Rambo, Rambo: The Extended Cut, Rambo IV,John Rambo or whatever you want to call it is Sylvester Stallone’s follow-up, some 20 years later, to the successful Rambo franchise of the 80’s.  Unlike its predecessor, this film kicks a$$ in all four of my major action/war critical requirements: realism/believability, brutality, heart pounding action sequences and satisfying necessary emotional ties.  However, this time around, Lionsgate provides us Blu-ray customers with an alternate Director’s Cut version of what many peeps may call Stallone’s best entry into the franchise since the original film. Did we really need another cut of the successful 2008 film or should the question simply be did the fans really want another version?  I can’t speak for everyone, but in the case of the last question my answer would be a loud hell yeah, bring it on!  But perhaps the real question here is whether this new Extended Cut is really better than the theatrical presentation?  That was the firs thing that was on my mind as I sat down to watch/review this Blu-ray disc.  So give me a few minutes of your time and I will give you my two cents on this important issue/debate. Read the full story

When Elektra, a spin-off from 2003’s Daredevil, was first announced so many years ago my heart filled with overwhelming anticipation.  Back then; I guess you could say I had a small crush on Jennifer Garner.  She was, after all, in prime physical form for her hit TV series Alias, not to mention that sexy vixen outfit that adorned her promiscuous curves opposite Ben Affleck in 2003’s Daredevil.  So I guess you could say that I was looking forward to seeing her fill that uniform once again and kick some ninja clan a$$. There was only one small problem.  Didn’t she die in Daredevil?  How would they ever bring her back?  Inquiring minds wanted to know.  I can’t tell you how many sleepless nights I laid awake contemplating this.  It was horrible. Read the full story

The original The Stepfather was an early favorite of mine, featuring an amazing performance by Terry O’ Quinn as a man struggling to find the perfect family. He is so determined in his quest that he has no problem killing anyone who stands in his way. I heard news of a remake awhile ago and was rather discouraged by the news, especially after I heard it was being made by the same people, director Nelson McCormick and writer J.S. Cardone, who brought us last year’s unremarkable and ultimately forgettable Prom Night remake. Still, I decided to watch it with an open mind.

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One must wonder when enough is enough when it comes to movie franchises like the Terminator series. Despite the most ardent of fans, the general public eventually becomes tired of all move franchises. That was even the case with the Star Trek movie franchise. Even a fine final film with the Next Generation cast went nowhere as did the Enterprise TV series despite the last two seasons which were excellent. Read the full story

Every now and again I see a film that really makes me scratch my head, wondering what the heck it was that I just watched. These movies are often very confusing and opaque, with overly complicated plots, numerous flashbacks and poor storytelling. These films may even have very interesting and original plot lines that simply fall under the weight of there own obtuseness and incoherence. Such a film unfortunately, is Watchmen, making its debut on Blu-ray. Read the full story

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button certainly has a very interesting and innovative premise. Imagine living your life in reverse, being born as as baby with old and winkled skin, no hair, advanced cataracts that make you virtually blind as well as advanced arthritis that makes it nearly impossible for you to move let alone walk. However, as you grow older and into your teens, things begin to improve. You begin to see better, you can walk with the aid of a cane, your hair begins to grow in. As you get older and older, you get better and better, actually getting younger as you get older. Read the full story

It was a decade ago when Pitch Black was released in theaters.  Little did we know at the time that the character of Riddick would be expanded upon with another film and content outside of both movies.  For now though, we’ll focus on the movie that started it all with nighttime baddies galore, Pitch Black. Read the full story

The character Riddick, played by Vin Diesel, made its big screen debut in 1999′s Pitch Black.  In 2004, the hard-nosed, no-nonsense, intergalactic convict, made his return in The Chronicles of Riddick.  Upon unleashing this Blu-ray in my PS3, I was prompted by a Riddick screen that asked me to choose between the uncut director’s version or the theatrical release.  Not one to have previously seen this film, I opted for the director’s cut.  I will say, I was open-minded yet apprehensive going into this film.  Pitch Black certainly did not light my fire or most of the movie-going public for that matter.  After all, it pulled in a dismal U.S. gross at under $40 million.  Nevertheless, let’s give The Chronicles of Riddick a shot because here come the Necromongers! Read the full story

Saw IV initially left a sour taste in my mouth, but nonetheless I drudgingly went out and bought the Blu-ray release of it when it came out that first week.  Of course, I justified that purchase with the notion that I had a $25 Target gift card burning a hole in my pocket.  On a cold October day, with great reluctance, I was dragged to the theatre to check out the latest installment of the Saw horror franchise, Saw V, despite hearing so many friends and co-workers tell me how horrible it was.  Despite my lack of desire to see how the rest of the Saw franchise played out, my wife had scheduled a couple’s night out at the movies with her co-worker.  I kindly asked my wife to pay the price of admission for us, as I was not the one who initiated wanting to see this.  After all, I have strict principles to uphold.  Anyway, every time she does pay for a movie, I end up loving it.  I think I am starting to see a trend here.  Hmm…I wonder if that would have worked on the latest Friday the 13^th movie, if I had let her pay.  Let’s get back on subject, shall we? Read the full story

For such a recent film, Zodiac has had quite a few releases to date. Because Paramount was one of the last supporters of HD DVD back ion the day, this is actually the second high definition release of the film to date. I never jumped on the HD DVD bandwagon so I can’t really compare the two, but I suspect Paramount simply used the same transfer of the film for Blu-ray. You do have to give them some credit for a likely upgrade on the codec and bitrate. Read the full story

Not being the biggest Jet Li fan, I was kind of relieved back in 2006 when Fearless was billed as his final film. What ever happened to that? I don’t know. I referred to him as the Brett Favre of the Silver Screen but I think I was just hearing what I wanted to hear. Later I learned that it was supposedly marketed as his final martial arts epic. So I guess that does free him to do other movie projects without being labeled a liar, as long as they aren’t coined as “epics.” Read the full story

In the Winter of 1969 an elite force of the U.S. Army was sent on a top secret assignment in South East Vietnam. The objective: rescue Sgt. Four Leaf Tayback from a heavily guarded NVA Prison Camp. The mission was considered near suicide. Of the 10 men sent, 4 returned. Of those 4, 3 wrote books about what happened. Of those 3, 2 were published. Of those 2, just one got a movie deal. This is the story of the men who attempted to make that movie: Read the full story

I remember dragging my ex-girlfriend to see this movie in the theatre on Valentine’s Day back in 2003.  She was very surprised as she had always known me to be very anti-Ben Affleck.  With the exception of Good Will Hunting I have never been a fan of his wooden characters he portrayed or that grin he always seems to proudly display.  Maybe it is just me?  I was going to pass on this movie completely until two reasons persuaded me not to.  The first was the awesome music soundtrack.  I remember having a copy of this CD a month before the movie even came out.  It was then that I discovered the amazing lungs of Evanescence’s Amy Lee.  There are a total of two Evanescence songs playing during two key emotional moments in the movie.  The second was a referral from a friend who lives out-of-state who basically encouraged me to put my dislike for Ben Affleck aside and check this movie out for what it was… a comic book superhero movie. Read the full story

“I am not a crook” said President Nixon as he vigorously defended his record in the Watergate case. This famous line would forever stain the president’s career and personal life. It’s hard to believe Watergate happened so many years ago, yet it still brings the controversy of all other legendary US cover-ups. Today I will review the film Nixon as presented for the first time on Blu-ray. Read the full story

The only thing I really knew about the Saw franchise coming in was that it was kind of about a guy who would get people in these really elaborate torture devices, and give them a set amount of time to escape, and there would be some form of self-mutilation involved. Now, I don’t know how right or wrong that is, but let me just say that my exposure to the whole “torture porn” genre is limited at best, as I have the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre and have seen the first Hostel film. Otherwise, they’re not just my cup of tea. You know why? ‘Cause I’m a married man, not a 18-year-old boy!

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There was a time when I hated Billy Bob Thorton and everything he was in. Since then I don’t know what has changed, but those same roles I used to hate him in, I can’t seem to get enough of. His laid back almost down to Earth style has really captivated me. It really doesn’t seem like he has to do much acting, maybe at one point, but by now he has to have spent more time acting as an alcoholic jerk than he has as himself. So hate him or love him, you have got to admit that his certain brand of humor is a sure floor kicker. Read the full story

Though comic scribe Alan Moore may want little to nothing to do with this film adaptation of his graphic novel of the same name, From Hell manages to be an entertaining, pulpy, if not a little overblown thriller. Of course, it doesn’t hurt when Johnny Depp plays the lead and directors the Hughes Brothers work hard to break from the norm of their previous efforts (Menace II Society, Dead Presidents). Having only viewed this movie upon its original DVD release, and feeling mixed about the results, I found myself enjoying From Hell more than I expected or remembered. Maybe the great transfer on the Blu-ray Disc had something to do with it. Read the full story