'The Wild Life' Blu-Ray Review

Our story opens with a parrot named Mak (David Howard) telling us about a man named Robinson Crusoe (Yuri Lowenthal). Now Crusoe was sailing the Pacific Ocean and his ship runs into a terrible storm. The ship can't handle the weather and Crusoe and his dog Aynsley make it to a small island with some pretty quirky animals. Mak was out with some of his friends just strolling down the beach when they run into Crusoe. The problem is that the animals had no idea what Crusoe was, they had never seen a human before. At first the animals were very suspicious of Crusoe but as time went on they realized that this man actually needed them to survive. You see Crusoe was pretty clumsy.

Some of the other animals were a tapir named Rosie (Laila Berzins), an anteater named  Epi (Sandy Fox) and a almost blind goat named Scrubby (Joey Caman). Crusoe needed a place to stay and it's Mac who at first decided to help this human. Little by little the other animals lend a hand and Crusoe has a place to lay his head when he wants to sleep. The animals were pretty lazy. You see, they actually could have laid back and eaten bugs all day and would have been happy. It was Mac who always questioned if there was more to the world than just their little island. Life becomes complicated when two cats land on the island and stir things up. The cats want to take over control of the island but when Crusoe and the gang realize what they're up to all the chaos begins.

Lionsgate brings this wonderful story to Blu-Ray on November 29th, 2016. The quality of the Blu-Ray is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. Children will love the animation and story, and the whole family can sit back and enjoy this wonderful tale of adventure. You will definitely want to add this one to that personal library. Enjoy.

'Pete's Dragon' Blu-Ray Review

Our story opens with a family driving down the road. Pete (Levi Alexander) and his parents swerve to miss a deer but the car crashes. The impact kills his parents but Pete is able to get out of the car. He stumbles around and is surrounded by a pack of wolves. The wolves are frightened away by what appears to be a Dragon. Pete can't believe his eyes because it really is a Dragon and he eventually calls it Elliot (John Kassir).

Six years later Pete (Oakes Fegley) and Elliot have been living in a cave and seem to be doing quite well considering. Now Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) is telling some children the story of the dragon. Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) overhears her father and becomes interested. You see Grace is a Forrest Ranger and thinks she might get lucky and spot the dragon sometime. Grace was walking in the woods one day and Pete spotted her. He followed her for awhile but then a lumberjack named Gavin (Karl Urban) comes on the scene so he holds back. Grace's fiancé Jack (Wes Bentley) and his daughter Natalie (Oona Laurence) also arrive to see what Gavin is doing. Gavin and Jack are brothers and Jack's not too happy that Gavin is out cutting down trees on his own.

Natalie spots Pete and follows him. The two climb a tree but Natalie almost falls out of the tree but is only scraped up. Pete tries to run away but hits his heads and is unconscious. They take him to the hospital but Pete runs away. Grace and Natalie go looking for Pete and eventually do find him. They take him in but Pete wants to be with Elliot.

This is pure Disney at its best. I'm not going to tell the ending, that you will have to see for yourself, but you better have some tissue around. Disney brings this wonderful story to Blu-Ray on November 29th, 2016. The quality of the Blu-Ray is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This is definitely one for that personal library. So don't waste any time and pick up a copy right away.

'Sound breaking: Stories From The Cutting Edge Of Recorded Music' DVD Review

This is a music documentary that goes beyond all others. This eight part series looks at the innovation and experimentation of a centuries worth of music. It literally details the birth of new sounds and explores just how society reacted to them. From The Beatles and their use of multi-track technology to the use of synthesized instruments, our story will explore the drum machines that were used in the disco-era to the simple use of artificial and natural sounds in today's music.

You the viewer will hear in their own words how artists over the years have come up with groundbreaking music time and again. The Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will discuss the innovative approach they took towards their music. Elton John, Roger Daltrey, Roger Walters and Annie Lennox will discuss the sounds that made them famous. Producers like Sir George Martin, Quincy Jones will talk of work behind the music that took place to make those wonderful sounds of the 1960's until today.

Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, as well as Steven Van Zandt and Billy Idol will talk about the sounds they have worked on for their entire careers. Groups like The Black Keys and Questlove will discuss their brand of music and discuss the sound they wanted to sell. This is big. What you have in these eight episodes is the artist simply telling the audience about how the music was made. In the end, you will literally listen to certain songs in a whole different light. Music has become such an integral part of our lives that it might just be worth watching just to simply learn why you listen to the type of music that you enjoy.

Athena brings this wonderful story of music to us on DVD November 29th, 2016. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are superb. This history of modern music will be a wonderful addition to that personal library. So don't waste any time and pick this up if not for yourself then for a wonderful Christmas gift for that special someone.

'Brief Encounters' DVD Review

Jacqueline Gold wrote a book titled, "Good Vibrations: The True Story of Ann Summers". Now Ann Summer's group is a company that was started by Ms. Gold in the 1980's and sold lingerie and sex toys at parties. It was based on the Tupperware approach where one woman or a group of women would throw a party and invite others to come and see the items to be sold. It was a great way for housewives to make an extra dollar.

'Brief Encounters' is the story of four women who come together to broaden their horizons so to speak. Steph (Sophie Rundle), Dawn (Sharon Rooney), Pauline (Penelope Wilton) and Nita (Angela Griffin) are our future businesswomen for the Ann Summers company. What makes this a great show is that when this show takes place these types of parties didn't go over well at first. For instance, husbands and families didn't take to this sort of business at first. If you think about it society in general didn't take to them at first.

For some of our women they took on this sort of job because husbands were getting laid off and bills needed to be paid. For others they simply wanted to spread their wings so to speak, from the day in and day out routine of being wife and mother. What's great is that once everything takes off the women can see changes taking place in their personality and surroundings. The woman grew in their own confidence and others could see changes. This would be a plus and for some a challenge in their lives.

Acorn brings this wonderful show to DVD on November 29th, 2016. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This is a must for all of you who enjoy British comedy/drama. This will make an excellent addition to that personal library. So sit back and watch our young entrepreneurs take off into the business world of lingerie and sex toys and the fun it brings to all involved.

'C.H.U.D. II: Bud The Chud' Blu-Ray Review

Our movie opens in two ways, the military is wanting to perfect the 'C.H.U.D.'s and a couple of teenagers lose their teachers cadaver. Now a 'C.H.U.D'. is simply a Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dweller. The military want to use these creatures to fight in wars rather than risk actual humans.

Our teenagers Kevin (Bill Calvert), and Steve (Brian Robbins) were in their teachers lab when they discover a human corpse. The two want to use it but they lose the corpse. They decide to break into a government lab and steal a body but the corpse they end up with is Bud the Chud (Gerrit Graham) a human whose body is decomposing due to the military experiments it has gone through. Bud is brought back to life sort of, with a disease it carries starting to infect everyone it comes into contact with. Kevin and Steve aren't totally at fault for this hometown destruction. Their friend Katie (Tricia Leigh Fisher) was right there to help procure Bud from the military.

Now, what helps this horror flick is the comedy that is added to the plot. Kevin and Steve are good for a laugh but when you add Katie, along with the Army, the local police, and the FBI well let's face it you really do open yourself up for a laugh. All Bud wants to do is bring dead people back to flesh eating zombies. It's everybody else who wants to try and stop them.

Lionsgate brings this wonderfully funny and ghoulish movie to Blu-ray on November 22nd, 2016. The quality of the Blu-Ray is fantastic and the sights and sounds are excellent. This is a must for all horror aficionados. It will be a wonderful addition to that personal library. So don't waste any time and see who comes out ahead.

'Return Of The Living Dead 3' Blu-Ray Review

Colonel John Reynolds (Kent McCord) is currently working with the government to use the chemical Trioxin. If you remember Trioxin is the chemical that turns people into flesh eating monsters or zombies by any other name. They want to be able to have a fighting force of these creatures to use in battle. Colonel Reynolds son Curt (J. Trevor Edmond) and his girlfriend Julie (Melinda Clarke) are curious as to what daddy is doing these days. They both sneak into the laboratory one day and get more information than they really wanted to know.

Curt and his father don't see eye to eye on many things and the two often argue. It was one fateful day after one such argument that Curt and Julie take off on the motorcycle and there is a terrible accident. Julie dies and Curt is heartbroken. Curt realizes that he wants his Julie alive and that he must do anything to do this. Curt injects his girlfriend Julie with the Trioxin and of course she comes back to life as a brain eating zombie. Julie is none too happy about this and tries not to be the brain eating freak that she has become but to no avail. She is a zombie and will always be one. What's worse is that by bringing the Trioxin back into the public domain it also unleashes the dead to come back to life and they are out there eating the brains of everyone involved. The government become aware of what has taken place and desperately try to locate Curt and Julie.

Now the movie has its good and bad points. Yes, it is a typical zombie flick with human cannibalistic tendencies but on the other hand the details and graphics are really cool. Lionsgate brings this truly wonderful horror story to Blu-Ray on November 22nd, 2016. The sights and sounds are extremely detailed and the quality of the Blu-Ray is excellent.

For you horror fans this is a keeper and must be added to that personal library. This is one movie that you will want to come back and watch time and again. So don't waste any time and pick up a copy so when it's cold outside and your inside for the day and evening you will be able to see a world created to simply put, eat your brains out. Enjoy.

'Wentworth, Season 1' DVD Review

Bea Smith (Danielle Cormack) lives in the suburbs and is a loving wife and mother. All this changes when she gets tired of her husband who is nothing more than a abusive pig. She gets sentenced to Wentworth prison and soon meets Franky Doyle (Nicole da Silva) a lesbian drug dealer. Bea also becomes friends with Liz Birdsworth (Celia Ireland) and Doreen Anderson (Shareena Clanton) and she begins to settle in with her surroundings.

The Governor of the prison is Meg Jackson (Catherine McClements), and is becoming increasingly suspicious of just how easily Bea begins to fit in. One of the main problems for this institution is Meth and the guards and warden simply don't have a clue how it's coming in. Meg begins to snoop around but is later found by Bea lying in a pool of blood. The Deputy Governor Vera Bennett (Kate Atkinson) was always trying to label Meg Jackson a worthless and incompetent warden but it looks like Meg was on the right track. Franky's rival Jacs Holt ( Kris McQuade) was recently released from solitary and starts a riot.

This series goes into areas that most never see and where most always never want to. It's a gutsy re-imagining of the classic Australian TV series Prisoner: Cell Block H. A thought provoking approach makes this one of the best prison dramas. What's really interesting is just how well Bea fits into her surroundings.These women are the best at what they do. Bea simply wanted to stop her husband from his brutal ways but in the end she begins to run the joint and this is one great behind the scenes look into a modern day prison.

Acorn brings the first season of 'Wentworth' to DVD on November 15th, 2016. The sights and sounds are fantastic and the DVD quality is superb. This is definitely one series you will want to have in that personal library. So sit back and enjoy season 1 of 'Wentworth'.

 

'The Syndicate: All Or Nothing' DVD Review

Hazelwood Manor is family home to the Lord and Lady Hazelwood (Anthony Andrews and Alice Krige) and has been the family home since the 18th century. Unfortunately the family is in debt to the tune of 6.5 million pounds and the once stately home is now in need of repair and the staff is down to five people. The cook is Julie Travers ( Melanie Hill). The OCD gardener is Godfrey Watson (Lenny Henry). The maid is Dawn Stephenson (Elizabeth Berrington) and her daughter Amy (Daisy Head). The manageress is Sarah Travers (Cara Theobold).

The lines between upstairs and downstairs has always been rather thin but when the servants win the lottery of 40 million pounds it really turns everyone's world upside down. Lord Hazelwood has suffered a stroke but he still has all his faculties. It's his wife who still thinks that life is grand. In other words she knows how to spend money. There just isn't that much too spend but she does find ways to do it. Her son Spencer (Sam Phillips) is also somewhat a thorn in everyone's side because all he wants to do is sell the manor and get while the getting is good. You would think that if a person won that large a sum of money they would quit working and go live in paradise but the staff don't do that. They stay and help turn things around or at least they try. The laughs are real and the show does hit some good points, and to be honest it really is worth watching. 

Acorn is bringing this wonderful show to DVD on November 15th, 2016.  The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are fantastic. This is definitely one that you must pick up and have in that DVD personal library. The story is enjoyable and simply a delight to watch. So take the time and see what might happen one day to you if you should be lucky enough to win that lottery. Enjoy. 

'Capital' DVD Review

At first you might think this is a show about money or finance by its title. 'Capital' is actually the story of neighbors who live on Pepys road in London. Our story begins with anonymous postcards being delivered through the front door mail slots. There is only one thing written on the postcards and that is "We want what you have".  This postcard has the residents of Pepys road wondering what exactly is meant by the statement. This mystery postcard actually brings some of the neighbors actually talking to each other.

Roger (Toby Jones) is a financial whiz of sorts and most would think that his life is pretty simple. In reality he and his wife Arabella (Rachael Stirling) are having problems. Petunia (Gemma Jones) has lived on Pepys road all her life. Ahmed (Adeel Akhtar) is the owner of the local grocery shop. What makes this mystery take off is just how diverse Pepys road actually is all about. You have a variety of people who for no other reason is that they can afford to live on this road.

What makes this a wonderful experience to watch is just how each persons life is different from the others. Lesley Sharp plays Mary and Robert Emms plays Smitty and have wonderful performances. As the mystery begins to unfold you get to see just how different everyone is even though they live right by each other.

Acorn brings this exciting mystery to us on DVD on November 8th, 2016.  The DVD quality is excellent and the sights and sounds are perfect. So you just might want to pick up a copy and sit back and enjoy what goes on for those living on Pepys road. This will make a wonderful addition to that personal DVD library.

'Arlo The Burping Pig' DVD Review

When David (Joey Lawrence) and Llana (Jennifer Taylor) move the family it really upsets daughter Talia's (Lindsey Blanchard) life. She's not happy with her new surroundings. She is being picked on at school. Talia really didn't want to move. Then one day her life takes on a whole new meaning. While outside in the yard, Talia, runs into a little pig. At first it doesn't go well but then out of the blue the little piglet speaks to her. She is startled but she knows she has to help the little guy. Talia brings the pig into the house without anyone seeing. As the two where in her bedroom she decides to give the little guy a name. She decides on Arlo (Drake Bell) and the pig doesn't seem to mind. From this point the movie really does take off. Arlo is a laugh a minute. Secretly he is able to hang out in the house and only Talia knows about it. The secret eventually does come out and everybody is freaked.

You see Arlo did kind of make himself at home. He drinks out of glasses, and that just sets Talia's sister into a screaming fit. Now, did I forget to mention that one bad trait that Arlo has and that is he always belches after he eats. Yes, that's right he burps. What's worse is everyone thinks it's Talia being rude.

'Arlo The Burping Pig' is a great film and it comes out on DVD at the perfect time. Lionsgate brings this family adventure to us on DVD on November 15th, 2016. The DVD quality is excellent and the sights and sounds are perfect. Yes, you hear every wonderful burp. Arlo and his good friend Talia have each others back and that makes this a wonderfully entertaining movie for the whole family. The best thing of all is that it's coming to us during the holiday season and will make a great gift. This will also be a perfect addition to that personal library. Look the bottom line is that this is a great family film with some good points that the kids could learn. So don't waste any time and get that DVD as soon as it comes out and be ready to get those hugs from your kids for picking it up. They'll love you for it.

'Alpha And Omega: The Big Fureeze' DVD Review

The Alpha and Omega wolves are back with another heartwarming story just in time for Christmas. As proud parents and wanting to take care of the kids Kate and Humphrey have to brave the cold and find food for the pups to eat during the winter. Snow is already on the ground but they know what must be done. Stinky, Claudette, and Runt have been told not to venture out in the cold and that they will have to stay in the den while their parents go out and hunt.

Kate and Humphrey take off into the cold and for a short time everything is going well. The weather turns bad in a very short time and the parents become lost. The pups realize that their parents have been gone way too long and begin to worry. Now the kids talk among the pack about what to do and it's decided that they go in search and find their parents, and soon. The snow is falling at a terrible rate and it's going to be very hard to follow their parents tracks. The pups know that not only will they have to face the snow but they also might have to deal with rival wolf packs. What's even worse is the simple fact that the Bears are beginning their winter hibernation and are eating everything in sight.

The pups are driven with one main idea and that is it's Christmas time and they want to spend it with their parents. You see Kate and Humphrey have done a wonderful job teaching their pups the value of family.  That's what makes this a wonderful gift at this time of year. The whole family can sit back and enjoy this heartwarming adventure together.

Lionsgate brings this enjoyable tale to us on DVD on November 8th, 2016. The DVD quality is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This will also make a wonderful addition to that personal library. So take the time to pick up a copy of 'Alpha And Omega: The Big Fureeze. These wolves bring a beautiful story of family love to us this holiday season.  

'Carnage Park' Blu-ray Review

A bank robbery taking place in a small California town in 1978 goes horribly wrong and the pair of robbers have to take a hostage. Scorpion Joe (James Landry Hebert) and Lenny (Michael Villar) are our two bank robbers who bungle the job and are forced to take Vivian (Ashley Bell) hostage. For the time being the pair get away but as they begin running for the border they become snared in a trap set by Wyatt Moss (Pat Healy). Moss is a Vietnam veteran who never really made it back from the war. Moss has a good tract of land in the dessert and has set many traps all over the place. The problem is he's not  hunting animals, he's hunting man. That's right this guy is seriously nuts.

When the robbers become stranded in the dessert it's Vivian who really takes up the cause of survival. Our hapless robbers are no match for Moss but it's Vivian who takes up the fight against Moss. Local Sheriff Moss (Alan Ruck) who was after the bank robbers now has to go up against Wyatt Moss but with little effect. Vivian up to this point has been a little on the side of shy and quiet but when she has to go up against the former sniper it becomes a battle for survival. At first our story was somewhat lame but as the movie progresses you literally are on the edge of your seat.

Scream Factory brings this thriller to Blu-ray on November 1st, 2016. The quality of the Blu-Ray is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This homage to good old fashion grindhouse cinema is absolutely perfect. Those of you with a personal library will want to add this wonderful thriller. It will keep you watching and when all is said and done you will be glad you took the time to watch. Enjoy.

'Judge Archer' DVD Review

The warlord system of the 1920's China was a very interesting and complicated time. This system had been in effect for some time but would soon fade away into history in a short time later. Shuangxi (Song Yang) was a young boy who becomes traumatized after the rape of his older sister. For awhile, Shuangxi has gone mad and is put into a monastery to be cared for. He will meet a monk who helps him to overcome his thoughts of the horrific rape of his sister. The monk tells the young boy that he should take the name of the next person he comes into contact with when he enters back into the world.

Shuangxi comes upon an old man with the name of Archer Liu Banyuan 'Judge Archer'. The old man takes the boy under his wing so to speak. For you see the old man is an expert in the Martial Arts. As time goes on Shuangxi becomes a master himself in the art of the knife, Spear and Arrow. When the old man passes away Shuangxi takes the name of Judge Archer.

Judge has become a formidable person to deal with in his own right. One day a rather mysterious woman contacts Judge and asks him to solve and avenge the murder of her father. Judge takes on the challenge and sets up shop selling vegetables in a small village. He feels with this cover he can observe the person believed to be the murderer of the  Erdong's (Yenny Martin) father.
Problems arise when Judge becomes distracted by the charms of a woman and he even begins to question Erdong's motives.

The storyline is quite interesting and the martial art fight scenes are quite well done. You must follow closely to the actor interaction but it is still a very enjoyable movie. Lionsgate brings this movie to DVD on November 1th, 2016. The DVD quality is excellent and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This is a must see and will make a perfect addition to that personal library of yours. It will also make a wonderful gift for that martial arts aficionado this holiday season. Enjoy.

'Bob Hope: Hope For The Holidays' DVD Review

Bob Hope was one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Every Christmas my family and I would look forward to Bob's Christmas specials. Bob and Dolores Hope would open up their home to the world and invite some of their friends in the entertainment industry to come over and put on a show. People like Jack Benny, Red Skelton, Bing Crosby, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Redd Fox just to name a few would put on a show for everybody to enjoy. Bob began this tradition in 1950 and each and every year for the next several decades we the viewer would sit with our families and laugh and laugh.

Red Skelton would do his Freddie the Freeloader skit and everybody would laugh all over themselves. Naomi and Wynonna Judd would sing holiday songs and we would sit back in awe, and the spirit of the holidays would make us feel all warm inside. Bob and Dolores would sing a song or two and you simply could see the love in their eyes. Jack Benny would actually robbed Santa and everyone would laugh at his antics. The DVD also contains a compilation of the monologues that Bob would do for his holiday USO tours that he was so famous for.

This DVD is a chance to step back into what most think was a simpler time and enjoy the memories of families coming together to see one of the best entertainers of our time. Bob Hope was part of the fabric we call our lives. Every year he would bring us together for a brief time of  cheer. I can't speak for everyone but on a personal note it was a cherished part of my families holiday season.

Time Life has compiled a collection of some of the best of Bob's Christmas shows just in time for the holidays. The DVD will be available for your viewing pleasure on November 1st, 2016. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are wonderful. This is a must for any personal library. This DVD is simply history at its best and is a must for your viewing pleasure. Happy Holiday's!