The Smurfs Arrive on Blu-ray on Dec. 2!
On Dec. 2 Sony Pictures Animation’s hybrid live-action animated worldwide hit feature film, The Smurfs will be released on Blu-ray 3D, DVD, digital, and a limited edition 3-Disc Holiday Gift Set. When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, they tumble from their magical world into ours – in fact, smack dab in the middle of Central Park. Just three apples high and stuck in the Big Apple, the Smurfs must find a way to get back to their village before Gargamel tracks them down. Directed by Raja Gosnell (Scooby Doo) and starring Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”), Jayma Mays (“Glee”), Sofia Vergara (“Modern Family”), and Hank Azaria (“The Simpsons”) as Gargamel, the film features singing sensation Katy Perry as Smurfette, George Lopez (Rio) as Grouchy and Jonathan Winters (The Flinstones) as the original Papa Smurf. Continue reading ‘The Smurfs Arrive on Blu-ray on Dec. 2!’
As the poster below says, “The King Has Returned” with The Lion King once again dominating the box office during it’s new re-release into the theaters. The fact that it’s beating several new movies that have just opened is a testament to it’s lasting popularity and power. I recently had the chance to participate in a round-table discussion with the two directors of The Lion King, Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers about the movie and it’s continuing appeal as well as their upcoming 3D Blu-ray that will be released on October 4th. Both men were very friendly and were happy to answer a ton of questions about the movie and it was evident that they both still had a lot of love and pride for the movie. Both men generously spent almost two hours answering questions and I thank them and Disney publicity for the opportunity. Read on for more… 
As the third season of the Fox hit makes its debut on TV, so does season 2 on Blu-ray. While the latest season will feature the final seasons of stars Lea Michele and Chris Colfer, you can relive their junior years in high school on the latest Blu-ray addition. Of course the show doesn’t stop there. There’s the Dalton Academy, Sue’s incessant antics to abolish the glee club, relationships gone awry and the list goes on. Still, as bubblegum as some of these topics come across, there is a great deal of reality the show contends with. It can be a lifestyle choice or a disability and whatever the case, has no fear in addressing the matters in an entertaining and sometimes educational fashion. No, not PBS educational. I mean look-at-people-around-you educational. It is truly unique and is tough to compare it with anything else out there now on the airwaves. Get ready for the complete second season of…Glee!
Featuring twelve hit programs from the breathtaking aerial travel series, Visions of Europe is now available on Blu-ray from Acorn Media. The value-priced collection offers soaring views of the most spectacular sights in Europe, from sun-kissed Tuscany to the grand streets of Paris. Shot in high-definition from helicopter-mounted cameras, the programs include some of the most popular European Visions destinations including Italy, France, Greece, Germany and Austria, as well as Visions of the Great Cities of Europe. Offering the ultimate in armchair travel, the 6-Disc boxed set also includes more than three hours of bonus material not seen on public television, accompanied by informative narration and soundtracks of regional music. From one of the most popular series on public television, these stunning productions provide a view of Europe’s most beautiful sites in stunning, high-definition clarity. Take an emotional visit to your family’s homeland, revisit favorite sites, or take the trip of a lifetime without leaving home—whatever your inspiration, you’ll never have a better view. 
While attending Comic-Con this past July in beautiful San Diego, a highlight every year for me, I was lucky enough to score free passes to attend a little known movie at the time, The Devil’s Double. If it wasn’t for the preview I caught of the film months before, I would have probably walked in expecting it to be a cheesy horror film and I would have been SO wrong. Thankfully, for everyone who missed the edge of your seat flick, Lionsgate will be delivering the goods this fall with a Blu-ray release this November. Check out the short press release below and 
The universe is 13.7 billion years old. It spans 93 billion light years across and is filled with over 100 billion galaxies, each filled with hundreds of billions of stars. A place so unimaginably vast and complex, it is almost inconceivable that it could ever be understood. But for 2,500 years, humanity has tried to unlock its secrets. Taking science away from telescopes and labs, this series travels into the natural world and across the planet, from the scorched plains of Africa to the snow capped Canadian Rockies. These journeys, across the planet are combined with spectacular images of space. Inspired by the latest data and imagery captured from telescopes and using stunning high definition CGI, Wonders of the Universe offers views of giant supernova, gamma ray bursts and recently discovered galaxies, and sheds light on the furthest reaches of the universe, just moments after its creation. This groundbreaking four-part series explores some of the most profound questions we can ask about ourselves and the celestial world in which we live. 
A routine Jedi Academy field trip is turned into a rip-roaring comic adventure in LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace. Tour guide Master Yoda leads a group of rambunctious Jedi younglings through Senate chambers when he senses a disturbance in the Force. Summoned to help save the Republic, he discovers that one of the Younglings secretly boarded his ship…and has a taste for adventure! Meanwhile, C-3PO and R2-D2 are put in charge of the boisterous group and find themselves in over their heads. As the evil Sith prepare to wreak havoc, it’s up to Yoda and the Droids to ensure that their young charges aren’t torn to bricks! The 22-minute original standalone special will feature the charm, action and irreverent humor that have become the signature style of LEGO Star Wars animation collaborations and will include five LEGO Star Wars shorts, as well as an exclusive, collectible mini-figure. Featuring situations, characters and locations from throughout the entire Star Wars Saga, the original adventure is written by Emmy Award winner Michael Price (The Simpsons) and produced by Oscar-winning Animal Logic, the production company behind Happy Feet. 
When I think Monte Cristo the first thing that comes to mind is the yummy ham and cheese sandwich. The second thing is the movie, The Count of Monte Cristo, a film I own on DVD and rarely watch. Every time I watch the movie I think to myself,” I really liked that” and I wonder why I don’t watch it more often. The third thing is the book which I admit I’ve never read. I have no idea how true to the book the movie is or what important plot points were left out (if any). I can tell you that The Count of Monte Cristo tells the story of the dashing and guileless Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel) who is betrayed by his best friend ( Guy Pearce) and wrongly imprisoned. He then becomes consumed by thoughts of vengeance. After a miraculous escape, he transforms himself into the mysterious and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo, insinuates himself into the French nobility, and puts his cunning plan of reprisal in action. Bonus features include deleted scenes, a production design featurette, a multi-angle sword fighting feature, and much more! 
When the first descriptions of Tom Six’s The Human Centipede: First Sequence started making their way through the ether, there was a lot of nervous giggling: a horror movie where the bad guy stitches a trio of unwitting hostages together, ass-to-mouth? And it’s supposedly “100% Medically Accurate”? This sounded like exploitative garbage at best, a complete waste of time (and a borderline Troma film) at worst. But then a funny thing happened: Human Centipede turned out to be pretty damn good. Great, even. Could The Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence possibly be as good? Turns out, it’s an irrelevant question, as Centipede 2 is absolutely nothing like Six’s original film…and has a completely different agenda. Read on for our full review, after the jump… 
New York City, September 11, 2001. The morning everything changed. Ten years after the World Trade Center attacks, The History Channel presents the September 11th Memorial Edition, a collection of specials that document a day none of us will ever forget. Covering every aspect of 9/11 — from the events that led to the attacks, to profiles of key terrorists and political figures, to a minute-by-minute account of the attacks, to examinations of the aftermath, and the inspiring stories of the heroes that made the ultimate sacrifices — this commemorative set pays tribute to the many heroes who laid down their lives and brings sharp focus to the momentous, incomprehensible events surrounding this incomparable national tragedy. 
Yesterday witnessed another barrage of DC Comics restarts as we get closer to the final launch date. Though September 21st’s releases consisted of twelve titles, we’re going to take a quick look at half of those, including DC standouts Batman and Wonder Woman. It’s hard to believe four of the five ‘New 52’ release dates are already said and done. So far, personal favorites include Animal Man, Batwing, Justice League, and the Red Lanterns. How does this week compare? Let’s find out… 
Released theatrically in 1941, Dumbo, Walt Disney’s fourth animated film, was an immediate success with audiences and critics alike. In addition to its Academy Award for Best Music, Dumbo was also Oscar-nominated for Best Song, for the haunting lullaby, “Baby Mine.” Additional songs from the film, written by renowned composer Frank Churchill and lyricist Ned Washington, have become popular standards. They include the infectious “When I See an Elephant Fly,” and “Pink Elephants on Parade,” which accompanies Dumbo’s feverish dream-sequence. The inspirational tale of Dumbo, the courageous baby elephant who uses his sensational ears to soar to fame with the help of his clever best friend Timothy Q. Mouse, will thrill and delight audiences of all ages. In celebration of this landmark film’s 70th anniversary, experience the daring adventures of the world’s only flying elephant with a dazzling all-new digital restoration with this new Blu-ray high-definition presentation of Walt Disney’s classic Dumbo!
