Archive for the 'Editorials' Category
July 11th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
In Damnation Alley the world is devastated by a nuclear holocaust, causing the Earth to tilt on its axis and bringing vast meteorological chaos. As the weather stabilizes, mutated insects start to emerge, preying on the survivors. The surviving crew at a U.S. Air Force bomb shelter in the Mojave Desert picks up radio signals coming from Albany. The commander, Major Eugene Denton (George Peppard, The A-Team), unveils two armored vehicles he has constructed and announces a plan to cross “Damnation Alley,” the hundred-mile-wide strip between areas of radiation hazard, to join the survivors. They set off, taking on two civilians — a novice singer they find in the ruins of Las Vegas and a wild teenager (Jackie Earle Haley, Watchmen) — along the way. The journey is also beset by giant mutated cockroaches, storms and crazed survivalists, making for some hair-raising escapes in this post-apocalyptic thriller. Originally released in theaters in 1977 from 20th Century Fox, Damnation Alley has been out-of-print on VHS for several years, so I’m sure many are anticipating its debut on DVD and Blu-ray. Continue reading ‘Damnation Alley (Blu-ray Review)’
July 10th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
A long time ago, in a former lumber yard far far away (actually 1980 in Venice, Calif.), Roger Corman gathered together a fledgling team of filmmakers to make one of the best low-budget science fiction films of all time, Battle Beyond the Stars, a space opera that managed to playfully borrow from Star Wars and The Magnificent Seven, to come up with an enduring cult classic. Long out of print, Battle Beyond the Stars has been meticulously restored with a new anamorphic widescreen transfer (1.85:1) from the internegative, boasting a new 5.1 DTS Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray, and featuring a galaxy of extras, including commentary by writer John Sayles and Roger Corman; a new interview with actor Richard Thomas; a behind-the-scenes technical featurette and much more. Continue reading ‘Battle Beyond the Stars (Blu-ray Review)’
July 9th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Seth Green and Matthew Senreich’s Emmy Award-winning Robot Chicken and Adult Swim bring the third and final episode in the beloved Annie Award-winning Robot Chicken: Star Wars series to DVD, and for the first time, Blu-ray Disc, with the release of Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III. A must-own for fans of Star Wars, humor and all things awesome, the DVD is bursting with over three hours of bonus material including an special appearance by the man himself, Mr. George Lucas, and two features exclusive to the Blu-ray release.
Continue reading ‘Robot Chicken: Star Wars III (Blu-ray Review)’
July 6th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Since its premiere, Lord of the Dance has been captivating audiences and critics (including one of our own) around the globe and has grossed over one billion dollars worldwide. Now, as the Lord of the Dance tour returns to over 45 U.S. cities in 2011, fans will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, when the internationally lauded Lord of the Dance – the highest-grossing tour in the history of entertainment – and its creator, producer, director, and star, Michael Flatley (returning for the first time in 13 years!), brings his vision to home audiences, giving the viewer an unparalleled sense of the scale of the show as never seen before! Continue reading ‘Win A Copy of Michael Flatley’s Return as Lord of the Dance!’
July 3rd, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Transformers – Headmasters represents the missing link in the Transformer mythology for American audiences since the show only aired in Japan. The toy-line was made by the company Takara, were originally known as the Diaclone and Microman’s Micro Change toy-lines, which were re-branded as “Transformers” by Hasbro when the toys were brought to the U.S. market. Takara imported the original series to sell their toys until they felt they could do it on their own and created their own series known as Transformers – Headmasters which took place after the events of Generation 1 (More Than Meets the Eye) that aired in America. While most of the continuity from the original show was retained, there were some differences between the two such as how the Headmasters were created. Continue reading ‘Transformers – Headmasters (DVD Review)’
July 2nd, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Why So Blu hasn’t done a lot of coverage on gaming lately, but hopefully with the help of Wizards of the Coast, that will change quite a bit. To kick off our new focus on gaming, Wizards of the Coast was kind enough to send me their Essential Dungeons and Dragons Starter Kit with the new 4th Edition rules. This set is the best way to start playing the 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Roleplaying Game since it has everything you need to get started. Designed for 1–5 players, this boxed game contains everything needed to start playing the Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Role-playing Game, including rules for creating heroes, advice for playing the Dungeon Master, a solo play adventure, and group-play adventure content. Learning the game has never been so easy! Several different character races (dwarf, elf, halfling, and human) and classes (cleric, fighter, rogue, and wizard) are presented, along with powers for each race and class. Many of you old school D&D fans may be wondering how the new 4th Edition rules stack up against the 3.5 and older rules. Read on… Continue reading ‘Dungeons & Dragons: 4th Edition Essential Dungeons and Dragons Starter Kit’
June 29th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Acclaimed director Martin Scorsese teams with Academy Award winners Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro in this splashy, flashy musical spectacle celebrating the glorious days of the Big Band Era in the Big Apple! Jimmy is a joint-jump in saxophonist on his way to stardom. Francine is a wannabe starlet who dreams of singing in the spotlight. When they meet, sparks fly and when he plays and she sings, they set New York on fire! It’s the beginning of a stormy relationship, as the two struggle to balance their passions for music and each other under the pressures of big-time show biz. Continue reading ‘New York, New York (Blu-ray Review)’
June 28th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
At last…my precious is here! While the theatrical editions of the greatest and most ambitious series of fantasy movies have already been released to Blu-ray, the Extended Editions of the films have been absent until now. Finally, the definitive version of the films is on high definition, and to make the deal even sweeter, Amazon is selling the set 42% off which means you get to save $50! And if that wasn’t enough, they are also offering free shipping too! For all of you (and I know quite a few) that have been holding out for this edition, then now is the time! See why The Lord of the Rings trilogy represents one of the biggest gambles in modern film history and why it paid off for New Line Cinema and Peter Jackson. Continue reading ‘Get The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended Edition + Digital Copy) for $69.99 (42% off)’
June 28th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
At last the hills are alive with the Sound of Music on Blu-ray! This is is one of my all time favorite musicals (a genre that doesn’t have that many movies that interest me) and one of the movies that never fails to cheer me up. After all, it was brilliantly directed by Robert Wise and has a stellar cast, great songs and choreography, and breathtaking panoramic visuals that just beg for the Blu-ray treatment. This movie was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Wise), Best Musical Score, Best Editing, and Best Sound. Julie Andrews was absolutely fantastic in this and this became one of her signature roles (the other being Mary Poppins). If you’d like to read my review of the stand-alone Blu-ray release for this movie, you can do that here, but this is the ultimate box set that has even more goodies than the one I reviewed! This deal lasts this week only so make sure you get your copy while you can! Continue reading ‘Amazon’s Deal of the Week – The Sound of Music Limited Edition Box Set for $38.99 (57% off)!’
June 27th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
The wait is finally over to experience one of the most anticipated motion-picture trilogies of all time like never before when Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III debut as a trilogy set on Blu-ray October 25, 2011 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s award-winning cinematic franchise, based on the best-selling book by Michael Crichton, generated nearly $2 billion combined at the worldwide box office and featured groundbreaking visual effects that changed the art of movie-making forever. Now, all three epic films have been digitally restored and remastered in flawless high definition for the ultimate viewing experience. Additionally, the films’ visceral sound effects and the unforgettable music from legendary composer John Williams can now be heard in pristine 7.1 surround sound. Continue reading ‘The Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy is Coming to Blu-ray Oct. 25!’
June 26th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Jesse James and his gang of outlaws ride again with a clever gimmick. Four sets of acclaimed actor brothers David, Keith and Robert Carradine, James and Stacy Keach, Dennis and Randy Quaid, and Christopher and Nicholas Guest each depict real-life siblings in emotionally charged portrayals of the Old West’s legendary bandits. The notorious James-Younger gang is the most famous group of outlaws in the country, robbing banks, trains and stagecoaches with a sense of daring that makes them folk heroes throughout the land. But when the mighty Pinkerton detective agency swears to track them down, these criminals must face an awesome enemy that will stop at nothing to see them behind bars…or dead! Only through the strength of their loyalty and blood ties can the outlaws hope to survive the brutal pursuits, unexpected betrayals and blistering showdowns that mark the end of their dangerous ride. Continue reading ‘The Long Riders (Blu-ray Review)’
June 25th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
From acclaimed director Frank Oz (Bowfinger, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) comes a fast and furious farce about life, death, and the strange family dynamics that every family has! As the mourners and guests at a British country manor struggle valiantly to “keep a stiff upper lip,” a dignified ceremony devolves into a hilarious, no-holds-barred debacle of misplaced cadavers, indecent exposure, and shocking family secrets. With a fantastic ensemble cast, this is a darkly comic movie that was so good that it spawned a remake just three years after it came out.
Continue reading ‘Death At A Funeral (Blu-ray Review)’
June 24th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Legendary screen icons Gary Cooper (High Noon) and Burt Lancaster (Elmer Gantry) team up for a magnificent, action-packed western from director Robert Aldrich (The Dirty Dozen) and screenwriters Roland Kibbee and James R. Webb. With sweeping vistas and larger-than-life heroics, it’s a tale as bold and rugged as the characters it so brilliantly depicts. Cooper and Lancaster portray Benjamin Trane and Joe Erin, two daredevil mercenaries who journey to Mexico in search of adventure and cold hard cash during the 1866 revolution. But they get more than they bargained for when the wealthy and beautiful Countess Duvarre (Denise Darcel) hires them to escort her (and a fortune in gold!) to Emperor Maximilian’s fighting forces in Vera Cruz. The trail is fraught with danger, betrayal and murder… and when Ben is swept up in the revolutionaries’ fervor, he and Joe find themselves at odds with the Mexican Army and each other!
Continue reading ‘Vera Cruz (Blu-ray Review)’
June 22nd, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
While I realize that many people didn’t like Spiderman 3, this is still a great deal for all three Spiderman Blu-rays. Personally, I loved the first two and liked the third and I think most people can agree that Spiderman 2 was one of the best (if not the best) superhero movies ever made. All three movies were directed by Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire was an inspired choice to play Peter Parker/Spiderman. With other roles played by Alfred Molina, Willem Dafoe, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, and Kirsten Dunst, these movies are packed with good people! If you haven’t upgraded your trilogy to Blu-ray yet, this is the perfect time to do it! Continue reading ‘Get the Spiderman Trilogy on Blu-ray for $30 and Free Shipping!’
June 21st, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
From the inventive imagination of Louis C.K., Louie puts a spotlight on Louis C.K.’s everyday ordeals, his quest to find love and his pursuit of humor. Each episode features a scripted story and a mix of his stand-up comedy, which is original material for the series. The single-camera comedy is shot entirely in New York and features a unique mix of Louis C.K.’s stand-up comedy and scripted stories. Louis C.K. serves as executive producer, writer, director and editor for the series, which is a fairly impressive feat especially considering how good the show is. Continue reading ‘Louie – The Complete First Season (Blu-ray Review)’
June 19th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
As summer heats up, spread your wings and celebrate with the funniest birds in town! The all-new comedy-adventure RIOcomes to Blu-ray and DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. RIObrings together vivid characters and colorful backdrops amidst energizing Latin and contemporary tunes, creating the ultimate family-friendly music and dance experience for audiences of all ages. In addition to more than one hour of special bonus features and materials, consumers will have access to all-new exclusive levels of the smash video game hit Angry Birds Rio® that showcase your favorite characters from the film!
Continue reading ‘Rio is Available to Pre-order and Comes out August 2 on Blu-ray!’
June 19th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man in 3D is an imaginative odyssey that follows the stages of human development from birth to maturity, with each stage presented by a Cirque du Soleil act. The signature Cirque du Soleil celebration of color, light, music and costume combine with a backdrop of various natural and historical landmarks around the world to create a unique experience. From the opening explosion of light and sound that represents the universe’s formation, Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man in 3D leads us through the birth of the Universal Child as it travels from childhood, through adolescence and manhood, on to maturity.
Continue reading ‘Cirque Du Soleil: Journey Of Man 2D/3D (Blu-ray Review)’
June 18th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studio’s critically-acclaimed Toy Story movies are now available in one giant toy box set that contains all three movies on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital copies. The trilogy offers an exciting, heart-warming stories filled with humor, adventure and surprises, and America’s favorite animated toys, Buzz and Woody, while introducing a whole new set of favorites to audiences around the globe. Toy Story 3 is currently the world’s #1 animated film in box office history and The Walt Disney Company’s second biggest film of all time. If you haven’t purchased these movies yet this is the perfect time while it’s 55% off today! Continue reading ‘Amazon’s Deal of the Day: Toy Story Trilogy Ultimate Toy Box Set for $44.99 (55% off)!’
