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That Time of The Week – DVD/Blu-ray Releases From 4/29 & 5/6

This one has some good stuff.

With several classic series appearing on Blu-ray for the first time, to the cinematic resurrection of  a girl detective to giant atomic turtles, to musicals aplenty, it’s time to get ready for some long weekends on the couch cranking the a.c.

Fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart. It’s that time of the week.

Veronica Mars: The Movie

Warner Bros / Released 5/6/14

Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) has put Neptune and her amateur sleuthing days behind her on the eve of graduating law school. While interviewing at high-end law firms, Veronica gets a call from her ex-boyfriend Logan (Jason Dohring) who has been accused of murder. Veronica heads back to Neptune just to help Logan find an attorney, but when things don’t seem right with how Logan’s case is perceived and handled, Veronica finds herself being pulled back into a life she thought she had left behind. Directed by the television series’ creator Rob Thomas from a screenplay by Thomas & Diane Ruggiero, Veronica Mars also stars Krysten Ritter, Ryan Hansen, Francis Capra, Percy Daggs III, Chris Lowel, Tina Majorino and Enrico Colantoni, all returning to the roles they originated in the television series. Extras include on set featurettes, making of, deleted scenes and gag reel.

Last Word: Veronica Mars is a film for and financed by it’s fans.  Unlike Serenity, there’s really very little painting in broad strokes so the audience unfamiliar with the property can play catch up.  With the exception of a self referential Kickstarter comment, a street singer belting out the series’ theme song and a two minute opening credits summary of the property, by the time Ms. Mars lands back in Neptune, California at the behest of former love/bad boy/now accused murderer Logan Echolls, the film doesn’t slow down for unfamiliars to play catch up.

As luck would have it, Veronica will also be in town for her tenth high school reunion.  The film gives everyone their moment (unfortunately, I wish several received a few more) and very quickly reestablishes the denizens of Neptune, as well as the current status of the class war that only seems to have gotten worse and more intense in the past decade.  The reunion is a great excuse to bring up many of the series’ more colorful characters from Veronica’s past, and her investigation of Logan’s innocence allows plenty of interaction with both the local police and the seedier side of the city.

Although it often feels like a longer episode of the series rather than a movie, isn’t that what you want?  Veronica’s narration and snark are still there, as are all of the things that endeared the series to the fans in the first place.  Veronica Mars finally got the ending it deserved, and if all goes well, a new beginning.  A wise theme song once said, “A long time ago we used to be friends.”

Veronica, we still are.

Son of Batman

Warner Bros / Released 5/6/14

Hidden atop a secret mountain stronghold lies the League of Shadows and its fearless leader, Ra’s al Ghul. Together with his equally dangerous daughter Talia, he oversees a trained army of assassins with plans for global domination. But an uprising from within the league now threatens to shift the balance of power and sends Talia and her young son, Damian, fleeing to Gotham City. With assassins on their trail, Talia seeks the protection of Batman, who, unbeknownst to him, is the boy’s father. With his son in tow, Batman wages war against the villain Deathstroke and the League of Shadows, all while teaching his headstrong boy that one can’t fight crime by becoming a criminal. With help from Gotham’s finest, including Commissioner Gordon and Nightwing, Batman will soon discover that his son and most trusted ally are one and the same!

Last Word: Loosely based on Grant Morrison’s initial Batman arc, Son of Batman is pretty entertaining stuff, but suffers a bit from a muddled vision.  With the DCU animated films headed in a post-New 52 direction, this pre-New 52 story is revised a bit with mixed results.  The film introduces Damian Wayne, the son of Batman and Ra’s al Ghul’s daughter, Talia.  Dropping the bio-engineering subplot in the original comics, there’s no way that 10 year old Damian was sired during Bruce’s five year career as Batman.    They film also introduced Deathstroke to the story, even going so far as making him not only pivotal in the fate of Ra’s, but also establishing a vendetta toward Damian; an eye for an eye if you will.  The animation is a step up from Justice League: War, though the image is a little too dark in the scenes set in the sewers of Gotham.  I’m also warming up to Jason O’Mara as Batman and Stuart Allan delivers a great performance as Damian.  Overall, Son of Batman is a solid film and although it might not be a great adaptation, it does make Morrison’s work a little more accessible to general audiences.  Recommended.

Legend of Hercules

Lionsgate / Released 4/29/14

The Legend Of Hercules follows the mythical Greek hero Hercules, the son of Zeus, who is blessed with extraordinary strength as a half-god, half-man. Banished by his stepfather, the king, Hercules slowly becomes aware of his true origins as the son of Zeus. As he learns to harness his demi-god powers, Hercules gathers an army to fight his way back to his kingdom in this action-filled epic.

Directed by Renny Harlin and written by Sean Hood and Daniel Giat, The Legend of Hercules stars Kellan Lutz, Scott Adkins, Liam McIntyre, Liam Garrigan, Johnathon Schaech, Roxanne McKee along with Gaia Weiss and Rade Serbedzija. Extras include documentary and commentary.

Last Word: Kellen Lutz stars as Hercules, son of Zeus in this latest picture directed by the once decent director Renny Harlin.  While the action and fight scenes make for a Gladiator meets Fight Club experience, this PG-13 sword clash of the senses is likely best left for adolescents craving a matinee adrenaline and sugar rush.  In contrast to last summer’s Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, this movie takes no steps to relating Greek mythology to the main plot point of the jealous stepdad seeking revenge on his Zeus-sired stepson Hercules. In fact, of the famous mythological tales, it seemed as though the filmmakers only made it to the first chapter of his most famous fight with a Lion before deciding to take liberties with the mythical Hercules.

The rest is typical small minded story-building with a military battle, capture, imprisonment and multiple scenes of Herc taking on more than one opponent at a time. Gaia Weiss stars as love interest Hebe. While she is indeed beautiful, her interactions with Kellen and the supplied wet noodle dialogue do not serve her well. As a female lead, women are given short shrift once again by Hollywood, objectifying her as a love interest when so much more could have been done with Hebe and one of Mythology’s most important and powerful gods.  Considering the scope of a hero like Hercules and the many adventures he had, a montage of many slayings and traveled to lands would have been welcomed to break up the monotony of the set dressings. While captured (as the god is twice in the movie), he is shown escaping from a famous Hercules trope, the two pillars. What happens after his escape is more God of War (video game) than Steve Reeves in the 1958 classic, as the power of Zeus electrifies his chains and he takes out all of the soldiers guarding him. Not what I would have expected from the scene, but this was fun to watch.

Costuming, casting and action were all fair to good. Watching swords clash and big fight scenes choreographed and trained for is always a treat, and these were the best part of the film by far.  There is a camera technique, whereby kill shots and head wounds are slowed down to increase the impact of the scene. This technique is overblown in Herc and does not translate well with the 3D. Dialogue was stiff, forced and unnecessarily Shakespearian. Sure, Thor and Loki can get away with pulling this off but not here. It made the actors look even more foolish tripping over ‘Thees’ and ‘Thous’. This vacuous telling of The Legend of Hercules is suited for teenagers, but not for anyone looking for substance, history, or even an fantastical escape. (– Clay N Ferno)

The Best Offer

MPI Home Video / Released 4/29/14

From the director of Cinema Paradiso comes a romantic thriller with a playful side that proves love is worth bidding on at any price. When a mysterious heiress asks famed but unscrupulous art appraiser and auctioneer Virgil Oldman (Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush) to evaluate her late parents’ collection yet remains forever unseen behind closed doors, it ignites a spark of curiosity in the normally austere Virgil that soon grows into an all-out obsession. Before long everything in Virgil’s carefully constructed life threatens to come apart as he delves ever further into the world of intrigue surrounding his enigmatic employer. Co-starring Donald Sutherland, Jim Sturgess and Sylvia Hoeks, director Giuseppe Tornatore’s The Best Offer is a unique take on a seemingly doomed romance from one of cinema’s greatest artists.

Last Word:Visually stunning, this cliché-filled Hitchcockian tribute is full of some good ideas and solid twists, that never seem to gel together.  The “romance” at the center of the film sets much of the tone and it’s truly the performances of this amazing ensemble that elevates the material.  Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess, Sylvia Hoeks and Donald Sutherland are all excellent.  The Best Offer is passable entertainment and worth a rental, but is far too reminiscent of better films, which ultimately makes it forgettable.

Devil’s Due

20th Century Fox / Released 4/29/14

After a mysterious night on their honeymoon, Zach and Samantha McCall find themselves dealing with an earlier-than-planned pregnancy. While recording everything for posterity, Zach begins to notice odd behavior in his wife that they initially attribute to nerves, but it soon becomes evident that the disturbing changes to Samantha’s body and mind have a much more sinister origin. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet, part of the quartet of filmmakers known as Radio Silence (V/H/S), and produced by John Davis (Chronicle), Devil’s Due utilizes a found footage-style of storytelling to deliver an emotional, character-driven thriller that showcases supernatural scares, and disquieting dread. Extras include featurette, photo album, commentary and deleted scenes.

Last Word:  And with Devil’s Due I propose a moratorium on found footage horror films.  And a moratorium of rehashed Rosemary’s Baby remakes.  Which means I wouldn’t have had to sit through this mess of a movie.  Putting it’s tired premise aside, the film is inempt and it’s use of found footage lacks both logic and a cohesive execution.  Devil’s Due is lazy and clichéd filmmaking based on an overused premise and executed in an deceivingly tepid attempt to seem original.  Skip it.

Escape From Tomorrow

Cinedigm / Released 4/29/14 (Best Buy Exclusive)

The most provocative film from the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, Escape From Tomorrow should not exist, and yet it does. Like nothing you’ve ever seen, Randy Moore’s directorial debut is a bold and ingenious trip into the happiest place on earth. An epic battle begins when a middle-aged American husband and father of two learns that he has lost his job. Keeping the news from his nagging wife and wound-up children, he packs up the family and embarks on a full day of park hopping amid enchanted castles and fairytale princesses. Soon, the manufactured mirth of the fantasyland around him begins to haunt his subconscious. An idyllic family vacation quickly unravels into a surrealist nightmare of paranoid visions, bizarre encounters, and an obsessive pursuit of a pair of sexy teenage Parisians. Chillingly shot in black and white, Escape From Tomorrow dissects the mythology of artificial perfection while subversively attacking our culture’s obsession with mass entertainment. Extras include commentaries, behind the scenes, poster gallery.

Last Word:  This is one of those films that the story behind the film is more fascinating than the film itself.  Writer/director Randy Moore shot this film guerilla style at Disney theme parks without permission of the House of Mouse.  Ultimately, it’s more of a surreal, experimental film capturing a man’s nervous breakdown while on vacation with his family at Disney.  But, we’re also not entirely sure what’s happening.  Is he having a breakdown or is his descent into madness an illusion as well.  Reminiscent of the early work of David Lynch, Escape From Tomorrow is hard to judge as “good or “bad”, but it is original and an inspiration for indie filmmkers.  Recommended.

Gamera: Ultimate Collection V1

Mill Creek Entertainment / Released 4/29/14

The first 4 films of Daiei Studios monster series Gamera are unleashed and available on Blu-ray for the first time! Your favorite giant turtle returns to Earth leaving no fire-spitting scene behind. Beautifully captured to their lavish original cuts, viewers can experience four-times the thrills of this legend sci-fi classic like they have never seen before in their original cuts in Japanese with English subtitles.

  • Gamera: The Giant Monster (1965) The first entry of this Sci-Fi epic takes place midst the peak of the Cold War, as conflict between the East and West transforms into a nuclear disaster! This atomic explosion releases more than massive radiation, it awakens an ancient and long-forgotten legend of Gamera!
  • Gamera vs. Barugon (1966) Once the fear of Tokyo, Gamera returns to Earth to save it from the malevolent monster Barugon who is able to freeze anything its path. This unholy battle between fire and ice challenges the survival of mankind while bringing them an incredible slam-bang, knock-down monster slug-fest!
  • Gamera vs. Gyaos (1967) The third entry of this classic monster series continues when a volcanic eruption awakens Gyaos, a gigantic vampire-like bat who has a ravenous hunger for blood. Gyaos is Gamera’s most popular foe, returning in four more films (not counting the stock footage in SUPER MONSTER). Can the fire-spitting terrapin Garmera defeat this nocturnal beast?
  • Gamera vs. Viras (1968) The reign of terror continues when aliens take two boy scouts hostage to blackmail Gamera into aiding their invasion of Earth. When that plan fails the giant alien leader Viras battles the flying turtle in a duel to the death.

Gamera: Ultimate Collection V2

Mill Creek Entertainment / Released 4/29/14

The last 4 films of Daiei Studios monster series Gamera are unleashed and available on Blu-ray for the first time! Your favorite giant turtle returns to Earth leaving no fire-spitting scene behind. Beautifully captured to their lavish original cuts, viewers can experience four-times the thrills of this legend sci-fi classic like they have never seen before in their original cuts in Japanese with English subtitles.

  • Gamera vs. Guiron (1969)  Gamera, the giant flying turtle, spins into action when two young boys board a spaceship and are hijacked to a strange planet on the other side of the sun. While the boys evade the clutches of two brain-hungry alien beauties, Gamera must deal with a knife-nosed monster named Guiron.
  • Gamera vs. Jiger (1970)  The fire-breathing action continues as Gamera battles one of his greatest foes, Jiger, a horned monster reminiscent of the Triceratops. Drawn to the World Expo in Osaka by an ancient statue, the evil reptile injects Gamera with its parasitic offspring to eliminate the super turtle.
  • Gamera vs. Zigra (1971)  The shark-like alien Zigra attacks Earth to enslave the human race as food. Aided by spacewoman X-1, Zigra s wicked plan goes swimmingly until the invaders are challenged by Gamera and confounded by two troublemaking kids.
  • Gamera: Super Monster (1980)  The final entry of the Showa Gamera series plays as a highlight reel reviving all of the previous evil monsters. When the alien Zanon tries to conquer Earth with an army of monsters, three superwomen enlist the help of Gamera to foil the invader’s plans.

Last Word:  What better way to get excited for Godzilla than with the original series of Gamera films.  Protector of children, giant turtle Gamera comes to Blu-ray looking pretty solid. Gamera films (and kaiju in general) can be a bit of an acquired taste, but these two discs provide a healthy sampling of the ridiculous and charming nature of the genre, much more geared toward kids or MST3K fans.  There’s a lack of extras or dubbing, but overall these two collections are silly, stupid fun and a must have for any cinegeek with a strong nostalgia gene.

Gimme Shelter

Lionsgate / Released 4/29/14

Vanessa Hudgens stars in the heart-wrenching, inspirational drama based on the true life stories of Several Sources Shelters founder Kathy DiFiore and some of the pregnant teen shelter residents. Gimme Shelter depicts the story of Agnes “Apple” Bailey (Hudgens) a tough, street-wise teen who flees life with her drug addicted mother to find the wealthy father she’s never known. But when her father’s new prim & proper family find out Apple is pregnant, she is pressured to conform to their expectations and runs away again. Apple must rely on her own survival skills on the streets, until she meets the kindly Father McCarthy who helps direct her to a shelter for pregnant teens. Apple’s unbreakable spirit enables her to fight against the odds to find redemption, and ultimately create a family to finally call her own.  Features spellbinding performances from Academy Award nominee James Earl Jones, Rosario Dawson, nearly unrecognizable as Apple’s drug-addicted mother, and Brendan Fraser.  Extras include deleted scenes and making of.

Gloria

Lionsgate / Released 4/29/14

Proving that passion and personal empowerment can strike at any age, Gloria is an uplifting story of an older woman rediscovering life, love and heartbreak.  Gloria is a “woman of a certain age” but still feels young inside. Divorced with no children living at home, she feels lonely and makes the best of her situation by filling her nights at social dance clubs for singles. Her fragile happiness changes the day she meets the quiet, yet virile Rodolfo. Their intense passion, to which Gloria gives her all, leaves her overjoyed and hopeful about life once again…until she finds out he might be hiding something from her. It is then that Gloria rediscovers her true inner strength…and realizes that in her golden years, she can shine brighter than ever.  Extras include behind the scenes musical montage.

Godzilla – The Complete Animated Series

Mill Creek Entertainment / Released 4/29/14

A fast-paced animated adventure pitting humanity against a new generation of giant monsters!  After helping take down Godzilla, biologist Dr. Nick Tatopoulos (voice of Ian Ziering) stumbles upon his hatchling, who bonds with the scientist as a parental figure. Recruiting his own environmentally-directed research outfit HEAT (Humanitarian Environmental Analysis Team) Nick sets out to study not only this new generation, but also to investigate the increasing reports of monsters of all types and other environmental anomalies menacing the Earth. Each exciting episode is a pulse-pounding monster-hunt driven by Nick s team accompanied by their 300-foot giant reptile as they travel the globe defending humankind against mutant threats.

Last Word: Based off of the 1998 movie, Godzilla, The Animated Series does a far more admirable job with their depiction of the King of the Monsters.  Over the series (40 episodes), the new Godzilla (an offspring of the 1998 film version) is reimagined to fall more in line with the classic character including his strength and atomic breath.  Also present in this interpretation are other kaiju, an oversight that certainly didn’t help the theatrical release.  With solid animation and good writing (which included Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, William Stout and Scott Lobdell), Godzilla The Animated Series is tremendously entertaining and a must see.

Labor Day

Paramount / Released 4/29/14

Labor Day centers on 13-year-old Henry Wheeler (Gattlin Griffith), who struggles to be the man of his house and care for his reclusive mother Adele (Kate Winslet) while confronting all the pangs of adolescence. On a back-to-school shopping trip, Henry and his mother encounter Frank Chambers (Josh Brolin), a man both intimidating and clearly in need of help, who convinces them to take him into their home and later is revealed to be an escaped convict. The events of this long Labor Day weekend will shape them for the rest of their lives. Extras included commentary, deleted scenes, and featurette.

Last Word: I’ve been a fan of Jason Reitman’s work from the very beginning and have usually admired his choices.  That’s not the case with the laborious (pun intended) Labor Day, which feels more like a sappy Nicholas Sparks telemovie than the work of one of today’s most interesting filmmakers.  Even worse are the talents wasted in this clumsy and ludicrous film (including Winslet and Brolin, an excellent Griffith plus J.K. Simmons, Clark Gregg and Tobey Maguire).  Labor Day plods along, with one tired reveal after another, none of which are ever as revelatory or engaging enough to make you care about the characters.  It’s watchable and most of my personal disappointment comes from my affection for the director’s other work.  It’s handsomely produced, but it’s likely a film that one needs to see to make their own judgement.

Locker 13

Brothers’ Ink Productions /  Released 4/29/14

Skip, the nighttime janitor in an Old West theme park, delves into the mysteries surrounding an old locker. His sage supervisor recounts chilling tales that underscore the importance of making the right choice. The recollection includes an aging boxer who is given an opportunity to become a real killing machine, a young man seeking membership in a secret society who experiences an initiation with deadly consequences, a would be suicide shaken to his core by a menacing member of a very special club, and a hit man for hire playing a devious cat and mouse game with three women who have a score to settle. The stories suddenly come into play when Skip makes an unsettling discovery and faces a life-or-death decision of his own. Stars Ricky Schroder, Jon Gries, Rick Hoffman, Krista Allen, Tatyana Ali, Jason Marsden, Curtis Armstrong, Bart Johnson, Jon Polito, and Jason Spisak.

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection

20th Century Fox / Released 4/29/14 (Amazon Exclusive)

Celebrate the world’s most beloved movie musicals — The Rodgers & Hammerstein Blu-ray Collection contains all 6 films now together on Blu-ray for the first time ever! Each timeless film is in dazzling high definition for the ultimate home viewing experience. So every spectacular scene, every enchanting song, and every magical, memorable moment can be yours to cherish forever and share with your family.  8-Disc Set Includes: State Fair (1945), Oklahoma! (Todd-AO and CinemaScope™ Versions), The King and I, Carousel, South Pacific (Theatrical and Extended “Road Show” Versions) and The Sound of Music.

Last Word:  Let’s get serious.  Before you say, “I don’t like musicals,” I’m going to tell you to shut up and order this set.  For any cinegeek, this set represents some of the most impressive and wonderful films ever made.  As a genre, musicals might have fallen out of favor, but that’s simply because they aren’t being done well.  The success of the series, Glee, and films like Pitch Perfect are a testament that people love this underappreciated genre.  This set is true movie magic and will make even the most cynical viewer break out into a grin.  Highest possible recommendation.

Included within:

  • State Fair: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s only score written expressly for the screen highlights this delightful film about an Iowa family’s adventures at the fair. The Frakes, a farming family, go to the Iowa State Fair to show the father’s prize hog, Blue Boy, and enjoy the big event of the year. On the first day, both sourpuss daughter Margy and her brother Wayne find new romance, as does Blue Boy. As the fair proceeds, so do the romances! Includes the Academy Award-winning songs It Might as Well be Spring and It’s A Grand Night for Singing.  Extras include commentary, sing-along, featurette, trailer, and still galleries.
  • Oklahoma! (Includes two versions): Set in the Oklahoma Territory in the early 1900’s, this joyous celebration of frontier life is a story of tender romance and dangerous passion. Gordon MacRae is Curly, a sunny, good-natured ranch hand, and Shirley Jones is Laurey Williams, the farmer’s daughter he loves. Rod Steiger is he menacing Jud, who tries to comes between them. The first Rodgers and Hammerstein collaboration, this Academy Award winner for Best Score features the classic songs Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’, The Surrey With The Fringe On Top and People Will Say We’re In Love. Includes both the 70mm Todd-AO at 30fps and in 35mm CinemaScope at 24fps versions of the film.  Extras include commentaries, sing-along, film restoration pop-up, featurettes, stage performances, still galleries and trailers.
  • The King and I: This visual and musical masterpiece features Yul Brynner’s Academy Award-winning performance, an unforgettable Rodgers and Hammerstein score, and brilliant choreography by Jerome Robbins. It tells the true story of an Englishwoman, Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr), who comes to Siam as schoolteacher to the royal court in the 1860’s. Though she soon finds herself at odds with the stubborn monarch (Brynner), over time, Anna and the King stop trying to change each other and begin to understand one another. Extras include commentary, isolated score, sing-along, featurettes, Anna and the King TV pilot, vintage stage excerpts, Movietone News, trailers, and still galleries.
  • Carousel: Filmed on location in a beautiful seaside village, Carousel stars Gordon MacRae as Billy Bigelow, a smooth-talking carny man who falls in love with a millworker (Shirley Jones). Tragedy strikes these star-crossed lovers, though, and their journey is not easy. How Billy makes his way to Heaven and back again, providing love and solace to his wife and daughter, and redemption for himself, is the story of one of the most unique and powerfully uplifting musicals ever written. With a score that includes If I Loved You and You’ll Never Walk Alone, little wonder that Carousel was composer Richard Rodgers’ personal favorite.  Extras include commentary, isolated score, sing-along, Fritz Lang version of the play (Liliom), additional songs, featurettes, vintage stage excerpts, Movietone News, trailers, and still galleries.
  • South Pacific: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Academy Award-winning South Pacific is a towering musical masterpiece and the tender love story of a naive young Navy nurse (Mitzi Gaynor) and an older French Plantation owner (Rossano Brazzi) on a U.S. occupied South Sea island. The breathtaking score is highlighted by some of the most romantic songs ever written: Some Enchanted Evening, There is Nothin’ Like a Dame, Younger Than Springtime and more. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, South Pacific ranks among the most celebrated of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s acclaimed musicals. Includes the theatrical and extended “road show” version (on DVD).  Extras include commentaries, sing-along, feature length documentary, featurettes, vintage stage excerpts, Movietone News, trailers, and still galleries.
  • The Sound of Music: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s cinematic treasure, The Sound of Music is  the winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In this true-life story, Julie Andrews lights up the screen as Maria, a spirited  young Austrian woman who leaves the convent to become a governess for  Captain von Trapp’s (Christopher Plummer) seven unruly children. Her  charm and songs soon win the hearts of the children – and their father.  But when Nazi Germany unites with Austria, Maria is forced to attempt a  daring escape with her new family. Extras include commentaries, sing-along, and interactive interface.

The Selfish Giant

MPI Home Video / Released 4/29/14

One of the most acclaimed films of 2013, The Selfish Giant is the moving story of 13-year-old best friends for whom the joys of boyhood are almost nonexistent. Diminutive, hyperactive Arbor (Conner Chapman) and shy, ungainly Swifty (Shaun Thomas) stick together to battle bullies at school and poverty at home. One fateful night, the boys witness men trying to steal power cables – and manage to make off with the valuable wires themselves. They sell them to a shady scrap dealer, Kitten (Sean Gilder), beginning a steady criminal arrangement. But when the vindictive Kitten learns that Arbor has stolen from him, he orders the boys to undertake a dangerous mission, leading to a shattering climax. Echoing the unfettered depiction of British working-class life in the films of Ken Loach and Lynne Ramsay, The Selfish Giant is the stunning debut feature from director Clio Barnard.

Last Word:  There’s nothing more exciting than discovering an amazing film that you’ve never even heard of before.  The Selfish Giant is based on the story by Oscar Wilde, but Clio Barnard stages it in a gritty, grey environment.  The film itself is a heartbreaking story of working class desperation and the film is absorbing and honest with every single frame.  The powerful and bleak film pits it’s young characters in a coming of age story with a friendship based on need and poverty.  Without a moment of sentimentality  The Selfish Giant is a fable that is difficult to watch, more challenging to look away with images and performances that will haunt you long after the film ends.  Highly recommended.

Sophie’s Choice

Shout! Factory / Released 4/29/14

Adapted from William Styron’s best-selling novel, this passionate tale of a writer’s love for a holocaust survivor is an exhilarating and compelling revelation.  Screen favorite Meryl Streep received an Academy Award for her portrayal of Sophie Zawistowska in this penetrating drama set in post-World War II Brooklyn. Kevin Kline plays her all-consuming lover, Nathan. The story revolves around Sophie’s struggle as a Polish-Catholic immigrant in the United States who had survived a Nazi concentration camp. The lovers’ drama unfolds through the observations of a friend and would-be writer, Stingo (Peter MacNicol). As the trio grows closer, Stingo uncovers the hidden truths that they each harbor. Extras include a new roundtable interview.

Last Word:  Emotionally draining, Sophie’s Choice is heartbreaking, but at the same time there’s a palpable excitement as you watch one of cinema’s greatest actresses deliver her finest performance.  Set up as if the choice is the love triangle between Streep and co-stars Kline and MacNicol, the truths that haunt Sophie are from her time spent at Auschwitz.  Filled with guilt and pain, Streep commands the screen and her haunting performance is both engaging and exhausting as it’s impossible not to become overwhelmed with emotion watching the atrocities that she survived.  Highly recommended.

Star Trek: Enterprise – Complete Fourth Season

Paramount / Released 4/29/14

In the final harrowing season of Star Trek: Enterprise, timelines collide as Captain Jonathan Archer and his crew rally with humans and other species to form the Federation and prevent intergalactic war. Starfleet and the crew of the Enterprise are put to the test as they fight to avoid a deadly virus on the ship, deal with an alternate “mirror” universe, battle radical alien factions, and prevent the alteration of history – including a Nazi-occupied America. If the Temporal Cold War is not brought to an end, history and life as they know it will be forever altered.  Extras include audio and text commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, outtakes, and retrospectives.

Last Word: The final season of Enterprise reestablished itself as a prequel to the Trek canon, featuring enemies or situations that would turn up again within the mythology as well as attempted to clear up any contradictions.  This had mixed results ultimately when it was revealed that the series was all being viewed via data logs by Riker and Troi. Unfortunately, Enterprise marked the end of Star Trek on television for the first time since the premiere of ST:TNG eighteen years earlier. Guest stars included Steve Schirripa, Joanna Cassidy, Gary Graham, Brent Spiner, Mark Rolston, Michael Nouri, Jeffrey Combs, Bill Cobbs, Brian Thompson, James Avery, John Schuck, Pat Healy, Gregory Itzin, Tom Bergeron,  Marina Sirtis and Jonathan Frakes.  Packed with generous supplemental materials, Star Trek: Enterprise is once again an amazing release from Paramount.

The Strange Woman

Film Chest / Released 4/29/14

The charming and extremely beautiful Jenny Hager (Hedy Lamarr) finds she can always use her looks to get what she wants from men. But beauty is only skin deep and she grows up to be equally heartless and manipulative. After her drunkard father’s death, she quickly maneuvers herself into a position to marry an older, wealthy businessman … and the father of her childhood friend. Though she often uses his money to do good, she continues to consider all other men fair game … and she’ll stop at nothing to control the ones who cross her path.  Originally released in 1946, The Strange Woman was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and also stars Dennis Hoey, Gene Lockhart, Louis Hayward and George Sanders.

You, Me, & Them Series 1

Acorn Media / Released 4/29/14

True love. At first you have eyes only for each other…but before long, both your families are watching you, too. This sparkling British comedy follows a May-December romance between free spirit Lauren (Eve Myles) and young-at-heart divorced grandfather Ed (Anthony Head).  The age gap isn’t Lauren and Ed’s only challenge. They face the disapproval of Lauren’s parents, who are practically Ed’s contemporaries, and her skeptical older sister, who’s got a chaotic family of her own. On the other side, they endure Ed’s down-on-his-luck, live-in brother; his irresponsible grandson; and most vexing of all, his narcissistic, delusional ex-wife (Lindsay Duncan), who has moved into the house next door and plots to win her “Eddie Bear” back. With sharp writing and impeccable comic performances, You, Me & Them takes a lighthearted look at the merger of two complex, opinionated, and meddlesome families.

Adventure Time: The Suitor

Cartoon Network / Released 5/6/14

Featuring 16 full length episodes includes 16 episodes of the show The Suitor, Shh!, Another 5 Short Graybles, Wizards Only, Fool, Be More, Sky Witch, The Vault, Red Starved, Hug Wolf, Beyond This Earthly Realm, King Worm, Morituri Te Salutamus, Heat Signature, Blood Under the Skin, Marceline’s Henchmen and James Baxter the Horse.

Welcome to the imagination of Pendleton Ward and to the post apocalyptic adventures of Finn (Jeremy Shada), a human boy with a funny hat, and his friend Jake (John DiMaggio), a magic and mischievous dog. Set in a faraway kingdom called Ooo, Finn and Jake are out to have the most fun possible as they thwart the misunderstood but mostly evil Ice King, save Princess Bubblegum (Hynden Walch), battle candy zombie, a pie-throwing robot, rock out with Marceline the bass-playing Vampire Queen and encounter “Ricardio the Heart Guy,” a living heart.

Among the recurring cast members are petulant extraterrestrial Lumpy Space Princess and sentient but playable video game console Beemo.

Adventure Time: The Suitor is a combination of childhood innocence mixed with an adult self-awareness that makes an unforgettable, charming and magical experience. Extras include Little Did you Know – Character Gallery.

Andy Griffith Show: Complete First Season

Paramount / Released 5/6/14

Few television characters have impacted family culture as much as Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith), Barney Fife (Don Knotts), Opie (Ron Howard), and the idyllic American town of Mayberry. As town sheriff and widowed father, Andy with the help of Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier) teaches his son the meaning of family, friendship, and upstanding citizenship in this all-time classic series, now in remastered HD with slick-as-a-whistle special features! Includes every episode from the first season, beautifully restored in high definition, in original night-of-broadcast form with original sponsor openings and closings. Extras include The Danny Thomas Show: “Danny Meets Andy Griffith”, Additional Scenes, Interview: “Person To Person” Interview With Andy Griffith (6/14/57), The Howards’ On-set Home Movies and Return To Mayberry Television Movie.

Last Word: An amazing set collecting the first 32 episodes of the series.  They are:

  • The New Housekeeper: Opie adjusts when Andy’s Aunt Bee, who raised Andy, comes to make the house a home again. From October 3, 1960.
  • The Manhunt: An escaped convict turns up in Mayberry where Andy and Barney must work with … or around … the state police. From October 10, 1960.
  • Guitar Player: Andy helps an arresting guitar player find the road to success and on to stardom. From October 17, 1960.
  • Ellie Comes to Town: Ellie May Walker, big city pharmacist, discovers what being a small town druggist is like when she arrives to run Walker Drugs for her uncle. From October 24, 1960.
  • Irresistible Andy: Andy plots a diversion from what he wrongly believes is Ellie’s determined intention to marry him. From October 31, 1960.
  • Runaway Kid: Opie tries to help a young runaway while Andy’s lesson about keeping one’s word comes back to haunt him. From November 7, 1960.
  • Andy the Matchmaker: Andy stages events to bolster Barney’s confidence in love and crime fighting after an incident dampens his spirits. From November 14, 1960.
  • Opie’s Charity: Andy gets a lesson in charity when his son donates only a small amount to the Underprivileged Children’s Drive. From November 28, 1960
  • A Feud is a Feud: An age-old family feud keeps the town awake at night when lovebirds from the two families want to marry. From December 5, 1960.
  • Ellie for Council: Ellie, appalled by an absence of women on the town council, steps up to lead and meets masculine resistance. From December 12, 1960.
  • Christmas Story: The town scrooge demands the lockup of a citizen over the holiday leaving Andy to find a way to save Christmas for one and all. From December 19, 1960.
  • Stranger in Town: Barney is on the hunt to determine why a visiting New Yorker knows so much about the people of Mayberry. From December 26, 1960.
  • Mayberry Goes Hollywood: The townsfolk strike a pose for their close-ups as Mayberry becomes the location for a Hollywood movie. From January 2, 1961.
  • The Horse Trader: Andy puts his best used-cannon salesman tactics to work despite teaching Opie about fair deals. From January 9, 1961.
  • Those Gossipin’ Men: Andy heckles Aunt Bee about feminine gossip … so she plots a prank to prove the men enjoy a tale as much as anyone. From January 16, 1961.
  • The Beauty Contest: A small-town beauty pageant poses political problems for Andy who is named the sole judge. From January 23, 1961.
  • Alcohol and Old Lace: The culprits of an alcohol-distilling ring that Andy and Barney dismantle are a rather unlikely pair. From January 30, 1961.
  • Andy the Marriage Counselor: Andy tries his hand at keeping the peace in the marriage of a quarrelsome couple. From February 6, 1961.
  • Mayberry on Record: A record producer lands in Mayberry attempting to record Folksy musical talent, but Andy hears a different tune. From February 13, 1961.
  • Andy Saves Barney’s Morale: When Barney’s day as acting sheriff ends with nearly everyone in jail, Andy has to free him from public ridicule. From February 20, 1961.
  • Andy and the Gentleman Crook: The townspeople are charmed by a high-profile con artist residing in jail, but Andy finds him anything but enchanting. From February 27, 1961.
  • Cyrano Andy: When Barney struggles to express his inner soul to Thelma Lou, Andy has just the plan. From March 6, 1961.
  • Andy and Opie, Housekeepers: Aunt Bee leaves her messy boys to their own capabilities when she has to attend to an ailing family member out of town. From March 13, 1961.
  • The New Doctor: Ellie takes to a handsome doctor while Andy takes to the devices of Aunt Bee, Barney, and Opie to manage his jealousy. From March 22, 1961.
  • A Plaque for Mayberry: The town drunk turns out to be the last surviving descendant of a Revolutionary War hero, leaving Mayberrians shocked and conflicted. From April 3, 1961.
  • The Inspector: Andy deals with a local bootlegger while having his methods questioned by a rules-oriented courthouse inspector. From April 10, 1961.
  • Ellie Saves a Female: In an act of sisterly intervention, Ellie supports a female farmhand in finding her inner woman. From April 17, 1961.
  • Andy Forecloses: Local mogul Ben Weaver strikes again, this time demanding foreclosure on a struggling neighbor’s property. From April 24, 1961.
  • Quiet Sam: Barney noses around when he smells something suspect in the story of a mysterious new farmer. From May 1, 1961.
  • Barney Gets His Man: A man Barney is responsible for sending to prison escapes and returns to Mayberry to settle the score. From May 8, 1961.
  • The Guitar Player Returns: Despite a rock star welcome for returning Mayberry musician Jim Lindsey, Andy is skeptical of the hometown hero’s motives. From May 15, 1961.
  • Bringing Up Opie: Believing Opie could do better if not surrounded by Mayberry’s criminals, Aunt Bee forbids him from visiting the courthouse. From May 22, 1961.

Although the series is set in simpler times, as a series, The Andy Griffith Show represents some of the finest work presented on television. To modern audiences, the series might seem old fashioned, but that’s more than part of it’s appeal as it presents and idealized version of “the good old days.” With Mayberry, the show’s producers created a town rich with colorful inhabitants.  It’s hard to note any criticism with either the contents or it’s presentation.  The Andy Griffith Show charms it’s way right to your heart with warmth and a nice slice of pie courtesy of Aunt Bee.  Highest recommendation.

The Art of the Steal

Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 5/6/14

Crunch Calhoun (Kurt Russell), a third rate motorcycle daredevil and semi-reformed art thief, agrees to get back into the con game and pull off one last big art heist with his conniving brother, Nicky (Matt Dillon). Reassembling the old team, Crunch comes up with a plan to steal a priceless historical book, but the heist leads to another far riskier plan devised by Nicky. They fail to realize each other’s separate agendas when their plan goes awry in this con movie about honor, revenge and the bonds of brotherhood. Also starring Jay Baruchel, Katheryn Winnick, Chris Diamantopoulos, Kenneth Welsh, Jason Jones and Terence Stamp.

China Beach: Season 3

Time/Life / Released 5/6/14

Part EVAC hospital, part USO entertainment center, China Beach was an outpost of craziness and compassion that introduced audiences to the Vietnam War through the eyes of the women who served there. Created by William Broyles, Jr. and John Sacret Young, China Beach captured an extraordinary group of characters in this unique, exotic place where so many things came together — horror and laughter, heroism and sacrifice, and unforgettable and iconic music. The Complete Season Three explores the most unlikely relationship between nurse Colleen McMurphy (Dana Delany) and “entrepreneur” K.C. Kolowski (Marg Helgenberger). These opposite women forge a comradeship through the year, starting in the first episode, “The Unquiet Earth,” when both are held hostage in the notorious tunnels in Vietnam. This is set to iconic songs including “Stand By Me” by John Lennon, “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin, “Crystal Blue Persuasion” by Tommy James & The Shondells, “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” by Manfred Mann, “Brown-Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison and many more.  The season also introduces Holly Pelegrino (Ricki Lake); brings a wonderful excursion into magical realism in “Skylark,” featuring Ruby Dee; takes Dodger (Jeff Kober) home; and jumps back in “F.N.G.” to when new “guys” Dr. Richard (Robert Picardo) and McMurphy first arrive in country, and freshly wounded Boonie Lanier (Brian Wimmer) encounters K.C.. Adding to the season are a roster of guest stars, many of whom – much like the cast — would go on to much larger things: Vince Vaughn, Tom Sizemore, Thomas Haden Church, Don Cheadle, Helen Hunt and more. Extras include interviews, deleted scenes, commentaries and bloopers.

Honeymooners: Classic 39 Episodes

Paramount / Released 5/6/14

Ralph Kramden is a New York bus driver who dreams of a better life. With his eccentric good friend, Ed Norton the sewer worker, he constantly tries crackpot schemes to strike it rich. All the while, his exasperated wife, Alice, is always there to bring him down to earth or to pick him up if he beats her to it. For as much as they fight, even dunderhead Ralph knows that she is the greatest and vice versa. This comprehensive Blu-ray collection features all 39 full-length classic episodes, brilliantly remastered in high definition, and a wealth of special features. So get ready to join Ralph, Alice, Ed and Trixie on a trip to everlasting laughs. Extras include bloopers, promos, featurettes and interviews.

Last Word:  It’s amazing not only how iconic The Honeymooners is with just 39 episodes filmed, but also how it’s influence has been felt by through pop culture.  With a cast of four performers; Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph, The Honeymooners not only represented some of the best television to air at the time, but is some of the best television of all time.  With endearing characters, sharp writing and solid performances, The Honeymooners succeeds in no small part to some of the restrictions the series utilized at the time.  Much of the series is set in a single location and the characters wear the same outfits throughout; both of which aid immeasurably in preventing the series to seem dated. Although the series used a number of plots that would become sitcom clichés, The Honeymooners is at it’s core a love story about an underdog who will try anything to make a better life for himself and his wife. This set includes the Classic 39 episodes which are:

  • TV or Not TV: Original air date: October 1, 1955.
  • Funny Money: Original air date: October 8, 1955.
  • The Golfer: Original air date: October 15, 1955.
  • A Woman’s Work Is Never Done: Original air date: October 22, 1955.
  • A Matter of Life and Death: Original air date: October 29, 1955.
  • The Sleepwalker: Original air date: November 5, 1955.
  • Better Living Through TV: Original air date: November 12, 1955.
  • Pal o’Mine: Original air date: November 19, 1955.
  • Brother Ralph: Original air date: November 26, 1955.
  • Hello, Mom: Original air date: December 3, 1955.
  • The Deciding Vote: Original air date: December 10, 1955.
  • Something Fishy: Original air date: December 17, 1955.
  • Twas the Night Before Christmas: Original air date: December 24, 1955.
  • The Man From Space: Original air date: December 31, 1955.
  • A Matter of Record: Original air date: January 7, 1956.
  • Oh My Aching Back: Original air date: January 14, 1956.
  • The Baby Sitter: Original air date: January 21, 1956.
  • The $99,000 Answer: Original air date: January 28, 1956.
  • Ralph Kramden, Inc.: Original air date: February 4, 1956.
  • Young at Heart: Original air date: February 11, 1956.
  • A Dog’s Life: Original air date: February 18, 1956.
  • Here Comes the Bride: Original air date: February 25, 1956.
  • Mama Loves Mambo: Original air date: March 3, 1956.
  • Please Leave the Premises: Original air date: March 10, 1956.
  • Pardon My Glove: Original air date: March 17, 1956.
  • Young Man with a Horn: Original air date: March 24, 1956.
  • Head of the House: Original air date: March 31, 1956.
  • The Worry Wart: Original air date: April 7, 1956.
  • Trapped: Original air date: April 14, 1956.
  • The Loudspeaker: Original air date: April 21, 1956.
  • On Stage: Original air date: April 28, 1956. A
  • Opportunity Knocks But: Original air date: May 5, 1956.
  • Unconventional Behavior: Original air date: May 12, 1956.

The Honeymooners is one of television’s most iconic series.  In fact, baby, it’s the greatest.  Highly recommended.

I Love Lucy: Ultimate Season One

Paramount / Released 5/6/14

Here’s how it all began-the classic episodes that started America’s long-running love affair with everyone’s favorite madcap redhead, Lucille Ball. Plus the rarely seen pilot episode that sold the I Love Lucy series. By the end of its initial season, I Love Lucy was TV’s first bona fide smash-hit-the very first program seen in more than 10 million homes. America just couldn’t get enough of this stunning new comedy talent-Lucy as a less-than-poised would-be ballerina in “The Ballet,” Lucy battling the world’s longest loaf of bread in “Pioneer Women,” and Lucy in her greatest performance, as the health tonic-guzzling TV pitchwoman for “Vitameatavegamin” in “Lucy Does a TV Commercial.” (“And it’s so tasty, too!”) Fall in love all over again, with the wild and wacky series that changed TV forever! Includes every episode from the first season, beautifully restored in high definition, in original night-of-broadcast form with original sponsor openings and closings. Extras include commentaries, bloopers, featuettes, a 1951 promo, photo gallery, radio broadcasts, 1990 network special and outtakes, production notes, and the Sunday Lucy Show.

Last Word:  One of the best, if not the very best, sitcoms ever produced, I Love Lucy comes to Blu-ray looking better than ever before.  With a top notch ensemble, sharp writing staff and brilliant performances, I Love Lucy is more than iconic.  It’s a marker of quality.  This timeless series is still funny and entertaining and extremely rewatchable.   With real life couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and the supporting cast of Vivian Vance and William Frawley), the series cleverly allowed the cast to showcase their abilities including Arnaz’s singing and the physical comedy of Vance and Ball.  Also brilliant was the decision to establish Arnaz’s character as a famous bandleader allowing for frequent guest stars.  The first season contains the following episodes:

  • The I Love Lucy Pilot: Ricky tries to keep Lucy away from his TV audition, but when a clown can’t make it, Lucy shows up in his place.
  • The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub: A spat aver where to go on the Mertzes’ anniversary leaves the men and women celebrating separately, until Lucy and Ethel show up in Hillbilly disguises as Ricky and Fred’s blind dates.
  • Be a Pal: Lucy tries everything to rekindle romance with Ricky — pouring on the glamour, joining his poker game, even turning the apartment into “Little Havana.”
  • The Diet: Ricky will finally let Lucy be in his show — if she can starve and steam her way into a size 12 costume.
  • Lucy Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her: After reading a murder mystery and listening to Ethel’s fortune-telling, Lucy is convinced that Ricky is planning on doing away with her.
  • The Quiz Show: To win $1,000, Lucy has to introduce a stranger to Ricky as her “long-lost husband.”
  • The Audition: Ricky tries to keep Lucy away from his TV audition, but when a clown can’t make it, Lucy shows up in his place.
  • The Séance: The Ricardos and the Mertzes host a phony séance to convince Mr. Merriweather, a Broadway producer, to hire Ricky for a show.
  • Men are Messy: Tired of Ricky’s messy habits, Lucy divides the apartment in half — he can be a slob in his half, but not hers.
  • The Fur Coat: Ricky borrows a mink coat for an act at the club, but Lucy thinks it’s for her. Now she won’t take it off!
  • Lucy is Jealous of a Girl Singer: Lucy, upset by a gossip column item linking Ricky with a girl at the club, dons a disguise and heads for The Tropicana.
  • Drafted: Lucy and Ethel, convinced their hubbies are about to be drafted, start knitting them going-away presents.
  • The Adagio: Lucy takes dance lessons so she can be in a number at the club. But her Parisian teacher has more than dancing on his mind.
  • The Benefit: Ricky agrees to do a Vaudeville routine with Lucy for Ethel’s women’s club benefit, but when Lucy discovers that Ricky has all the punchlines, she decides to make a few changes.
  • The Amateur Hour: Lucy lands in double trouble when she takes a baby-sitting job to earn money to pay for an expensive new dress.
  • Lucy Plays Cupid: Lucy delivers a romantic note to the grocer from her shy neighbor, the elderly Miss Lewis. Now the grocer thinks that Lucy is the one who’s interested in him.
  • Lucy Fakes an Illness: Lucy fakes a nervous breakdown from Ricky keeping her out of show business. To get even, Ricky brings home a “doctor,” who convinces her she has a rare disease.
  • Lucy Writes a Play: For her club’s production, playwright Lucy pens a Cuban-themed drama to star Ricky. He refuses the part — until he learns that a famous producer will be in the audience.
  • Breaking the Lease: A feud with Fred and Ethel over noise has Lucy and Ricky ready to move out. But can the Ricardos make such a racket that the Mertzes will let them out of their lease?
  • The Ballet: To break into Ricky’s act, Lucy trains as a ballerina, then gets a pie-filled lesson in burlesque from a professional comic.
  • The Young Fans: To rid Ricky of Peggy, an amorous teenage fan, Lucy teaches Peggy’s clumsy schoolmate, Arthur, how to dance. Now the schoolboy has a crush on Lucy!
  • New Neighbors: Lucy is certain that the new tenants are planning to murder them.
  • Fred and Ethel Fight: Lucy manages to patch up a quarrel between the Mertzes, but now the Ricardos aren’t speaking to each other. To gain Ricky’s sympathy, Lucy pretends she’s been hit by a bus.
  • The Moustache: To get Ricky to shave his upper lip, Lucy glues on a white beard. Only one problem — she accidentally used permanent cement!
  • The Gossip: Ricky and Fred bet Lucy and Ethel that the girls can’t give up gossiping, then “talk in their sleep” about Mrs. Foster and the milkman.
  • Pioneer Women: When the boys bet the girls they couldn’t live the same rugged existence as their ancestors, Lucy and Ethel try baking bread from scratch — using just a little bit too much yeast.
  • The Marriage License: An error on her marriage license convinces Lucy she’s not legally married, so she drags Ricky back to Connecticut to propose to her again.
  • The Kleptomaniac: Lucy’s stash of money and valuables for the women’s club bazaar has Ricky and Fred convinced that she’s been on a crime spree.
  • Cuban Pals: Jealous of Ricky’s dance partner, the voluptuous “Renita,” Lucy schemes to take her place in the show.
  • The Freezer: After installing a walk-in meat locker in the basement, Lucy learns the hard way just how cold the new freezer is!
  • Lucy Does a TV Commercial: Lucy is hired to do a commercial for “Vitameatavegamin” health tonic. After four takes she’s “happy,” but not very “peppy.”
  • The Publicity Agent: Ricky’s publicity has fallen off, so Lucy dreams up a stunt that involves her posing as the “Maharincess of Farnistan.”
  • Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio: Lucy is so impressed at Ricky’s correct answers to a radio quiz show that she gets him booked on the show as a contestant.
  • Lucy’s Schedule: To teach Lucy the importance of punctuality, Ricky puts her on a time schedule. She serves up a high-speed meal to teach him a lesson.
  • Ricky Thinks He’s Getting Bald: Ricky’s worried that his hairline is receding, so Lucy decides to give him scalp treatments.
  • Ricky Asks For a Raise: Lucy convinces Ricky to demand more pay. Now he’s out of a job until Lucy dreams up a scheme to sabotage his replacement’s opening night booking.

I Love Lucy‘s appearance on Blu-ray is a reassurance that the series will continue to be regarded as one of television’s most entertaining programs in the history of the medium.  The plentiful supplementary material reassures us of it’s importance.  Highest recommendation.

Little House on the Prairie Season 2: Deluxe Remastered Edition

Lionsgate / Released 5/6/14

Season two brings new challenges and unforgettable frontier adventures. When debts force Charles to work at several jobs, his entire family pitches in to earn the needed money. Mary’s gift for mathematics makes her the talk of the town. Charles helps an ailing widow find care for her three children, and the Ingalls family celebrates the nation’s centennial with a joyous town party. Relive these favorite moments- and so many more-in this heartwarming collection that celebrates one of the most beloved TV series of all time.

Last Word:  Season two once again finds the citizens of Walnut Grove settling in and for viewers, the season plays very similarly.  Television at this point was truly episodic, so the majority of troubles, challenges or drama were wrapped up within the episode or the next.  The cast and supporting ensemble are all excellent and the season is satisfactory, but far from overwhelming.  It’s watchable stuff and there’s a bit of nostalgia, but there’s not much to fawn over.  For fans of the series, it’s never looked better, and for parents looking for quality entertainment for their children, they’d have little to complain about revisiting this series.  Little House on the Prairie Season 2: Deluxe Remastered Edition is worth revisiting.  It’s just not a season you might revisit again and again.

Love Happy

Olive Films / Released 5/6/14

Love Happy was the final film starring the legendary Marx Brothers (Duck Soup, A Night at the Opera). Harpo Marx is a true patron of the arts, taking from the rich to help feed a group of poor actors struggling to open a new musical without financial backers. He unknowingly makes off with the missing Romanoff diamonds when he shoplifts a tin of sardines from a classy Manhattan market. The diamonds have been smuggled into the country by a sinful yet scintillatingly beautiful jewel thief, Madame Egelichi (Ilona Massey). The Madame traces the tin back to the theater and becomes the show’s financial backer. Hoping to recover the missing diamonds, she and her henchmen nearly bring the whole house down in a madcap race to retrieve the jewels on opening night. The all-star cast includes Chico Marx, Groucho Marx, Vera-Ellen, Raymond Burr and Marilyn Monroe. Directed by David Miller (Flying Tigers).

Last Word:  I was previously unaware of this film and thought it was a pleasant surprise.  Not only is it the last Marx Brothers film, but it’s also based on a story by Harpo.  Marilyn Monroe makes her big screen debut, Groucho has limited screen time, and Raymond Burr plays a villain.  What’s not to love?  Lacking the manic energy of their earlier screen appearances, this is not prime Marx Brothers, but nevertheless, a welcome discovery.  Recommended.

Still Mine

20th Century Fox / Released 5/6/14

Oscar Nominees James Cromwell and Geneviève Bujold star in this love story based on actual events that proves love is the ultimate triumph. Determined to build a more suitable house for his wife Irene (Bujold), whose memory is failing, Craig Morrison (Cromwell) is met with resistance from an overzealous government inspector. Facing a possible jail sentence, and with Irene becoming increasingly ill, Craig races to finish the house in this beautiful story filled with heart and humor.

Last Word: A touching film that features touching and nuanced performances from James Cromwell and Geneviève Bujold, Still Mine is a tearjerker that will have you sobbing by the end.  It’s sincere and touching and the portrayal of a couple’s love through good times and bad is demonstrated through the struggle within the film.  Having lost my father to Alzheimer’s I frequently take offense to it’s onscreen portrayal.  In Still Mine, it’s presented with an realistic amount of the necessary grace and dignity one must endure when a loved one is suffering.  Still Mine is very melodramatic, but the actors elevate the material well beyond the words on the page.  Recommended.

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