Treasure Island (Blu-ray Review)
The Syfy Channel has released their own fresh, new spin on the classic tale, Treasure Island, featuring an all-star cast led by Eddie Izzard (“The Riches”, Ocean’s 12) as Long John Silver, Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit) plays Ben Gunn, and Donald Sutherland (Pride and Prejudice, Ordinary People) portrays Flint. Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling adventure story about fantastical treasure, youthful courage and murderous greed focuses on the young Jim Hawkins (played by Toby Regbo, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, Part 1), who is unexpectedly drawn into the world of piracy when he discovers a treasure map and finds himself battling Silver for the treasure. Shirley Henderson (Bridget Jones) and Nina Sosanya (Love Actually) round out the Treasure Island cast. Continue reading ‘Treasure Island (Blu-ray Review)’
As the 100th anniversary of Titanic’s sinking approached, a team of scientists, engineers and imaging experts joined forces to answer one of the most haunting questions surrounding the legendary disaster: Just how did the “unsinkable” ship break apart and plunge into the icy waters of the North Atlantic on April 15, 1912? Two years ago, HISTORY took part alongside the world’s top underwater experts in the most thorough and exhaustive study of the wreck ever made. Titanic At 100: Mystery Solved documents this mission, captures the high-tech map-making process, unveils astonishing pieces of never-before-seen wreckage and presents the expedition’s unexpected findings. Unprecedented new technology and expertise was used to create a precisely detailed portrait of the entire fifteen-square-mile patch of ocean floor where Titanic came to rest. The undertaking yielded unprecedented new discoveries and the first comprehensive map of Titanic’s watery grave, helping specialists solve the century-old puzzle of what went wrong — and determine who or what was responsible. 
Just in time for the 2012 release of the theatrical remake, fans can experience the original sci-fi masterpiece like never before now that Lionsgate has released Total Recall: Mind-Bending Edition on Blu-ray Disc and Digital Download. Comprised of an all-new Director approved, high-definition transfer from the original film negative and including exclusive bonus materials, there’s no better time to revisit this cult classic starring action legend Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator) as Quaid, a construction worker haunted by dreams of Mars in the year 2084. Against the wishes of his sexy wife (Sharon Stone), Quaid goes to Rekall, a company that implants artificial memories so he can “remember” visiting the red planet that is now being settled by human inhabitants. However, Quaid soon learns he is actually an amnesiac secret agent from Mars – or is he?. Total Recall was also the winner of a Special Achievement Academy Award for its groundbreaking visual effects and it was also nominated for two other Oscars. 
Celebrate the life, the legend and the beauty of Marilyn Monroe. The iconic blonde bombshell shines in high definition in Forever Marilyn: The Blu-ray Collection. With classics like The Misfits and Some Like It Hot as well as new-to-Blu-ray titles How to Marry A Millionaire, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Seven Year Itch, There’s No Business Like Show Business and River of No Return this unique set of films, those that made Marilyn a star, is a collector’s dream. Marking the 50
Featuring one of the most endearing ensemble casts in television history, Star Trek: The Next Generation took fans on the remarkable continuing voyages of the Starship Enterprise with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), Lieutenant Worf (Michael Dorn), Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton). Star Trek: The Next Generation – The First Season has been retransferred from original film elements to produce stunning high-definition images, including amazing visual effects that have been painstakingly recreated from the source material, creating before/after results that fans will love. The six-disc Blu-ray set also features 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and a wealth of exclusive bonus material, such as archival footage, a gag reel, and an inside look at taking The Next Generation to the next level of high-definition. Featuring numerous behind-the-scenes interviews, the new material also features Star Trek experts Mike and Denise Okuda, consultants throughout this ongoing project, who offer special insights into the countless man-hours dedicated to the upgrade of The Next Generation. 
Vince, Eric, Drama and Turtle have been through a lot over the years – chasing dreams, women and good times as if the party would never end – but alas, it has. Through the highs and lows, friendship has kept these guys together in the high-stakes world of Hollywood, but is it time for them to grow up? As season eight of the hit comedy series begins, Vince is back from rehab and ready for a new pet project, Ari Gold and Mrs. Ari have separated, Eric is running his own management company, Drama is shooting his animated series and Turtle has invested in a tequila line and is starting a new business venture. So there’s a lot more ups and downs in store for the boys from Queens. 
Revisiting one of his most memorable roles, Paul Newman stars as Fast Eddie Felson from The Hustler. Years later, his story continues in The Color of Money, when Eddie forms a profitable alliance with a flashy and talented young pool shark named Vince (Cruise), but all bets are off when Vince’s arrogance costs them more than just a few matches. Celebrate the 25th anniversary of this dazzling classic – now released on Blu-ray! This is the movie where legendary actor Paul Newman finally won an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1986. Newman joins Hollywood megastar Tom Cruise (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol) in Academy Award-winning Martin Scorsese’s (Best Director, 2006, The Departed) brilliant and powerful drama, The Color of Money – now available for the first time on Blu-ray. 
For the first time on Disney Blu-ray come join the fun as the resident animals of a dairy farm go bounty hunting for a notorious outlaw to save their home. When a greedy outlaw schemes to take possession of “Patch Of Heaven” dairy farm, three determined cows, a karate-kicking stallion named Buck, and a colorful corral of critters join forces to save their home. The stakes are sky high as this unlikely animal alliance risks their hides and match wits with a mysterious band of bad guys. From the stunning animation and some new original songs written by Alan Menken – Academy Award winning composer of Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin – Home on the Range is a fun-filled adventure for the whole family! 
When Christopher Nolan rebooted the Batman franchise with Batman Begins, I was ecstatic to see the Batman I had always imagined from the comic books come to life. Then came The Dark Knight which in my book was utter perfection in every way possible. At now sadly, we’ve come to the end of this amazing Batman trilogy with The Dark Knight Rises which is damn good but it doesn’t reach the same heights as The Dark Knight, even though it is without a doubt the biggest and most ambitious of the three. The Dark Knight Rises provides some old-school grand spectacle which looks fantastic on an IMAX screen and serves as a fitting end to the trilogy. Previous cast members Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Gary Oldman return along with newcomers Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Matthew Modine, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt to bring this trilogy to an exciting and moving end. 
From the directors of Disney’s Aladdin and The Little Mermaid comes a classic story of courage, friendship, and self-discovery. A secret map inspires a thrilling treasure hunt across the universe as young Jim Hawkins and his hilarious cosmic crew, headed by the daring Captain Amelia, set off in search of their destiny. Aboard a glittering space galleon, Jim meets the ship’s cyborg cook, John Silver, who teaches him the value of friendship and the power of dreams. Jim soon teams up with his crazy new robot pal, B.E.N., and the shape-shifting Morph to discover a treasure greater than he ever imagined.
There aren’t too many television shows that can draw an audience of screaming 7,000 fans to Comic-con to celebrate its tenth anniversary and if there are any, they were most likely created by Joss Whedon. Before becoming the celebrated director of the world’s third biggest hit, The Avengers, Whedon specialized in making awesome television shows that were never given the respect they deserved. First it was “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, then “Angel”, and then most importantly in my book, “Firefly”. Fox’s mishandling of this show is legendary and even when it was still on the air, it was hard to find thanks to it being moved too much and even the pilot for the show didn’t start the show. For a show that had everything against it, “Firefly” still managed to win fans with its fantastic characters, thrilling action, and fantastic humor. That audience grew even larger once the show was released on DVD and Blu-ray which allowed new fans to discover the show that had only been allowed to run thirteen episodes before being canceled. This year’s big event was “Firefly’s” tenth anniversary reunion which served as a touching reunion and tribute as well as vindication for Whedon that the show truly mattered then and now. 
The Hunger Games is the first in a trilogy of books published by Scholastic that has already become a literary phenomenon with over 36.5 million copies in circulation. Set in the future, one male and one female from each of the twelve districts of the nation is forced to participate in the annual competition called The Hunger Games, which is broadcast live throughout the country for the entertainment of the Capitol’s wealthy residents. Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) volunteers in her younger sister’s place to enter the games, and is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy when she’s pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. Blu-ray details within… 
An exhilarating campaign to save mankind unfolds on the high seas, in the skies and on land when Battleship – the entertaining, action-adventure made with unprecedented support of the US Navy – comes to Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand August 28th, 2012, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Peter Berg (Hancock, The Kingdom, “Friday Night Lights”) directs and produces Battleship, and Taylor Kitsch plays Lieutenant Alex Hopper, a naval weapons officer assigned to destroyer USS John Paul, and humanity’s last hope in the face of a global alien invasion. Alexander Skarsgård (“True Blood,” Melancholia) is Hopper’s older brother, Stone, Commanding Officer of USS Sampson; global music superstar Rihanna makes her motion-picture debut as Petty Officer Second Class Cora Raikes, Hopper’s crewmate and a weapons specialist on USS John Paul Jones; Brooklyn Decker (Just Go With It) is Sam Shane, Hopper’s fiancée and a physical therapist specializing in the rehabilitation of military combat veterans; Tadanobu Asano (Thor), is Captain Yugi Nagata, commanding officer of the Japanese destroyer Myoko and Hopper’s arch-rival; and Academy Award nominee Liam Neeson (The Grey, Taken) plays Hopper and Stone’s superior (and Sam’s father), Admiral Shane, Commander of the Pacific Fleet.
Starring Academy Award winners Christian Bale,
