Don't you just love seeing the famous cat and mouse duo known as Tom and Jerry constantly beating the crap out of each other? I mean, let’s face it. The fun part of this cartoon is seeing how far these 2 crazy animals can go in getting even with each other. Almost always though, it’s Jerry on the winning side. Anyway, this hilarious cartoon has been making people laugh for a really long time. It’s safe to say that Tom and Jerry has its place in the list of America’s most loved cartoons. I grew up on this stuff and always got a kick out of seeing these two go at it. For any of you fans out there, a new DVD of this famous cartoon is out called Tom and Jerry’s Greatest Chases Volume 2. On it there are 14 shorts that originally came out between 1943 and 1951. How’s that for some classics! These shorts that were chosen for this DVD are an absolute riot to watch. I have to admit I had a little too much fun watching this DVD. It goes to show that even up until now, whether you’re young or old this show is still hilarious. And this DVD contains some of the very best from this classic cartoon.
The legendary slasher series gets some more Deluxe DVD treatment...
Jason is making a comeback. With the popularity of the new movie putting Jason back in the limelight, now is the best time to revisit the original series. Fans of the Friday The 13th series will be happy to know that episodes IV, V, and VI are back, this time in new Deluxe Edition DVD’s. I grew up watching these cheesy but awesome films, so watching them again on these new DVD’s was a great experience. The picture and sound quality were both really good, considering how old these were. I can’t believe it’s been that long since they first came out! So we all know that these aren’t the best pieces of filmmaking, but you gotta give credit to its influence on the horror genre. Without Jason (or Freddie) would we have all the great horror films we have now? I think not. And these 3 episodes are some of the best from the entire Friday The 13th franchise. Part IV gives us the introduction of the character Tommy Jarvis, and it’s also where we see a very young Corey Feldman playing one of Jason’s toughest foes! This episode was a step up from the previous ones as far as film quality. I would even be tempted to say this one is the best, but that’s still up for grabs. But overall, these 3 new releases are a great batch of DVD’s that are LOADED with special features galore. Along with the films there are the obvious commentaries with directors and cast members, making-of featurettes, slashed scenes, and much more. Kudos to Paramount for bringing back the classic slasher films with these deluxe sets.
What do you get when you cross the racial hatred from the 1930’s, the bravery of a young girl, and a strange parallel world deep in the South? You get Bayou. This new book from DC Comics is a fascinating dark fairy tale that takes you on a journey with a young girl named “Lee”. When her white friend is swallowed by a strange creature, Lee’s father is falsely accused of taking the girl and is about to be lynched. Lee suddenly must go on a journey to this parallel world to rescue her friend and clear her father’s name. On the way she meets talking dogs, vicious crows, and an unexpected green friend named “Bayou”. The story sucks you in from the beginning and leaves you wanting more with the turn of each page. After reading Volume 1, I found myself already excited for the next volume to be released. I’m not sure when DC is planning on it, but I sure hope it’s soon. Overall, it’s a great story that has the potential to become a classic.
The nostalgia never ends...
There is just something about older cartoons that the newer ones can’t compete with. I can’t pinpoint it, but the older ones are just sooooo much fun to watch. Nothing against modern cartoons, in fact I like a lot of them. But I will probably always prefer the classics to the modern ones. Since I grew up as an 80’s child, I was too young to see the great shows that were out in the 1970’s (except for watching the reruns). I wonder what it would have been like to watch them on Saturday mornings like I did for the shows in the 80’s. Having said all of that, I have to mention a GREAT new DVD set that shouldn’t be missed by any cartoon lover. Saturday Morning Cartoons 1970’s Volume 1 is a 2-disc set that contains 12 episodes from some of the best cartoons that were out during that decade. This set is a must see, especially if you never got to watch these shows before. There are episodes of The Jetsons, The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour, Hong Kong Phooey, Yogi’s Gang, Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan, Josie and the Pussycats, The New Scooby-Doo Movies, Funky Phantom, and many others I’ve never heard of until now. Considering how old these cartoons are, the quality of the episodes here are as good as new. So if you feel the need to watch some really good classic cartoons, then this collection shouldn’t be missed.
Anne Hathaway has been very busy making movies the past couple of years. One of them is the supernatural thriller Passengers. Her role here is not the typical one that she usually plays. Here she plays a grief counselor helping people who survived a plane crash. However, nothing is what it seems here as clues start to unravel leaving you scratching your head. You may remember a little film called The Sixth Sense. Well while I watched Passengers I couldn’t help but be reminded of it. Passengers obviously isn’t as good as that one, but it sure does try. The acting is good, and the story is ok. It just takes a little long to kick in. But overall, Passengers is a decent thriller that gives you a few surprises leading up to its “shocking’ ending.
In other Batman news, the hardcover version of Batman: Private Casebook puts the Dark Knight against some dangerous foes such as the new Ventriloquist, Scarface, and The Riddler. This collection of stories is written by Paul Dini and even includes one on the mysterious Suit of Sorrows. The art by Dustin Nguyen is as sharp as ever making the stories more fascinating. It’s not the best hardcover to come out of the Batman series, but it is one that any serious fan should check out.
One of the funniest shows ever on TV gets a new DVD release with The Best of Whose Line is it Anyway? I absolutely loved this show when it was on and still miss it. The improve sketches that these guys did was nothing short of amazing. With Drew Carey hosting the show, this one will always be among the best in comedy. This DVD is an essential collection for any fan. There are 2 discs containing 10 episodes of some of the show’s most hilarious moments. The special guests on these episodes include David Hasselhoff, Richard Simmons, Jerry Springer, and Kathy Griffin to name a few. And that’s not even the best part. The best is that you get to see the UNCENSORED versions of these episodes. These are the ones that you wish you got to see on TV. There are no words getting beeped here! Overall, this is one DVD that’s too good to pass up.
Batman, dead?
That's what it appears according to this book's title. However, once you open the book, your mind goes through a roller coaster of a story with so many twists and turns. By the time you reach the middle of the book, you'll probably be tempted to scream out of frustration as to what the hell is going on. But keep reading, because piece by piece the story starts to come together. I admit I was real confused for the first half of the book. But once I started to realize what was going on, I couldn’t put it down. The illustration and the story are both equally amazing in Batman R.I.P. It’s one of the darkest Batman stories around and will make you see the Dark Knight like never before.
Mute Math fans have been hungry for some new material. As we wait for the new album to be released, the band has put out the Spotlight EP to hold us off. While it only contains 4 tracks, it’s one that shows that the band’s creative juices are still flowing. If you have the Twilight soundtrack, then you already heard Spotlight. The track Clockwork is one that the band played at various shows during their last tour. I heard them perform it at their Gramercy Theater show in NYC and I remember being impressed. Since then, I’ve waited to hear it on an album and now I got the chance here. Since I only heard it played live, I must say that the album track lacks the energy that you’d get from their show. But it’s still a great song nonetheless. The Son Lux remix of Spotlight has got some pretty slamming beats on it that get stuck in my head every time I hear it. Overall this is one EP that has some great tracks, although I wish it had more. I guess I’ll just have to wait for ARMISTICE.
Track Listing for the Spotlight EP:
1. Spotlight
2. Clockwork
3. Earlylight
4. Spotlight (Son Lux Remix)
Movies like this make you remember that life could be a lot worse. Be thankful you never went through this kind of hell. When you're hunted by Nazis, it takes a lot of balls to never give up and keep fighting for your people. Defiance is based on the real life story of a group of war refugees that fought against the Nazis that were trying to kill them. Led by brothers (Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber) that used to be farmers, they tough it out by hiding in the forest amidst harsh weather and extreme hopelessness. This film is filled with tons of action and some very strong performances, especially by Craig and Schreiber. There are some really intense fighting scenes here as well as some of the most dramatic scenes I’ve seen in a while. It took some time after the movie started to kick in for me. But once it did, I was hooked until the very end. The DVD is out now, and I must say it is one of the best that has been released in the past few months. Overall, Defiance is one hell of a film.
In case you came across a show and saw a long-haired lawyer that looks like Zack from Saved By The Bell, then you’ve seen Raising the Bar. This new legal drama is one to keep an eye on. Not since The Practice have I seen a legal drama that caught my attention like this. The acting is great, and the story is smart and fast paced. The mind behind this show is none other than Steven Bochco, who also did such shows as NYPD Blue and L.A. Law. Oh, and about the guy that looks like Zack Morris, that’s Mark-Paul Gosselaar playing the renegade public defender Jerry Kellerman. He’s an idealistic lawyer whose zeal gets him into trouble quite often. Out now on DVD is Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season. This has all 10 episodes on a three-disc set with a running time of about 807 minutes. I definitely recommend checking it out if you haven’t caught on to it yet.
Check it out!
I’ve been waiting to see this film for a while. Once I saw the previews when it was in the theaters, I knew this is one that I couldn’t miss. Revolutionary Road reunites Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet for the first time since Titanic. Here they play The Wheelers, a married couple in the 1950’s that can’t keep their relationship alive. Let me say up front, this film is a tragedy. If you want to see how NOT to have a married relationship, then this is it. This movie gives you a front row look at a family that looks good on the outside, but has some seriously dark secrets. It makes a very powerful statement about relationships and casts a reflection on our society that some of us would be wise to look at. I disagree with anyone that says this film is a waste of time. In fact, I think anyone thinking of getting married or already married can learn something from watching it. Leo and Kate play this troubled couple so well I honestly think they were Oscar-worthy. There is nothing sugarcoated here, and to be honest it is hard to see their marriage go downhill. But sometimes the truth hurts. I do disagree with the line at the bottom of the DVD case that says it’s a “watch-it-three-times-in-a-row masterpiece”. I agree that it’s a masterpiece, but I don’t think it’s one you’d want to see for a little while. Truthfully, after the first time watching I felt disturbed. It’s hard to see a family’s hopes and dreams turn to shit, even on film. However it is one that I’ll be going back to from time to time to see exactly how I don’t want my own life to turn out. Overall, Sam Mendes adds another powerful film to his resume with Revolutionary Road.
The funniest and nastiest shrink on TV!
No wonder why Hollywood celebrities get so jacked up in the head! When you have a psychiatrist like Dr. Elizabeth Goode, you’d start to lose it too. Head Case is a hilarious comedy where the fictional Dr. Goode treats celeb patients such as Rosanna Arquette, Andy Dick, Ione Skye, Lea Thompson, David Alan Grier, Joel Madden, Christopher Lloyd, Jason Priestley and Jeff Goldblum. However, even though she’s the “doctor”, she is more psychotic than her patients! Anchor Bay has released Season 1 of this raunchy comedy on DVD and it is a riot. I couldn’t stop laughing as I watched the whacked out Dr. Goode conducting her therapy. Surprisingly, this is one show that wound up being one of my recent comedy favorites. Overall, this set rocks!
I remember seeing Kyra Sedgwick back in the 90’s in the relationship flick known as Singles. Who would have thought she’d now be playing a feisty homicide detective? In The Closer, she stars as Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a southern girl who goes from Atlanta to Los Angeles to work in the LAPD’s Priority Homicide Division. This show combines the seriousness of a good detective series with a little laughter sprinkled in to balance it out. Not being a fan of Kyra’s work, I admit that I judged The Closer before I ever watched it. To my surprise, I found it to be a smart and entertaining look into the world of homicide detectives. Warner Home Video has released the fourth season in a special four-disc collection containing all 15 episodes. From the first episode on the set, you get to see Brenda and team in action as they try to catch an arsonist that set L.A.’s Griffith Park on fire. Besides the 15 episodes, this set contains the features A “Day in the Life” of a Homicide Detective, Catching a Lie, Gag Reel, and Unaired Scenes. As expected, WHV puts out another fine DVD collection with this fourth season of The Closer.
Naughty, naughty vampires down in Bon Temps...
I have always loved a good vampire story. I'd have to say they are my favorite fictional characters. From The Lost Boys to the Underworld series, there's nothing like a good vampire flick. Lately, vampires have become the “in” thing in books and movies. One of the premier shows involving the bloodsuckers is the HBO original series True Blood. This is not your typical vampire story though. This show takes place at a time when vampires are a part of regular society. With the creation of a synthetic blood, they no longer need to feed on humans. True Blood follows the lives of both humans and vampires in the town of Bon Temps, LA. I really got into the show after checking out the DVD set of The Complete First Season. This is a 5 disc set with 12 episodes of HBO’s highest-rated series of 2008. From the packaging to the content on the discs, this is one impressive DVD collection. The quality of the video and audio is clear and crisp, which makes for an awesome viewing experience. As far as special features go, there are Tru Blood Beverage Ads, Vampire Public Service Announcements, and even a documentary on Vampire life! I had high expectations for this set before it was released. Now that it’s out, I can say that it surpassed any expectations I had. Overall, it’s a high quality set for one of the hottest shows around.
Great acting and a thrilling story make Valkerie one film not to miss.
Ok, so seeing Tom Cruise play a German soldier with no German accent is a little odd. But don’t let that fool you. This is one thrilling movie that’s actually based on a true story. Valkerie shows in detail the German Resistance’s attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler. This film leaves no room to get bored as some movies based on historical facts do. Rather, it is a suspenseful ride from start to finish. Along with Cruise, the film includes some fine acting by Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, and Terence Stamp. With the DVD out now, there’s no excuse to miss out on the film. If you check out the DVD, you’ll also be treated to commentaries by Tom Cruise and Bryan Singer, along with the featurettes titled The Journey to Valkyrie and The Valkyrie Legacy. Check it out now!
Here are some clips from the upcoming DVD The Best of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, which comes out on June 9th. Check it out!
