Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Fox Home Entertainment – 89 mins – 1999 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 1.85:1 – DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

 

 

 

If you look up the term “cult film,” you will definitely see the poster for the 1999 film Office Space. Just like another cult film, Caddy Shack, fans of Office Space can recite every line, and imitate characters and scenes like they are right out of the bible. Everyone who has worked in a corporate office environment (and that’s a whole lot of us) can relate to the everyday shenanigans of feeling trapped like a rat in a maze. Office Space comes to Blu-ray from Fox Home Entertainment, so grab your Swingline stapler and mumble your best Milton Waddams impression because work has just begun.

 

THE MOVIE

 

Office Space is the story of Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) and co-workers Michael Bolton and Samir (David Herman and Ajay Naidu) who all hate their job, but are such slackers that instead of leaving, they just continue to be pawns in the corporate game of chess. Their boss Bill (Gary Cole) is a passive aggressive neanderthal who walks around holding a coffee cup all the time as he mentally tortures his employees, particularly the mumbling guy named Milton (Stephen Root) who is one step away from an office shooting. Peter hates his job, life and his girlfriend, and sadly his only thrill comes from going to a local restaurant to look at the new waitress Joanna (Jennifer Aniston).

 

Peter visits a hyper therapist, who ironically dies after putting him under, something that transforms him into a new man, and when he goes back to work he doesn’t take any of his superiors’ crap anymore and tells them the brutal truth about the lousy way they run their company and treat their employees. Instead of firing Peter, they do the opposite and promote him, but fire his friends. Seeking revenge, the three of them unite in a scheme to infect the company’s computer system with a virus that will shift a massive amount of cash into each of their accounts.

 

Written and directed by Mike Judge the creator of Beavis & Butthead, Office Space’s greatest strength is that so many people can relate to it and have fantasized about getting payback from the company that constantly screws them over. Then there’s the built in fan base who worship Mike Judge and have kept this film in circulation to spawn more and more new fans each year. Very few comedies can be labeled “smart” but Office Space fits because it avoids being raunchy and frat house to instead depend on everyday characters in situations that are easily identifiable.

 

For those of you who have never seen Office Space, you will be pleasantly surprised by how well structured it is, and after over a decade still locks into the current work environment. We all know or have worked with guys like this, every office has a Milton Waddams, and every office has a boss who walks around with a coffee cup looking over everyone’s shoulder. This is one of those rare films that whenever you’re flipping channels and it pops on, you’ll watch it again and find something new to laugh at. With all the come and go comedies that that were funny the first time you saw them, but don’t hold up after a second viewing, Office Space still feels fresh every time.

 

VIDEO

 

If you already own the DVD you will definitely want to upgrade to the Blu-ray that has a full 1080p image in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, because the picture quality is superb. Skin tones are excellent and the colors pop without any hints of bleeding. Obviously this is not the first film you would think of when showing off the wonders of high-def, but it does stand out. For a film over a decade old it looks as if this is a fresh release, so if you’re a fan and have a Blu-ray player, this is the way to go.

 

AUDIO

 

This one is all about the dialogue, so fortunately the provided Dolby Digital DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 mix is well tuned. Every mumble that Milton utters is crystal clear, as is all the dialogue, and ambient sounds are balanced nicely. Your forward speakers get most of the workout here, but moments will spark up your rear ones. Overall, this is a solid sound mix that should satisfy.

 

EXTRAS

 

All of the bonus features from the special edition DVD have been ported over so don’t expect any HD upgrades. Fans who desired a more updated retrospective will be disappointed.

 

‘Out of the Office’ is a half hour retrospective that features writer/director Mike Judge and the cast of the film including Gary Cole, Ron Livingston, John C. McGinley and Jennifer Aniston. This is the only worthy feature offered, but unfortunately it’s way too short and scattered.

 

Eight deleted scenes are fine to watch once, but nothing memorable.

 

Exclusive to Blu-ray are a few silly add-ons, such a trivia track that uses Post-Its, and games such as Grab the Stapler, Printer Beat Down, and Whack a Drone. None of these will hold your attention very long.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

A decade from now people will still be quoting office space and there will be a 20^th Anniversary (whatever format has taken over then) Edition. This is the prefect Blu-ray for anyone who is looking to upgrade from the DVD and if you look around online it’s been seen as low as $12. Fans and newbies can’t seem to get enough of this movie, so like Caddy Shack before it; Office Space will live on and on and on.

 

SCORES: (Out of 5):

 

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 4.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment – 113 mins – 1993 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 2.35: 1 – DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

 

 

Way back in the early 90’s, Sylvester Stallone had fallen from grace as the king of the action film genre and was reduced to doing lame un-funny comedies like Oscar and Stop, Or My Mom Will Shoot. He was desperately trying to shake himself out of the shadows of Rocky and Rambo, but nothing else seemed to click. But in 1993 Stallone made a comeback in what is still one of his best action films to date, Cliffhanger. The gimmick that makes this film work is that Stallone never even fires a gun in this film, but it still delivers as much action as Rambo. Cliffhanger debuts on Blu-ray from Sony Pictures, so buckle up and keep your arms and legs in the vehicle at all times, because this is one hell of a ride.

 

THE MOVIE

 

Right from the start the movie does the smart thing by stripping Stallone of his superhero persona, and shows him failing to save a life. Playing Gabe Walker, a Colorado rescue worker who dangerously climbs the snow-capped rocky (no pun intended) terrain, he has disappeared for nearly a year after his failure of not being able to rescue the girlfriend of his close friend Hal (Michael Rooker). He hopes to re-spark the romance with his ex-girlfriend Jessie (Janine Turner) who he left behind, but she wants nothing to do with him for abandoning her and his responsibility. Basically, no one wants anything to do with Gabe, and his pushes himself more into the darkness of self-pity.

 

Things quickly change when a distress call is made to the rescue station involving a pack of climbers who are lost in the mountains. Gabe decides to join in and help, but what they don’t realize is that they’re being set-up by an international criminal named Eric Qualen (John Lithgow) who has attempted to steal millions from the Treasury Department, but his plan was foiled when the plane he and his team hijacked crashes in the Rockies, and three cases packed with cash have been lost in the vicinity of the crash zone. Qualen wants those cases of money retrieved and holds Jessie hostage as he send Gabe and Hal to find them. Gabe, Hal and Jessie who know the terrain better must find away to stay alive and defeat Qualen before their time runs out.

 

Directed by Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, The Long Kiss Goodnight), Cliffhanger is a tour de force thrill ride that will keep your adrenaline pumping from start to finish. The best thing about the film is that it knows what it wants to do, it’s not about character development, twisting plotline, or a message, it’s about how many kick-ass action sequences you can get away with in a two hour window. Stallone is running around in artic temperatures in a T-shirt as he climbs mountains with his bare hands, swings from mountain formations, and makes leaps that only the Hulk could pull off, and you totally buy it because it’s packaged so well.

 

For its time, Cliffhanger had some of the best and unique action sequences on film, with stunts you would normally see in a James Bond film. Director Harlin has fallen through the cracks of the Hollywood game now, but some of the stuff he did with Cliffhanger is still being copied today. And Stallone was out to prove himself here and make his fans forget about Stop, Or My Mom Will Shoot, do stuff that would make Jackie Chan take notes. He is completely at the top of his game. Stallone is not a cop or a soldier, so he never uses a gun, which allows for clever ways to be introduced to eliminate the bad guys. Unlike Rambo, Gabe Walker uses his head instead of an arsenal of weapons, making you more involved with the character’s goal.

 

Even non-Stallone fans will like this film, because you get more wrapped up in the ride, rather than just waiting to see how he will kill someone like Rambo does. This was still the dawn of CG effects, so even though there are blue screen moments, most of the stuff you’re seeing is pure stunts by real stuntmen, not some character programmed in a computer. (I miss those days). Being that Stallone loves sequels so much and this film was a huge success, it’s odd that he never ventured to make another Gabe Walker adventure. Too bad, because this is one of his best films, and one day when Stallone is really way too old to lace up the boxing gloves, or tie a bandana around his head and pick up an M-60, he can sit in his rocking chair, watch Cliffhanger and say “wow.”

 

VIDEO

 

Cliffhanger comes to Blu-ray in 1080p with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and though it’s a step up from the DVD, it will not jump off the screen, as you’d expect a film of this size to. If this were a film made within the last three years it would have looked spectacular, but being that this is a 17 year old catalogue title that has already seen the light of day on VHS, Lazer Disc, and DVD, besides a basic upgrade not much else has been done to make it glam. The colors are decent, but seem faded in spots, and the sharpness is just satisfactory. Grain rains on this image heavy, particularly in the nigh scenes. Films much older than Cliffhanger have been cleaned up to perfection, so shame on Sony for not going the extra mile. Overall, if you plan on replacing your DVD it is a step up, but nothing major.

 

AUDIO

 

Unlike the video, plenty of work went into the audio, and if you have a surround sound system you will love the experience. Offering a Dolby 5.1 DTS-HD track Cliffhanger draws you in right from the opening scene. Just listen to the cables popping as Stallone is attempting to rescue the falling woman who is struggling to grab his hand. Or the bats that swoop around as the heroes attempt to escape through the mountain caves…Sweet. Dialogue is crisp, but this is not the type of film you watch for quotable lines; you want to hear a helicopter slamming against the face of a mountain, gunfire, a plane crash, an avalanche, and constant explosions. On this level the sound design of Cliffhanger deleivers.

 

EXTRAS

 

All of the bonus features that were present on the DVD have been ported over to the Blu-ray, but the only nice touch is that the amazing trailer for this film has been bumped up to HD. It would have been nice if Stalllone and Harlin sat down to do a new interview talking about the film, but you can’t have everything.

 

There are two audio commentary tracks, one from Director Renny Harlin with a cameo from Stallone himself. Harlin’s track is actually really good and he goes into plenty of details about making the film, not just on-the-set tales that no one cares about. If you enjoyed this film than the commentary track compliments it. The second audio track features the films production designer John Vallone, editor Frank Urioste, and effects supervisors John Bruno and Neil Krepela. This track is a little on the dull side and very outdated because of the current tech we have now.

 

There are 8 minutes of deleted scenes, which are actually more extensions of existing scenes.

 

Director Renny Harlin offers a five-minute personal introduction, discussing the origin and production of Cliffhanger in a nutshell.

 

Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger is a twenty-minute featurette that resembles something from Entertainment Tonight.

 

A special effects clip features the opening rescue attempt, and the finale’s helicopter explosion, which was done with miniatures.

 

Side-by-Side storyboard comparisons are shown for three scenes, ‘Helicopter Explosion,’ ‘Air-to-Air Zip Line,’ and ‘Sarah’s Fall.’

 

Probably the best feature on the disc is the film’s trailer, which has been bumped to HD. In my opinion this is one of the greatest trailers for a film that I have seen, period. It uses no dialogue and is just a collection of spectacular action scenes that run over Mozart’s Requiem Dies Irae. When this trailer played in theaters way back in the winter of 1993, audience’s jaws nearly dropped. Not only was it an excellent way to sell the movie, but a perfect way to re-introduce Stallone as a new form of action hero.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

Cliffhanger is a great popcorn action film and one of Stallone’s best. This Blu-ray offers a satisfactory image and amazing sound, and though all of the bonus features have been ported over from the DVD, the trailer has been bumped up to HD, and is a must see. If you’re a Stallone fan buying this is a must, and even those who never saw the film would probably enjoy this one as a Saturday night pick. As the tagline of the trailer echoes “Hang On!”

 

SCORES: (Out of 5):

 

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 3.5

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 4.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Warner Home Entertainment – 108 mins  – 2009 – Unrated – 1080p Widescreen 2.40: 1 – Dolby TrueHD Audio 5.1 – Digital Copy

 

 

With the success of the Judd Apatow films, the ‘R-Rated’ comedy train is back on track. Because of this the latest batch of comedic films have taken the shot at winning that raunchy audience, but one film hit it so big that it’s earned the odd title of becoming the highest rated R-rated comedy of all time. The Hangover, a film with a cast of non-household names literally came out of nowhere and through heavy word of mouth made a truckload of money. The summer’s biggest comedy is now available on Blu-ray from Warner Home Entertainment, so if you’re planning on going to a bachelor party any time soon, see this movie first.

 

MOVIE

 

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…right? Unfortunately for four buddies this turns out to be more than just a catchy slogan. Phil (Bradley Cooper), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Stu (Ed Helms) throw a bachelor party for their BFF Doug (Justin Bartha) in sin city itself, Las Vegas. It all sounds like some it’s be a fun time that the boys will remember, but then after a long night of boozing it up, the guys wake up and don’t remember anything, and to make things worse the groom to be is MIA. All they have are a bunch of clues that don’t make any sense such as a baby, a stolen police car, a knocked out tooth, a tiger, a stripper named Jade (Heather Graham), and of course a sleeping man in their bed who happens to be former heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson. This sets up an adventure to assemble all the pieces that will hopefully lead to the boys finding the groom and getting him to his wedding on time.

 

Director Todd Phillips, who also helmed Old School, goes back to his frat boy ways to deliver a comedy that is aimed at just that kind of audience. What makes this film work is not the script, but it’s more the chemistry from the cast who are not the traditional comedy actors (i.e. Sandler, Carey, Stiller) that we’re used to seeing. Cooper, Galifianakis, Helms, and Bartha play their roles as average guys who are caught in a very bad situation, and this makes them likeable. The supporting actors who pop in and out such as Jeffrey Tambor, Mike Eps and Ken Jeong, who steals the movie playing an insane Asian drug lord in a scene that will stay with you for a long time.

 

The script is very uneven and watching the film a second time you will notice that various things you saw during the first viewing feel stale. Basically you just have a few funny moments but nothing that is solid enough to hold them together for long. There was plenty of room for tightening and better pacing, but that was instead filled in with another gag, whether it hit or missed doesn’t really matter. A film like the 80’s Tom Hanks comedy Bachelor Party still works after 20 years, but it remains to be seen if The Hangover will still have legs even five years from now. The Hangover came out at the right time and found an audience that was looking for something other than a silly Sandra Bullock comedy. And with a worldwide gross of over $450 million no one is complaining about issues with the script.

 

Anyone seeing this film for the first time as it spins in their Blu-ray player will definitely get some laughs, because there are some laugh out loud moments. Besides director Todd Phillips, star Bradley Cooper really benefited from the success of this film because he’s been pushed from his basic co-starring roles to the possibility of being a leading man. Whether or not you think The Hangover is worth all the hype surrounding it is up to your comedic taste. It’s not as well written as one of the Judd Apatow films, but particularly because of the loot it brought in, The Hangover will have a place in film comedy history.

 

VIDEO

 

Offering a full 1080p image in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio The Hangover looks good on Blu-ray delivering all the bright colors you expect from Vegas. Skin tones are solid showing off plenty of details in the close-ups, but the blacks could be richer, thought they look acceptable. Night shots and darker sequences spill out waves of grain and could have been much more sharper, but overall, mainly because this is a new movie, the transfer looks fine despite some minor issues.

 

AUDIO

 

The Blu-ray delivers a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound mix that works well, allowing for crystal clear dialogue and sound effects. For those with a surround sound system, your front speakers will get more of a workout than the background speakers, because even though there are action-filled moments, the audio effects have been toned down to focus on dialogue rather than flash. The audio will not blow you away, but it does an effective job and should not disappoint.

 

EXTRAS

 

Hmmmm….Anyone smell a double dip here? The bonus features are pretty anorexic, particularly for a film that made so much money for Warner. Yes, you get both the theatrical and unrated versions of the film and a PiP commentary, but nothing else is worth bragging about, which is a hint that there will be an ‘Ultimate,’ ‘Definitive,’ or some kind of special edition that will be squeezed through the cracks one day.

 

The Director, Todd Phillips and stars Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, and Ed Helms are featured in a Picture-in-Picture video commentary, but even though is sounds like this could be fun it gets lame real fast.

 

The Madness of Ken Jeong is an 8 minute featurette that displays why this guy is on his way to getting his own starring movie soon.

 

Action Mash-Up is a useless minute long compilation of the film’s action shots.

A basic gag reel…no biggie.

 

The Three Best Friends Song has the buddies from the movie singing the friends song featured in the movie.

 

Photographs from the missing camera highlights over 100 new odd pics that were taken from the little kid’s cam.

 

Map of Destruction is an interactive map that lets you follow the path through Sin City that the guys took.

 

The Dan Band sings the famous Irene Cara ‘Fame’ song.

 

Mike Tyson sings In The Air Tonight…Oh yes.

 

Finally, there’s a Digital Copy so you can have a Hangover on the go.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

The Hangover is a comedy that either you will love, or you just don’t get at all, but while not the perfect or best comedy you’ll ever see, it does have some very funny moments. This Blu-ray offers a good picture and audio, but the bonus features are so thin that you have to suspect a special edition will be coming one day. Word is that there will be a sequel to The Hangover, but after pulling in close to a half billion worldwide it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. If you saw this film in the theaters and loved it, this is a must buy for you, but all others may way to give it a rent first to be sure.

 

SCORES: (out of 5):

 

Movie: 3.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.5

Extras: 2.5

Bottom Line: 3.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Warner Home Entertainment – 139 mins  – 1998 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 2.39: 1 – Dolby TrueHD Audio 5.1

 

 

Watching The Negotiator is sort of like finding a needle in a haystack, because on average ten out of ten Hollywood action thrillers are either lame or just downright suck; but this one slipped through the cracks and shines bright. Though it’s over a decade old, The Negotiator surprisingly holds up well because instead of displaying visual effects or over the top action sequences, the film focuses more on characters in a hardcore situation. For those of you who never saw the film, or haven’t seen it since its original release, The Negotiator is available on Blu-ray from Warner Home Entertainment, and it’s definitely worth your attention.

 

THE MOVIE

 

The Negotiator stars Samuel L. Jackson as Danny Roman, a police negotiator who has been targeted for killing his partner; a crime he did not commit. The only way to clear his name is by ironically taking a handful of hostages who work for internal affairs to find out who the real culprit is. The police send in another negotiator Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey), to bring Roman out, pitting the negotiators against one another. Being that both Roman and Sabian know every negotiator trick in the book, a cat and mouse game between the two men breaks outs as the truth about the crime slowly begins to unfold.

 

The clear reason why The Negotiator works is because of the powerhouse performances of Jackson and Spacey. Jackson is strong and flashy, while Spacey is smooth and cool, making you believe every new situation that untwines in this well paced thriller. Director F. Gary Gray, who also helmed the female action thriller Set it Off, understands that he may never get two heavyweight actors such as Jackson and Spacey in his grasp again gives them the room to do what they do best, while he focuses on the dark music video styled visuals and keeps things moving as tightly as possible.

 

The film is not perfect, and maybe should have been under two hours rather than twenty minutes over, but when it works it works damn well. The supporting cast does all it can to keep the wheels rolling; including Paul Giamatti, who was a no name actor back then, but you can really see his potential. Jackson and Spacey are not the typical ‘action heroes,’ so they go for the brain over muscle to get the job done, because if this was a Sylvester Stallone or Bruce Willis vehicle, the results would have been very different. Anyone looking for a solid action thriller that focuses on characters rather than things exploding every five minutes should definitely place The Negotiator on their list of films to see.

 

VIDEO

 

For a film that is over a decade old The Negotiator looks better than most of the recent hi-def releases, offering a solid 1080p image in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The majority of this film takes place at night, and fortunately blacks stand strong with hints of grain, but nothing that feels overwhelming. Colors are sharp and the skin tones are so smooth in the close-up shots that you can see all the sweat coming from the hairpiece Jackson wears. This is a major leap over the previously muddy DVD, so if you’re a fan of this film and thinking about upgrading, this is your shot.

 

AUDIO

 

Like the picture quality, the sound for The Negotiator is also top notch, with a Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1 sound mix that will have your neighbors convinced that there is a hostage situation going on in your house. Dialogue sounds crisps, and the background effects and ambience reels you in giving both rear and forward speakers the full treatment. The Negotiator is a pleasant surprise for sound enthusiast, and adds much more to the experience of watching the movie as a whole.

 

EXTRAS

 

The film, picture and sound are all great, but the extras leave plenty to be desired, because they are still the lame standard defintion featurettes ported over from the DVD. 

 

‘The Eleventh Hour: Stories from Real Life Negotiators’ runs less than ten minutes and focuses on actual cops who deal with hostage negotiation scenarios.

 

‘On Location: Why Chicago’ is your basic on the set featurette that details filming in the windy city, and includes mini interviews with the cast and filmmakers.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

The Negotiator holds up a decade later thanks mainly to the performances of Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey. This Blu-ray offers excellent picture and sound, but the bonus features are anorexic. Fans of the movie should definitely consider the upgrade over DVD, and anyone seeing the film for the first time should be satisfied.

 

SCORES: (out of 5):

 

Movie: 3.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 2.0

Bottom Line: 3.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Warner Home Entertainment/BBC – 150 mins  – 2009 – Unrated – 1080i Widescreen 1.78: 1 – DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

 

 

Ever since the high definition era unfolded, the one type of genre that quickly benefited from it were nature documentaries. Why? Well the best way to show off your new HDTV was by displaying images of nature that were so crisp and life-like that you’re convinced you are staring out of a window looking out at the amazon, even though you’re just sitting in your living room. BBC, which has already had great success on Blu-ray with the Planet Earth series, now looks at another wonder of our home world with Yellowstone: Battle for Life. Now get yourself a hot cup of cocoa, sit back, relax and take in the visions and sounds of this amazing natural wonder.

 

THE SERIES

 

The series is divided into three parts running an hour each titled, Winter, Summer, and Autumn, showing animals surviving under the most extreme conditions in a one year time frame. The first part, Winter, focuses on a pack of wolves, foxes, and Bison trying to find food and stay alive during one of the coldest winters in history. You’ll truly appreciate these animals after seeing what they have to endure for these freezing months with a scarce water supply and nearly non-existing sources of food. Acting only on instinct, these animals prey on each other’s weaknesses to push through and survive until the climate becomes warmer.

 

Summer, the second chapter, is much more pleasantly visually, because you can now see the beauty of Yellowstone that has been covered for months by snow and ice. The frozen waters have thawed, and are flowing to full potential, and colorful vegetation and flowers fill what was once was lifeless. But even in such a beautiful surrounding, the creatures of nature still battle to survive for food and territory. And being that the weather is much more tolerable, it makes it much more convenient for the strong to hunt the weak.

 

The final chapter focuses on Autumn where the leaves change and fall, and the big grizzlies, sheep, and beavers gather everything they need to face the winter weather that will soon strike. The never-ending battle of the strong against the weak continues and the natural cycle of seasons changes the environment until the inhabitants of Yellowstone are again forced to deal with the intense cold weather that returns to the conditions which were introduced in the first chapter of the series.

 

Like all nature documentaries, besides the visuals, one of the main factors that draws you in is the narration, and for this Yellowstone series actor Peter Firth does a fine job to keep your interest flowing as you journey through the seasons. Anyone who enjoys these types of nature series and likes to kick back and show them off on their HDTV will definitely enjoy this three-part look at the wonders of Yellowstone.

 

VIDEO

 

Yellowstone: Battle for Life comes to Blu-ray with a 1080i image in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, and though it is a very impressive image, it still doesn’t look as superb as the Planet Earth series. Yes, there are moments that look truly spectacular, replicating a location you may have only thought could be seen in a science fiction movie, but it’s real and here on Earth. Some moments, while not flat, don’t look as “hi-def,” but you have to really credit the camera team who put themselves in these situations to get these shots. Summer and autumn provide the best picture quality, displaying much more colors and depth of field, while winter is obviously so packed with snow that the locations are grim. Overall, there is plenty of joy for the eyes, so viewers of nature films will be pleased.

 

AUDIO

 

Offering a DTS-HD 5.1 audio mix, Yellowstone: Battle for Life sounds good, but there’s not much to expect from a nature documentary. The front speakers handle most of the audio, but in scenes where there are birds chirping or flowing waters, the rear speakers handle it well. Peter Firth’s narration sounds crystal clear commanding your attention to the scenery without overpowering it. Obviously, the idea is to allow you to hear the natural sounds of Yellowstone, so on that level the audio succeeds.

 

EXTRAS

 

There are three featurettes running around ten minutes each that go behind the scenes of the documentary series. Jeff Henry: The Snowman features the photographer that put himself in extreme conditions to get some amazing shots. Geyer Gazers looks at the team who worked on Geyser segment. Mike Kasic: The Snowman focuses on the audio recorder who used unique methods to capture the natural sounds of Yellowstone.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

Yellowstone: Battle for Life is definitely worth adding to your collection, especially if you already own some of the other BBC Blu-rays in their nature series. The Blu-ray offers some striking visuals, as well as provides a wealth of information about one of the greatest natural wonders the Earth has to offer.

 

SCORES: (out of 5):

 

The Series: 3.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 2.0

Bottom Line: 3.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Fox Home Entertainment – 634 minutes – 1976 – 2006 – Rated PG – 1080p Widescreen 1.85:1 – DTS-HD Lossless 5.1- LCPM 5.1 Audio Mix

 

 

When the original Rocky film was released over 30 years ago, who would have thought that anyone would still talking about it today, or that it would spawn five sequels? Well a guy named Stallone did, and because of his drive to never stop, (even in his 60’s) a southpaw from Philadelphia has become apart of not only the American culture, but exploded on a global scale. Rocky Balboa is the ultimate underdog, and finally for the first time all six Rocky films are available in one collection in glorious high definition Blu-ray as the Undisputed Collection from Fox Home Entertainment. Lace up those gloves, pump up Bill Conti’s theme, and get the eye of the tiger, because the bell has just rang.

 

ROCKY (1976)

 

On the tough streets of Philadelphia in the mid 70’s, a local club fighter named Rocky Balboa is about to get an opportunity that will change his life forever. Rocky makes a living working as a collection leg-breaker for a loan shark, but doesn’t even have the heart to hurt a guy who can’t pay off his debt. The only light in his life is that he has crush on the shy girl who works at the pet shop across the street from the gym he goes to named Adrian (Talia Shire), who happens to be the little sister of his grouchy best friend Paulie (Burt Young). Rocky gets a lucky break when the current heavyweight champion of the world, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), picks his name out of a book because he likes his “Italian Stallion” nickname and gives him a shot at the title because another contender dropped out. Everyone considers this one big publicity stunt and have no faith in Rocky even making it through the first round, but with the support of the girl he loves and a cranky old manager, Mickey (Burgess Meredith), the pug from Philly is going to take the shot just to prove that he is more than just another bum from the neighborhood, and he can go the distance.

 

Like the movie itself, the backstory of Rocky is just as inspiring because Stallone was a struggling actor with a wife and kid and $100 in the bank, who wrote the script, but the studio didn’t want him to play the title role because he was a nobody. Hanging in there just like the character he created, the film lose its Hollywood perks, and was reduced to a low budget production with a B and C list cast and handed to director John G. Avildsen. Something in the universe lined up correctly and this little film exploded into not only a success, but also won the Oscar for best picture in 1976, and triggered a phenomena. Every building with stairs had people running to the top Rocky style; “Yo Adrian!” became a catch-phrase; and Bill Conti’s ‘Gonna Fly Now’ transformed into the theme of triumph.

 

So many films have copied Rocky’s underdog theme over the last three decades, because audiences will always identify with the average person trying to succeed despite the impossible odds. Yes, Rocky is about a boxer but the metaphor goes beyond the ring, because it’s not about the fight, it’s about the determination to do what others say cannot be done. With Rocky, Stallone has created a character that is larger than life, and long after he’s gone will still be identified with. Unfortunately, not many films of made today inspire you the way Rocky does. Some may say the first film is the only one that matters and the sequels are overkill, but to them I say have you ever experienced being in a theater during the training sequence or climatic fight of one of the Rocky movies? World leaders can’t even have this effect on people or inspire them with positive energy the way a Rocky montage can. No one can argue that Rocky is one of the greatest motion pictures ever made.

 

ROCKY II (1979)

 

It won the Oscar for best picture, inspired people to work out, and introduced us to the Italian Stallion…of course there would be a sequel, because remember, Rocky got respect but he didn’t win the fight. “There ain’t gonna be no re-match.” Oh yeah, there’s a rematch. Rocky II picks up literally where the last film left off after the big fight, and Apollo Creed’s credibility has been destroyed because a no name southpaw has not only knocked him down, but gone all 15 rounds with him, something that no other fighter has done. In order to get his reputation back he has to get Rocky back in the ring for a rematch; the only problem is that the Italian Stallion doesn’t want to fight anymore, and has decided to settle down and marry his girlfriend Adrian. Rocky becomes a local celebrity, but still is seen only as a bum from the neighborhood that is forced to go back to the Mickey’s gym and dump the spit bucket to earn a living for his family. Having no other choice and finally getting Adrian’s approval, Rocky gets in shape via a kick ass montage and jumps back into the ring, this time defeating Creed. “Yo Adrian…I did it!”

 

Stallone not only wrote the sequel, but also jumped behind the camera to direct it; something that’s very common now, but back then no one did this. Yes, Rocky II is not as solid as the first film, but it still has magic and pulls you in because Balboa is so likeable. And this was the last Rocky film of the 70’s, so it still has that gritty ad gray feel, whereas all the sequels after are glossy with quick editing. Honestly, if Rocky II were the only sequel it would be satisfying just to see him finally win, proving that believing in oneself outshines everything. The supporting cast, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Burt Young and Burgess Meredith do a great job at reprising their roles, which have made them a part of current pop culture. This is definitely a worthy sequel that will keep your adrenaline flowing.

 

ROCKY III (1982)

 

Hollywood loves trilogies, so Stallone stepped up to the plate to deliver the next chapter in The Italian Stallion’s life with Rocky III. Balboa is now the heavyweight champion of the world, earning success and respect for the first time in his life, but all these has changed him and made him softer. Breaking onto the scene is a hungry new fighter named Clubber Lang (Mr. T), who wants to break Rocky down and take away his title. On the verge of retirement, and despite Adrian’s cries not to, Rocky accepts Lang’s challenge for one last fight to prove he doesn’t just fight set-ups. The fight is a disaster for Balboa because he not only loses his championship title, but also his manager and friend Mickey. Enter Apollo Creed with an offer Rocky can’t refuse; he’ll train the Stallion for a rematch with Lang, and bring back the eye of the tiger that he’s lost due to success.

 

Rocky III was again written and directed by Stallone, and because this is the first of the series that takes place in the 80’s, the film’s style looks completely different from the previous two movies. This is the first film where Stallone used muscle to sell the character, because in Rocky I and II he had a doughy brawler build, but in Rocky III his body is cut and sculptured, a trademark he will use in basically all his films (Rocky, Rambo, etc.) for the next two decades.

 

There are many reasons why this film shouldn’t work, but it does, and again it’s because anyone can relate to Rocky Balboa. Even as the champ he is still and underdog. Mr. T as Clubber Lang is also one of the main highlights of the film, making him the first super villain in the Rocky franchise with classic lines such as, “No, I don’t hate Balboa, but I pity the fool.” Another memorable element form the film is the song Eye of the Tiger by one hit wonder Survivor, which to this day is still gets people pumping in gyms around the country. And the climatic bout between Rocky and Clubber Lang, which is completely over the top, makes you want to jump into the ring and go a few rounds. While not as well structured as Rocky I and II, Rocky III is still a winner.

 

ROCKY IV (1985)

 

Most would have stopped at three, but not Stallone. In the heart of the Reagan era he found a way to fuse the southpaw from Philly into the cold war with the Soviet Union, by having Rocky fight WWIII all by himself. For its time it was the perfect gimmick, but it pushes all realism out of the door, and turns Rocky into a superhero instead of the ‘everyman’ character he originally created. This time Rocky goes up against Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a Russian super boxer pumped up on the best genetic enhancements science has to offer. Rocky takes the challenge after Apollo Creed takes on Drago in an exhibition match and is killed in the ring, as the goliath Russian utters, “If he dies…he dies.” Despite Adrain’s pleas to not do it because he can’t win, and Paulie’s negative mumbling, Rocky travels to Russia and trains hard to do battle with the reds. Does The Italian Stallion win against all odds? Of course, because no one wants to see Rocky lose.

 

Unlike the previous films that are based on characters, Rocky IV is just about the big fight at the end. Stallone again writes and directs, making the film seem like one big music video with tons of montages, and even an appearance by the Godfather of Soul, James Brown.  Dolph Lundgren has very few lines, but he’s a scene-stealer just as Mr. T was in Rocky III, offering the perfect villain to stand toe-to-toe with Rocky. Without a doubt, of all the Rocky films, Stallone’s body looks the best in this one, because between him and Lundgren there are so many muscle shots that is becomes overkill. It’s very hard to take Rocky IV seriously, but it is entertaining and line such as “I must break you” have become a part of pop culture.

 

ROCKY V (1990)

 

Okay, we all thought that when we saw Rocky wrapped in the American flag as the world cheered his name, that it was clearly the last time he would fight again. Nope. Ask any Rocky fan and they will tell you that Rocky V should have never been made and it discredits everything the previous films built. Rocky V takes place directly after the events in IV, as Rocky Balboa returns home to discover that his finances have been diminished because of shady deals and he is left with nothing. Not only is he broke, but because he’s taken such a beating in the ring, his doctors tell him that he can no longer fight. With no other options he has to go back where he came from to walk the tough streets of Philly again, wearing his hat. Adrian and Paulie are of course back, but this time Rocky Jr. (played by Stallone’s real son Sage Stallone) is focused on in hopes of making Rocky less superhuman and back to his underdog roots.

 

Rocky now runs the gym that was left to him by Mickey and lives a pathetic life, but then he is approached by a hungry young fighter that named Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison) who idolizes him. He takes Tommy under his wing and attempts to give him the eye of the tiger, but when a shady fight promoter named George Washington Duke (Richard Gant) stirs up Tommy’s desire to be the champ faster, he drops Rocky and goes to the dark side. Tommy gets the championship, but doesn’t get respect, so he challenges Rocky to a fight, but this fight won’t be settled in the ring, it will be fought on the street.

 

Stallone wrote the script, but this time the director of the original Rocky, John G. Avildsen, steps in to direct, but even with the original team back in place the magic is gone. Nothing seems to work, because Stallone is so damn rich he can’t play Rocky as a poor man anymore; Tommy Morrison is a lame duck compared to Mr. T and Dolph Lundgren; and Sage Stallone has no on screen charisma. Rocky never even steps into the ring this time, and the whole film feels more like a made for TV movie, rather than an actual part of the Rocky saga. If this was the last we saw of Rocky, it would be a shame, but fortunately…there is another.

 

ROCKY BALBOA (2006)

 

When Stallone turned 60, everyone knew for sure his Rocky days were over and done. Wrong. Let’s face it, Rocky is like Freddy Krueger and Jason, he will always be back. But fortunately, even though the idea of another Rocky may have sounded like a bad idea when it was announced, Stallone should be credited by crafting a well done film that bookends the Rocky saga once and for all. (Right?)

 

The best thing about Rocky Balboa is that it instantly makes you forget that Rocky V ever happened. Rocky’s fighting days are long over and now he runs a local Philly restaurant called Adrian’s, named after his wife who has died. His days revolve around running his business and going table to table telling customers stories about his famous fights. His relationship with his son Robert, (Milo Ventimiglia) have been strained and they barely talk. Paulie is still there, but basically Rocky’s life that was once fanfare and glory is now as average as can be.

 

This all changes when a sports show does a computer animated simulated fight between Rocky and the current heavyweight champ, Mason ‘The Line’ Dixon (Antonio Tarver), and Rocky wins. This gets the interest of fans going, and Rocky is approached to do an exhibition fight. Being that he has nothing else, Rocky is up for it and begs the boxing commission to let him fight despite his age and heavy body damage. The event is labeled “Will vs. Skill” and Rocky is once again the underdog (damn Stallone is good at this). No one expects Rocky to even make it through the first round, but he still has the eye of the tiger and goes the distance.

 

Stallone writes and directs, and realizing his mistakes with the past Rocky films, he makes the character human again and settles him into his roots. Even the training sequence is made more realistic to display that he is now an older man and can’t do the same things he did before. The homage to Adrian is also well done, because even though Talia Shire is not in the film, you always feel her presence because she has always been Rocky’s inspiration. This film is the closest to the original in terms of character focus, and even those who believed that another Rocky film wouldn’t have been taken seriously 30 years later, may be pleasantly surprised by its spirit. This one is for the die hard fans who have seen this character fight through many roman numerals and kept coming back. Message to Mr. Stallone, you have definitely redeemed Rocky and we forgive you for the fifth film, but please don’t make anymore because Rocky has gone out in good favor, so let’s leave that image in our hearts. “Yo Adrian, I did it.”

 

VIDEO

 

All six films provide a full 1080p image in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, but as expected it’s the most recent films that stand out more in high definition. Before now, only Rocky and Rocky Balboa were available as individual titles on Blu-ray, so this is the first time Rocky II, III, and IV have been available on anything higher than DVD.

 

ROCKY  (VIDEO)

 

This is probably the best this film will look, but because of the source material it leaves a lot to be desired. Be warned there is a lot of grain and fuzzy images, particularly in darker scenes. On the other hand, most close ups do look very good displaying plenty of detail on faces, and colors look decent. This is definitely a step up from the standard DVD you have sitting on your shelf, so if you’re interested in upgrading, this is your shot.

 

ROCKY II (VIDEO)

 

This one most likely uses the same source material as the first film since they were shot two years apart, so the same issues with grain that plagued Rocky are here as well. Colors stand out more for some reason, most likely because they used a different film stock, so this adds to the high definition transfer. Again, this is a leap over the standard DVD, and for now the best way to watch this movie.

 

ROCKY III (VIDEO)

 

This Rocky film has a different look than the previous two, offering many more bright colors and big 80’s hair, just look at Stallone’s fro. This transfer is both hit and miss, because there are some scenes that look pretty solid, such as anything in bright light like the beach run, or when Rocky is presented with his statue. But most of the interior shots, such as when Apollo takes Rocky to his old gym, or any of the Clubber Lang training scenes look grainy and dark. Close ups are nice, especially during the ending fight where you see all the sweat and blood on Rocky and Clubber’s face.

 

ROCKY IV (VIDEO)

 

Released in the heart of the 80’s, this chapter looks like anything that was on MTV at the time, so it works well on Blu-ray. Colors pop nicely, so when James Brown sings Livin’ in America, it’s all splash. This film is filled with so much red, white and blue that you’ll still be seeing those colors long after the film is over. There’s a nice tint that makes skin tones glow, particularly Drago who looks like he’s been animated in certain scenes. Grain does pop up in places, but for it’s high definition debut, Rocky IV punches hard and will not disappoint.

 

ROCKY V (VIDEO)

 

This is the worst of the Rocky saga in terms of entertainment, but visually it makes up for it, offering a sharp image and solid colors. Skin tones look natural, and details such as the backgrounds in the Philly streets remain clear. Oddly, the big fight scene that takes place at night on the street has a lot of grain pop up and looks flat compared to the rest of the movie. This is a good transfer, but not as good as Rocky IV.

 

ROCKY BALBOA (VIDEO)

 

Obviously being the newest kid on the block Rocky Balboa looks the best because it was given birth in the era of high definition. This movie was shot in two different formats; the dramatic part on film, and the finale fight scene on HD video. The mix works perfectly because the big fight is set up to look like a TV broadcast so that glossy HD to film mesh stands out. The image quality is so sharp that you can count all the stubble on Paulie’s face, and of all the films this one has the richest levels of black so night scenes and dark interiors shots hold up. Like Rocky himself, this transfer goes the distance and flies.

 

AUDIO

 

The Rocky films have always offered great sound, whether it is the punches and swings in the ring, or the music of Bill Conti, Survivor, or the Godfather of souls himself, James Brown. Rocky I, II, III, IV and V offer a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix and Rocky Balboa ups the anti with a LPCM 5.1 soundtrack.

 

ROCKY (AUDIO)

 

The first time you hear Rocky’s theme over the opening title it will bring a tears to your eyes. This is a dialogue heavy film, and they have as good of a job as they could to make every word clear. Rocky mumbles a lot of his dialogue, so unless you’ve seen this a million times you may need to pop on the subtitles. The ending fight fills your speakers with plenty of crowd noises, and when Rocky’s theme comes up as he is searching Adrian at the end of the fight, you’ll be in heaven.

 

ROCKY II (AUDIO)

 

This one basically offers the same package as the first Rocky, with cleaned up dialogue, but it’s still not as super crisp as you would desire. All the work went into the ending fight sequence, which is filled with a combination of sound effects, background crowd noises and music all blended together to pump you up.  There’s not much of a difference over Rocky I, but it’s still effective.

 

ROCKY III (AUDIO)

 

Here is when the Rocky films began to get louder, have much less character dialogue, and more catch phrases. Hearing Survivor sing Eye of the Tiger in the opening scene still packs a punch. Also, you’ll notice that in the first two films the sound effects for the fight sequences attempted to be realistic, but in Rocky III they are so exaggerated that you can hear a gush of wind every time Clubber Lang swings. Still it’s the combination of all the sound effects in the climatic fight that will win you over.

 

ROCKY IV (AUDIO)

 

This film was following the 80’s music video formula anyway, so it’s obvious that is sounds like one. Rocky IV probably has the least amount of dialogue than any of the films in the serious, and just focuses more on music and sound effects. Your rear speakers and sub woofer will get more of a workout than your center speaker, and with the film’s multiple fight and training sequences you’ll get your money’s worth.

 

ROCKY V (AUDIO)

 

The sound in the fifth Rocky film is like having a slice of pizza when you’re starving, it hits the spot, but so what. The dialogue is silly, even in scenes that should be powerful like when Rocky and his son are arguing. The sound is filled with way too much music that shouldn’t be there, and the ending fight scene that takes place on the street sounds as if there are several thousand of people on the street cheering, but there are maybe actually fifty at the most. Overall, the sound is good, but because of the film itself you won’t be as immersed.

 

ROCKY BALBOA (AUDIO)

 

Rocky Balboa goes out with a bang offering a LPCM 5.1 sound mix that is so good it sings. Dialogue is crystal clear and ambient background sounds flow natural. Unlike the last two films that depended on music video styled blaring music, Rocky Balboa keeps it subtle. Even the ending fight sequence tones down on the usual exaggerated sound effects, but still delivers a thrilling energy. Without a doubt of all the six films in the package, this one will give sound lovers the fix they need…Rocky style.

 

EXTRAS

 

Rocky: The Undisputed Collection comes in a seven disc Blu-ray set; six for the movies and one dedicated to the bonus features. Even though there is a good variety of stuff, it’s still mainly items ported over from the original Rocky Blu-ray. Rocky fans want more.

 

Sylvester Stallone provides a video commentary, which is basically a thirty-minute solo, with Sly talking about the incredible story of how Rocky got made.

 

Feeling Strong Now is a trivia game that has you answer questions related to all of the Rocky films as you go up against the opponents the Italian Stallone has fought.

 

Interview with a Legend: Bert Sugar has the famous sports writer talking about how the Rocky films are a metaphor for real life issues.

 

Three Rounds with Legendary Trainer Lou Duva discusses the training a boxer must endure to win and relates it to Rocky.

 

In The Ring is a documentary that runs an hour and fifteen minutes and is split in three chapters, focusing on the making of the first Rocky film. Great stuff.

 

Steadicam: Then and Now with Garrett Brown shows how Rocky was one of the first films to use the Steadicam and how it has evolved on the last thirty years.

 

Staccato: A Composer’s Notebook with Bill Conti looks at how music plays a big role in the Rocky films.

 

The Opponents focuses on all of the fighters Rocky fought in the films, and includes interviews with Dolph Lundgren and Carl Weathers.

 

Behind the Scenes with John Avildsen gives a glimpse of how the director took on the task of bringing Rocky to life.

 

Tribute to Burgess Meridith offers interviews with the cast of the films talking about working with the veteran actor.

 

Stallone on Dinah shows Sly as he promoted the film in 1976 on Dinah Shore’s talk show. This is worth it just to see Stallone’s wardrobe. You won’t stop laughing.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

The Undisputed Collection is a must have for all fans of the Rocky films. This is the first time all films have been available in high definition, and even though the image quality ranges from decent to excellent, this is still the best offering of all the movies you can get. It would have been great if even more bonus features were included to focus on each film individually, but the package as-is satisfying. Just like Rocky himself, this Blu-ray set is a winner.

 

SCORES: (Out of 5):

 

ROCKY:

 

The Movie: 5.0

Video: 3.0

Sound: 4.0

 

ROCKY II:

 

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 3.0

Sound: 4.0

 

ROCKY III:

 

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 3.5

Sound: 4.0

 

ROCKY IV:

 

The Movie: 3.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

 

ROCKY V:

 

The Movie: 2.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.5

 

ROCKY BALBOA:

 

The Movie: 4.5

Video: 4.5

Sound: 4.0

 

Bonus Features Disc: 3.0

 

Bottom Line: 4.5

Reviewed by Richard Lee Zuras

Released Sep. 16, 2009

2 hr. 10 min.

Cedric Klapisch/Studio Canal

Juliette Binoche

Romain Duris

Francois Cluzet

Karen Viard

Fabrice Luchini

Albert Dupontel

Juliette Binoche is that rare actress that knows no country. This is not to say that she is not beloved in France. She is. And this is not to say that she does not feel at home in a film wherein she speaks her native tongue. She does. But Juliette is so graceful in her screen persona, and so gifted (please don’t refer to her as the french Julia Roberts unless you are willing to compare their work over the last half dozen years–in which case you’ll find that this comparison has unwittingly disparaged Madame Binoche) that her movies are inhabited by her.

This film is a troupe film, and many of the actors shine. But Juliette is so good at what she does, you might become annoyed waiting for the story to find its way back to her. And this is the key to watching this film–the discovery of foreign screen stars you would not have known were it not for said entry point. Thank you, again, Madame Binoche.

The first discovery you will make is in the performance by a man named Romain Duris, who plays Juliette’s ailing brother. And you will make many more, as director Klapisch weaves a tale of strangers and friends and families that could only be told in a foreign film. You may find no patience to watch this film. Its sensibilities are not in line with traditional american cinema.

However…it is set in Paris. It is beautifully shot (did I mention it is set in Paris?), and there are very real time periods when lives are unfolding in front of you, in real time, and you forget you are at the movies. People find love. Lose love. People meet or do not. People die or might. And you are absorbed…

Or you are not. This is, regardless of Binoche’s world-wide appeal (yes, even in America: Chocolat, The English Patient, Dan in Real Life, Bee Season), a non-closed film. There is no domino plot. There are no jerky camera movements. No list of known stars. The film doesn’t tell you how to interpret every scene, every character, every decision.

And yet Ebert gives this 3 and a half stars out of four and I am giving it four out of five.

Beg your curiosity? Or not.

I saw a film this summer about the historical role of the movie critic entitled For The Love Of Movies. Of great, great interest to me was the notion that, based on the work of critics, film-goers–get this–actually avoided bad films (2 out of 4 stars and below) and sought out those highly reviewed. That power is long gone. In fact…I believe the opposite formula is utilized wherein the worst films are sought out. Or maybe it is simply the rash of marketing dollars spent on the broad (read as weak) films that herd us into the theaters.

Anyway, we critics are still trying.

Bottom line 4.0/5.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Fox Home Entertainment – 107 minutes – 2009 – Rated PG-13 – 1080p Widescreen 2.35:1 – DTS Lossless 5.1 Audio Mix

 

The three X-Men movies have made a bundle of loot worldwide, so obviously a studio like Fox is not going to let that cash cow just retire in the pastures. Instead of making another official X-Men movie, the idea was to just make a film focusing on the most popular character, Wolverine. Duh…of course the idea of that is like winning the slots at Vegas. Just do the math. Comic book fans love Wolverine + women love seeing Hugh Jackman without his shirt on = a truckload of money. Up front let it be said that this film is a major let down, and even though some say “hey, at least it was better than the third X-Men movie,” for those I say if you aim low the bottom is the only place to go. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is now available on Blu-ray from Fox Home Entertainment, but be careful this one will cut through you like a pair of adamantium claws.

THE MOVIE

X-Men Origins: Wolverine instantly assumes that anyone who wants to see this movie already knows the legend behind the character, so there’s no need to go any deeper than a brief description of events. We instantly see through the opening credits montage beginning in the year 1845, that Logan (Hugh Jackman) and Victor (Liv Screiber) are brothers who have unique mutant abilities that allow them to survive longer than an average human.  Together they fight in every war from the Civil War all the way to Nam. Logan has the calmer head, but his brother is a killing machine who gets off on his body count. After being placed in front of a firing squad, which they obviously survive, they are recruited by Major William Stryker (Danny Huston), who has assembled a team of bad-asses who all have special abilities known as Team X. Logan eventually departs from the team because he doesn’t agree with their methods and hightails it to Canada.

Here Logan finally finds a peaceful life with a woman he loves, Kayla Silverfox (Lynn Collins), until his brother Victor finally finds them and kills her to get back at his sibling. Desiring revenge for what has been taken away from him, Logan volunteers to be an experiment Strker’s Weapon-X project. His bones are painfully fused with an indestructible process called adamantium, and from here on Logan is known as Wolverine. More powerful than before and absorbed with rage, Wolverine goes to hunt his brother to avenge the death of Kayla, and unlock all answers to his past by slicing apart anything in his path.

Okay, this doesn’t sound too bad on the surface, but somewhere something went wrong with this movie, which is a big disappointment, because in the right hands this could have been a solid superhero movie on the level of Iron Man, or even X-Men United. Several other directors were lined up to helm the film before Gavin Hood was brought on board, and rumors surfaced that he was being forced to stay away from his dark vision and make a more watered-down safer film. The result is a film that’s bright and kid friendly, which is fine for Iron Man, but Wolverine is a guy who decapitates enemies with is claws. There are episodes of the Superfriends that were edgier than this. There is a whole team of dangerous mutants in the film, but unfortunately they’ve all been castrated by a very weak script.

Hugh Jackman is doing all he can to make this film work, but where he shined in the X-Men films, here he seems to be hanging on for his life. Liv Screiber, who is a good actor, doesn’t seem to know where to plant his feet in this film, so at times he just comes off as comedy relief instead of the menacing Sabretooth. Ryan Reynolds tries to get into the character of Deadpool, but this never goes anywhere interesting; nor does the onscreen comic book characters of Gambit, Blob, or Agent Zero who are basically just background set pieces.

Another disappointing thing about this film is that the action is lame and unoriginal. Come on, all these mutants with crazy powers and this wasn’t utilized to be something so kick ass that your brain would explode? A better action director would have blown you out of the back wall of the theater. Obviously, being that the movie was a huge success at the box office, raking in over $350 million worldwide, we will definitely be seeing Wolverine on the big screen again. Let’s give it the benefit of the doubt and say that Wolverine was used to being on a team and had cold feet in his first solo adventure, but the next one will be his Wrath of Khan. Hey, I’m sure we’ll even settle for something on the level of Bad Boys 2, because anything has got to be a step up from here.

VIDEO

What it lacks in story, X-Men Origins: Wolverine makes up for in image quality with a full 1080p picture ticked into a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Colors pop and skin tones are nearly perfect, with detail so sharp that you can count the sweat droplets rolling down Hugh Jackman’s forehead. Hints of grain are present during night scenes, but overall there is not much to nitpick at because the source material is spanking clean, providing an excellent transfer.

AUDIO

Crank up those speakers, because this is the kind of movie that sound enthusiast will love. Offering a Dolby Digital DTS-HD 5.1 audio mix, Wolverine will make you believe that a mutant battle is breaking loose in your living room. Gunshots, screams, clanging metal claws, exploding helicopters, car and motorcycle chases, and a loud music score all combined for a solid audio experience. No complaints here.

EXTRAS

Fox has packed a lot of goodies on this Blu-ray, but there’s always the chance of a super-duper-definitive version that may pop up one day. In the meantime you won’t be disappointed in the selection, but the one thing that should have been included is a Digital Copy, which is would have made the deal sweeter.

There are two audio commentaries provided, one by the director Gavin Hood and the second by producers Lauren Shuler Donner and Ralph Winter. There are a few interesting bits, but you won’t be listening to either of these two twice.

‘The Roots of Wolverine’ is a fifteen-minute looks at the origin and evolution of Wolverine, featuring Marvel Comic’s Stan Lee and Len Wein.

‘Weapon X Mutant Files’ runs about an hour and details all of the mutants seen in the movie, including interviews with the actors portraying these characters.

‘Wolverine Unleahed: The Complete Origins Featutrette’ is a basic promotional package that included interviews with the cast and crew talking about the film.

Nine minutes of deleted/alternate scenes add nothing new to the film, especially the silly cameo by Storm as a young girl that makes you wonder what they were thinking.

‘The Thrill of the Chase’ is a quick five-minute behind the scenes look at the helicopter takedown sequence in the movie.

‘Fox Movie Channel Presents’ is a six-minute look at the world premiere of the movie that was held in Arizona. Typical Entertainment Tonight fluff.

‘Ultimate X-Mode’ allows you to watch the film and access picture-in-picture on the set background information for specific scenes. Via X-Facts you can also watch the film with trivia facts provided.

One interesting feature is called ‘Live Lookup’ which allows you to use BD-Live to access IMDB.com to get information on the actors in the film. This is something that can be utilized even better in future Blu-ray titles.

BOTTOM LINE

Wolverine is a character that many fans have been dying to see riding solo in a film ever since the first X-Men movie was announced. Many of them may be disappointed with the final outcome, but there are many who were probably pleased with the results. Either way there will definitely be another Wolverine movie, so let’s all hope more care goes into it. This Blu-ray offers excellent image and sound, and a good selection of bonus features, so you do get your money’s worth. This is one of those titles that is guaranteed to sell no matter what.

SCORES (out of 5):

The Movie: 2.5

Video: 4.5

Sound: 4.5

Extras: 4.0

Bottom Line: 3.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment – 108 mins – 2009 – Rated PG-13  – 1080p Widescreen 2.40: 1 – Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1 – Digital Copy

 

Fatal Attraction made a big impact in the 80’s, and there have been multiple takes on it over the past decade. Hollywood loves a familiar formula, so it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that it will be re-invented every few years. The latest iteration of Fatal Attraction is now simply called Obsessed and stars pop star Beyonce Knowles. Obsessed stalks Blu-ray via Sony Entertainment, and if you have nothing better to do for a few hours, you may be entertained. And no, Beyonce does not sing and dance in this one.

THE MOVIE

The one thing you have to give the makers of this film credit for is that they didn’t take any chances in re-inventing the wheel, because Obsessed is as cut and paste as it gets.  Derek Charles (Idris Elba) is a successful businessman who is living a dream life, with a perfect family, home, and of course his trophy wife Sharon Charles (Beyonce Knowles). All is going perfect until a new temp comes to his company, Lisa (Ali Larter), a hot blonde who instantly has her eye on Derek, and doesn’t hide her flirtations. To make a long story short, Lisa puts Derek in various uncompromising positions that raises the suspicions of his wife Sharon, who believes her husband is doing the naughty-naughty behind her back. Derek is thrown out of his home, but after Sharon finds evidence that reveals that Lisa is actually the bad seed, she takes justice into her hands. A catfight with a lot of hair pulling ensues, and Beyonce…Uh, I mean Sharon, beats the hell out of the blonde who was trying to take her man. Derek and Sharon get back together. The end.

The main problem with Obsessed is that it never takes itself seriously or attempts to be anything other than a Fatal Attraction clone. The story, acting, and direction are combined to make to look no different than anything you can just pick off of the shelf at Blockbuster.  Many films borrow from others, but at least most try to add something new to the mix. Obsessed is not confidant enough to attempt that approach. You can literally predict everything that’s going to happen as soon as a scene begins. So what’s the purpose?

The ultimate problem with Obsessed is that it’s supposed to be sexy, but there is nothing beyond the slight hint of sex in this film. There’s no chemistry between any of the characters, and you’re never really sure why Lisa is obsessed with Derek, because just labeling her as some crazy bitch is not enough. The best thing about Obsessed is that no one will remember it and it’s not even worthy of being a guilty pleasure. If you’re a woman getting your hair done and this movie is playing in the salon, you’ll most likely enjoy it, otherwise there are better movies to watch about an obsessed woman trying to break up a marriage…such as Fatal Attraction.

VIDEO

Obsessed is a lame film, but at least it looks good on Blu-ray offering a full 1080p image in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The Director of Photography is the true hero of this film capturing great color tones and detail that is pitch perfect sharp. Obviously, everything has been done to make Beyonce look like an angel on film, with soft lighting to make her stand out. Grain pops up in certain scenes, but not enough to take away from the picture. Overall, if as much care went into the script as into the photography, watching Obsessed would have been a different experience.

AUDIO

The sound mix is a basic as it gets with a Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1 mix that does a good job with delivering clear and crisp dialogue. Speaker direction is mainly focused on the center, but when background noises, such as in the party scene take place, rear speakers are given some play. This mix is nothing fancy, but given the material it gets the job done plain and simple.

EXTRAS

The bonus features are as anemic as the movie, not even offering a director’s commentary, but for those of you on the go there is a Digital Copy.

‘Girl Fight’ is a quick ten-minute segment that looks at the climatic catfight between Beyonce and Ali Larter. This includes the fight choreography for the actors and their doubles.

‘Playing Together Nicely’ is a basic making of featurette that runs fifteen minutes and includes quick interviews with the cast and filmmakers.

‘Obsessed: Dressed to Kill” is exactly how it sounds, a look at the stylish clothing worn by the characters in the film.

Finally there’s a Digital Copy that you can stick on your mobile device, so you won’t be forced to watch another Larry the Cable Guy movie when you’re on a plane.

BOTTOM LINE

In a nutshell Obsessed is a generic version of Fatal Attraction that can be added to the pile of the other rip-offs. The Blu-ray offers a solid image sound quality, but the bonus features are just standard. Die hard Beyonce fans who live for her may enjoy seeing her bitch slap some blonde, but other than that there really isn’t much to hold you. This one is only a rental.

SCORES: (Out of 5):

The Movie: 2.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.5

Extras: 2.5

Bottom Line: 2.5

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Warner Home Entertainment– 94 minutes – 1987 – Rated PG – 1080p – 2.40:1 – DTS HD 5.1 Audio

 

In the mid 80’s Sylvester Stallone was the undisputed king of the box office with his movie characters Rocky and Rambo dominating everything in the map. Trying to break out of that molding, Stallone decided on an odd choice of creating a new underdog character who was not a boxer or a soldier, but instead a guy who is a professional arm wrestler. Yes, that’s correct, I said a professional arm wrestler. Hey, I’m one of the biggest Stallone fans there is, but even Shakespeare could have pulled this one off. Who knows if there are actually fans of this film, but if so Stallone’s arm wrestling drama Over The Top is available on Blu-ray from Warner Home Video, but without a Drago or Clubber Lang, this one is kind of lame.

THE MOVIE

Lincoln Hawk (Sylvester Stallone) is baseball hat wearing trucker who learns that his ex wife Christina (Susan Blakely) is on her deathbed due to illness, and has requested for him to pick up their son Michael (David Mendenhall), who is in military school and bring him to see her. Hawk has had no contact with his son since he was born, and the two have to get to know each other like two strangers. Michael learns that his father is aspiring to be a professional arm wrestler and plans to compete in a championship in Vegas for a huge cash prize so he can start his own business. Father and son have their ups and downs, but they bond via a series of events, and Hawk gets the chance to compete against the top arm wrestler in the sport. Does Hawk win? Well, did Rocky win? Come on.

Apparently, way back in 1987 Stallone was paid a truckload of money to make this film, and the production was cheaper than his salary. His underdog Rocky formula doesn’t work here, because the script seems like it’s slapped together to match the mood of other film of that decade. Directed by Menahem Golan, who was the king of bad 80’s action films distributed by Cannon, Over The Top was obviously made to cash in on Stallone’s popularity. An attempt that came crashing down when the movie failed to satisfy audiences and died a quick death in theaters.

Another issue with the film is that there is nothing cinematic about it, and it looks like a made for TV movie with a big star attached. Stallone is trying his best not to act like Rocky, but The Italian Stallion keeps on poking through. Also, this has to be one of Stallone’s most tame films to date, even Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot offers more action and thrills. Over the Top is a hard one to swallow even for Stallone fans because the premise is very hard to accept. But the one thing that Over The Top has going for it is that when the history books are written and films about the arm wrestling genre are listed, Over the Top will be number one. Actually, it will probably be the only one on the list.

VIDEO

Over the Top comes to Blu-ray in full 1080p with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, but there really isn’t anything impressive about the transfer. It looks acceptable with bright colors and sharp detail, especially when characters are shown in a close-up. But there are also shots that look too soft, and there are also issues with heavy grain in places. It may be a step up from the standard DVD, but only a small step.

AUDIO

There’s nothing fancy here, offering a Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1 sound mix that seems to only be used whenever sappy 80’s music is played. Crowd scenes from the arm wrestling events are highlighted, but the dialogue seems somewhat muffled at points. This is just your basic cut and paste audio that only does what its supposed to do without any bells and whistles.

EXTRAS

Nothing at all. No one probably wanted to attach themselves to this mess. All you’ll get is the theatrical trailer. Yawn.

BOTTOM LINE

Over The Top can only be categorized as a guilty pleasure, because even Oscar (another bad Stallone film) is better than this. The Blu-ray has standard picture and sound, and no bonus features at all. Unless you have seen this film before and know exactly what you’re getting into, this one is only a rental.

SCORES: (out of 5):

The Movie: 2.0

Video: 3.0

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 0.5

Bottom Line: 2.0