Elastic Pop

DVD Review: American Son

2009-08-28T03:43:21Z

MTV staple and Mr. Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon and Neil Abramson director of the infamous Jerry Springer vehicle Ringmaster, might not exactly inspire confidence when audiences hear the two made a film about the Iraq war. Surprisingly though, American Son, nominated for The Grand Jury Prize at the 2008 Sundance film festival is an affecting film. American Son is not a film about what goes on in combat but rather what a soldier goes through in those last remaining hours before he ships off to the war zone. Written by first time scribe Eric Schmid, this is a tight character study of one young man's attempts to connect with loved ones before he faces an uncertain future. While the central love story comes across as weak, American Son still manages to present an interesting story about a young man essentially caught between two worlds; dedication to family and the dedication to serve his country. ]]> Cannon plays Mike Holland, a 19-year-old marine. On leave for 96 hours before shipping off to Iraq, he returns home to Bakersfield California. It's immediately obvious that Bakersfield isn't a place brimming with hope; dusty and desolate, Mike's friends and family seem lost in a life of partying or over tired from hard labor for little pay. Though his friends and family know he's being deployed somewhere, he doesn't tell them it's Iraq; he's not ready to face that reality himself yet, much less tell all of them. On the bus ride home, he meets a young Latina named Christina (Melonie Diaz). A recent high school graduate, she's immediately taken by his uniform and swagger; he is attracted to her sweetness and vulnerability. The film periodically reminds us how much time Mike has left on his leave. The ticking clock adds to the dramatic tension as he reconnects with old buddies and finds they've grown in different directions. His best friend Jake (Matt O'Leary) is a white gangsta who spends most of his time smoking weed, drinking and looking for trouble. Jake clearly resents Mike for leaving him behind and making something of his life. The pain cuts even deeper when it's learned that decision could cost him his life. At the same time, his older brother is trapped in a world of drug addiction, his father is still struggling, his mother is working overtime to care for his younger sister and his stepfather doesn't seem fully committed to his marriage. Seeking to avoid the weighty issues at home, Mike spends a lot of time with Christina, who has no preconceived notions of who he's supposed to be. They have several conversations but the film never really makes the case for why these two people would have a relationship beyond the physical. We can understand why she might fall for him--he's polite confident and driven. But beyond her coy innocence, Christina remains a bit of an enigma. All we really know about her is that she has a strict Hispanic family and she plans to go to college near Camp Pendleton. That's not a lot to hang much of your major plot points on. Nick Cannon's performance is rather impressive. Loose but serious, he never looks like he's "acting. He strikes the right tone in each scene, cool in one, frightened in the next. A sequence with an injured Marine (Jay Hernandez) living in Cristina's neighborhood is rather emotional and a near-perfect representation of the macho but sensitive bonds forged by military service. It's also worth noting that American Son is 100% a-political. The film doesn't take a stand on the right or wrong of any military conflict. The point is, Mike is somebody's son, brother, friend and going off to war. Presented in 1.85:1 widescreen and enhanced for 16x9 televisions, American Son comes across well. Considering the documentary-styled cinematography; colors do tend to be a bit drab, but it fits in well with the dreary feel of the film. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, which is more than adequate for this dialogue heavy film and its hip-hop filled soundtrack. Subtitles are available in Spanish. American Son has the following special features: • Audio Commentary: Director Neil Abramson, producers Danielle Renfrew and Michael Roiff, provide an informative track here. They discuss production of the film, offering up stories on the fast nature of the shoot (it was shot in three weeks), the casting, the changes to the script, and the ideas behind it. • On Leave in Bakersfield: (11:23) A handful of scenes are shown in rehearsal. Kind of interesting. • Deleted Scenes: There are two deleted scenes with optional director's commentary.

Blu-ray Review: Adventureland

2009-08-27T02:45:48Z

Don't be fooled by the trailers; despite evidence to the contrary, Adventureland is not Superbad II. Instead, director Greg Mottola has crafted a humorous, rather sweet, coming-of-age story with an emotional edge. Gone is the rampant vulgarity, in its place is a more nuance humor and believable characters. Like Juno, Adventureland is a slice of life comedy but Mottola takes the unusual step of taking the story of high school and placing it in an amusement park, where the main attraction for young James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg, The Squid and the Whale) is a co-worker named Em (Kristen Stewart, Twilight), who also doesn't seem to fit in with the other employees.]]> It's 1987 and the level-headed James Brennan has just graduated from college with a degree in comparative literature and Renaissance studies. After his parents are forced to downsize and abandon their plans to send James to Europe for the summer, he decides he best get a job. He has little choice but to work at Adventureland, a dingy, depressing kind of place, owned by a miserly married couple (Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader). James' friend and life-long neighbor, Frigo (Matt Bush), has worked there forever. Hyperactive and nerdy, Frigo's main goal in life seems to be to annoy everyone. He also finds a mentor of sorts in the park's maintenance man, Mike Connell (Ryan Reynolds), a smooth-talking musician and makes new friends with nerdy intellectual Joel (Martin Starr) and sexy ride operator Lisa P. (Margarita Levieva), who takes an odd interest in James. However, it's fellow games operator Em that James notices almost immediately. Distant and beautiful, it isn't long before James is spending every moment he possibly can with her, though she doesn't always realize it. It's not until the third act that the two actually talk. The discuss how lousy the amusement park is, how weird the owners are and each other's future plans; they get to know each other and develop a mutual attraction. While their lives appear to be going in parallel directions, James has no idea how complicated things really are--not only with Em, but in his own life as well. Adventureland is funny, but not farcical. At its core, this is a film about taking that final step from childhood to adulthood--digging beneath the surface to find out who you really are and who you want to be; finding your limits and having the courage to exceed them. After all, these two are headed off to graduate school and their still being held back by families that insist on making stupid decisions. In James and Em, Mottola has crafted the perfect couple to tell his story. He's a wallflower who hasn't found the right outlet for his intellectual abilities. Behind a lot of pent up anger, Em has a desire to be cared for and wanted. Together, they give each other solace. Apart they amplify each other's misery. Stewart does a solid job here, but it's Eisenberg who really impresses. He proves that Michael Cera isn't the only young actor who can deliver unpolished protagonists. It's a shame that Adventureland's trailers didn't focus on what the movie was about. I'm sure a lot of fans went into theaters expecting a Superbad redux and never fully recovered when that didn't happen. That's a shame really, because the film is a rather understated comedy that's largely true to life. Adventureland's 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer is a bit of a disappointment. Grain is thick and persistent, noise undermines the integrity of nearly every nighttime scene, mild crushing affects the darkest portions of the image and errant print specks pop up throughout the film. However, given its period setting and Mottola's visual aesthetic, one can't assume the transfer doesn't represent the director's vision. Detail has the crisp textures and natural edges one expects from a high-quality high definition presentation. Colors are washed out and contrast is somewhat hot. fortunately, digital anomalies are nowhere to be found. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack does a good job in creating an ambient atmosphere, except when it comes to the movie's softly spoken dialogue. Most of the dialogue seems too quiet and you may find yourself having to turn up your system to hear what the characters are saying. However, the rear speakers make the amusement park come to life with the sounds of bells, whistles, and roller coasters going on around you. The subwoofer is silent for most of the movie, only kicking in during some of the 80s songs that are featured throughout. Since this is a dialogue heavy film, it's surprising Disney/Buena/Vista didn't pay more attention to that aspect of things when putting together the audio mix. The Blu-ray edition of Adventureland includes all of the supplemental content that appears on the standard DVD, a variety of exclusive features and a Digital Copy for viewing on portable devices. • Audio Commentary: Writer/director Greg Mottola and actor Jesse Eisenberg deliver a low-key commentary that's rather funny. Sarcasm abounds, but the two share plenty of production details, on-set anecdotes, and information about the film's tone, music, and casting. • Just My Life (SD, 17 minutes): This behind-the-scenes featurette explores the genesis of the project, Mottola's use of real life experience in his screenplay and the actors' contributions to the film. • Welcome to Adventureland (SD, 5 minutes): Four amusing VHS-quality commercials, promos and employee orientation videos for Adventureland. (BD Exclusive) • Frigo's Ball Taps (HD, 3 minutes): A look at the many methods someone can use to deliver a crushing blow to another person's manhood. (BD Exclusive) • Deleted Scenes (HD, 2 minutes): Three deleted scenes titled "Drunk Mom in Office," "Angry Grandfather," and "James Keeps Quiet." Optional commentary bits with Mottola and Eisenberg are available as well. • Lisa P's Guide to Style (HD, 2 minutes): Actress Margarita Levieva hosts this in-character overview of '80s fashion. Skip this one. (BD Exclusive) • Song Selection: With this easy to use menu, music fans can skip to specific scenes that feature their favorite '80s songs. • Digital Copy Disc

Blu-ray Review: I Love You, Man

2009-08-25T14:52:40Z

Once in awhile, along comes a genuinely stupid movie that's just too funny to hate. You know the kind; dumb premise, little plot but along the way they provide so many laughs, you can't help but enjoy them. Further, to your astonishment, what you thought seemed like a terrible film at first, turns out to be one of the best comedies you've seen in a long time. Confusing I know, but that was my experience with I Love You, Man. For some reason, the trailers I'd seen in the theaters didn't appeal to me, so I never went to see it. As a result, I popped the blu-ray into my player not expecting much but hoping for something bearable. What I got was an original story and lots of laughs.]]> After years of being the ultimate boyfriend, Real estate agent Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) has finally decided to tie the knot with his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones). Engaged and preparing for the day, everything's going well until they both realize Peter doesn't really have any guy friends. Every guy needs someone to talk about impending marriage stuff with and most important, he needs a best man. With help from his brother Robbie (Andy Samberg), Peter goes out on a series of "dates" in an effort to find himself a BFF, a guy who can anchor what he hopes will become a stable of male friends. Leaving no stone unturned, he tries various methods to meet possible BFF's; including blind dates and online dating, but each candidate doesn't quite pass muster. Peter's search for a "bromance," is a premise that is inherently funny. Director John Hamburg (who also wrote the screenplay with Larry Levin), let's the obvious things in this somewhat awkward situation provide the humor, rather than forcing it. It's the little things that make I Love You, Man work so well--the pressure of striking up a conversation, the blind dates gone wrong, and that nervous first phone call--all magnified a hundred fold because of the "bromance" twist. The film delivers a hilarious montage of sorts where Peter goes out on several "blind dates," finding himself with a man his own age that takes their "dinner date" the wrong way; taking in a soccer game with an L.A. Galaxy fan that lives and breathes the sport; and an elderly gentlemen who fooled Peter into thinking they were the same age by posting a decades-old photo of himself on the Internet. All the while, Peter is trying to work up the courage to start his first "real" friendship with a guy. While showing Lou Ferrigno's (as himself) house, Peter meets Sydney Fife (Jason Segel). Though the two couldn't be more different--Peter is shy and reserved, Sydney is loud bordering on obnoxious, while Peter lacks self confidence, Sydney has it oozing out of every pore--the two get along great. So well in fact, Peter's new friendship with Syndey threatens his impending marriage. Paul Rudd and Jason Segel work very well together. They have a good chemistry and a sense of comic timing that allows them to get the most out of every scene without feeling forced. Also featuring solid performances from J.K. Simmons (possibly one of the most underrated actors working today) and Andy Samberg, I Love You, Man is a solid comedy with an interesting twist. I Love You, Man arrives on Blu-ray with a solid 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer. The color palette features an array of hues, each looking rather good. Fine detail is above-average; the many office supplies and furnishings found in Paul's workplace, or the many knickknacks scattered about Sydney's man cave, appear with a suitably high level of clarity and texture that tend to bring nearly every scene to life. Clothing always appears well-rendered in most every scene. The image remains consistently sharp with no one scene appearing abundantly soft, and a fair sense of depth is present throughout. Grain isn't at all intrusive, and the image as a whole takes on a rather nice film-like appearance. While not one of the best transfers on the market, Paramount has done a good job here. Audio is provided by a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This provides a predominantly front-heavy sound field that sets the stage in every scene but never really comes to life anymore than is required of it. The track's pair of primary sounds--dialogue and music--are both delivered with a clear and lifelike presentation. What little ambiance there is, plays across the front with very little back channel support. This soundtrack delivers the basics and nothing more. I Love You, Man offers up a rather typical slate of special of special features: • Audio Commentary with Director John Hamburg and Actors Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. The group talks about various aspects of making the film; locations, working with friends, test audience reactions, etc. While the participants are very likable, there's nothing earth shattering here. • The Making of I Love You, Man (1080p, 17:29) is a typical EPK, that briefly examines the script, the assemblage of the cast, the film's story and themes, the creation behind one of the film's special effects, sets, the work of bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno in the film, etc. • Extras (22:25) is a collection of cut-from-the-film moments of improv dialogue for nine different scenes. • Extended Scenes (1080p, 12:39) there are six in all. • Deleted Scenes (1080p, 3:18) there are three in all. • Gag Reel (11:25) Typical hijinks. • Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:49) this is this films red band trailer.

Blu-ray Review: The Informers

2009-08-23T05:39:35Z

Like much of his writing, Bret Easton Ellis' 1994 book The Informers, is a collection of loosely connected vignettes about unsupervised, unmotivated wealthy teens. In this case, it's 1983 Los Angeles; the money and drugs are flowing. Everyone is having sex (both heterosexual and homosexual), with whomever they please. Knee deep in early eighties kitsch, the film is awash in Ray-Bans, Calvin Klein, shoulder pads and bad blonde highlights. Things begin at a trendy L.A, house party, where a gaggle of pretty people are indulging in casual drugs and casual sex. Within minutes, we see someone get hit by a car and die.]]> Ordinarily, a terrible incident like this would be the spark for the storyline. However, since The Informers has no real discernable plot, the death simply serves as a vehicle to introduce several of the main players in this mess. A major focus of the story is Graham (Jon Foster). Good looking and drug addled, he begins to reexamine his life, between parties and assorted drug binges. He realizes he loves his girlfriend Christie (Amber Heard) however; this revelation causes issues because she sometimes sleeps with Graham's best friend Martin (Austin Nichols) and Graham sometimes sleeps with Martin. Okay, so it's a stretch to say Graham reexamines his life... Meanwhile, Graham's father William Sloan (Billy Bob Thornton) a studio executive, is hoping to get repair his marriage and family. He and his wife Laura (Kim Basinger) split up after he began a torrid affair with a young newscaster (Winona Ryder). Completely devastated, his wife began popping pills and engaged in her own steamy affair with Graham's friend, Martin. Despite his desire to get to know his family again, William is unable to forget the newscaster, his wife has been largely destroyed by pills and drink and his kids despise him. Martin is a video director (and prostitute), whose working on a project with British rocker Bryan Metro (Mel Raido), who looks sort of like a washed up Billy Idol. He's come to Los Angeles with the vague feeling he's lived there before and the desire to sleep with as many teenage boys and girls as possible. In his rare moments of lucidity, he desperately calls his ex-wife on the phone in an effort to talk to his son. But wait! There's one more group of pretty people. Graham, Martin, and Christie have a friend--the only friend none of them have sex with, apparently--named Tim (Lou Taylor Pucci), who is being dragged on a Hawaiian vacation with his philandering jerk of a father, Les (Chris Isaak). Do you care, anymore? At the same time, Jack, the doorman at Christie's apartment (Brad Renfro) has his own set of problems. His uncle Peter (Mickey Rourke) shows up unannounced with an underage girl in tow. Peter has a troublesome plan to pay off some gambling debts--kidnap a kid and sell him for a few thousand dollars. Jack's only connection to the rich people is that they occasionally say hello to him, as they glide through the lobby of the building. Even though his character is sadly underdeveloped, Renfro manages to give the strongest performance in the film, despite limited screen time. From what I've read, the film--whose screenplay was whose screenplay was co-written, with Nicholas Jarecki, by Ellis himself--was originally supposed to be a satire of the eighties excesses. There was even a subplot with Brandon Routh as a vampire! Apparently, the script was originally 150 pages and it was cut down to 94, before film began. The production changed directors early on, too, with Jarecki replaced by Gregor Jordan (Buffalo Soldiers), who evidently did not share Jarecki and Ellis' vision. Perhaps the actors were embarrassed by Jordan's interpretation of the material, because there are several fine actors and actors involved here and all of them look like they phoned in their work. As it is, The Informers is pointless and boring. If you want to see a good Bret Easton Ellis adaptation, buy a copy of American Psycho and leave The Informers in the bargain bin, where it belongs. The Informers comes to Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer framed in its original 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The look is rather drab, often bathed in shadows, dark grays, blues, and blacks, and with many dark colored backgrounds that reinforce the depressing tone of the film. Some of the brightest exterior scenes tend to be the best looking moments of the film. Fine detail is solid throughout but won't overly impress longtime Blu-ray viewers; everything from faces to background objects look fine but nothing pops out. Black levels are good and flesh tones remain a natural shade. The Informers sports a light layer of grain. The print is free of any noticeable debris. The Informers sports a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. While it does a fine job, nothing about the presentation will blow viewers away. The Informers is primarily a dialogue-driven motion picture and the dialogue is delivered crisply and clearly. There's a fairly good sense of atmosphere and space to be found throughout. The fairly subdued score is delivered about as well as one might expect, each note playing with a solid clarity The Informers' lossless soundtrack serves the movie well enough. The Informers offers just a couple fairly standard special features: • An Audio Commentary with Director Gregor Jordan and Actors Jon Foster and Lou Taylor Pucci: They spend a lot of time discussing changes to the original script and how that changed their approach to the film. • Human Intersections: Making The Informers (1080i, 15:26) features cast and crew speaking on several subjects, including Bret Easton Ellis' body of work, translating the novel to the screen, the film's themes, its performances and more. • BD-Live functionality.

DVD Review: The Tiger's Tail

2009-08-21T18:44:33Z

The fable of catching a tiger by the tail only to be bitten back serves as a wry allegory for the modern day booming economy of Ireland, dubbed the Celtic tiger, in John Boorman's The Tiger's Tail. A modern retelling of The Prince and The Pauper, the film centers on Liam O'Leary (Brendan Gleeson) a millionaire property developer who has his once perfect life taken over by a doppelganger. O'Leary becomes obsessed with finding out who the intruder is, as the double raids his bank account, moves into his home and takes his place in bed with his wife (Kim Cattrall). Now the pauper to the imposter's prince, O'Leary is forced to revaluate his life.]]> While The Tiger's Tail has an interesting premise, unfortunately, it's exceedingly boring. Slow and plodding, writer/director John Boorman has infused the story with too many unrelated threads. What could have been an intriguing character study or an interesting exploration of the desire to become some else and a look at a man's re-examination of his purpose in life, is instead muddled in an awkward plot. It's really too bad the script isn't a stronger one, because Brendan Gleeson gives a very strong performance. As both Liam and the imposter, he seethes with an unmistakable anger; It's clear that the intent of The Tiger's Tail was to point a finger at a society that has allowed such a huge gulf to exist between the haves and have nots. Gleason tries hard to bring the point home, even as the script crumbles under the weight of it all. The Tiger's Tail has one big fault even Brendan Gleeson's solid work can't fix. Boorman never gives the audience a solid reason for the doppelgangers existence. Yes, he's down on his luck, while Liam is rich and blessed with a gorgeous wife. However, those reasons don't account for the venom with which the double goes after him. It's clearly very personal. Even after the identity of the double is revealed to be someone in his family, it's not very convincing because Liam didn't even realize he existed. While I can't say The Tiger's Tail is an out-an-out terrible movie, it's not one particularly worth seeing. While Boorman clearly had some good intentions with this film, the message of the wide gulf between the haves and have nots gets buried under the weight of a very clunky script. Since I was sent a screener on a DVD-R, I don't feel like I can fairly evaluate the audio and video. Commercially sold copies are presented in widescreen, with with English 5.1 Dolby Surround and English and Spanish subtitles. There are no special features.

DVD Review: Delgo

2009-08-20T22:00:54Z

I was curious about Delgo when I saw it included voice work by the legendary Anne Bancroft who passed away back in 2005. Upon doing some research about the movie, I found out that the independently produced animated film took over eight years to reach movie screens. Fathom Studios began development on Delgo in 1999; animation work began in 2001. In 2004, there was a spate of articles claiming the film was due out in the spring of 2005. Obviously, that didn't happen. I wish I could say that all those years of work resulted in a fabulous film but Delgo is just a CGI fantasy squarely stuck in mediocrity.]]> Romeo & Juliet. Eventually, Delgo and his friend Filo (Chris Kattan, obviously brought in for comic relief), are jailed. They eventually escape with an individual named General Bogardus (Val Kilmer) but they're too late to prevent an all out war. Malcolm McDowell is a traitor; Michael Clarke Duncan plays Delgo's surrogate father. Despite the amazing voice talent, which includes Burt Reynolds in a part that gets about a minutes worth of screen time, the story is so overwhelming dull you'll be lucky if you even care what happens to young Delgo by the end of it all. While first time filmmakers Mark F. Adler and Jason Maurer deserve kudos for creating this entire project on their own, with private money and their own creativity, the animation looks like stuff that wasn't even cutting edge in 1999, the year they began developing this project. The best thing about Delgo is the voice work of the late, great Anne Bancroft, who makes for a sultry villainess. I was sent a DVD-R screener copy of the film, so I can't honestly evaluate the video quality. I can tell you that commercial copies will be available in widescreen color presented at the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, which is enhanced for 16:9 TVs. The audio is available in either English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound, Spanish Dolby Digital Surround sound, or French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound. There are subtitles available in English and French as well. There are a few fairly meaningless special features: • Audio Commentary with directors Marc F. Adler and Jason Mauer, along with visual effects supervisor, Warren Grubb. Surprisingly dry and uninteresting. • "Behind the Scenes" featurette (4 minutes) Standard EPK stuff; cast and crew chat up the film. • "Sounds of Delgo" featurette (5 minutes) Just what the titles, says, nothing much here. • "Meet the Characters Profile" A series of brief biographies on each of the characters. • "See the Creatures" See above. • Deleted Scenes (13 minutes) There are six in all. • Animated Short: Chroma Chamelon (5 minutes) It's about dancing geckos!

Blu-ray Review: Hannah Montana - The Movie

2009-08-19T18:01:21Z

Hannah Montana: The Movie, is another vehicle for Disney, Miley Cyrus and the others involved in the franchise to cash in on the "Hannah" phenomenon. The first big screen film for the pop teen superstar after the big, unexpected success of her 3-D concert film last year, Hannah Montana: The Movie is pure Disney fluff from beginning to end. Filled with music, slapstick and a bit of G-rated teen angst, this big screen adventure is everything fans have come to expect from their teenager by day, pop star by night, hero. While those not swept up in "Hannah Mania" will recognize this film as strictly assembly line fare, it's hard not to Marvel at Disney's ongoing ability to get the most out of its popular franchises; It seems no studio does it better.]]> After having a catfight with former supermodel Tyra Banks, missing her brother's (Jason Earles) college send off and inadvertently ruining her best friend Lily's (Emily Osment) birthday party, Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) has some decisions to make. With her double life as Miley Stewart, teenager and Hannah Montana pop star causing chaos, her father, Robby Ray Stewart (Billy Ray Cyrus) decides to take her on a little vacation. With that, they go off to their hometown of Crowley, Tennessee, a place that looks like it was ripped out of an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. While there, Miley reconnects with an old friend named Travis (Lucas Till), dodges a tenacious photographer (Peter Gunn) trying to uncover Hannah Montana's secret identity, and agrees to help the town save a stretch of land from greedy developers by putting on a concert, of course. Anyone who believes Miley/Hannah is going to do some deep soul searching is in for a surprise. Without revealing exactly what happens, I will say the way Miley deals with her identity crisis is strange and her fans reaction to it is stranger still. Some adults will likely find themselves questioning Disney's and the screenwriter's decision to send such a mixed message to young girls. Messages aside, Hannah Montana: The Movie is predictable from begin to end. Fans will enjoy the slapstick sequences and of course, the music. Songs abound; if they're not performed, you'll hear them in the background. Two standout and rank as the film's best moments: Miley's surprisingly tender, "The Climb," and the father-daughter duet, "Butterfly Fly Away," the best number in the movie. Director Peter Chelsom does film the movie's big production number "Hoedown Throwdown" with some interesting camera work, and there's some intriguing concert-to-music video segues with "Best of Both Worlds" though the tune itself isn't especially notable. Hannah Montana: The Movie is squarely aimed at the pre-teen girls that already make up the franchises fanbase. Miley Cyrus and company have been playing their roles since 2006 and know them well. Smartly, Disney decided to bring their adventures from the little screen to the big screen and rode it all the way to the bank. Hannah Montana: The Movie features a solid 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that renders the vibrant primaries of Hannah's world and the earthy hues of Miley's hometown with ease. Skintones are lifelike, black levels are very good, delineation is revealing and contrast, while dull on occasion, is relatively strong. Detail is surprisingly strong. Textures are crisp and refined, definition is sharp and natural. The transfer is clean as a whistle; noise reduction, edge enhancement and artifacting, are M.I.A. Fans (and parents), will likely be surprised at the quality of this transfer. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track is solid, if not spectacular. Dialogue is perfectly intelligible and well prioritized. Effects -- while anchored to the front of the soundfield throughout the majority of the film -- are full and clear. Every musical performance takes full advantage of the multi-channel presentation. The mix does a fine job creating the illusion of a crowded outdoor show during Miley/Hannah's climactic third-act performance. While far from reference quality, fans will be overjoyed. The Blu-ray edition of Hannah Montana: The Movie retains all of the supplemental content that appears on the Deluxe Edition DVD, adds a few exclusives and includes both a standard DVD and Digital Copy of the film. • Audio Commentary: The film's director Peter Chelsom, provides an informative commentary about the production, as well as his casting decisions, the storylines and subplots, and his actors' performances. • Backstage Disney (HD, 54 minutes): These segments are clearly aimed at younger viewers. "The Hoedown Throwdown Home Experience" (a twenty-five minute, two-part Blu-ray exclusive) gives members of the cast and crew a chance to discuss the film's dance choreography, "Find Your Way Back Home" finds the actors introducing their own home towns and "I Should Have Gone to Film School" provides a behind-the-scenes tour of the production. • Deleted Scenes (HD, 11 minutes): Director Peter Chelsom introduces four deleted scenes, discussing the reasons they were cut and explaining how pleased he was to retain most of the scenes he shot for the final film. • Music Videos (HD, 27 minutes): There are seven music videos in all (six of which are Blu-ray exclusives) including Billy Ray Cyrus' "Back to Tennessee," Hannah Montana's "You'll Always Find Your Way Home" and "Let's Get Crazy," Rascal Flatts "Bless the Broken Road," Taylor Swift's "Crazier," and two performances of Miley Cyrus' "The Climb." • Outtakes (HD, 4 minutes): A small collection of bloopers. • BD-Live Functionality: Connect with family and friends while watching the film, download additional content and more.

DVD Review: Husbands

2009-08-19T02:11:25Z

John Cassavetes was never interested in being a part of the Hollywood system. His first directorial effort, 1959's Shadows, is considered by many to be an integral piece in the birth of American independent cinema. Shot with a handheld 16mm camera on the streets of New York City, much of the dialogue was improvised, and the crew was class members from his method acting class, or volunteers. His stated purpose was to make a film about little people, different from Hollywood studio productions. That goal was something Cassavetes seemed to strive for each time he stepped behind the camera; always in search of the human soul and emotional truth, there's no denying that he always brought something original to the table.]]> Husbands is one of those films that was either hailed or dismissed by critics. Starring two actors Cassavetes greatly admired, Ben Gazzara and Peter Falk, the film has a minimal plot. Gus, Harry, and Archie (Cassavetes, Gazzara and Falk, respectively) are three husbands with families in suburban New York. All are respected professionals. As the film begins, they are shaken when their best friend suddenly dies of a heart attack. Though Cassavetes had written an entire script, he encouraged the actors to take scenes wherever the emotions led them. This directive left cinematographer Victor Kemper (Dog Day Afternoon), in a constant race to capture the unexpected turn of events for the camera but it gives the film a feeling of raw emotional energy, it would have otherwise lacked. Focus and lighting are amazingly well done throughout. Admittedly, it's not unusual for a street shot of three leads to play out entirely in soft focus. Husbands is the story of a mid-life crisis brought on by the unexpected death of a friend. Instead of going home to their families, Gus, Harry and Archie spend two days acting like boys; they play basketball, sleep in subways and drink copious amounts of alcohol. Confronted by his disapproving wife upon his return home, Harry grabs his passport and decides to fly to London. Feeling a sense a sense of solidarity after their two days together, Gus and Archie decide to go along. Once they arrive in London, the trio go gambling and pick up three unlikely women as companions for the evening. Gus pairs off with Mary Tynan (Jenny Runacre), Archie with Julie (Noelle Kao), a young Asian woman who cannot speak English, and Harry pairs with Pearl Billingham (Jenny Lee Wright). Each mans 'relationship' leads to a series of mixed emotions that reveals more about their emotional stability and family lives. In true Cassavetes fashion, the director looks for the emotional core of the men in every scene; making it clear that these are people desperate to be understood. More surprisingly, Cassavetes gives the female characters a real depth, exploring who and what they are. At first glance, Harry's wife may appear to be a shrew. Upon further exploration, it's clear that she is terrified; terrified of losing her husband, perhaps her identity. Cassavetes shows the London hookers, carefully sizing up perspective clients. Viewers disinterested in dissecting the emotional well being of middle-aged American men best stay away from Husbands. Cassavetes doesn't strive to make the viewer feel better about his characters by the films end; instead, you may go away thinking they're three rather infantile individuals who don't deserve a lick of your sympathy. Whatever the case, Husbands is a powerful document of the male midlife crisis and the realization that man isn't invincible. Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Husbands looks remarkably good for a fairly low budget film made back in 1970. While the colors occasionally looked washed out, graininess is rarely an issue. The audio is presented in a solid Dolby Digital 2.0 mix and all the dialogue is clearly understandable. Presented in English, subtitles are available in English. Husbands includes the following special features: • A Commentary by Marshall Fine: The Cassavetes biographer discuses how the film was financed made and constructed. Fine knows a lot about the director and shares a treasure trove of information here. Though his occasionally fast delivery can seem overwhelming at times, anyone wanting to learn about Cassavetes style of filmmaking will want to give this a listen. • The Story of Husbands: A Tribute to John Cassavetes: Star Ben Gazarra and cinematographer Victor Kemper give their thoughts on the director. Both clearly enjoyed working with Cassavetes and they discuss the challenges involved in completing the film.

Blu-ray Review: 17 Again

2009-08-17T15:21:16Z

Zac Efron is everywhere these days. As the biggest star of the High School Musical franchise, Efron is the latest young Disney star to position himself for a shot at more than pre-teen superstardom. Yes, he's still gracing the cover of Bop, Tiger Beat and Cosmo Girl among others but at age 21, he may be getting a little old for strictly teeny bopper fare. That being said, in April of this year, Efron starred with Friends alum Matthew Perry in 17 Again. The film did a more than respectable $127,870,187 at the box office despite its rather formulaic and predictable storyline. Right now, the buzz saw that is Zac Efron seems unstoppable.]]> It's 1989; High school senior Mike McDonnell is living a pretty charmed life. With a basketball championship all but in the bag, he's expecting a basketball scholarship to a major university. However, things change overnight, when his girlfriend Scarlett (Allison Miller), announces she's pregnant. After making an impulsive marriage proposal and walking away from his dreams of college and basketball stardom. It's 2009; Mike McDonnell (now played as an adult by Matthew Perry), isn't living a charmed life. Stuck in a dead end job, his boss has passed him over for a promotion, his wife Scarlett (played as an adult by Leslie Mann), has kicked him out of the house and his two teenage kids don't want anything to do with him. Mike starts to think he could make it all work out, if only he had the chance to go back and do it all over again. Right on cue, a high school janitor (Brian Doyle-Murray), appears as a "spirit guide" and Mike is seventeen again. However, it's not 1989 again. It's still 2009. It's just that Mike is seventeen, with a thirty-seven-year-olds mind and memory. What to do? He enlists the help of his best friend, whom he's known since childhood, Ned Gold (Thomas Lennon), a nerdy fanboy who became super rich in the software business. Ned's still a fanboy, living alone, playing video games, and immersing himself in everything fantastical. He's a hard-core Star Wars and Lord of the Rings fan, and everything about him and in his house reflects it. Lennon's character is the best part about 17 Again and his performance easily overshadows the performances of Zac Efron and the rest of the cast. 17 Again also offers some supporting performances. Comedian Jim Gaffigan is a sullen basketball coach and The Office's Melora Hardin appears as an icy school principal (that earns Lennon's affections). Despite the fact that the film is full of clichés and overused genre developments, it's hard to deny that 17 Again possesses a certain charm. Unfortunately, Zac Efron's one note portrayal dampens the efforts of Thomas Lennon, Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann and the others; in all honesty, Sterling Knight, who plays Mike's teenage son Alex, has a much better sense of comic timing and manages to steal entire scenes from the High School Musical star. Blessed with some humorous moments and a memorable performance from Thomas Lennon, 17 Again is innocuous and fun. While not exactly laugh out loud funny, this Zac Efron offering will likely provide some smiles for the whole family. 17 Again arrives on Blu-ray with an attractive 1080p/VC-1 encode. The film's palette, while brushed with mild bronze hues, is warm and vibrant, skintones are natural and black levels are rich and fully-resolved. Contrast is lively and consistent, giving the image a good sense of depth and dimensionality. Detail is striking as well: object definition is crisp, texture clarity is sharp and satisfying, and shadow delineation is revealing. Some noticeable edge enhancement hampers the overall presentation a bit, but ringing is the only technical blight that rears its head. Artifacting, banding, source noise, aliasing, and DNR are nowhere to be found and the picture boasts a clean, almost enchanting disposition from start to finish. Warner's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track is pretty solid. While it runs through all the expected motions any time conversations dominate the soundscape, it offers up plenty of unexpected sonic punch. The janitor's fountain of youth roars into existence, Ned's chaotic battle with a newly shrunken Mike is engaging, basketball games are immersive, and a reckless party thumps with LFE prowess. Rear speaker activity draws the soundfield around the listener more often than not, and dialogue is able-bodied and nicely prioritized. Directionality is a tad sporadic -- interior acoustics aren't always consistent, particularly in the halls of Mike's school -- but pans are transparent and dynamics range from decent to involving. There are some special features: First, we have the extras on the Blu-ray disc, all of them exclusive to Blu-ray and most of them in high definition. There's "Zac Goes Back" (HD), a twelve-minute featurette with the filmmakers commenting on the movie's themes; "Going Back to 17" (HD), a three-minute featurette with more of the same; "Breakin' Character Outtakes" (HD), three minutes; "Zac's Dance Flashback" (HD), two minutes, a cut scene in rehearsal; a "Tell-All Trivia Track" with pop-up bits of trivia and gossip throughout the movie; and thirteen additional scenes in standard definition, totaling about sixteen minutes. Next up are the BD-Live features, requiring that you have your Blu-ray player connected to the Internet. These features include a commentary by star Zac Efron; a featurette, "Tom Lennon and Melora Hardin: Unfiltered"; and another featurette, "Zac Attacks," a battle with medieval sci-fi weapons between the movie's best friends, Mike and Ned. A second disc contains a digital copy of the film, compatible with iTunes and Windows Media devices; a regular, standard-definition DVD copy of the film.

Blu-ray Review: Dexter - The Third Season

2009-08-12T20:27:55Z

With three seasons in the books, Dexter remains one of the most intriguing television programs on the air. Michael C. Hall continued his skilled portrayal of the title character as the series writers and producer's brought in characters and created twists and turns that left fans of the show clamoring for the new season. In Assistant District Attorney Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits), Dexter is given a protégé, a best friend, and a nemesis. Miguel's introduction forces Dexter to further explore his innermost feelings as the introduction of both a friend and a rival causes all sorts of unexpected emotional turmoil. Though only twelve episodes, the third season of Dexter continues to effectively explore Dexter's longing for a place in the real world as he deals with his need to kill.]]> Dexter seems to be back on solid ground after narrowly escaping identification as the "Bay Harbor Butcher" at the end of season two. However, he soon finds himself in hot water after he accidently kills the wrong man. Botched in his attempt to get rid of a murderous drug dealer named Freebo (Mike Erwin), he accidentally kills Oscar Prado (Nick Hermz), the brother of Assistant District Attorney Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits), who was at the dealer's house buying drugs. Dexter frames Freebo for Oscar's murder and later kills him in his usual methodical fashion. When Miguel walks in on Dexter finishing the job, he is surprised to find the Assistant District Attorney accepting and rather excited by the whole thing. Dumbfounded, when Prado asks Dexter to teach him his methods, our favorite serial killer finds himself with a friend. Dexter agrees, and in one of the season's strongest episodes, "The Damage a Man Can Do," Dexter allows Miguel to kill a gambler who kills people to pay off his debts. Dexter is further shocked to learn that his girlfriend Rita (Julie Benz), is pregnant. As if that wasn't enough, the area has a new serial killer on the loose, referred to as the as "The Skinner," because of his sadistic practice of methodically removing increasingly larger patches of skin from his victims. While Dexter's sister Deb (Jennifer Carpenter), tries to stay hot on the trail of "The Skinner," she also falls for her guitar-playing CI (David Ramsey). Predictably, Dexter's friendship with Miguel ends, when Dexter learns that he has been killing behind his back. Miguel kills rival attorney Ellen Wolf (Anne Ramsey) with no regard for the code Dexter has taught him. This betrayal leads to a murderous finale and Dexter's realization he'll likely never be able to fully embrace the ordinary. The chemistry between Hall and Smits is wonderful; running hot and cold at the appropriate moments. I'll be surprised if Jimmy Smits doesn't find his name on the list of Emmy nominees for his work here. David Zayas, C.S. Lee, and Lauren Vélez continue to deliver solid, detailed performances while Desmond Harrington, as Deb's new partner, offers some welcome intrigue to the proceedings. The show is broadcast on Showtime in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio at 1080i, and these 1080p transfers using the AVC codec remain true to the framing of the series. As with previous Blu-ray releases of the series, Paramount has delivered a polished transfer. Once again, reds are particularly vivid and skin tones are natural looking. Black levels remain rich and inky, depth is consistently convincing, and detail rarely suffers. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track is robust and delivers every sound with unmistakable authority. While the soundfield could definitely do more with the rear speakers, dialogue is crisp and the musical soundtrack comes through loud and clear. In order to take advantage of the special features, one must have a BD-Live enabled player connected to the internet. Apparently, these features are not going to be available until the BD is released on August 18, 2009, so I wasn't able to look them over before writing this review. However, BD-Live enabled players are supposed to be able to access the following: • Interviews with Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Lauren Velez, and David Zayas. • Excerpts from the book Dexter By Design • Two episodes from Season Three of The Tudors

Blu-ray Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Film Collection

2009-08-12T03:18:56Z

From the late 1980's through the early 1990's, it seemed like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were everywhere--from toys to food to clothes, if the Turtles likeness could be put on it, you can bet it was. One of the most successful endeavors during the Turtle craze was a series of movies, which Warner Bros. has recently released on blu-ray in a box set. Given the comic books, animated series, the late '90s live-action TV show, Japanese OVAs, animated spin-offs, Fox Network rebirths, and the many multi-platform video games that have appeared over the years, it's impossible to deny that the Ninja Turtles have a devoted fanbase, one that will be more than happy to finally see these films in the high definition format.]]> Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Released in 1990, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles closely follows the storyline from the comic books. When a crime wave hits New York and a Channel 3 news reporter named April O'Neil (Judith Hoag) is kidnapped in the process, four high-kicking vigilantes emerge from the sewers of the city to try and determine the source of the crime. However, these vigilantes aren't your typical heroes; they're giant, mutant turtles whose adoptive father, a mutated rat named Splinter (voiced by Kevin Clash), has trained them in the ways of the ninja. There's Michelangelo (Michelan Sisti and voice actor Robbie Rist), the youngest of the turtles; a natural athlete, he uses a nunchaku as his weapon of choice, sai-slinging hothead Raphael (Josh Pais), bo-staff-swinging intellectual Donatello (Lief Tilden and voice actor Corey Feldman), and their katana wielding leader Leonardo (David Forman and voice actor Brian Tochi). Together with a an ex-hockey player turned vigilante named Casey Jones (Elias Kotas) and assistance from April, the Turtles try and stop a Japanese warlord known as the Shredder (James Saito and voice actor David McCharen) from building a crime empire. To accomplish this, our heroes have to deal with the Shredder's Foot Clan and a group of corrupted, ninja trained teenagers; all the while, keeping their identity a secret. Aside from some outdated pop culture references, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles holds up surprisingly well. The story was much darker than I remembered and may appeal to the kids of today. The film was made in the days before today's widely used CG, so the heavy costumes worn by the performers causes some clunky movements, somewhat fake looking punches and crudely choreographed scenes. Despite those flaws, the screenplay by Todd W. Langen and Bobby Herbeck allows each of the Turtles distinct personalities to shine through. Further, director Steve Baron's (Coneheads) decision to fill the Foot with disaffected teens does tend to lessen the Clan's effectiveness but nonetheless, the film still remains solid entertainment. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze Released in 1991, The Secret of the Ooze has the unfortunate distinction of being the acting debut of rapper Vanilla Ice and "The Ninja Wrap." Lacking the story development of its predecessor, much of Ooze feels like blatant cash grab. After defeating the Clan and sending the Shredder to an early grave (or so they think), Splinter and the Turtles have moved in with April (now played by Paige Turco). However, little do they know, the Shredder (François Chau and returning voice actor David McCharen) has somehow risen from the dead. He has kidnapped a scientist named Jordan Perry (David Warner), who has been recruited to help the Shredder take another shot at capturing New York. Music video aficionado Steve Baron was replaced by TV veteran Michael Pressman in the director's chair. While a cameo by Vanilla Ice was a major coup at the time, the film itself plays out like a big budget rehash of its predecessor without much thought to the script. While the first film had a budget of roughly $13 million, Secret of the Ooze came in at $25 million. It's almost as if executives just told Pressman to make everything bigger and brighter in the belief that this approach would result in major box office success. Despite the films undeniable weaknesses, Secret of the Ooze will likely appeal to those who grew up as fans of the Turtles. There are plenty of pop culture references and the sight of the Turtles on stage with Vanilla Ice will likely make you wonder how that guy got famous. However, I doubt Secret of the Ooze will have much of a replay value, except among the Turtles most ardent fans. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Turtles in Time Released in 1993, Turtles in Time is by far the worst film in the Turtle cannon. With the New York City location played out, our heroes head to Japan. Their friend April has been transported to 17th century Japan via a magical scepter and the Turtles decide to follow her, along with their new time traveling friend, Kenshin (Henry Hayashi). The turtles are shocked to learn that they are appreciated and respected in feudal Japan, unlike 20th century New York City where they must hide underground to avoid being targets of human xenophobia. While the action sequences are a bit more exciting this time and the story flows better, by this time the Turtle franchise seemed to be played out. To be frank, everything about this film looks cheap--the costumes, the sets and the general production values. One doesn't have to look very hard to tell that Turtles in Time was shot on a cheesy Hollywood backlot set, nowhere near Japan. The script and the acting in this one are so bad that the executives in charge of this production undoubtedly understood this was the Turtles last live action, big screen, hurrah. TMNT Released in 2007, TMNT was the first Turtles film made with CGI and likely represented the first time Leonardo (voiced by James Arnold Taylor), Donatello (Mitchell Whitfield) , Raphael (Nolan North) and Michelangelo (Mikey Kelley) could really show off what they could do. The CGI allows the filmmakers to mix the humorous tone established by the earlier films with some excellent action scenes that the bulky costumes of previous outings couldn't accommodate. The story concerns a warlord (Patrick Stewart) who resurrects four stone warriors from his past, hires what remains of the Foot Clan and sends them out to capture thirteen monsters. Helping the turtle's is our favorite high-sticking vigilante, Casey Jones (Chris Evans) and ex-reporter April O'Neil (Sarah Michelle Gellar). While April has abandoned investigative journalism in favor of tomb raiding and martial arts training, each character has been refined for their 21st century theatrical debut, retaining key traits established in the three previous films but getting some welcome tweaks. Munroe's voice actors have been well cast. They fit their characters well, sound like their enjoying themselves and capture the essence of each turtle. I'm sure major Turtle fans will be more than happy to finally experience TMNT in high definition. Presented in their original aspect ratios (1.85:1 for the first three films, 2.35:1 for the fourth) and enhanced for 16x9 displays, these transfers are far from reference quality. While they are an improvement over any of their previous DVD incarnations, none of these 1080p transfers appear to have undergone a major remastering. The first and second film's darker palettes appear accurate, image detail is fair and black levels look consistent. However, you will notice more dirt and grain than one generally likes to see on a blu-ray. One might have expected New Line to do a more extensive clean up job on this set. Presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound mixes, you're not likely to find these films sounding any better. The first three films sound like they've been remixed completely. Dialogue is clear and crisp in these lossless presentations but what really impresses are the disc's use of surrounds. With surprisingly dynamic range, these films show off their 5.1 sound mixes. English and French Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes are also included, as are English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. This set doesn't come with much in the way of special features. The first three movies only include standard definition theatrical trailers, and TMNT limps comes with the same unimpressive special features that appeared on its original 2007 release (an exceedingly dull director's commentary, five minutes of deleted and alternate scenes, and seven minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes, all in standard definition). I don't ordinarily talk about packaging unless it's noteworthy; in this case, it's not in a good way. Designed to resemble a cardboard pizza box, the packaging is cheap. It houses all four discs (printed to look like pizzas), an envelope with eight collectible character cards, a signed Kevin Eastman sketch (It's a print and a copied signature), a black-and-white graphic novel adaptation of the first film, and a high-quality (albeit kid-sized) black beanie boasting the Ninja Turtle logo. Further, the box tends to continually pop open once you've removed things. It just seems rather ungainly.

Blu-ray Review: Dollhouse - Season One

2009-08-11T00:49:39Z

As the creator of popular television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly, Joss Whedon has built a rather rabid fan base. Despite his devoted following, some would argue his work hasn't gotten its proper due. Though Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran on the WB and UPN for seven seasons, the series only reached between four and six million viewers per week and was largely ignored by Emmy voters. The Buffy spin-off Angel lasted five seasons but its demise was a shock, leading Whedon to compare the series' cancellation to a "healthy guy falling dead from a heart attack." Whedon's 2002 Fox series, Firefly, never really got a chance to get off the ground and was cancelled after just fourteen episodes.]]> So it was with some surprise and a lot of excitement that Whedon fans waited to see what he had up his sleeve when it was announced he had a new show coming to Fox. That series turned out to be Dollhouse and like Whedon's previous projects the series was far from a runaway hit; averaging 4.6 million viewers and finishing the year ranked #132 in the Nielsen ratings. Though the series has been renewed for a second season, it remains to be seen whether Dollhouse can gain enough of an audience to become a genuine hit and play out the five year plan Whedon reportedly has mapped out for the characters. FBI agent Paul Ballard (Tahmoh Penikett) is hunting for the Dollhouse, a supposed human trafficking operation that most of his colleagues believe is an urban legend. However, Ballard believes there might be something to it, based on a missing person's case for a woman named Caroline (Eliza Dushku). Unbeknownst to him, Caroline has become a clean slate, devoid of any thoughts, memories or personal emotions. Referred to as Echo, she has accepted a job as a doll--a living, breathing entity that can be imprinted with any number of new personas her superiors require. She is part of a larger group of people known as "Actives," employed by the Dollhouse, a secret organization that provides numerous services to the world's most powerful and wealthiest people. Over the course of Season One's thirteen episodes, she's transformed into several men's true loves, a hostage negotiator, a visually impaired cult member, an internal investigator, a backup singer, a wealthy woman and more. While on assignment, Echo is always monitored by her handler, a former a former police officer named Boyd Langton (Harry Lennix) and the technician responsible for designing the Actives' various personalities, Topher Brink (Fran Kranz). The first four episodes are a bit dull compared to the remainder of the season. The "Echo case of the week" format started to wear a little thin. However, starting with the fifth episode "True Believer," Whedon wisely began to shift some of the focus to the Paul Ballard character, which gives the series a much wider scope and provides some interesting and memorable twists and turns. While it seemed to take Whedon a few episodes to find the direction of the series, he has assembled a talented cast that makes Dollhouse worth watching. Further, with his this series he has brought up some interesting questions about morality, as he regularly seems to do. While the first season of Dollhouse got off to a rocky start, the strong ending leaves me hoping for a strong second season. The film is framed at 1.78:1 and presented in 1080p with the AVC codec. The transfer features solid and inky black levels and fine shadow detail. Cinematography can be stylized, depending on the episode, changing color rendition and contrast; overall those areas show good depth and range. Fine object detail in fabrics and skin textures can be variable--some shots can appear a bit too smooth (usually close-ups of the female actors) and scenes in higher contrast environments reveal some edge haloing. While this isn't reference quality, Fox has done a solid job. Primary surround activity in the DTS-HD Master Audio track is in support of the show's score. To a lesser extent, there are directional and ambient effects for the various action sequences and visual effects Generally, it seemed like the score was mixed in too heavily, making it a little distracting during dialogue exchanges, though the directional and ambient effects seem appropriately balanced. LFE appears for the occasional explosion but is activated mostly by the score and proves to be both deep and clean. Dialogue is consistently clear and intelligible. The 3-disc Blu-ray edition of Dollhouse: Season One features the same supplemental package as its standard DVD counterpart, but presents all of the video content in high definition. • Audio Commentaries: Each disc has a full-length audio commentary, but two of the three tracks are tough to find (you have to click on their corresponding episodes before the appropriate option appears). "Ghost" offers the most intriguing track -- one that features Joss Whedon and series star Eliza Dushku. Not only did Whedon and Dushku record their chat early in the morning, they tend to joke and giggle their way through the episode, focusing on their friendship more than the series or its production. Writers Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen do a better job discussing "Man on the Street" and "Epitaph One." They narrate the on-screen events and inject random anecdotes on occasion. Making Dollhouse (HD, 21 minutes): With a rapidfire collection of interview segments and fly-on-the-wall production footage, it covers the development of the project, the poor timing of the Writer's Strike (and its affect on the show), casting, debates between the creators and the studio, and the creation of a second pilot Whedon admits to culling Battlestar Galactica's ranks to score Tahmoh Penikett, discusses the series terminology and storyline, explains the reasons he chose each actor, describes the manner in which his original vision evolved as the studio continually pushed him to "make it bigger," and talks about the cast's anxiety during the pilot issues. • Deleted Scenes (HD, 30 minutes): A collection of deletions and extensions trimmed from both pilots, key episodes, and the finale. • A Private Engagement (HD, 6 minutes): This one asks, "what if the technology of Dollhouse actually existed?" Various members of the cast and crew offer answers, revealing whether they would take advantage of the tech, agree to be dolls, or consider using such a service. • Coming Home (HD, 7 minutes): This secondary featurette gives the cast and crew an opportunity to reveal their unabashed love of all things Whedon. • Finding Echo (HD, 5 minutes): More compliments are paid, this time between Whedon and Dushku, as the series creator and star fawn over each other's talents. • Designing the Perfect Dollhouse (HD, 6 minutes): Whedon gives a tour of the Dollhouse, discusses its design, etc. • Original Unaired Pilot (HD): While elements of Whedon's first pilot are impressive, the official pilot is more intense and, ultimately, better. • Unaired Bonus Episode (HD): "Epitaph One" is a fantastic addition to this release and the series. Be sure to check it out.

DVD Review: Designing Women - The Complete Second Season

2009-08-10T14:23:20Z

Created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, Designing Women was one of my favorite shows of the late eighties, early nineties. Centered around the working and personal lives of four Southern women and one man in an interior design firm in Atlanta, Georgia, the show was most definitely a comedy but was never afraid to deal with a serious issue when the opportunity arose. Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter) is an intelligent, outspoken liberal, while her sister Suzanne (Delta Burke) is a rich, self focused beauty queen. The two started Sugarbaker Designs, with Julia doing much of the work and Suzanne providing financing backing while purporting to be the firm's salesperson. Thoughtful and steadfast, designer Mary Jo Shively (Annie Potts) and ditzy but endearing, office manager Charlene Frazier were investors in the company. Anthony Bouvier (Meshach Taylor), a former prison inmate who was falsely accused and convicted of a robbery, was the only man on staff. ]]> Given the continuing popularity of the series today, it's hard to believe that Designing Women almost didn't make it to a second season. After dismal ratings in a Sunday night time slot, CBS planned to cancel the show. However, a write-in campaign by viewers convinced executives to give the Sugarbaker's one more shot. Designing Women was moved its original Monday night timeslot, where the show became a solid top twenty hit. This season saw more appearances by Meshach Taylor as Anthony Bouvier, who gave the girls a male presence to act as second banana and the occasional butt of jokes. Alice Ghostley also began her recurring role as Bernice Clifton, the slightly nutty friend of the Sugarbaker's who managed to steal nearly every scene she was in. Season two is a wonderful mix of humor with the dramatic. Things begin with " 101 Ways to Decorate a Gas Station." In an effort to drum up business, Julia decides to hold a raffle; the grand prize being s room decorated by Sugarbaker's. The girls are shocked when the winner turns out to be a grungy gas station owner. One of the best episodes of the series aired early in season two; Tony Goldwyn (Ghost), guest stars as Kendall Dobbs, a young man dying of AIDS who asks the women to design his funeral. The women take the job. This episode is sad, funny and gives Julia a chance to make one of her passionate speeches. When an old friend of hers named Imogene (Camilla Carr), overhears the ladies discussing the funeral plans, Imogene pipes up, "As far as I'm concerned, this disease has one thing going for it: it's killing all the right people." Julia angrily confronts Imogene over her belief that AIDS is God's punishment for homosexuality. "Imogene, get serious! Who do you think you're talking to?! I've known you for 27 years, and all I can say is, if God was giving out sexually transmitted diseases to people as a punishment for sinning, then you would be at the free clinic all the time! And so would the rest of us!" Imogene storms out in a huff. When you consider this episode aired in 1987, that's pretty heady stuff. Other episodes focus on Julia's beau's heart attack (Hal Holbrook is truly excellent here), a hilarious road trip episode that finds Suzanne and Anthony sharing a hotel bed (one of them wearing a feathery robe, silk scarves and pantyhose - I'll give you a hint: It's not Suzanne). Designing Women wasn't intended to be Shakespeare and it never intended to be. However, more than fifteen years after the last original episode aired, watching the women of Sugarbaker Designs is still a satisfying way to spend a half-an-hour. All twenty-two episodes are contained on four DVDs. As with the first season, the widescreen 1.33:1 presentations can't be considered pristine. There is some dirt and debris present on every episode, black levels are inconsistent and colors aren't as vibrant as titles that have been filmed more recently. While Designing Women fans may be a bit disappointed, I have a feeling Shout! cleaned the video up from the original masters as best they could. The mono soundtrack is somewhat uneven. Dialogue is passable, whether you're watching the show on a home theater system or portable DVD player. While the laugh tracks have that unforgettable tinny quality, they don't overwhelm the way they do for so many shows of that era. One thing to note about this set is the music. There is no label on the box but according to sources online some of the music has been changed from the original broadcast. The theme song is here; however, some of the music cues have changed, so audio tends to fluctuate on those occasions. English Closed Captioning is included. There are no special features included in this set.

DVD Review: Torchwood - Children of the Earth

2009-08-08T17:48:51Z

Certainly, the news that the third season of Torchwood had been cut from twelve episodes to a five episode mini-series to be aired on consecutive nights in July of 2009 caused great concern among the shows most avid fans. If Children of the Earth was Torchwood's swan song, the show went out in grand style. For those not familiar with the show, Torchwood is the name of a secret organization formed by the British government to battle extraterrestrial threats to Earth. Led in Cardiff by the charismatic and confident Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), Each Episode would find members of Torchwood investigating some unexplained phenomena, often related to alien activity. ]]> At the end of season two, several staff members were killed off, leaving a core of just three--Gwen, Ianto and of Captain Jack Harkness--this change was a smart one, allowing the writers to really focus in on these interesting and complex characters. Children of the Earth finds each of them forced to make life changing decisions and in some cases, face up to the dark secrets of their past. Suddenly, every child on Earth begins announcing the coming of a deadly alien race known as the 456. Torchwood investigates and discovers one adult chanting with the children. He is identified as Clement McDonald (Paul Copley), who evaded abduction by the aliens in 1965. He has a heightened sense of smell and through this ability reveals that Gwen (Eve Myles) is three weeks pregnant. Anyone who is familiar with Torchwood knows that Gwen's pregnancy is a shocker. In the first two seasons, she was a fairly shy woman with a kind spirit. This mini-series finds her a little rough around the edges, with a much tougher skin. While her husband Rhys (Kai Owen) wants her to keep the baby, Gwen makes it clear the final decision will be hers. Jack faces the biggest emotional challenge of the group, as it is revealed that he was involved in a scheme that gave twelve children to the 456 back in 1965. He gave the children away in exchange for a cure for a new strain of Indonesian flu, which the 456 claimed would kill 25 million people and now, the 456 threaten the world with annihilation unless their demands for 10% of the world's children are met. In the course of all this, Jack faces some gut wrenching decisions no person should ever have to make; the path he takes in regards to 456's demands is shocking but it also explains a lot about his personality. Of course, one can't really discuss Jack without mentioning Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd). The way the writers have handled their relationship is superb; the emotional side of it is allowed to shine through but it never becomes distracting--it seems, real. Children of the Earth begins with Ianto questioning his relationship with Jack; however, there's an emotional moment between the two that leaves no doubt as to the sincerity of their relationship and is bound to tug at the heart strings of viewers, gay or straight. We are also introduced to Ianto's sister Rhiannon (Katy Wix) and brother-in-law Johnny Davies (Rhodri Lewis). They play an important role in the series, while also helping to humanize the story, preventing it from becoming a sci-fi schlock fest. If Torchwood does return in some sort of incarnation, Lois Habiba, portrayed by Cush Jumbo does a great job as a government insider helping the team, so it's easy to see her becoming part of the Torchwood team. Given the situation, the British government needs to hide their collusion with 456. As part of that plan, the decision is made to get rid of Torchwood and its members. The Prime Minister Brian Green (Nicholas Farrell) gives responsibility for the situation to senior Home Office civil servant John Frobisher (Peter Capaldi). Though he does his best to dutifully carry out his orders, what Frobisher does in the end is yet another shocking moment. Children of the Earth is extremely unsettling. Dark and heavy, there really is no silver lining. The series asks questions that have no definite answers. They're questions thick with moral and ethical dilemmas that will leave viewers pondering long after the show is over. The themes explored are bound to be dissected and analyzed by fans down to the last detail. Children of the Earth did things that have never been done in science fiction television and that alone makes this a must own for any science fiction fan. Shot in hi-def, this standard DVD looks as good as it possibly can. The 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer is fabulous. Colors are vibrant and blacks are deep and rich. Most surprisingly, detail is surprisingly first rate. This is one of the best SD titles I've seen in a long time. The sound is excellent too, as the Dolby 5.1 soundtrack really brings things to life and immerses viewers in the entire experience. English subtitles are included for the deaf and hearing impaired. Torchwood: Children of the Earth includes only one special feature: • Torchwood: Declassified (32:00) A behind the scenes look at things, as well as interviews with several cast and crew. While there's nothing earth shattering here, fans will likely enjoy the actors thoughts on some of the developments in the series. *As stated on the DVD box, the music in episode five differs from the broadcast version.

Blu-ray Review: The Soloist

2009-08-06T22:41:33Z

Hollywood loves stories involving people with mental or physical handicaps. The list of Oscar winners is littered with actors who played disabled characters: Jane Wyman as a deaf-mute rape victim in Johnny Belinda (1948), Joanne Woodward as a woman who suffers from dissociative identity disorder in The Three Faces of Eve (1957), Patty Duke as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker (1962) and Dustin Hoffman as an autistic savant in Rain Man (1988), to name a few. This trend isn't necessarily s bad thing. All of the films listed above are fine movies. As a matter of fact, sometimes when Hollywood filmmakers set out to make a film they hope will get the attention of the Academy; they end up turning in some of their finest work. That brings us to The Soloist, directed by award-winning filmmaker Joe Wright (Atonement). Based on the book by Los Angeles Times writer Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.), the story follows his attempts to help a homeless man, named Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx). Ayers, a classically trained Julliard musician, is suffering from schizophrenia and tormented by years of shock treatments; he has moved from Cleveland to Los Angeles so he can play his music on the streets all year round. ]]> From the start, it's clear that Lopez has his own set of troubles. He and his ex-wife (Catherine Keener) still have issues they haven't resolved, he has a non-existent relationship with his college age son, he's having trouble coming up with ideas from a new column and he's had a pretty horrendous accident on his bicycle. Lopez first encounters Ayers near the Times building, enraptured by the beautiful music he is hearing. Lopez learns that he once studied at Julliard and decides to write a column about him and the response is tremendous. A reader sends Lopez a cello for him (this actually happened) and the two begin to form some sort of bond. Driven by the public's response, Lopez decides to help Ayers as much as he can. He tries to plead with different people to force Nathaniel to get medical treatment and take medicine. However, it soon becomes clear, Nathaniel isn't seeking help for the illness and it's impossible to force him to. Instead, Ayers is enjoying Lopez's friendship and looks upon him as a brother. Like countless Hollywood films before The Soloist, audiences likely expect Nathaniel's world to become a brighter one of musical accomplishment; I thought perhaps the end would have him playing a concert with the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra; instead, Director Joe Wright and screenplay Writer Susannah Grant (Catch and Release) avoid making the audience leave the movie with a warm and fuzzy feeling, in favor of the hard truth. Despite his best efforts, Lopez is unable to "fix" Ayers and bring his talent to the masses, as he had hoped. What he is able to do, is provide friendship and some sense of stability for Nathaniel, which may be the best gift Lopez could have given him. While the film is disjointed at times, it actually feels right given the subject matter. This is a story about schizophrenia, so naturally things aren't going to be very smooth. More importantly, The Soloist is a tale about compassion and understanding mental illness. It takes Lopez quite a while to understand that what Nathaniel needs most is a friend who can look past the limitations of his illness. Jamie Foxx delivers a splendid performance as Nathaniel Ayers. Much like his Oscar winning turn in Ray, Fox seems to literally becomes the character. While Robert Downey, Jr. plays a suave, slightly troubled character similar to the one he played in Zodiac, his performance still manages to pack an emotional punch. The Soloist comes to Blu-ray with a high quality 1080p, 2.39:1-framed transfer. The film features remarkable clarity. The transfer delivers natural and accurate colors that carry over to flesh tones. Textures on objects such as walls, feature that "reach out and touch me" sort of appearance. Detail is solid. Depth is a strong suit; long-distance objects tend to look sharp and distinct with solid visible detail. Grain is never too heavy. Blacks are strong and contrast is good. Blu-ray fans should be satisfied with this strong effort from DreamWorks. The Soloist plays on Blu-ray with a very good Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Ambience is one of the track's strong suits; most every scene comes alive with some sort of environmental support that places the listener directly into the midst of each scene. An interior hospital shot early in the film offers up chatter, rolling gurneys, mechanical beeps, and ringing telephones that fill the soundstage with realistic effects. The track's most prominent feature, of course, comes in the form of the many scenes featuring Nathaniel -- or some cases others and even entire orchestras -- playing instruments. The melodic strings of the cello flow through the soundstage with positively stunning results, allowing the listener to absorb every note. Also delivering crystal-clear dialogue reproduction, The Soloist makes for a strong and well-mixed soundtrack. The Soloist has a nice slate of special features: • Audio Commentary with Director Joe Wright: Wright talks about the films themes, locations, sound design, music, etc. • An Unlikely Friendship: Making The Soloist (1080i, 19:37) examines how the film came together, beginning with a look at the column that inspired the movie (including interview clips with the real Steve Lopez), the producers' meeting with Nathaniel Ayers, the challenge of the roles, the assembly of particular scenes, the film's authenticity, Foxx's exposure to the cello and the film's ending. • Kindness, Courtesy and Respect: Mr. Ayers + Mr. Lopez (1080i, 4:48) The real-life Ayers, Lopez, and Ayers' sister Jennifer recount their story that inspired the film. • One Size Does Not Fit All: Addressing Homelessness in Los Angeles (1080i, 9:45) examines the plight of L.A.'s homeless population and their role in inspiring the film. • Juilliard: The Education of Nathaniel Ayers (1080i, 4:08) recalls an encounter between Ayers and famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma and several other graduates that contributed to the film. • Beth's Story (1080p, 2:02), a short animated piece on homelessness. • Deleted Scenes (480p, 9:49) five in total. • Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:33).