Today, May 26, Warner Bros. just released a Deluxe Edition DVD and Blu-ray of the classic Michael Douglas movie, FALLING DOWN. I'll admit that I had never seen Falling Down before, but always wanted to. The release of the Deluxe Edition seemed like the perfect opportunity.

The image that I always had of Falling Down was the poster featuring Michael Douglas standing in the middle, his suitcase on one hand and a gun on the other. Other than that I didn't really know anything about what the movie was about.

What a trip that was. How had I not seen this before?! It was a really good movie even for today's standards. I will go even further and say that Falling Down is even better than most movies that have come out lately.

Michael Douglas gave an incredible performance as Bill Foster aka D-Fense, a man who snaps one day when he finds himself in traffic and decides to walk across Los Angeles to go see his daughter for her birthday. Along the way he meets quite a variety of people that only feed into his anger of what the world has come to. Now armed with a gym bag full of guns, he will try to find his way back home.

Even though the audience might at first empathize with Foster, because after all he is expressing some common feelings that we might all have felt at one point or another, I would call his journey "when keeping it real goes wrong." Foster does take things a little too far.

Parallel to his story, we meet Detective Martin Prendergast, played by Robert Duvall, a cop who is about to retire, but didn't know that his last day might end a little later than anticipated.

Overall, the movie has a really brilliant cast which brings a truly original and captivating script to life.

If you are a fan of Michael Douglas and/or Robert Duvall, or just feel like watching a smart, well-directed, and well-acted film, I suggest you take a look at Falling Down.

Fun fact: I have walked in front of the house of Foster's wife in the film in Venice ton of times. It's kind of fun to see how everything looked back in the early nineties.

In addition to the movie, the DVD also features a short featurette of Michael Douglas looking back at the movie and talking about D-Fens. Also, fans may be excited to know that the DVD also features a commentary by Michael Douglas and director Joel Schumacher.

You can own Falling Down Deluxe Edition on DVD (Falling Down is also available on Blu-ray).

_____________________________________________________

You can find more information about the DVD below.

Falling Down Synopsis: Freeways are clogged. Terror stalks our cities. At shops and restaurants, the customer is seldom right. Pressures of big-city life can anger anyone. But Bill Foster is more than angry. He's out to get even. Foster abandons his gridlocked car license plate D-FENS on the hottest day of the year and walks straight into an urban nightmare both absurdly funny and shatteringly violent. Academy Award winner Michael Douglas is Foster, an ordinary guy at war with the frustrations of daily life. Fellow Oscar winner Robert Duvall is the savvy cop obsessed with stopping Fosters citywide rampage. This spellbinding thriller is their story, asking? Are we falling apart??

New Special Features

THE BOONDOCKS SAINTS was released on Blu-ray disc at the beginning of the month and of course, I had to check it out.

But before I talk about the movie, I first need to celebrate the fact that this is our very first Blu-ray review (Yay!). Yep, that's right, Daemon's Movies is now up to date with technology with their new Blu-ray player.

Now that we're all really excited, let me start by telling the story of how I came to first discover The Boondocks Saints. I first saw The Boondocks Saints on TV (probably in 2000 on a UK channel). I had seen the listing and noticed that the movie starred Sean Patrick Flanery (whom I had been a fan of since I had seen Powder) and Norman Reedus (whom I had previously seen in Gossip), so I decided to check it out. When I finally sat down to watch it, I ended up not liking it (don't ask me why). Now that I think of it, I probably just didn't get it.

Fast forward to 2008, I had a movie night with some friends and the movie we watched was of course The Boondocks Saints (needless to say I was less than thrilled at first). By the end of the night I had done a 360 degree turnaround and loved The Boondocks Saints. How had I not seen it before? It is a great movie and the acting is amazing.

The Boondocks Saints follows the story of two Irish brothers, Connor and Murphy, who take it upon themselves to clean the streets of criminals.

So now you get the Blu-ray version out, and I cannot miss the opportunity to watch the movie once more.

I think you can guess that I really loved the Blu-ray version of The Boondocks Saints. Not only do you get the theatrical version of the movie, but also the director's cut, all of it in HD.

You also get some outtakes and deleted scenes, which is bound to please fan of the movie. Some deleted scenes expend on the ones we see in the movie and some are totally new (I think my favorite had to be the one where Connor and Murphy are on the phone with their mom, definitely worth checking out). And of course you get some audio commentary.

As for the movie, well I don't have much else to say except that even after seeing it again, I still loved it. It was almost like I was rediscovering it once more.

So is this a good Blu-ray Disc to own? You bet. You can't beat two versions of a great movie on one disc.

And before I forget, for those who love the movie already and the future fans, Troy Duffy (who wrote and directed The Boondocks Saints) is now doing Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, with the same two main characters/actors. I personally cannot wait for it to come out. We'll of course keep you updated on that development.

You can buy The Boondocks Saints Blu Ray on Amazon.

You can watch the trailer for The Boondocks Saints below.

The Boondock Saints Synopsis:
Irish brothers Connor and Murphy MacManus live and work in South Boston. After killing a Russian mobster in self-defense, the brothers believe they have found their calling from God ridding the earth of human evil. So they set out to complete their divine deed by ridding the streets of gangsters, criminals and lowlifes; and as the body count rises, the brothers become local heroes (deemed the "Boondock Saints") even as the police are on their trail. By risking their lives for their beliefs of Veritas (truth) and Aequitas (justice), the vigilante brothers take the law into their own hands…until they are pursued by unorthodox FBI agent Paul Smecker who follows their trail of bloodshed, but admits that the boys are doing exactly what he has always secretly wished to happen.

Special Features:
The Boondock Saints Blu-ray Disc is presented in widescreen with English 5.1 DTS HD Master
Audio and includes English, French and Spanish subtitles.
Bonus features include:
- Outtakes
- Seven deleted scenes
- Director’s Cut seamlessly branched
- The Boondock Saints theatrical trailer
- Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery, Willem Dafoe, Billy Connolly and Troy Duffy Filmographies
- The Boondock Saints script
- Audio commentary with writer/director Troy Duffy
- Audio commentary with actor Billy Connolly

If you are a fan of the great and beautiful Natalie Wood, then you're going to love this. Warner Bros has released a Natalie Wood Collection on DVD, which includes 6 of her movies. They are: Gypsy, Splendor in the Grass (both newly remastered), Inside Daisy Clover, Cash McCall, Sex and the Single Girl, Bombers B-52 (the last four make their DVD debuts). You can find more information about each DVD towards the end of the post.

While I had seen Gypsy and Splendor on the Grass, it was very exciting discovering all the other movies and finding out what a versatile actress Natalie Wood really was, as well as .

You can find the Natalie Wood Collection on Amazon.

Since I have watched all six movies, I wanted to give you a brief overview of each of one, but I do recommend you watch them for yourself if you are a Natalie Wood fan or just want to discover some good oldies movies.

Inside Daisy Clover - This 1965 film is about Daisy Clover (Natalie Wood), a teen-aged tomboy who dreams of becoming a Hollywood star, needless to say that the reality is not always as glamourous as she once thought. Robert Redford also stars. While slow at times, I actually really enjoyed the ending of the film. And of course Natalie Wood is brilliant.

Gypsy - Gypsy is a musical about the life of striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee. I will admit, it's not one of my favorite Natalie Wood movies, I found it pretty boring at times, but as a fan, it's worth at least a look.

Splendor in the Grass - This 1961 movie also starring Warren Beatty is about forbidden love between a girl and the son of a powerful family in Kansas. Directed by Elia Kazan (who also directed East of Eden), this film has some very strong acting, but I must warn you, it is not cheerful. So if you're feeling blue, I would suggest you wait and watch this on a better day. That said, I have to admit it is one of my favorite Natalie Wood movies.

Cash McCall - Starring James Garner and Natalie Wood, Cash McCall tells the story of a man who buys businesses in order to sell them at a profit. In the midst of all this he also falls in love with Natalie Wood's character of course. It was an ok movie, but it focused a little too much on the business aspect of the story instead of the romance between Cash McCall (Garner) and Lory (Wood) in my opinion.

Sex and the Single Girl - A romantic comedy, that is just pure silly fun, and also stars Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, and Lauren Bacall. I had fun watching it.

Bomber B-52 - Natalie Wood plays the daughter of an air force sergeant (played by Karl Malden) who falls in love with a young colonel, whom her father disapproves of. The movie was ok, but it focuses more on Karl Maden's character than on Natalie Wood.

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Films Information:

Splendor in the Grass (1961)
Directed by Elia Kazan (Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront), and written by William Inge (Come Back Little Sheba, Picnic) Splendor in the Grass stars Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty (in his feature film debut) as teenage lovers full of angst and lust, ripped apart by the repressive small-town mentality of 1920s’ Kansas, with dire consequences. The film won an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay, and Ms. Wood received her second Best Actress nomination.

DVD Special Features:
- Beep Prepared (1961 WB cartoon)
- Theatrical trailer

Gypsy (1962)
Everything’s coming up roses when Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood and Karl Malden entertain you in the lavish movie musical of the Broadway hit about the infamous stripper, Gypsy Rose Lee and her formidable mother Rose. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, Gypsy was nominated for three Oscars®. The musical score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim is among the most celebrated ever, with such hummable hits as “Let Me Entertain You,” “Everything’s Coming up Roses” and “Together Wherever we Go”

DVD Special Features:
- The Pied Piper of Guadalupe (1961 WB cartoon)
- Together Wherever We Go (deleted musical)
- You’ll Never Get Away From Me (deleted musical)
- Theatrical trailer

Sex and the Single Girl (1964)
Helen Gurley Brown’s famous book title provides the jumping off point for this romantic comedy about tabloid magazine editor Tony Curtis, who’s after dirt when he pretends to woo a young famous sex researcher played by Wood. Needless to say, he gets more than he came looking for. Supporting roles are played by the Henry Fonda and Lauren Bacall.

DVD Special Features:
- Nelly's Folly (1961 WB cartoon)
- Theatrical trailer

Inside Daisy Clover (1965)
Daisy Clover (Wood) is a 15-year old tomboy who dreams of being a Hollywood star, and in the vein of “be careful what you wish for,” she finds herself becoming the toast of TInseltown in the 1930s. Daisy is thrust headlong into this strange new life with all the pressure and artifice that goes with the territory and must quickly manage or be driven mad. Christopher Plummer is the studio head who gives her her big chance and Robert Redford plays the man with whom she has a one-day marriage. Film buffs will enjoy seeing the various areas and departments of Warner Bros. Studios, where the film was shot.

DVD Special Features:
- Theatrical trailer

Bombers B-52 (1957)
U.S. Air Force pilot Jim Herlihy (Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.) is in love with Lois Brennan (Wood), much to the disapproval of her sergeant father (Karl Malden). There is romance and action in this flight film set against the backdrop of riveting aerial footage of jet plane maneuvers.

DVD Special Features:
- Boyhood Dayz (1957 WB cartoon)
- Theatrical trailer

Cash McCall (1960)
In this drama of high finance and high romance, James Garner ("Maverick," "The Rockford Files") plays the title role of a dashing and daring tycoon in the business of buying and selling companies for profit. However McCall’s acquisition plans for Grant Austen’s (Dean Jagger) company gets more complicated when he realizes Austen’s daughter Lory (Wood) is the same girl with whom he once had a summer fling.

DVD Special Features:
- Theatrical trailer
- High Note (1961 WB cartoon)

Dr. Seuss's HORTON HEARS A WHO just came out on DVD and Blue-ray. I got a chance to take a look at the DVD and it's a great DVD for the whole family. And if you don't have kids, shhh... no one needs to know.

I never read the Dr. Seuss book as a kid and only really discovered it when How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie with Jim Carrey came out. And since I really loved it, I of course was excited to see The Cat in the Hat movie, which I ended up really liking as well. So it should come as no surprise that I was excited about Horton Hears a Who. Obviously, since it doesn't feature humans, but animals it lended itself to animation very well.

I went to see Horton Hears a Who at the theaters and really liked it, and I of course watched it again when I checked out the DVD and I still enjoyed it a lot.

I think the best part of the movie is Jim Carrey's voice for Horton. For some reason, his voice is perfect for a sweet, innocent, and naive elephant.

Of course, Steve Carrell as the Mayor of Whoville is pretty great too. All he needs to do is talk and I love it. Yes, I'm that easy.

As for the look of the movie, I just love how they created Horton. The way he uses his ears to create different hats and whatnot, and the way he carries himself ever so gentle even with his massive size, you really get the character just by looking at him move.

As for the Whos, well it's never easy to create creatures that don't exist (or even exist for that matter), but I think they did a really good job. Who wouldn't want to save the Whos when they look like that?

Overall, it's a really great DVD to own (we rated it as a must buy) if you have kids or even for yourself. As for the special features, you get a pretty fun behind the scenes featurette, as well as animation screen test and much more (you can find more details about the special features below).

"A person's a person, no matter how small."

[rating:4]

Individual disc bonus materials include:

Single Disc Flipper – Widescreen and Pan & Scan Version

Two-Disc Special Edition Including Digital Copy

Includes all above single-disc content with the following extra material featured on the second disc:

Blu-ray Two-Disc Including Digital Copy

Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who! BD release will be presented in widescreen format on a 25GB single-layer disc authored in AVC (MPEG 4) compression with English 5.1 DTS HD Lossless Master Audio, Spanish/French 5.1 Dolby Digital plus English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and French subtitles. BD bonus content includes exclusive special feature:

"Watch Horton Hears a Who! with a Who!" and all above two-disc special edition content with the exception of the DVD-Rom Create Your Own Animation.

Blu-ray Disc features include the following:

Bonus View technology “Watch Horton Hears a Who! with a Who!”

THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE has been released on DVD and Blue-ray Disc.

I was able to take a look at the DVD and I am sorry to say that The X-Files: I Want to Believe doesn't live up to expectations.

I was a fan of the show when I was younger, but at some point gave up and never really found out how it all ended. And so I was sort of excited when The X-Files: I Want to Believe came out because I thought it would be a trip down memory lane. Unfortunately, it wasn't.

When I think of all the amazing episodes of The X-Files that we have seen throughout the years (especially with the recently released The X-Files Revelations on DVD), I found The X-Files: I Want to Believe to be no better than an average episode of the series, except that it lasted longer.

The case that Scully and Mulder work on is not that interesting and the reveal is very disappointing. For a show that brought us episodes like "Clyde Bruckmans Final Repose" (featuring Peter Boyle), "Beyond the Sea," and characters like Eugene Victor Tooms, this movie was very weak.

Another thing that just seemed weird to me is that Mulder and Scully are now a couple. And I have to ask, were they a couple before this movie? Because if they weren't, then this movie does a really poor job of explaining how that happened.

Overall, I think fans of the show might enjoy it just because they get to see Murlder and Scully one more time, but I personally would have rather kept the memory of the show the way it was.

The special features were more interesting to me. I especially loved the gag reel and the featurettes. So at least if the movie is not that appealing, you still get some fun extra features. You can find more details about the special features below.

[rating:2]

You can buy The X-Files: I Want to Believe on DVD or Blue-ray.

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Synopsis:
Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny re-team to unravel a bizarre case right out of "The X-Files." Amidst an eerily deceptive calm, F.B.I. agent Monica Bannan is abducted. Not only does the search for the missing woman ignite sparks between partners Scully (Anderson) and Mulder (Duchovny), it defies the boundaries of science, the supernatural and the terrifying spaces in between!

The new cast includes Billy Connolly, Amanda Peet, and Xzibit.

DVD Special Features:

Disc One:

Theatrical Release & Extended Cut

Deleted Scenes and Still Galleries

Disc Two:

Trust No One: Can The X-Files Remain a Secret? Documentary

Disc Three:

Digital Copy of The X-Files: I Want to Believe for Portable Media Players

Blu-ray Disc Special Features:

Includes all of the standard-def DVD special features, plus the following exclusive elements:

BD-Live web-enabled content

Digital Copy of the film for portable media players

In addition to Roman Holiday, SABRINA is another movie that has been released in the Centennial Collection DVD.

While I had heard of Sabrina and the 1995 remake, I hadn't actually seen any of them, until now. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Even compared to today's standards I found it funny, endearing, and well acted. Audrey Hepburn once again lights up the screen with her grace and beauty and supported by a great cast including Humphrey Bogart and William Holden.

While the story is nothing really original seeing as it is a romantic comedy, I found it really refreshing in its execution. There was still room left for surprises amongst the cliches, and I particularly loved the last scene between Humphrey Bogart and William Holden (you'll know which one I'm talking about once you see it).

This is another classic that would be a great addition to your DVD collection. Full of special features and a restored image, you will be able to relieve the magic that is Sabrina over and over again.

Buy Sabrina on DVD

[rating: 4.5]

Special Features:

Audrey Hepburn: Icon of Fashion

Galleries

Director: Billy Wilder

Cast: Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, William Holden, John Williams, Martha Hyer

Release Date: November 11, 2008

Synopsis: Isn't it romantic...SABRINA is charming, humorous and aglow with some of Hollywood's greatest stars. Humphrey Bogart, William Holden and Audrey Hepburn star in a Cinderella story directed by renowned filmmaker Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot).
Bogie and Holden are the mega-rich Larrabee brothers of Long Island. Bogie's all work, Holden's all playboy. But when Sabrina, daughter of the family's chauffeur, returns from Paris all grown up and glamorous, the stage is set for some family fireworks as the brothers fall under the spell of Hepburn's delightful charms.

ROMAN HOLIDAY has been released on a new Centennial Collection DVD.

Roman Holiday was the first starring role of the beautiful and classy Audrey Hepburn, and put her on the map of Hollywood. She even won the Oscar for her performance. Roman Holiday also stars Gregory Peck, who makes a great team with Audrey Hepburn. Needless to say that Roman Holiday is a classic worth owning.

Audrey Hepburn plays a princess who escapes out of her palace to explore Rome for a day. Along the way she meets an reporter, Gregory Peck, who spends the day with her pretending not to know who she is, while trying to get an exclusive story, accompanied by his photographer friend, played by Eddie Albert. But as things would have it, the princess and the reporter fall in love. I guess you could say this is a typical romantic comedy story, but it's not exactly. Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck add a whole other level to the movie. Audrey Hepburn's natural acting abilities are a joy to watch and complimented perfectly by Gregory Peck.

With all the less than average movies that are coming out lately, it's just a pleasure to watch a movie that reminds you 1) why we love movies so much 2) what a good movie is supposed to be like.

The Centennial Collection of Roman Holiday also provides an even better picture of this unforgettable movie. Although I'm not sure about all the technical jargon, there is a feature that goes into it on the DVD, "Restoring Roman Holiday."

Overall, I highly recommend Roman Holiday, especially if you haven't seen it yet and enjoy old movies.

[rating: 4.5]

DVD Special Features:

Full Screen Format
Dolby Digital: English Mono, French Mono
English Subtitles
French Dubbed
Special Features:

Director: William Wyler

Cast: Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Eddie Albert

Release Date: November 11, 2008

Synopsis: Audrey Hepburn plays a modern-day princess, rebelling against the royal obligations, who explores Rome on her own. She meets Gregory Peck, an American newspaperman who, seeking an exclusive story, pretends ignorance of her true identity. But his plan falters as they fall in love. Eddie Albert contributes to the fun as Peck's carefree cameraman pal.

KUNG FU PANDA is now available on DVD and Blue-ray disc for you to own.

I didn't originally see Kung Fu Panda at the theater, I wanted to wait because I wasn't sure that I would like it that much. Turns out I was wrong, because Kung Fu Panda was pretty good, I really enjoyed myself. I even got one of my friends to watch it who didn't have any interest in it, and he liked it too.

Kung Fu Panda tells the story of Po, a loveable Panda, who dreams of becoming a kung fu master. It features quite a few voices you will recognize including Jack Black as Po, Dustin Hoffman as Shifu, Angelina Jolie as Tigress, Ian McShane as Tai Lung, Jackie Chan as Monkey, Seth Rogen as Mantis, Lucy Liu as Viper, and David Cross as Crane.

Although Kung Fu Panda is geared towards children, I think it is enjoyable for everyone. There are some pretty funny scenes throughout the movie and I think Jack Black is just perfect as the voice of Po.

The DVD also includes a behind the scenes featurette, in which the actors involved talk about their experience on Kung Fu Panda. You also get a sneak peek at their recording sessions. The DVD also has many more special features which are listed below.

You can also buy the Kung Fu Panda DVD with an extra DVD called, Secrets of the Furious Five. The DVD features a short film which tells the backstories from the furious five. It is definitely great if you have kids, because it also includes extra features such as a video to learn the Panda dance, games, and more.

Overall, I think Kung Fu Panda is a great DVD for the family to have.

[rating: 3.5]

Special Features:

- Filmmakers' Commentary

- A Day in the Life: A Shaoin Monk in Training, Po Around the World (Only on Blu-ray)

Director: Mark Osborne and John Stevenson

Cast: Jack Black, Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, Ian McShane

Release Date: November 9, 2008

Synopsis: Enthusiastic, big and a little clumsy, Po works in his family’s noodle shop while daydreaming about becoming a Kung Fu master. His dreams soon become reality when he is unexpectedly chosen to join the world of Kung Fu and study alongside his idols-the legendary fighters Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey-under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu. But before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard
Tai Lung is headed their way, and it’s up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat. Can he turn his dreams of becoming a Kung Fu hero into reality? Po puts his heart and his girth into the task, and ultimately finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths.

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL was recently released on a 2-Disc Special Edition DVD and Blue ray. I was able to take a look at the 2-Disc DVD version (yep, still no Blue ray).

I think I am one of the few who actually enjoyed Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. No, it wasn't as good as the previous Indiana Jones movies, but it did take me on an adventure and entertained me, which is all I was looking for.

Harrison Ford is still awesome after all these years and Shia LaBeouf (we all know I'm a fan) definitely held his own up there.

Cate Blanchett never disappoints so I shouldn't be surprised that she was a great villain.

Apart being able to discover or re-watch the movie, the DVD offers a lot of special features that is sure to excite Indiana Jones fans.

You can find a lot of things about how the movie came to be, which I always find fun. Featurettes always spike my interest and I was glad to find plenty of that on the DVD. There are galleries but I usually don't really care for those. And more featurettes. You can pretty much learn everything you wanted to know about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Overall, I feel it's almost a must-have for Indiana Jones fans (unless you absolutely hated the movie). I think it's going to be a good movie to watch after rewatching #1, 2, and 3. You can have great movie nights that way.

[rating:3.5]

Here is a complete list of the Special Features:

Disc 1:

The Return of a Legend—The evolution of the new film and a tribute to the legendary hero and his creators.

Pre-Production—Follows Steven Spielberg as he creates animatic sequences, Shia LaBeouf as he learns to swordfight and captures the reunion of filmmakers and cast on the soundstage.

DVD Disc 2:

Production Diary: Making Kingdom of the Crystal Skull—Join filmmakers, cast and crew for a complete look at the making of the film.

• Shooting Begins: New Mexico
• Back To School: New Haven, Connecticut
• Welcome to the Jungle: Hilo, Hawaii
• On-Set Action
• Exploring Akator
• Wrapping Up!

Warrior Makeup

Pre-Visualization Sequences

Area 51 Escape

• Jungle Chase
• Ants Attack

Galleries

• The Adventure Begins
• Cemetery and Jungle
• Akator

• Corpses, Skeletons & Mummies
• Aliens & Crystal Skulls

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull also will be available as a single disc DVD presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with THX Certified Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles.

Blu-ray

The Special Edition Blu-ray is presented in 1080p High Definition with THX Certified English 5.1 Dolby True HD, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles. The two-disc set includes the following special features:

Blu-ray Disc 1:

Indiana Jones Timelines— Explore the movie through interactive timelines that include video featurettes, in-depth information and unique imagery. Your adventure begins with one of these three timelines:

The Return of a Legend—The evolution of the new film and a tribute to the legendary hero and his creators. (HD)

Pre-Production—Follows Steven Spielberg as he creates animatic sequences, Shia LaBeouf as he learns to swordfight and captures the reunion of filmmakers and cast on the soundstage. (HD)

Disc 2:

Production Diary: Making Kingdom of the Crystal Skull—Join filmmakers, cast and crew for a complete look at the making of the film.

Warrior Makeup (HD)

Pre-Visualization Sequences

Galleries

• The Adventure Begins
• Cemetery and Jungle
• Akator

• Corpses, Skeletons & Mummies
• Aliens & Crystal Skulls

Production Photographs

Portraits

Behind-the-Scenes Photographs

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Film Info:

Director:

Cast: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Shia LaBeouf, Ray Winstone and John Hurt

Release Date: October 14, 2008

Synopsis: Set in 1957, the film follows Indy on a perilous adventure to find the coveted Crystal Skull of Akator. From the ivy-covered halls of Marshall College to the verdant jungles of South America, Indy is relentlessly pursued by sinister Soviet agents who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the eerie object of fascination.

IRON MAN was just released on DVD and Blue-ray disc and if you haven't gotten your copy yet, then what are you waiting for?

Seriously, this DVD is a must have. I don't usually buy that many DVDs (I'm more of a renter), but Iron Man is one of the DVDs I must own. If only to watch the brilliant performance of Robert Downey Jr. over and over again.

One of my favorite movies of the summer and probably one of the best Comic Book adaptation to date, Iron Man is just perfect in every way. And if you haven't seen the movie yet, this is your chance.

I'm not going to expend too much on how good the movie is, because it was successful enough that it doesn't need anymore praise from me.

What I do want to talk about are the Special Features of the DVD, which include:

Disc 1:

Deleted/Extended Scenes - These are nice if you want to see every single thing that was shot.

Disc 2:

I Am Iron Man - These are a pretty great behind the scenes featurette. You can see how the suit was designed, how Robert Downey Jr. got became Tony Spark, and much more.

• The Journey Begins
• The Suit that makes the Iron Man
• The Walk of Destruction
• Grounded In Reality
• Beneath the Armor
• It’s All in the Details
• A Good Story, Well Told

The Invincible Iron Man - Featurettes about Iron Man the comic book. If you want to learn more about how Iron Man originally came to be a comic book, then this is for you.

• Origins
• Friends & Foes
• The Definitive Iron Man
• Demon in a Bottle
• Extremis and Beyond
• Ultimate Iron Man

Wired: The Visual Effects of Iron Man - For the visual effects junkies.

Robert Downey Jr. Screen Test - This just proves how great Robert Downey Jr. is. So much fun to watch.

The Actor’s Process (scene rehearsal with cast) - You get a sneak peek into the rehearsal of a scene between Robert Downey Jr. and Jeff Bridges.

The Onion “Wildly Popular Iron Man Trailer to be Adapted into Full Length Film”

Image Galleries

Overall:

I don't think there is much else to say about this DVD, except that I loved Iron Man, and love the DVD.

[rating:5]

Buy Iron Man: Ultimate 2-Disc Edition on DVD or Blue-ray.

Iron Man Film Info:

Director: Jon Favreau

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow

Release Date: September 30, 2008

In case you didn't know, all three GODFATHER movies have been released in a special new DVD collection, The Coppola Restoration, also available in Blue-ray, which features some pretty amazing special features.

Who hasn't seen The Godfather at least once in their lives? It's almost a requirement isn't it? But now is your chance to relive all three movies restored (for Part I & II) and remastered (for Part III).

I was able to take a look at the 5-Disc DVD version and was blown away by not only the movies, but the amount of special features included.

The special features include a lot of behind-the-scenes featurette and documentaries. We learn about how the casting for Michael went. Turns out James Caan read for the part, we even get to see some of the screen tests he did. I found it really fascinating. It's so hard to imagine Michael as someone else than Al Pacino.

This example is only one of the many great stuff included on the DVD. Seriously, I must have spent hours watching everything. It was quite a trip and I learned so much about how The Godfather came to be. Trust me, it wasn't an easy road.

This is absolutely a great addition to your DVD collection, especially if you are a film addict, or just love The Godfather trilogy.

[rating:5]

Buy The Godfather Collection: The Coppola Restoration on DVD or Blue-ray.

Here is more information about The Godfather DVD and Blue-ray disc.

The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration DVD disc breakdown is as follows:

Disc 1:

- The Godfather feature film

- Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola

Disc 2:

- The Godfather, Part II feature film

- Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola

Disc 3:

- The Godfather, Part III feature film

- Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola

Disc 4: (previously released special features)

- Making of The Godfather

- Additional Scenes

- Filming Locations

- The Corleone Family Tree

- The Music of The Godfather

- The Godfather Historical Timeline

- Profiles on the Filmmakers

- Photo Galleries and Storyboards

Disc 5: (new special features)

- Godfather World

- The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn’t

- …when the shooting stopped

- Emulsional Rescue Revealing The Godfather

- The Godfather on the Red Carpet

- Four Short Films on The Godfather:

Here are the specs for the Blue-ray Collection:

THE GODFATHER: The Coppola Restoration Blu-ray Collection

Disc 1:

- The Godfather feature film

- Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola

Disc 2:

- The Godfather, Part II feature film

- Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola

Disc 3:

- The Godfather, Part III feature film

- Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola

Disc 4:

- Godfather World (HD)

- The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn’t (HD)

- …when the shooting stopped (HD)

- Emulsional Rescue—Revealing The Godfather (HD)

- The Godfather on the Red Carpet (HD)

- Four Short Films on The Godfather

- The Family Tree

- Crime Organization Chart

- Connie and Carlo’s Wedding Album

2001 DVD Archive:

- Behind the Scenes

Disc 4 (cont’d):

-The Filmmakers

- Additional Scenes

- Acclaim & Response

- Trailers (HD)

- Photo Gallery

- Rogues’ Gallery

Tim Burton's THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS is being released on DVD and Blue-ray today, August 26, in a special Collector's Edition version.

I was lucky enough to get an early copy and I wanted to make sure and let you know what a great buy it is.

But first let me say that I am not someone who buys products derived from movies or TV shows (except DVDs and books), but The Nightmare Before Christmas is the one exception to that rule. I love it so much that I am always on the lookout for some cool items featuring Jack and other characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas. I don't know why, but I just do.

Now that that's out of the way let's move on to the review of the DVD:

REVIEW

Film: The film has been digitally restored with its original deeper and darker qualities, which makes it even more enjoyable to watch, especially now with televisions having higher and higher resolutions. But apart from that, I just really love the story and how the film was created. From all the movies that I have seen, this one really stands out as something creatively original and just great. If you haven't seen this yet, you might want to get it, it will be a nice change from all the mainstream movies we watch everyday.

DVD Extras: One of the reasons for buying the Collector's Edition is all the extra features about the making of the movie.

They Include:

NEW! What’s This? Jack’s Haunted Mansion Holiday Tour – Viewers choose the way they want to tour Disneyland’s Holiday Haunted Mansion. “On Track” explores a tricked-out version of the Haunted Mansion, while “Off Track” reveals what went into creating all the creepy fun.

NEW! Tim Burton’s Original poem narrated by Christopher Lee – Tim Burton’s poem that inspired the creation of the movie. Now, the original verse comes to creepy life as performed by legendary actor Christopher Lee.

NEW! Film Commentary – commentary by producer and writer Tim Burton, director Henry Selick and composer Danny Elfman.

NEW Introduction To Frankenweenie! – A new un-cut version introduction by Tim Burton.

The Making of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas - Go behind the scenes of the very first full-length stop motion animated movie with the filmmakers.

The Worlds of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas – Witness the creation of the film’s richly imagined dreamscapes, including Halloween Town, Christmas Town and the Real World.

Deleted Scenes

Storyboard to Film Comparison

Original Theatrical Trailers and Posters

PLUS Tim Burton’s Complete Short Film Vincent

EXCLUSIVE BLU-RAY BONUS FEATURE:

Includes all DVD Bonus Features, Plus:

A Special Blu-ray Only Introduction by Tim Burton

I personally was overwhelmed by all the extra features. There is so much to watch. I think my favorite was the Deleted scenes. I wish they had been included in the film, especially the storyboards deleted scenes. The other cool thing is the Storyboard to Film Comparison. These two were my favorites to watch. And for fans of Tim Burton, check out "Vincent" and "Frankenweenie." These two films were really fun to watch as well.

Overall: From the really cool design of the box to everything inside, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector's Edition DVD is definitely a great buy. Oh and did I mention that as a bonus you also get a digital file of the movie for either iTunes or Windows Media format, so you can now watch it on the go. How awesome is that?!

[rating:5]

Buy Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector's Edition on DVD or Blue-ray.

Or for the real collector, you can also buy the Ultimate Collector's DVD Set .

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Film Info:

Director: Henry Selick

Cast: (Voices) Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens, Ken Page, Edward Ivory, Susan McBride, Debi Durst, Gregory Proops, Kerry Katz, Randy Crenshaw, Sherwood Ball, and Carmen Twillie

Release Date: August 26, 2008

Synopsis: Bored with his perennial role as Halloween Town's frightening Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington wanders off and discovers the cheerful village of Christmas Town. Determined to shake things up in Halloween Town, he enlists the help of some mischievous trick-or treaters to kidnap Santa Claus and takes over the job of delivering gifts to the children of the world himself. When his plan goes awry, Jack attempts to restore Santa to his rightful place. But first, he must rescue St. Nick from the clutches of the evil Oogie Boogie!

Disney Channel's original movie, CAMP ROCK comes out to DVD and Blu-ray tomorrow, August 19, pack with cool bonus features.

We were able to take an early look at the Camp Rock DVD and here is what we thought about it.

Director: Matthew Diamond

Cast: Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, Meaghan Jette Martin, Maria Canals-Barrera, Alyson Stoner, Julie Brown, Daniel Fathers,Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Jasmine Richards, Jordan Francis, Roshon Fegan, Kevin Jonas, and Nick Jonas

Release Date: 19 August 2008

Synopsis: Mitchie (Demi Lovato) knows she’s got what it takes to take the music world by storm. Her dream of spending a summer at exclusive Camp Rock seems to be coming true when her mother gets them both jobs at the camp as cooks. Arriving with stars in her eyes, Mitchie finds her confidence shaken by the stiff competition, especially when it comes to getting the attention of teen pop star Shane (Joe Jonas), the camp’s celebrity instructor. When Shane overhears Mitchie singing without seeing her face, he finds new inspiration in her unique sound. His curiosity about her identity sets off a Cinderella-style search for the unknown dream girl, while Mitchie must learn to overcome her own insecurity and step into the spotlight.

REVIEW

The Movie: I had actually watched Camp Rock when it first aired on the Disney Channel, but since apparently I have the same taste as a 13 year old girl when it comes to musicals, I watched the movie once more. Turns out I actually liked it even better the second time around. Not that the acting is anything to rave about, but I just enjoy watching all the singing performances. What can I say, that stuff relaxes me.

However, since I am not the target audience for the movie, there are still a few things that I probably don't get as excited about as I should. For example, I still don't get the whole Jonas Brothers appeal, but I'm probably too old to care. I do think they did as good a job as everybody else in the cast, they didn't feel out of place, which is pretty important.

As for the story in general, it's nothing that original, but let's face it, you are not going to watch Camp Rock for the story, but for its entertainment value.

DVD Extras: The bonus features on the DVD are perfect for people, (and when I say people, what I really mean is children and teenagers) who want to learn more about the cast and how the movie was made.

They Include:

How to be a Rock Star – Get ready to take center stage! Sing, dress and dance just like a Rock Star—with tips from Jonas Brothers and the cast!

Jonas Brothers: Real Life Rock Stars – Think you know Jonas Brothers? Get ready to learn all about them from none other that the rock stars themselves!

Introducing Demi Lovato – go behind the scenes with Disney Channel’s talented new sensation!

Camp Rock Memory Book - One unforgettable summer is recorded in candid, personal shots of stars on and off the set of the movie, plus their most memorable moments from the filming of Camp Rock.

From Rehearsal to Final Jam: “Hasta La Vista” - Join Barron and Sander (aka actors Jordan Francis and Roshon Fegan) for a backstage look at the making of one of the movie’s hottest musical numbers.

Setting the Stage for “Too Cool” - Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, who plays Ella, takes fans on location for a peek at one of the film’s signature production numbers—from both sides of the camera!

Sing Along Mode and Karaoke Mode

Rockin’ Music Videos

Camp Rock Blu-ray Exclusive Bonus Features:

Everything on the DVD, Plus…
The Camp Rock Set Tours – with a special appearance by Joe Jonas

Overall: This DVD is definitely a good buy for the Camp Rock fanatic or even for kids who enjoy music.

Buy the Camp Rock DVD, Blue Ray, and/or soundtrack.

[rating:4]

Make sure you check out the videos below to find out more about Camp Rock.

SMART PEOPLE premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, but I hadn't heard of it until recently, when the DVD release was announced. Smart People was released today, August 12, on DVD and Blue Ray Disc.

And so it was with a curious mind that I took a look at the DVD.

Director: Noam Murro

Cast: Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, Ellen Page, Ashton Holmes, David Denman, Camille Mana, and Christine Lahti

Release Date: August 12, 2008

Synopsis: Once an idealistic and ambitious academic, Professor Lawrence Wetherhold (Quaid) lost his passion for teaching when he lost his wife. Hunkered-down behind his books, Wetherhold has forgotten how to connect, even with his daughter, the acerbically witty Vanessa (Page). Suddenly a head injury sends Wetherhold to the emergency room where his world spins out of his control. Forced to depend on his brother (Church), a freeloading oddball, for transportation, Wetherhold is surprised to find himself attracted to his ER doctor and former ex student (Parker) and begins to emerge from his isolation—with surprising consequences for the entire family.

REVIEW

The Story: As I mentioned above, I only recently heard about Smart People, and was quite intrigued about it, especially because of the cast. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the movie quite as much as I thought I would. For some reason, the story did not appeal to me at all. I didn't really care about the characters that much and I was really waiting to get to the end to see what the whole point of it was.

I will say this however, the ending was pretty good. It reconciled me with the movie a little. I actually felt like there was an evolution of the characters, which at least was satisfying.

The Cast: There is no way that I can criticize the cast, especially since it features Dennis Quaid, Ellen Page, and Thomas Haden Church. The story might not have appealed to me, but the actors were really good. They each had a very specific idea about their character and they translated that to the screen perfectly. I will make a special mention for Thomas Haden Church who plays slob so well, it's almost endearing.

Check out two clips from the film and bloopers below, and see what you think:

DVD Extras:

Deleted Scenes - I sometimes find deleted scenes interesting, especially when they include a deeper exploration of the characters. The scenes on this particular DVD are fun to watch if you really loved the movie, but they don't add much to the film.

The Smartest People - A featurette which includes interviews of the filmmakers and cast.

Not So Smart - Some bloopers and outtakes, which I always love to watch.

Feature Commentary by Filmmaker Noam Murro and Writer Mark Jude Poirier -

Overall: Although I might not have enjoyed the movie that much, it does have an impressive cast and I did read a few reviews of people who loved it. I think this is one of those films that you either love or hate. Unfortunately, I didn't love it. It was just an ok film for me. If enjoyed the clips above, then I would suggest you check it out, but if not then you might want to pass on this one.

Smart People is available to purchase at Amazon on DVD and Blue Ray Disc.

[rating:2.5]

Yesterday I took a look at the newly DVD released DUCK.

Written and directed by Nic Bettauer, Duck follows the story of a retired widower (Philip Baker Hall) living in 2009 where Jeb Bush is the new president and social services have disappeared.

At the beginning of the movie, the widower finds a baby duck, which he brings back home with him and helps it grow up. The duck and other events lead him to be thrown out of his apartment, and he now has to live on the streets. With his duck, they go around Los Angeles in search of water. Throughout their journey, they meet different people who will challenge them along the way.

I hadn't heard of Duck before getting the DVD, but I found it very original and sweet. Director Nic Bettauer and Philip Baker Hall have found a way to make us care about this duck through the widower's interaction with it. I think the most fascinating thing is how the widower relates to the duck in the movie. The relationship feels so real that it's hard not to be rooting for them. Philip Baker Hall is really great at creating this whole world around the duck. His performance is one of the reasons why the movie works.

Duck is a very simple film, meaning that there aren't any special or visual effects, and thus it relies on the story and its actors to bring us into this new world.

Overall, I found the movie enjoyable to watch and a nice break from other movies I usually watch. And I have to admit that the duck totally won me over.

The DVD Bonus Features include:

- Audio Commentary by director Nic Bettauer and actor Philip Baker Hall
- Interviews
- Cast Bios
- Desktop Downloads
- Theatrical Trailer
- Photo Gallery
- Movie Poster

And for those interested, Duck The Novella is also available for purchase.

Both the Duck DVD and Duck The Novella are available at www.duckthemovie.com.

Finally, I would like to leave you with the tagline which I find very endearing: "In a duck who believes him to be its mother, an old man discovers the will to live on..."

[rating:3]

You can watch the trailer for Duck below.

(Photos: Mark Lampert)

STOP-LOSS has just been released on DVD and I have been looking forward to checking it out ever since I first saw the trailer.

I was lucky to get a preview copy and so I want to share with you some of my thoughts about the DVD.

Director: Kimberly Peirce

Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum, Abbie Cornish, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rob Brown, and Alex Frost

Release Date: July 8, 2008

Synopsis: Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. He tries to resume the life he left behind with the help and support of his family and his best friend, Steve Shriver (Channing Tatum), who served with him in Iraq. Along with their other war buddies, Brandon and Steve try to make peace with civilian life. Then, against Brandon’s will, the Army orders him back to duty in Iraq, which upends his world. The conflict tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love and the value of honor.

REVIEW

The Story: When I first saw the trailer I had a totally different idea of what I thought the story was going to be. Was I disappointed as to what it really was, not really because I think it was equally good in a different direction. The movie focuses on Sgt. Brandon King's journey after he gets the terrible news that he has been stop-lossed. In addition, I think the story really touches greatly on the effects that war has on soldiers, and how hard it is for them to assimilate back into life when they come home.

I will say that I would have written the ending differently. It felt a little bit underwhelming and kind of depressing in a way, but I think it still works within the story. Let's just say that it didn't bother me to the point where I didn't like the movie because of it.

The Cast: I always thought Ryan Phillippe was a really gifted actor and this movie is no exception. He is really committed to his part and I think really captures the essence of Sgt. Brandon King.

Channing Tatum held her own up there as well. Apart from fitting the part physically, I think he brought a big range of emotion to the character of Steve Shriver and I really loved the journey he takes the audience on.

Abbie Cornish plays Michelle, Steve's girlfriend. I hadn't heard of her before and was pleasantly surprised. She is really talented and so natural, it was a real pleasure to watch her. Her character gives the audience an external point of view and I think she achieved that.

I have to make a special mention of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He is such a fantastic actor and I just feel that in every movie he does, he keeps growing and growing as an actor. I just love watching him. Make sure you keep an eye out for him in Stop-Loss.

DVD Extras: Want to know more about the movie, check out all the special features from the DVD.

Commentary: Commentary by Director Kimberly Peirce and Co-Writer Mark Richard

Featurette: The Making Of Stop-Loss - You get sort of a look into Kimberly Peirce's journey to making Stop-Loss. The part I most enjoyed was watching her direct a scene from the movie between Ryan Philippe and Victor Rasuk. I found it really fascinating, especially since it's such a great scene in the movie.

Featurette: A Day In Boot Camp - It shows what the training the actors had to go through for the film. Pretty hard core and really interesting.

11 Deleted Scenes - I just want to write a quick note about these scenes. Turns out a few clips from them were in the trailer. I knew there were some scenes that weren't in the movie that I had seen in the trailer and it was bugging me. So this is where they went or were left really. In addition, I wish some of them had made it onto the movie, because they were just so nice to watch and made us care even more for the characters. So I'm really glad they were included on the DVD.

Overall: Obviously this is not a movie that's going to cheer you up, but since I knew what I was getting myself into when I sat down to watch it, I got exactly what I wanted. I really got into the story and the acting and enjoyed the movie from beginning to end. I did mention that I wish the ending had been a little different than what it was, but I can live with it the way it is. So I would say that overall I really liked the movie and would recommend it especially if you are interested in the storyline.

[rating:4]

THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES has been released as a 2-Disc Special Edition DVD and in Blue-ray DVD format (I really have to get a Playstation 3!). I was able to take a look at the special edition and I will start by saying that the package is pretty cool, but of course that's not the most important thing about the DVD. Let's take a closer look.

Director: Mark Waters

Cast: Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Joan Plowright, David Strathairn, Seth Rogen, and Martin Short

Release Date: June 24 2008

Synopsis: From the beloved best-selling series of books comes "The Spiderwick Chronicles," a fantasy adventure for the child in all of us. Peculiar things start to happen the moment the Grace family (Jared, his twin brother Simon, sister Mallory and their mom) leave New York and move into the secluded old house owned by their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick. Unable to explain the strange disappearances and accidents that seem to be happening on a daily basis, the family blames Jared. When he, Simon and Mallory investigate what's really going on, they uncover the fantastic truth of the Spiderwick estate and of the creatures that inhabit it.

The Story: I had actually read the books prior to seeing the movie, but since it had been a while, I didn't remember every detail, which is a good thing I guess. What I can tell you is that the movie stays pretty close to the books. I really enjoyed the way it was translated into a movie, I think they did a really good job in keeping the original tone of the books. As for the story itself, I am personally a big fan of fantasy novels, so this fit right up my alley. It is a family movie and although it is not the best story ever written, you will spend a nice time following Jared, Simon and Mallory in their crazy adventures full of incredible creatures.

The Cast: Freddie Highmore is great as usual, but this time he actually plays two characters, Jared and his twin brother Simon. What I really liked about his performance is that he put effort into distinguishing Jared from Simon as characters. Even though they both look the same, they are not the same person and I think Freddie Highmore really captured that. Sarah Bolger plays Mallory (you might remember her from In America, which I absolutely loved) and she fits right in with Freddie Highmore. Mary-Louise Parker plays the mother, Helen Grace, but to be honest I don't remember her being a big part of the film or even being in it that much. The movie is really about Jared, Simon and Mallory. Andrew McCarthy also makes a brief appearance, but it's really, really brief, so I don't have much to say about that. As for David Strathairn, I thought he played Arthur Spiderwick perfectly. He had this small quirkiness that you would expect from someone who is at least a hundred years old. Finally, Joan Plowright plays Aunt Lucinda, Arthur's daughter, and I think that she matched Arthur's quirkiness perfectly. Overall, I think the cast worked great together.

DVD Extras: Since this is a 2-Disc Special Edition I guess it's no surprise that the DVD contains tons of extra features.

They Include:

Disc 1:

Spiderwick: It's All True! - Mark Waters tells you about the movie and how to survive in the Spiderwick world. Pretty fun for kids!

It's A Spiderwick World - Featurette about how "The Spiderwick Chronicles" came to be.

Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide - Glossary of the creatures and artifacts of "The Spiderwick Chronicles."

Field Guide - In-Movie Mode - Learn more about "The Spiderwick Chronicles" while watching the movie.

Previews

Disc 2:

Spiderwick: Meet the Clan - Featurette about the cast. And I just want to say that they mention how brilliant Freddie Highmore is with playing two parts. And funny enough they even talk about Andrew McCarthy's short appearance Warning: Do not watch this before watching the movie, because there are some spoilers.

Making Spiderwick - Featurette about how "The Spiderwick Chronicles" came alive.

The Magic of Spiderwick! - Featurette about the visual effects of the movie. This is really interesting since the movie relies on them so much.

A Final Word of Advice... - Mark Waters' final message.

Deleted Scenes -

Nikelodeon TV Spots

Theatrical Trailers

Overall: Overall, I think this is a great movie for the whole family to enjoy and the Special Edition DVD has plenty of features to keep you entertained.

[rating:3]

The oscar-nominated movie, THERE WILL BE BLOOD, is out on DVD. You can buy There Will Be Blood in a 2-Disc Collector's Edition (which I was able to take a look at), as well as on Blue-Ray DVD as of June 3rd.

Synopsis: The story chronicles the life and times of one Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), who transforms himself from a down-and-out silver minder raising a son on his own into a self-made oil tycoon.

The Story: First of all it is important to know that this is a character study more than a story driven film, and I'm going to be honest here, I didn't get into it as much as I would have liked. It started out good, but as it went on I found myself waiting for something to happen that never came, and at the end I felt a little bit frustrated that there was no resolution (in my opinion). But I will say that I did have conversations about the story and even though some people really enjoyed the character study and the film the way it is.

The Cast: Even though the story might not have appealed to me as much, I think the movie is worth watching just to see Daniel Day-Lewis' performance. I think that's what kept me interested longer than the story did. He is just phenomenal, totally immersed into his character. I think we all know why he won the Oscar for this performance. And let's not forget the rest of the cast, which is very strong as well. Paul Dano definitely holds his own against Daniel Day-Lewis and it's fascinating to watch.

DVD Extras: The extra features, as far as I know, are the same on the 2-Disc Collector's Edition and the Blue-Ray version.

They include:

15 Minutes docu/research film - Sort of a photo montage of the period intercut with scenes from the movie, which compares the authenticity of the film. Pretty interesting.

Teaser and Trailer of the movie

"Fishing" Sequence - Deleted scene about drilling issues and some talk about Eli.

Haircut/Interrupted Hymn - Deleted scene of H.W. cutting Daniel's hair, as well as two other train scenes with H.W.

Dailies Gone Wild - I guess there is supposed to be a mistake during the take, but I honestly am not sure what it is exactly since Daniel Day-Lewis and Dillon Freasier don't react until the director calls "cut," which really shows how great they are as actors. Plus this scene would still work if you edit around the mistake, that's how good it is.

"The Story of Petroleum" - This is a B/W promotional silent film that highlights the operations of the US oil industry. It has a running time of 26 min.

Overall: If you enjoy movies and good acting, you should to take a look at this title, plus if you have a Blue-Ray DVD you can see it in the best quality available (and that's always nice).

[rating:3.5]

Update: Quick update on this review. I am now addicted to the soundtrack of the movie and might decide to give it a second chance just so that I can see the cast perform the songs again. Maybe the second time's a charm and I'll actually like the movie better this time. More on that when I watch it again.

I had been looking forward to watching ACROSS THE UNIVERSE for so long, that it was a little disappointing that the movie didn't live up to my expectations of it.

It wasn't horrible but it wasn't great. The first problem I had with it is that there were just way too many songs, and I am a musical lover so that's saying something. In addition, at least 30 minutes of the movie could have been cut out, it was getting pretty boring towards the end. I will say that the ending was thankfully good.

The actors were all very talented and I really enjoyed their renditions of the Beatles songs. The soundtrack of the movie is, as a result, very good.

Overall, it's not the best movie ever, but if you enjoy musicals and like the Beatles songs, you might want to give Across the Universe a try, but don't expect to be blown away.

[rating:3]

Buy the Across The Universe Soundtrack.

Director: Ken Loach

Cast: Cillian Murphy, Padraic Delaney, Liam Cunningham, Orla Fitzgerald, and Mary O'Riordan

Story: Ireland, 1920. Damien and Teddy are brothers. But while the latter is already the leader of a guerrilla squad fighting for the independence of his motherland, Damien, a medical graduate of University College, would rather further his training at the London hospital where he has found a place. However, shortly before his departure, he happens to witness atrocities committed by the ferocious Black and Tans and finally decides to join the resistance group led by Teddy.

Review: THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY is one of the best movies I have seen this year. I think what really touched me is how amazing the actors were. The only "known" actor is Cillian Murphy and that benefits the film so much because it makes it easier to identify with each character. The film is by no means an action film and even though it is about guerrilla fighters, there aren't any big fight scenes. That said, there are some pretty powerful scenes that will leave you thinking thinking about them for a while.

The Wind That Shakes The Barley won the Palm D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and usually I wouldn't even look twice at a movie that won that prize, because let's face it, these films are usually not really good, but one of my friends told me The Wind That Shakes The Barley was really good and since I trust his judgment I decided to take a look at it. I have thanked him ever since. In fact, after watching it the first time I bought the DVD and watched it again.

So if you have been looking for a good film that will touch you, The Wind That Shakes The Barley is definitely it.