau Dance Rehearsal” shows off the Summer’s well-documented dancing abilities.

Also offered are Storyboard Animatics from the pilot, a Gag Reel, and an extended version of “The Demon Hand.”

Final Thoughts

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles defied the odds, and the result is a well-rounded, exciting action series. I recommend that anyone who even has a slight interest in the franchise to give this show a chance. I doubt you will be disappointed.

Release Date: July 29th, 2008
Running Time: 98 minutes

The Film

Few Sci-fi franchises have had the longevity of Stargate. The success began with a sleeper hit film that immediately garnered a loyal fan base. Realizing the potential of the world and mythology, Stargate had a run on television in the form of SG-1 for a decade! It even spawned a spin-off series, Stargate: Atlantis. Stargate: Continuum, the second film since the conclusion of SG-1, is the perfect treat for fans suffering from a post-series miasma, and a great reason to revisit the world.

The film picks up with the SG-1 crew at a ceremony to remove an evil parasite from Ba’ al–the last of the evil “System Lords.” Ba’ al boasts that he is merely a clone, and that other plans are in the works. During the ceremony, two members of the crew (Teal’c and Vala Mal Doren) simply disappear into thin air! The remaining crew members return to Earth, only to discover that everything is different. It’s not the same world it once was. People, friends, everything is different. The team realizes something has gone horribly wrong with the continuum, and tries to convince the government to take action. Their cries call on deaf ears, and soon enough Goa’uld alien ships enter Earth with designs of complete world domination. Worse yet, both Teal’c and Mal Doren are working with the enemy due to the alterations in the continuum. The invasion begins and the SG-1 team must find the location of a Stargate, figure out how Ba’al caused all this chaos, and fix the time-space continuum. In short, they have quite a lot on their plate.

There’s a lot to like about Stargate: Continuum. You get the fun aspect of witnessing a type of alternate universe, plots left unfinished from the series are readdressed, and the story is very well done. They didn’t skimp out on this film. Even with a direct-to-video budget, they stretched it to give fans the best possible product. The sets, the location shoots, and most of the effects far surpass anything seen in the series, or even the first direct-to-video film. People who are unfamiliar with Stargate will have a hard time picking up all the character/plot nuances and references, but it is still an enjoyable, contained story. Fans, on the other hand, will eat it up.

The Disc

The video is presented in a 1.78:1, 1080p High Definition transfer. The video is generally acceptable, but more problems popped up than I expected. Varying levels of grain and video noise are an issue. The arctic scenes also suffer a loss of detail through some white crush. On a positive note, the colors are vibrant and there are no compression problems.

The audio is offered in an English DTS 5.1 Master Lossless audio track, as well as English/Spanish/French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/Spanish subtitles. The tracks aren’t poor by any means; they just don’t reach that awe inspiring level that I am used to with theatrical Blu-ray discs. Dialogue is balanced for the most part, but can occasionally get muffed when the music or effects hit a crescendo. The surrounds are adequately used, but do come off more flat and uninspired that other mixes. Likewise, atmospheric effects are present to a degree, but more work could have been done. Understanding that this is a direct-to-video film, I’d say the audio is actually very good. It’s just that when you compare it to reference quality discs you can hear the difference.

The Extras

Commentary is offered with Executive Producer/Writer Brad Wright and Director Martin Wood. This is a fantastic commentary, if for nothing else than the fact that the two are genuinely very excited to be discussing their film. You won’t find any lapses here—they fill up the entire running time with interesting and fun information.

The “Making of Stargate: Continuum” is a 22-minute featurette that has a mixture of interviews and fly-on-the-wall production footage.

“Stargate Goes to the Arctic” is a 22-minute featurette focusing on the location shooting done in the arctic. Watching this will give you a new appreciation for those scenes in the film. They filmed in the freaking arctic! That’s pretty insane for direct-to-video.

Lastly, the “Layman’s Guide to Time Travel” is a 10-minute interview with Astrophysicist Jaymie Matthews discussing the nature of time, and tying it in with the events of the film.

Final Thoughts

Stargate: Continuum is unlikely to revitalize the franchise to the mainstream, but it is a quality stand-alone film made so the fans can take another journey into the world and characters they supported for over a decade.

Release Date: July 22nd, 2008
Running Time: 270 minutes

The Films

If you’re looking for late-night horror movie sleaze, you can scarcely do better than the Sci-Fi channel. Images from the simply awful, yet simultaneously delightful, Sabretooth are forever engrained in my mind. The Maneater Series Collection: Volume 1 is a triple-feature set tailored to the late-night, horror cheese crowd.

Blood Monkey is as campy as the name suggests. If you are even a little turned off by that idea then I suggest you stay far, far away. I hate to criticize movies because my opinion means squat when someone else is watching a film and forming their own opinions. Having said that, the only way I could find myself enjoying Blood Monkey was by accepting how ludicrous it was.

The film stars F. Murray Abraham as Professor Hamilton, a man leading six grad students into the deepest recesses of the jungle. The Professor claims that he is bringing the group to a previously unexplored region to study apes, but when they reach the valley in question they find the remnants of a base camp. The group soon learns that their predecessors traveled here to prove the existence of a type of super-intelligent chimpanzee that may be the missing link in evolution. Unfortunately those same chimps just happen to be cold-blooded killers! As the group puts all the pieces together the Professor degenerates into madness, not letting them leave until he has his proof.

Forget the plot; the whole point of the film is to see people killed by chimps. It just so happens that everything leading up to that is so B-movie that you can’t help but laugh. Even the effects are poor, lending to the whole campy experience. I’m not saying I would watch Blood Monkey again, or add it to my collection, but if you happen to find it on TV at two in the morning, you just might be pleasantly surprised

Maneater continues the animal-on-a-rampage formula, and despite having a promising killer tiger, it fails to live up to its potential.

The film stars Gary Busey as Sheriff Grady, a man who has few serious problems on the job…until a monstrous Bengal tiger is released during a truck crash and goes on a killing spree. The tiger begins picking off the town folk one by one as Grady searches for a way to stop the rampaging beast. In an homage to or complete rip-off of Jaws, the town leaders are torn about the idea of canceling one of their biggest yearly events that draws in lots of money, even though a tiger is killing people. After all, what’s more important, the local fundraiser or stopping the bloodshed?

Maneater could have been much better. What’s not to like about a killer tiger? Well, for one it’s not fun to have off-screen deaths. If I’m watching a monster movie, I want to see the beast tearing people up, not just the aftermath. Also, when will filmmakers learn that the beasts are the stars of the films, not the humans? Too much time is spent “developing” these characters that are just fodder for the giant tiger. Maybe I am being overly harsh, but a giant tiger movie brought out a childlike giddiness in me that simply wasn’t satisfied.

The set is rounded off with In The Spider’s Web. Two friends, Gina (Emma Catherwood) and Stacey, (Lisa Livingstone) are spending a trip backpacking with a group through the jungles of India, led by a tour guide named Brian (Mike Rogers). One night Brian tells them how the locals avoid a nearby village due to the strange behavior of its inhabitants, especially the American doctor who lives there. That same night Gina is bitten by a venomous spider, forcing the group to look for help in the village. There they meet up with the eclectic Dr. Lecorpus (Lance Henrisksen), who just happens to be a specialist in spider venom. Lecorpus promises to help, but the group soon finds out that he and his spiders have far more insidious plans for them.

In The Spider’s Web is a creature film mixed with Turistas. Much like the other two films, it suffers from poor CGI, an extremely low budget, and hammy acting. I have to admit, compared with the other films I found the spiders far less satisfying than the monkey or tiger.

The Maneater Series Collection: Volume 1 is only for a certain breed of horror fan. My gripe is that the plots of the movies are very promising, but the level of carnage that ensues was disappointing.

The DVDs

Blood Monkey

The video is presented in 1.33:1 Full Frame. The transfer is decent but falls apart a little with the night scenes, featuring heavy grain and loss of detail.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital Stereo. The balance is good, but don’t expect anything engaging from the soundtrack–it is very front loaded and content to exist merely to get the basic point across.

Maneater

The video is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. The image is average, but grain is a constant problem and hurts the detail, especially in scenes with low lighting.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The 5.1 track is robust enough and well features a balanced mix.

In the Spider’s Web

The video is presented in 1.33:1 Full Frame. The colors are dull and a bit washed out. The level of detail is below average for standard definition as well.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo. It is a completely flat transfer that makes no effort to produce atmospheric effects or quality surround moments. It sounds just like you are watching it on cable.

The Extras

None!

Final Thoughts

If campy, B-movie TV horror films are your cup of tea, then the Maneater Series Collection: Volume 1 is an excellent deal. However, fans of truly scary horror films should look elsewhere for their thrills.

Release Date: July 8th, 2008
Running Time: 76 minutes

The Film

Certain film franchises lend themselves to being explored outside the traditional, live-action medium. The Animatrix and Star Wars: The Clone Wars are perfect examples of worlds that were worth exploring on smaller terms while retaining the artistry and style that made their parent films so popular. Batman: Gotham Knight is an example of grade-A animation and short form storytelling, and a solid companion piece to the current Batman movie lore.

The film is comprised of six short stories, each featuring a different animation style and take on the Dark Knight. The stories take place after Batman Begins and before The Dark Knight. They flesh out the world of Batman, showing us what goes on in his crime fighting life when he’s not battling iconic super villains. Do not mistake the more isolated stories as less important or lacking depth – whether it is focusing on Gotham citizens’ perception of Batman, or him exploring new technologies, all of the stories have a point and help complete the picture of his world.

“Have I Got a Story for You” (written by Josh Olson, directed by Shojiro Nishimi) opens the film and has four teenagers recounting their individual experiences and perceptions of Batman over a day, providing a unique perspective on Gotham’s hero.

“Crossfire” (written by Greg Rucka, directed by Futoshi Higashide) follows Detectives Allen and Ramirez who get caught in the middle of gang war.

“Field Test” (written by Jordan Goldberg, directed by Hiroshi Morioka) is a fun little piece showing Batman testing out a new technology that allows him to deflect bullets—with unforeseen consequences.

“In Darkness Dwells” (written by David Goyer, directed by Yasuhiro Aoki) features Batman tangling with Scarecrow and Killer Croc. It is action heavy and, stylistically, closer to what most people’s perceptions of a Batman story would be.

“Working Through Pain” (written by Brian Azzarello, directed by Toshiyuki Kubooka) is my favorite of the bunch and follows a wounded Batman trying to work through the anguish. He has flashbacks to when he learned techniques to put pain in its place, providing another layer to Batman’s always insane, sometimes mysterious training.

Lastly, “Deadshot” (written by Alan Burnett, directed by Jong-Sik Nam) features the most detailed, impressive animation. The story finds Batman having to prevent a killer named Deadshot from completing his assassination contract on Gordon.

Depending on what your expectations are, Batman: Gotham Knight can be an extremely rewarding experience. It doesn’t contain a large, arcing story like the films, but rather is a more contained look at the man and the myth—Gotham’s Dark Knight.

The Disc

The video is presented in a 1.85:1, 1080p High Definition transfer. It is hard to judge because the transfers are very inconsistent between the different segments, much of this due to differing stylistic choices, especially concerning the level of grain or sharpness of the image. Overall I found the colors to be spot on and the black levels solid. Various levels of video noise popped up throughout the shorts, but nothing was ever severe enough to detract from my enjoyment of the film.

The audio is offered in English/Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, as well as Spanish/German Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo with English/Spanish/German/Japanese subtitles. While not as crisp as a lossless track, the audio still makes a good showing for itself. Dialogue is clean and balanced in the mix. The score truly shines, engulfing you from all sides, and heightening the intensity. The surround effects are there, but are a tad basic considering some of the more unique and realistic Blu-ray efforts I have encountered. If I have one minor complaint, it is that the atmosphere of Gotham could have been better portrayed. The city is very much a character in the Batman mythology, and I would have loved to hear all the dingy, subtle atmospheric nuances of Gotham.

The Extras

Commentary is offered with DC Comics Senior VP of Creative Affairs Gregory Noveck, former Batman editor Dennis O’Neil, and Kevin Conroy. The trio give plenty of background information regarding the project, but I think individual commentaries with the segment animators/writers would have been more informative.

“Batman and Me, a Devotion to Destiny” is a 38-minute documentary on the life of Bob Kane, the creator of Batman. It is a stellar tribute piece to one of the most influential men in comic book history.

“A Mirror for the Bat” is a 35-minute documentary with tons of interviews discussing Batman and the various villains that have tormented him over the years.

A 10-minute sneak peek at the upcoming Wonder Woman film is available, though the lack of any finished footage prevents it from really giving you an idea about how the project will turn out.

Lastly, four bonus episodes are offered from the incredible “Batman: The Animated Series” - “Over the Edge,” “I Am the Night,” “Heart of Ice,” and “Legends of the Dark Knight.”

Final Thoughts

Batman: Gotham Knight is the perfect supplement to Christopher Nolan’s films. With varied, but equally impressive, animation styles, and gritty, stand-alone stories, this collection is an artistic treat for Batman fans.

Release Date: July 29th, 2008
Running Time: 114 minutes

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 Blu-ray version of Beowulf: Director’s Cut is a near-reference quality disc, and simply the best way to experience the film since the theatrical release.

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” outside of an increased level of violence and gore.

The Disc

The video is presented in a 2.35:1, 1080p High Definition transfer. This is one of the most gorgeous transfers I have seen. The level of detail is insane, making the animation look even more realistic, and the 3-D effects look less gimmicky. I noticed far more detail in Grendel’s attack on the hall, a very dark scene where many of the finer details were lost in the standard definition transfer. The print is flawless, with no trace of compression artifacts, digital noise, or specks. Deep, bold black levels and vibrant colors round out the impressive transfer.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1 TrueHD Surround Sound, as well as French/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/Spanish/French subtitles. This is an aggressive, dominant mix with countless moments of panning effects, deep bass, and pristine clarity. Atmospheric effects are convincing and realistic, from the partying in the hall, to the eerie cave of Grendel’s mother. Lastly, the various elements of the mix are appropriately balanced.

The Extras

All of the special features from the standard DVD are carried over, plus a few extras.

“Beowulf in the Volume” is a picture-in-picture option where a smaller screen shows the motion capture process during the production for the scenes you are watching. This is a great way to watch the film if you want to see just how precise the motion-capture process is.

“A Conversation with Robert Zemeckis” is a 10-minute Q&A session with USC students.

“The Hero’s Journey” is a 24-minute “making of” piece that gives you a detailed look 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.

“The Journey Continues” is a 10-part, 21-minute featurette covering various technical aspects of the production, including props discussion, recreating the actor’s likeness’, stunts, and more.

“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 is an exciting, action-packed epic, and a testament to the growing power of computer graphics. Everything is enhanced on the Blu-ray disc, making it the definitive edition of the film.

Release Date: July 29th, 2008
Running Time: 109 minutes

The Film

Top Gun is a pure symbol of the ‘80s. Starring a young Tom Cruise as the cocky Lt. Pete Mitchell and a group of other young actors including Val Kilmer, the film became one of the ultimate popcorn films and made millions upon millions at the box office. Enter the danger zone and experience Top Gun like never before through the technical brilliance of Blu-ray.

The story is nothing special. Mitchell competes with Iceman (Kilmer) to be the “Top Gun” in their class. Throw in your cookie cutter love interest with civilian contractor Charlotte Blackwood (Kelly McGillis) and you’ve got just enough story to cover the scenes between the dogfights.

Truth be told, the jets are the true stars of the film. Made before computer effects took over the industry, the stunts pulled in the F-14 jets are mind blowing, especially since the actors were often inside during them!

Are you going to watch Top Gun and then have a deep philosophical conversation about the nature of humanity? Not a chance. But you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who won’t have a good time throughout it.

The Disc

The video is presented in a 2.35:1, 1080p High Definition transfer. This is the best the film has ever looked, but it still retains some minor flaws. The occasion speck of dirt mars the print quality. There are some problems with video noise and grain as well, most noticeably during some of the aerial shots. On the positive side, detail is very good, as are the colors and flesh tones. The picture has far more depth than ever before, and these minor quips should not deter anyone from picking this title up.

The audio is offered in both English Dolby Digital 5.1 TrueHD Surround Sound and English 6.1 DTS Master Lossless audio, as well as French/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/French/Spanish/Portuguese subtitles. This is a powerful track with loads of realistic channel separation that suck you into the film. You can feel the power of the jets with deep, rumbling bass. The jets soar across all of the speakers with rich, near perfect clarity. The dialogue and music are balanced. It may not be as robust as modern action titles, but it is pretty darn close.

The Extras

The disc contains the same stellar selection of special features from the 2-disc DVD set.

A commentary track is offered with with Director Tony Scott, Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Co-Screenwriter Jack Epps, Jr., Captain Mike Galpin, Techincal Advisor Peter Pettigrew, and Vice-Admiral Mike McCabe. This is a solid track with plenty of information offered about all parts of the film. However, I would have loved a second track with all the actors reminiscing on the 80’s.

“Danger Zone: The Making of Top Gun” is a 150-minute documentary split into 6 parts with an option to play all. Throughout the whole piece you get interviews from a mass of people including: Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Writer Jack Epps, Jr., Former Top Gun Executive Officer Admiral Mike McCabe, Technical Advisor Peter Pettigrew, Director Tony Scott, Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Barry Tubb, Rick Rossovich, Editors Chris Lebenzon and Billy Weber, Michael Ironside, Director of Photography Jeffrey Kimball, Captain Michael Galpin, Special Photographic Effects Supervisor Gary Gutierrez, Director of Photography: USFX Rick Fichter, Composer Harold Faltermeyer, Music Editor Bob Badami, Kenny Loggins, Music Producer Giorgio Moroder, and Terri Nunn.

The first part of the documentary is entitled “From the Ground up: Pre-Production.” They discuss: pitching the story, concerns over getting Naval cooperation, finding an advising team, making the script authentic, casting, and the training the actors had to endure.

“Playing with the Boys: Production Land and Sea” mostly interviews the actors and has plenty of candid, fun stories. They also discuss their characters, working with each other, compromising reality for film, hanging out with real fighter pilots, filming on the carriers, and the volley ball scene.

“The Need for Speed: Production Air” discusses all things regarding the flying sequences including: camera angles, how they managed to shoot it, aerial direction, the tower fly-by, and the actors being in the jets.

“Back to Basics: Visual Effects” interviews the effects team. They talk about aerial photography and the lack of digital effects back then. They show miniatures and how they actually achieved their shots.

“Combat Rock: The Music of Top Gun” discusses: creating the theme, compiling the soundtrack, choosing the right people, and the success of the soundtrack.

Lastly, “After burn: Release and Impact” discusses: editing, the horrible first cut, splicing together a new cut, why a sequel has never been made, different options for the end of the film, the success in the box office, and the aftermath of it all.

”Multi-Angle Storyboards” gives you the optional to look at storyboards or storyboard/final shot comparisons with optional commentary by Director Tony Scott for “Flat Spin” and “Jester’s Dead.”

“Behind-the-Scenes” is a 5-minute featurette with old interviews from: Producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, Director Tony Scott, and Technical Advisor Peter “Viper” Pettigrew. It is a very basic discussion covering the story and how all of it was actually shot in the air with the actors.

“Surviving the Training” is a 7-minute piece with interviews from: Tom Cruise, Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Director Tony Scott, Anthony Edwards, John Stockwell, Barry Tubb, and Whip Hubley. They talk about the various training they endured including ejection training, underwater escapes ,and pressure chamber work.

“Best of the Best - Inside the Real Top Gun” is a half-hour look at real fighter pilots, featuring plenty of interviews and technical discussion.

“Tom Cruise Interviews” are 6 minutes of footage where he discusses: joining the team, his interest in flying, being in the jet, and his experiences on the aircraft carrier.

Production Photography is offered for: Cast portraits, flight training, behind-the-scenes: land, behind-the-scenes: sea, behind-the-scenes: rear screen unit, deleted scene: goose’s grave, fun on the set, and USFX miniature unit.

Lastly, TV spots are offered as well as four music videos: “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins, “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin, “Heaven in Your Eyes” by Loverboy, and “Top Gun Anthem” by Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens. This is priceless, absolutely priceless.

Final Thoughts

Top Gun is a pulp-classic, no doubt about it. You haven’t experienced this ‘80s gem until you’ve seen it on Blu-ray.

Release Date: July 29th, 2008
Running Time: 102 minutes

The Film

It is easy to write off the Harold & Kumar franchise as simple stoner comedies. I don’t buy that. I thought Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle was one of the smarter R-rated comedies I had seen in quite some time, focusing on issues such as racism under the guise of two stoners trying to get to White Castle. Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay cranks it up a notch, delivering hardcore laughs and a surprising amount of poignant societal critiques.

Let me reiterate that this film is not a stoner comedy, but rather a film following the misadventures of two generally good, reasonably successful guys who just happen to enjoy pot. The film picks up immediately after the end of the first one. Harold and Kumar are heading to Amsterdam so Harold can be with his the gem of his heart—Maria. At the airport they meet up with an ex-girlfriend of Kumar’s named Vanessa who is about to get married, but more on that later. Things immediately turn sour when Kumar is caught with an intricate bong in the airplane bathroom that people mistake for a bomb. Harold and Kumar are racially profiled and arrested as terrorists, resulting in them being sent to Guantanamo Bay. They escape and head on a quest to get to Vanessa’s wedding, hoping her fiancé’s political pull can help clear their names before the feds catch up to them.

From the opening montage contrasting Harold and Kumar, the film is a damn raw comedy. Whether this is in the form of nudity, language, or a graphic sex scene with a giant bag of weed—this one is not for the lightweights. Yet you have to recognize the light-heartedness of it all. This is not a mean spirited film in any way. Nor is it an attempt to realistically portray Guantanamo Bay or government employees. It is a satire on racism, politics, and many more topics that asks you to, shockingly, have fun with it all! People are far too uptight these days. If you are one of those people, stay very far away from this one.

John Cho and Kal Penn are brilliant as the duo and have an innate chemistry that makes every gesture, every action they take both hilarious and believable. A solid supporting cast is topped off with Rob Corddry turning in a classic performance as a bigoted, terror-driven Fed. Seriously, he plays it so straight that you simply can’t believe the crap that comes out of his mouth.

If you didn’t like the first film, I doubt you will be able to get into this one. However, if you have an open mind and a thick skin, please do not write this film off as a mere stoner comedy, it deserves more than that.

The Disc

The video is presented in a 1.85:1, 1080p High Definition anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a solid effort in every respect. Colors are warm and saturated, the level of detail is standard for Blu-ray, and the black levels/flesh tones are both impressive. It doesn’t redefine what Blu-ray is capable of, but rather is a testament to how even films that aren’t as visually stimulating as others can still take advantage of the format.

The audio is presented in an English DTS 7.1 HD Master Lossless Audio track with English/Spanish subtitles. The quality is crystal clear and the mix is well balanced. The full, rich mix frequently pans across the front channels, as well as providing realistic ambient sounds from the rears. Bass is also thumping where necessary. The audio is very similar to the video transfer in that it isn’t reference quality, but far more than I expected for a comedy.

The Extras

A good selection of special features is offered on the set.
Two commentary tracks are available. The first is with Directors/Writers Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, and actors John Cho and Kal Penn. The second features Hurwitz and Schlossberg, as well as actors James Adomian and “the real” Harold Lee. Both are fun, energetic discussions with plenty of random and cool Harold & Kumar trivia.

“Dude Change the Movie” is an interesting feature where, at branching points in the movie, you can choose from the wide selection of deleted/extended scenes to “change” the film, sort of like a choose-your-own adventure. It works well for the most part, but most fans will probably enjoy the 17 Deleted Scenes and 10 Extended Scenes/Outtakes on their own as opposed to through this feature.

“The World of Harold & Kumar” is a 21-minute making-of featurette that offers a glimpse at the production, but is mostly EPK interviews with the cast/crew.

Also offered is a PSA from “President Bush” promoting the film, 3 Trailers, and a SD digital copy of the film.

Final Thoughts

Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay is raucous, high energy comedy with a surprising amount of social commentary hidden between gross out gags and outrageous antics. With a good technical showing, and some worthwhile special features, fans of the duo will not be disappointed with this Blu-ray.

Release Date: July 29th, 2008
Running Time: 113 minutes

The Film

I am a boxing fan to the core. The recent rise of MMA, and subsequent criticism of boxing, has not sat well with me. I’ve given MMA numerous chances to draw me in, but I’ve never been able to get invested in the sport like I am with boxing. Something about the mixing and deterioration of different fighting styles into one, amorphous grapple-fest doesn’t appeal to me. Never Back Down stumbles in its attempt to appeal to both tweens and MMA fans, resulting in a film that doesn’t pack a serious dramatic punch or contain the brutality of a classic like Bloodsport.

The film stars Sean Faris as Jack Tyler, a high school senior who is kicked out of school for fighting and relocates to Orlando, Florida with his family. By the time he arrives at his new school he is already infamous due to his fight being posted on YouTube. This garners him the attention of beauty Baja Miller (Amber Heard), and puts him in the target of school king Ryan McCarthy (Cam Gigandet). Jake is invited to a lavish house party, only to be beaten up and humiliated by Ryan. Pissed off and with revenge on the brain, Jake signs up for martial arts training from a local MMA master named Jean Rocha (Djimon Hounsou). Initially wanting only to obtain the necessary skills to whip Ryan, Jake finds the training to be a way to work out his issues and better himself.

The plot is pretty cookie-cutter. The new kid on the block has to overcome the legendary bully, and maybe get the girl. What were you expecting, Shakespeare? On a positive note, the fight scenes are very well done, especially in this “Extended Beatdown Edition.” The fights contain more brutal sound effects and extended sequences. However, without the bloody, entertaining benefits of a true R rating, the lack of an interesting plot really hurts the film. The dramatic moments are awkward at best, serving only as transitions between the fighting. Never Back Down isn’t a bad film, it just doesn’t offer anything new to the genre other than a focus on MMA.

The DVD

The video is presented in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen. Colors and flesh tones are accurate for the most part, though the background can seem oversaturated at times and result in a loss of detail. Grain is minimal and only the occasional compression artifact pops up.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/Spanish subtitles. The only thing that matters here is the fight scenes, and they do not disappoint. Every impact, every blow comes through with incredible, brutal detail. Likewise, the atmospheric crowd effects create an incredible, energetic ambience. This is an aggressive, unforgiving mix during these moments.

The Extras

Commentary is offered by Director Jeff Wadlow, Writer Chris Hauty, and Sean Faris. This isn’t the most intellectual film, so don’t expect a filmmaking lesson. However, there is some decent information about filming fight sequences, as well as some fun anecdotes relating to those scenes

11 Deleted/Extended Scenes are available. I’m not a fan of deleted scenes; they were cut for a reason. These are no exception.

“Mix It Up: Bringing MMA to the Big Screen” is an 8-minute introduction to the world of MMA and the various fighting styles it encompasses.

“Blow-By-Blow: Breaking Down the Fights” is the best featurette on the set, perhaps even more entertaining than the film itself. This offers over 40 minutes of in-depth analysis covering every major fight scene in the film.

“Star Power: Djimon in Training” is a short montage showing Djimon learning different fighting styles.

“The Thrill of the Fight: Choreographing MMA” is a very short piece with the stunt coordinator.

Lastly, “Training the Cast” is a 2-minute EPK piece with interviews from the cast discussing their experiences with MMA.

Final Thoughts

Never Back Down is a predictable, but somewhat entertaining, combat film with some fun moments, but I’d take Bloodsport over it any day of the week.

Release Date: July 29th, 2008
Running Time: 1122 minutes

The Show

This summer has seen a score of quality comic book films: Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, The Dark Knight, and Hellboy 2. Loaded with tons of eye candy special effects and A-list actors, you could argue that 2008 is the year that comic book films came into their own. However, not all comic books can be huge blockbusters. Others serve their purpose better on television. Witchblade: The Complete Series is an impressive adaptation, especially for TV, but encountered some bad situations that plunged it into cancellation and obscurity.

Based of the 1995 comic, the 2001 television series stars Yancy Butler as Sara Pezzini, a NYC cop going through a particularly rough spot after both her father and close friend are murdered. Along with her partner Danny (Will Yun Lee), Sara confronts the villain she believes is responsible for the murders. A gunfight ensues in a museum, and an artifact known as “The Witchblade” attaches itself to Sara’s wrist. After a giant explosion Sara wakes up unhurt, and with a whole lot of power. The Witchblade is a weapon that chooses a woman to bear it, bestowing them with superhero-like abilities. Powerful women throughout history have donned the Witchblade, and now it has chosen Sara.

After Danny is shot in front of Sara, the Witchblade shows its true power, transforming into a gauntlet/sword that is capable of deflecting bullets. With all those close to her dead, and possessing an ancient artifact of unspeakable power, Sara is at a loss. Then along comes Kenneth Irons (Anthony Cistaro), a man who has a wealth of knowledge and seems more than willing to help, but in reality has his own plans for the Witchblade.

The first season plays out well, exploring Sara’s development as well as the mythology of the Witchblade as it assists her in fighting crime and other nasty things that go bump in the night. The season is very much like a normal cop procedural, except with the supernatural twist of the Witchblade. Unfortunately, the second season is a mess. The show runners weren’t aware they were going to have a second season until the last minute, so what did they decide to do? They rebooted the series! Sara uses the Witchblade to reverse time to when Danny was shot, only this time she saves his life. Sara doesn’t really remember any of the first season, and the resulting alternate time line is far more focused on a crime-of-the-week than building any real mythology. Everything that made the series unique and interesting is lost; even the actors seem tired with the redundancy.

Witchblade was a cop show for people who hated cop shows. It offered a unique twist that opened up the world to mystical storylines while retaining the feel of a gritty, NYPD Blue type show. Who knows where the series would have gone, but with an upcoming feature film, you can be assured that this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Witchblade.

The 7-disc set contains all 23 episodes from the series as well as the TV movie: “Witchblade,” “Parallax,” “Conundrum,” “Diplopia,” “Sacrifice,” “Legion,” “Maelstrom,” “Periculum,” “Thanatopsis,” “Apprehension,” “Convergence,” “Transcendence,” “Emergence,” “Destiny,” “Agape,” “Consectatio,” “Static,” “Nailed,” “Lagrimas,” “Hierophant,” “Veritas,” “Parabolic,” “Palindrome,” and “Ubique.”

The Discs

The video is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. While the level of detail is generally decent, the rest of the image leaves something to be desired. The overall picture is soft and plagued with grain. The colors are also washed out and lack any substantial vibrancy. Overall it just feels like a dulled viewing experience.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo with English subtitles. This is a standard TV track: clean and balanced, but completely plain. Some basic front channel separation livens things up, but it still sounds like you are watching a regular broadcast.

The Extras

“Gabriel’s Philosophical Insights” are offered on ten episodes and consist of short clips with the character Gabriel discussing topics that are relevant to those episodes.

“Wielding the Blade” is a 7-minute featurette with interviews from the crew discussing the infamous blade and its design.

“Bringing the Blade to Life” is a 12-minute promotional piece on adapting the comic to the screen, and also serves as a general overview to the characters and mythology.

Lastly, Casting Sessions are offered for: Anthony Cistaro, David Chokachi, Yancy Butler, Eric Etabari, and Will Yun Lee.

Final Thoughts

Witchblade: The Complete Series is an uneven experience. Half of the series shows tons of promise, while the other half pitters off. Not that impressive technically, I’d recommend renting it first before shelling out cash for the 7-disc set.

Release Date: July 22nd, 2008
Running Time: 101 minutes

The Film

Independent horror is very sporadic in quality. Some films are simply excellent (Hatchet), while a gaggle of others are absolute wastes of time. Independent horror used to be a way for filmmakers to make a gnarly film at little cost and gain recognition. Today it seems like most horror films are lacking in quality due to being unoriginal or impassionate. However, every once in a while I’ll read about a niche horror film and get excited, hoping it will be the rare diamond in the horror rough. Despite the heavy praise featured on the jacket, I found The Last Winter to be a very disappointing “horror” film, and far from “one of the scariest movies of the year” as one critic lauded.

The film takes place in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska at an oil drilling base set up to determine how to drill in the area. Ed Pollack (Ron Perlman) returns from corporate to find two new members of the crew: environment engineers sent to make sure the company adheres to environmental restrictions. Hoffman (James LeGros), and his hardcore environmentalist attitude, really bothers Ed, not to mention the fact that he is sleeping with Ed’s ex, Abby (Connie Britton).
Hoffman begins to notice very odd changes in the weather, as well as a certain maliciousness in the wind he has never seen before. Likewise, a younger crew member named Max becomes more and more aloof and distracted, to the point where he wanders off in a stupor and freezes to death. As more members of the crew become emotionally unstable, Hoffman believes that sour gas leaking in the area is the source of their problems, and advises that everyone leave immediately.

Ed isn’t having it. He thinks Hoffman is poisoning the crew with his rhetoric. However, as more horrible events take place, even Ed is forced to believe that something is off. After a small plane crashes into their base, Ed and Hoffman must search for help in the stark Alaskan wilderness before they all succumb to whatever is happening.

If that sounds vague, it’s because the film never nails down what is really happening. Over an hour into the movie I still had no clue exactly what I was supposed to be afraid of. Was it just nature? Is there a creature out there? The film lacks an identity, and loses a lot of its impact due to this. Freak weather is only creepy for so long. I found myself waiting for it to get suspenseful, waiting for a great moment, but it never came. Instead I was pelted with heavy-handed environmentalist issues that lacked any subtlety. To top it all off, the film felt entirely amateurish with “scary” camera angles and other artsy moments that fell flat.

I was frustrated after watching The Last Winter because there was so much promise. The Alaskan setting was terrifying, and a lot of focus was put on this mysterious box covering an old oil well valve, but the idea was never paid off in any way. The film also took a creature turn, but even that didn’t make much sense. In short, I felt that The Last Winter tried to be too many things at once, and wasn’t very good at any of them.

The DVD

The video is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. It’s not the prettiest transfer out there. Heavy film grain and some compression artifacts are a constant problem. Also, the outdoor scenes appear to suffer from white crush, with much of the detail being drowned out in total white blobs. I have to imagine there was at least some detail in the Alaskan scenery, not just pure, uniform white throughout.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/Spanish subtitles. Dialogue sounded soft at times compared to the rest of the elements, but some decent surround effects were used, particularly to display the ominous wind.

The Extras

Commentary is offered with Director/Co-Writer Larry Fessenden. He feels very strongly about his work and takes the time to explain many of his creative and stylistic choices.

A feature-length documentary “Making of The Last Winter” is offered that also includes Deleted Scenes and an interview with Director Larry Fessenden. I find that documentaries on independent films are far more interesting and passionate that studio-produced ones. This is no exception. I may not like the film, but this is a well put together documentary.

Final Thoughts

The Last Winter didn’t click with me. Perhaps I had the wrong expectations, but this eco-thriller did not connect with me at all.