Join the Adventure! SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE Debuts on Digital June 20 and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD July 11

SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE

 

Starring Demi Lovato, Rainn Wilson, Joe Manganiello, Jack McBrayer, 

Danny Pudi, Michelle Rodriguez, Ellie Kemper, Ariel Winter, 

with Mandy Patinkin & Julia Roberts 

 

Packed with Interactive Bonus Materials Available on Digital June 20

And On 4K Ultra HD^™/Blu-ray^™ + Digital, Blu-ray + Digital, & DVD July 11

 

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CULVER CITY, Calif. (May 31, 2017) – Make it a family movie night with the beloved blue creatures in the fully animated, all-new take on The Smurfs when Sony Pictures Animation’s SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE debuts on digital June 20 and on 4K Ultra HD^™/Blu-ray^™ + Digital, Blu-ray + Digital and DVD July 11 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Boasting an “A” CinemaScore with general audiences and a rare “A+” with those under the age of 18, SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE follows Smurfette and her friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!

 

SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE features an all-star voice cast, including platinum-selling recording artist Demi Lovato (Camp Rock franchise) as Smurfette, Emmy^®-nominated comic actor Rainn Wilson (“The Office”) as Gargamel, Joe Manganiello (Magic Mike) as Hefty Smurf, Jack McBrayer (“30 Rock”) as Clumsy Smurf, Danny Pudi (”Community”) as Brainy Smurf, Michelle Rodriguez (The Fate of the Furious) as SmurfStorm, Ellie Kemper (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) as SmurfBlossom, Ariel Winter (“Modern Family”) as SmurfLily, with Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”) as Papa Smurf and Academy Award^®winner Julia Roberts (Best Actress, Erin Brockovich, 2000) as SmurfWillow.

 

SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE is bursting with bonus materials on the Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, DVD and digital releases. Along with filmmaker commentary, there are 10 fun and interactive featurettes, including Meghan Trainor’s “I'm A Lady” music video and “Lost Village Dance Along” where you can join in the Smurf dance party. Get ready to represent your Smurf style with “Smurfify Your Nails” and create a Lost Village inspired manicure, then go inside “Baker Smurf’s Mini Kitchen” to follow along and guess what’s cooking, plus get step-by-step tutorials on how to draw your favorite Smurfs with three “how to” videos. Fans can also go behind the scenes as Demi Lovato auditions for the film and goes through a pretty tough interview with Smurfette herself in “Demi Lovato Meets Smurfette.”

 

Making an animated movie is no easy task, but in “Kids At Heart! The Making of Smurfs: The Lost Village,” you’ll get a lighthearted look at how the film was made with both interviews from the cast and animators as well as silly re-enactments featuring adorable kid versions of the talented team. And “Making the Song ‘You Will Always Find Me in Your Heart’” goes into the studio with singer Shaley Smith, composer Christopher Lennertz and songwriter KT Tunstall as they record the film's pivotal song, while in “The Sound of The Smurfs,” fans hear from composer Christopher Lennertz on how he created a magical score to accompany this colorful and exciting adventure. Lastly, don’t miss the sneak peek at Sony Pictures Animation’s highly anticipated film, The Emoji Movie.

 

Exclusive to the Blu-ray are deleted scenes as well as “The Lost Auditions,” where the superstar cast, each one already perfect for their roles, explore other ideas about which role they should play. And fans of all ages will enjoy going behind-the-scenes with Meghan Trainor as she films the videoto her hit "I'm A Lady," available exclusively on the digital release of SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE at iTunes, Vudu and Xfinity.

 

SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE is also available on July 11 in THE SMURFS 3-MOVIE BLU-RAY COLLECTION, which includes The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2.

 

Synopsis:

In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!

 

Directed by Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2) from a screenplay by Stacey Harman (“The Goldbergs”) and Pamela Ribon (Moana) and based on the characters and works of Peyo, SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE is produced by Jordan Kerner and Mary Ellen Bauder Andrews; with Raja Gosnell and Ben Waisbren serving as executive producers.  Based on the characters and works of Peyo.  Music by Christopher Lennertz.  Imagery and Animation by Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc. 

 

DVD and Digital Bonus Materials Include:

• Filmmaker Commentary
• Meghan Trainor “I'm A Lady” Music Video
• The Emoji Movie Sneak Peek
• Featurettes:
  • “Kids at Heart! The Making of  Smurfs: The Lost Village”
  •  “Demi Lovato Meets Smurfette”
  • “Lost Village Dance Along”
  • “Smurfify Your Nails”
  • “Baker Smurf's Mini Kitchen”
  • Meghan Trainor “I'm A Lady” Music Video
  • “How To Draw Smurfette”
  • “How To Draw Brainy”
  • “How To Draw Clumsy”
  •  “Making The Song ‘You Will Always Find Me In Your Heart’"
  • “The Sound Of The Smurfs”

Blu-ray & 4K Ultra HD Exclusive Bonus Materials Include:

• Everything listed above, plus:
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes:
  • “The Lost Auditions”

Digital (iTunes, Vudu and Xfinity) Exclusive Bonus Materials Include:

• Everything on the DVD, Blu-ray & 4K Ultra HD, plus:
• “Girl Power! Making Meghan Trainor's ‘I'm A Lady’”

SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE has a run time of approximately 89 minutes and has a PG rating for some mild action and rude humor.

“Academy Award^®” is the registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

 

"The Flash: The Complete Third Season" On Blu-ray & DVD September 5, 2017

#1 Series on The CW 

THE FLASH:  THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON

 

Over Two Hours of Exciting Behind the Scenes Bonus Content, Including Five Crossover Featurettes, Deleted Scenes, Gag Reel, and much more!

 

Get the Blu-ray™ & DVD September 5, 2017

Before They Dash Off the Shelves

 

BURBANK, CA (May 31, 2017) – Just in time for the fourth season premiere of the #1 show on The CW, catch the fastest man alive as he zigzags through the action-packed release of The Flash: The Complete Third Season from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment onBlu-ray^TM and DVD on September 5, 2017. Delivering 5 million Total Viewers per episode, The Flash is a Top 10 series on all broadcast with Men 18-34 (#7) and Men 18-49 (#10)⃰. Fans will be able to revisit all 23 electrifying episodes from the third season, including the DC-crossover episode, plus over two hours of extra content, including behind-the-scenes featurettes on the “Invasion!” cross over episode and the “Duets” musical episode, a conversation with Andrew Kreisberg and Kevin Smith,  deleted scenes, and more. The Flash: The Complete Third Season is priced to own at $49.99 SRP for the DVD and $54.97 SRP for the Blu-ray^TM which includes a Digital Copy. The Flash: The Complete Third Season is also available to own on Digital HD via purchase from digital retailers.

 

*Source: Nielsen National TV View Live + 7 Day Ratings, excluding repeats, specials, and <5 telecasts; 16-17 Season To-Date = 9/19/16-1/22/17; *major demos = Total Viewers, Adults 18-34, Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54

 

Struck by the supercharged fallout of a particle accelerator explosion, forensic scientist Barry Allen becomes the fastest man alive:  The Flash!  With his newfound time-warping speed and help from the S.T.A.R. Labs team – Caitlin Snow, Cisco Ramon and Harrison Wells – and his adoptive family, Detective Joe West and Joe’s daughter Iris, the Scarlet Speedster runs circles around other metahumans set on wreaking havoc in Central City, while traveling between alternate universes and protecting our world from otherworldly threats.  Last season, new dangers arrived from a parallel earth known as Earth-2, under the direction of an evil speedster named Zoom.  In Season Three, Barry faces the unknown – as he irrevocably alters the timeline by saving his mother from the clutches of the Reverse-Flash.   The only question now is – as he wrestles with the consequences of his own Flashpoint Paradox, including the wrathful Speed God Savitar – will he be able to find a way out? 

 

“After three seasons, The Flashcontinues to score in ratings and ranks as the top series for The CW,” said Rosemary Markson, WBHE Senior Vice President, TV Marketing. "Loaded with both in-depth and exclusive new bonus content, both fans of the show and DC fanboys will be eager to add the Blu-ray or DVD release to their collections."

 

With Blu-ray’s unsurpassed picture and sound, The Flash: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray release will include 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. The 4-disc Blu-ray will feature a high-definition Blu-ray and a Digital Copy of all 23 episodes from season three.

 

The Flash stars Grant Gustin (Arrow, Glee), Candice Patton (The Game), Danielle Panabaker (Justified, Necessary Roughness), Carlos Valdes (Once), Keiynan Lonsdale (Insurgent), Tom Felton (Harry Potter films), with Tom Cavanagh (Ed, The Following), and Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order). Based on the characters from DC, The Flash is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (Arrow, Supergirl, Blindspot, Riverdale), Andrew Kreisberg (Arrow, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), Aaron Helbing (Spartacus, Black Sails), Todd Helbing (Spartacus, Black Sails) and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, Riverdale, Supergirl).

 

 

BLU-RAY & DVD FEATURES

·         The Flash: 2016 Comic-Con Panel

·         A Flash in Time: Time Travel in the Flash Universe

·         Villain School: The Flash Rogues

·         Allied: The Invasion Complex (The Flash)

·         Rise of Gorilla City

·         The Flash: I’m Your Super Friend

·         The Flash: Hitting the Fast Note

·         Harmony in a Flash

·         Synchronicity in a Flash

·         A Conversation with Andrew Kreisberg and Kevin Smith

·         Deleted Scenes

·         Gag Reel

 

 

23 ONE-HOUR EPISODES

 

1.    Flashpoint

2.    Paradox

3.    Magenta

4.    The New Rogues

5.    Monster

6.    Shade

7.    Killer Frost

8.    Invasion!

9.    The Present

10. Borrowing Problems from the Future

11. Dead or Alive

12. Untouchable

13. Attack on Gorilla City

14. Attack on Central City

15. The Wrath of Savitar

16. Into the Speed Force

17. Duet

18. Abra Kadabra

19. The Once and Future Flash

20. I Know Who You Are

21. Cause and Effect

22. Infantino Street

23. Finish Line

 

 

 

DIGITAL HD

The third season of The Flash is also currently available to own on Digital HD. Digital HD allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices.  Digital HD is available from various digital retailers including Amazon Video, CinemaNow, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. A Digital Copy is also included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage through participating UltraViolet retail services including CinemaNow, Vudu and Flixster Video.

GHOST IN THE SHELL Breathtaking Vision of the Future Debuts July 25, 2017 on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray 3D™ and Blu-ray™ Combo Packs

SCARLETT JOHANSSON STARS IN THE VISUALLY STUNNING AND 

ACTION-PACKED FILM

 

GHOST IN THE SHELL

Breathtaking Vision of the Future Debuts July 25, 2017 on 4K Ultra HD^™, Blu-ray 3D^™ and 

Blu-ray^™ Combo Packs

 

Get It Early on Digital HD July 7

    

              

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.  – “Totally riveting” (Bill Zwecker, FOX-TV) and filled with “heart pounding excitement” (Pete Hammond, Deadline), the thrilling and eye-popping GHOST IN THE SHELL arrives on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand July 25, 2017from Paramount Home Media Distribution.  The future comes early on Digital HD July 7.

            Set in a world where people are enhanced with technology, GHOST IN THE SHELL follows Major (Scarlett Johansson), who believes she was rescued from near death.  The first of her kind, Major is a human mind inside an artificial body designed to fight the war against cyber-crime. While investigating a dangerous criminal, Major makes a shocking discovery – the corporation that created her lied about her past life in order to control her. Unsure what to believe, Major will stop at nothing to unravel the mystery of her true identity and exact revenge against the corporation she was built to serve.  A “visually stunning” 

(Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly) “classic in the making” (Dan Casey, Nerdist), GHOST IN THE SHELL also stars Takeshi Kitano, Michael Carmen Pitt, Pilou Asbæk, Chin Han, and Juliette Binoche.

The GHOST IN THE SHELL 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray Combo Packs are loaded with over 50 minutes of fascinating special features. Scarlett Johansson, director Rupert Sanders and other cast and crew take you behind-the-scenes to talk stunts, special effects and intricate fight sequences. Plus, take an in-depth look at the real-life science behind robotics; discover how cyber-enhancements give each character specialized super–soldier abilities; and learn about the original anime as well as the inspirations behind the visually stunning view of the future. The film also boasts a Dolby Atmos® soundtrack* remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead.

                       

Ghost in the Shell Blu-ray Combo Pack

The GHOST IN THE SHELL Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD compatible), French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The DVD in the combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The combo pack includes access to a Digital HD copy of the film as well as the following: 

Blu-ray

·       Feature film in high definition

·       Bonus Content:

o   Hard-Wired Humanity: Making Ghost in the Shell

o   Section 9: Cyber Defenders

o   Man & Machine: The Ghost Philosophy

DVD

• Feature film in standard definition

 

Ghost in the Shell 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack

Fans can enjoy the ultimate viewing experience with the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, which includes the Blu-ray detailed above, as well as an Ultra HD Disc presented in 4K Ultra HD with English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD compatible), French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description with English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The Combo Pack also includes access to a Digital HD copy of the film.

 

Ghost in the Shell Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack

The Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack includes a Blu-ray 3D presented in 1080p high definition with English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD compatible), Parisian French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Castilian Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, German 5.1 Dolby Digital, Italian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Japanese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description, along with English (UK), English (UK SDH) Bahasa Malaysian, Brazilian Portuguese, Cantonese, Castilian Spanish, Czech, Danish, Dutch, European Portuguese, Finnish, Parisian French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin American Spanish, Mandarin Simplified, Mandarin Traditional, Norwegian, Romanian, Slovakian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, and Ukrainian subtitles.  The Blu-ray Disc^™ in the combo pack is presented in 1080p high definition with English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD compatible), Canadian French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Latin American Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, and English Audio Description and English, Canadian French, Latin American Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles. The Blu-ray includes the same content listed above and the Combo Pack also includes access to a Digital HD copy of the film.

           

Ghost in the Shell Single-Disc DVD

The single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The disc includes the feature film in standard definition.

SUPERNATURAL: THE COMPLETE TWELFTH SEASON On Blu-rayTM and DVD September 5, 2017

The CW's Longest-Running Scripted Series

SUPERNATURAL: 

THE COMPLETE TWELFTH SEASON

 

On Blu-ray^TM and DVD September 5, 2017

 

Contains All 23 Episodes From Season Twelve, Plus Over 4 Hours of Bonus Content Including 3 All New Winchester Mythology Features! 

 

BURBANK, CA (May 30, 2017) – The Winchester family business adds a little more family in Season Twelve! Continue the thrilling and terrifying journey with the Winchester brothers when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases Supernatural: The Complete Twelfth Season on Blu-ray^TM and DVD on September 5, 2017. The set contains all 23 gripping episodes from Season Twelve and is packed with over four hours of bonus content – including 3 Mythology featurettes, commentaries, the show’s packed Comic-Con panel, deleted scenes and a priceless gag reel.  Supernatural: The Complete Twelfth Season is priced to own at $49.99 SRP on DVD and $54.97 SRP on Blu-ray including a Digital Copy.  

 

In the show’s twelfth season, Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki & Jensen Ackles) are reunited with their mother, Mary Winchester (Samantha Smith), newly resurrected by the apocalyptic force known as the Darkness. But Mary Winchester is not the only family appearing this season.  In addition to Lucifer being sprung from Hell, he’s also expecting a son.  Now, the Winchesters – with Castiel’s help – must not only contend with Crowley, Lucifer and his spawn, and the arrival of the conniving British Men of Letters (who’ve come to “complicate” their hunting days), but they’ll also have to relearn what it is to be a family again after all these years.

 

Supernatural stars Jared Padalecki (Friday the 13th, Gilmore Girls) and Jensen Ackles (Smallville, My Bloody Valentine) as Sam and Dean Winchester, in addition to Misha Collins (24, Girl Interrupted) as Castiel and Mark A. Sheppard (In the Name of the Father, White Collar) as Crowley. Created by Eric Kripke (Revolution, Timeless), the twelfth season of the hit series was executive produced by Andrew Dabb, Robert Singer (Timecop, Lois & Clark), Phil Sgriccia (Smallville), Brad Buckner & Eugenie Ross-Leming (Lois & Clark) and Jeremy Carver (Frequency, Being Human) Produced by Warner Bros. Television, Supernatural returns for its thirteenth season this fall on The CW.

 

With Blu-ray’s unsurpassed picture and sound, Supernatural: The Complete Twelfth Seasonwill be released in 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1.

 

BLU-RAY, DVD and Digital HD FEATURES

·         The Winchester Mythology: Mary Winchester

·         The Winchester Mythology: Clash of the British Men of Letters

·         The Winchester Mythology: The Hunters Life

·         Supernatural 2016 Comic-Con Panel

·         Audio Commentaries

·         Deleted Scenes

·         Gag Reel

 

23 ONE-HOUR EPISODES

 

1. Keep Calm and Carry On
2. Mamma Mia
3. The Foundry
4. American Nightmare
5. The One You've Been Waiting For
6. Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox
7. Rock Never Dies
8. LOTUS
9. First Blood
10. Lily Sunder Has Some Regrets
11. Regarding Dean
12. Stuck in the Middle (With You)
13. Family Feud
14. The Raid
15. Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell
16. Ladies Drink Free
17. The British Invasion
18. The Memory Remains
19. The Future
20. Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes
21. There's Something About Mary
22.  Who We Are

23.  All Along the Watchtower

 

 

DIGITAL HD

The twelfth season of Supernatural is also currently available to own on Digital HD. Digital HD allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices.  Digital HD is available from various digital retailers including Amazon Video, CinemaNow, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. A Digital Copy is also included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage through participating retail services including CinemaNow, Vudu and Flixster Video.

Ex Machina: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Review

The directorial debut for writer Alex Garland, who is best known for his collaborations with Director Danny Boyle, Ex Machina stars Domhnall Gleeson as a computer programmer who wins a trip for one week to the home of his employer, played by Oscar Isaac, and given the task of administering a test on android Ava (Alicia Vikander) to determine if Ava’s AI can pass as a sentient human being. Once the testing begins, Caleb realizes that not all is as it seems. 

The film won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects and great acclaim since making it's original home video release. This new 4K Ultra High Definition Blu-ray Disc set features an impressive 2160p (2.39:1) widescreen presentation that is a marked improvement for the included 1080p BD release that benefits greatly by the greater color palette provided through High Dynamic Range, which also provides impressive contrast. 

Both the 4K and HD Blu-rays feature a spot on English DTS X Audio Track, a DTS-HD MA 5.1 English Soundtrack and a DTS Headphone X Audio Track as well. English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired as well as English and Spanish Language Subtitles are encodes as options.

The bonus material is on the Blu-ray Disc and these are detailed as Through the Looking Glass: Making Ex Machina (39:59), SXSW Q&A with Cast and Crew (1:00:57), Making Ava (3:38), Nathan’s World (3:34), New Consciousness (3:07), Becoming Ava (3:16), Director (3:09), Cast (3:15), Meet Ava (2:35), God Complex (2:53) and Music (3:09). An insert containing a limited time only redeemable code for an Ultraviolet Digital Copy is also included.

Ex Machina: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Set will debut at retailers on and offline on June 6, 2017courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

(C) Copyright 2017 By Mark A. Rivera.

All Rights Reserved.

Dredd: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Review

In 1990 filmmaker Richard Stanley brought the first film based upon the internationally famous British Comicbook stories in 2000 AD entitled Hardware. That film like the short story that inspired it, did not feature the character of Judge Dredd in it, but with a lower budget and a good cast supported by friends Stanley made from his work in music videos, the film has enjoyed cult film status though not many Americans know that the story is set in the same universe as Judge Dredd. Then Danny Cannon with the star power of Sylvester Stallone and an inflated Hollywood Studio budget directed the first live action theatrical motion picture to feature the character of Judge Dredd proper, but as a product of the time in which it was produced, it was a mid 1990s special effects laden piece of eye candy with little of the nutrients to make the film distinguish itself from the mighty shadow Stallone set upon it because he was still more of a movie star at the time I think and big budget Sci-Fi films made by major Hollywood Studios tended more often than not to focus more on spectacle rather than story.. I also just feel that Stallone is a smart man who knows what his fans want to see him do, but for a while he was a bit off course in the features he made and then with time, perspective and a re-embracing of the character that made him the star he is, Stallone made Rocky Balboa and now enjoys the respect he is due as a writer, director, actor and action hero without devolving into a meme of himself as some of his contemporaries had. Then after more than a decade, with Karl Urban in the lead role, Dredd managed to find the right balance between the grounded low budget of Hardware and the spectacle of Judge Dredd and with Lionsgate as the theatrical and home video distributor, Dredd captured the right balance with a simple siege type story penned by Alex Farland where Judge Dredd and a psychic trainee he is evaluating for her final field test before either succeeeding or failing in her quest to be a Judge, find themselves battling through a building block filled with civilians and a ruthless drug lord played by Lena Headley in a film that is truer to the comics and even has some undercurrent of thought to it's characters so the audience knows that Headley's character is as much a victim of life in Mega City One as those who fall as a result of her actions. In a sense, she is very much a doppelgänger and antihero to Dredd's fanatical pursuit of enforcing the law as Judge, Jury and Executioner.

Lionsgate Home Entertainment's 4K UltraHD Blu-ray Disc edition presents Dredd in a magnificent Ultra High Definition resolution of 2160p with an outstanding (2.40:1) resolution that is made even more breathtaking because the disc supports High Dynamic Range for the most vibrant colors and contrast available to  home video enthusiasts today. The English Dolby ATMOS Soundtrack is also equally gratifying and this should come as no surprise because the included 1080p full HD Blu-ray Disc is the same one that was included in the original BD release, which means you get on one disc the 2D and 3D versions of the film on top of the fantastic DTS-HD MA 7.1 Soundtrack optimized for DTS Neo X 11.1 playback on the HD BD too. Also provided are the English Dolby Digital 2.0 Audio Track optimized for Late-Night Listening and French and Spanish Language Dubbed Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtracks as well as English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired and English and Spanish Language Subtitles encoded as options. 

The extra value features that are found on the original Blu-ray/BD-3D combo disc release are also included on the 4K BD, such as a 35 year retrospective look at the comic entitled Mega City Masters, two featurettes covering the three dimensional shooting process as well as the 3D visual effects, several other featurettes covering the casting, costume and production design as well as the motion comic prequel and the theatrical trailer. Sadly the i'Tunes Digital Copy download code is not provided for this release, but the Ultraviolet HD Digital Copy code, which is only redeemable for a limited time, is included on the insert within the two-disc Black UHD BD case. 

This is a great deal. Dredd: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc set will debut at retailers on and offline on June 6, 2017 courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

(C) Copyright 2017 By Mark A. Rivera.

All Rights Reserved.

Snitch: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Review

There is no denying Duane "The Rock" Johnson has charisma. He does. That is what made him a fan favorite in the WWE and that is what has enabled him to become arguably the most popular action film star in contemporary cinema. He has presence and he has a sense of humor about himself that has enabled him to slip from one type of film to another. If I were an action picture Director, I would want to work with "The Rock" because he is fun to watch on screen. While different, it is perhaps ironic that just as Schwarzenegger had Stallone in the 1980s as the two mega action heroes of the big screen, so fellow WWE Superstars Dave Bautista and John Cena have joined him in friendly competition on the big screen just as they all served the public as "Faces" on WWE RAW and WWE Smackdown every weak.

Snitch is a 2014 crime action thriller inspired by a true story where a wealthy businessman goes undercover to expose a drug distribution ring and prove his son's innocence. The film costars Barry Pepper, Jon Bernthal and Susan Surandon. This two-disc set from Lionsgate Home Entertainment features an outstanding 4K Ultra High Definition 2160p (2.40:1) aspect ratio presentation with High Dynamic Range that makes the color contrast pop and look more vibrant than the 1080p High Defintion Blu-ray Disc, which is also included within this two-disc set. I found the English Dolby ATMOS Soundtrack to be on par with the English DTS-HD MA 7.1 Surround BD Soundtrack though I must concede that it could be the home theater equipment I used to screen this film. Results may vary. Spanish and French Language Dubbed Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtracks are also provided along with an English 2.0 Soundtrack Optimized for Late Night Listening and English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired as well as English and Spanish Language Subtitles encoded as options on both discs too.

4K special features are identical in content to what is on the Blu-ray Disc and these include a feature length audio commentary with Co-Writer/Director Ric Roman Waugh and Editor Jonathan Chibnall, a making of featurette, deleted scenes and the theatrical trailer. A limited time only redeemable code for an Ultraviolet Digital Copy of Snitch is included on the insert with the black Ultra HD BD case.

Snitch: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Set is available on June 6, 2017 at retailers on and offline courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

(C) Copyright 2017 By Mark A. Rivera.

All Rights Reserved.

xXx: Return of Xander Cage: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Review

Having proved himself to a box office draw in Universal's Fast & Furious franchise and then successfully resurrecting his Riddick character, Vin Diesel returns again to resurrect another action thriller franchise as Xander Cage in

xXx: Return of Xander Cage. Returning after 15 years, Xander Cage was supposed to be a hipper take on the Spy-Fi subgenre built with extreme sports in mind. Now it is a by the numbers action flick that also brings back Ice Cube from the second film and delivers an exceptional diversion from real world troubles. 

The Ultra HD version features a fantastic 2160p resolution with HDR and both the included 1080p Blu-Ray Disc that is included as well look fantastic. The bigger the screen, the more viewers should appreciate the HDR color and 4K Resolution, but regardless, both discs deliver when it comes to picture. The Dolby ATMOS Soundtrack is also engaging and is proof that picture is only half the experience. Sound completes it.

All of the bonus features are on the 1080p Blu-ray and they include the Third Time's the Charm: Xander Returns (8:13) promotional featurette, a short regarding the international casting (20:18), a look at the location set pieces (16:10) a stunt featuette (15:17) and a gag reel (2:12). A limited time only redeemable choice of either a Digital Copy or a Ultraviolet Digital Copy is included within the black Ultra HD BD case.

xXx: Return of Xander Cage: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc is available now at retailers on and offline courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment.

(C) Copyright 2017 By Mark A. Rivera.

All Rights Reserved.

The Godfather and The Godfather Part II: 45Th Anniversary Editions Combined Review.

Paramount Home Entertainment has released all three films in Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather Trilogy as single disc Blu-ray Disc releases with new elegant artwork packaging, but the discs included within are the exact same discs from The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration, which included all three films and all of the extra value material that had originally been released going all the way back to the 2001 Godfather DVD Collection. The Coppola restoration Blu-ray Discs is a great improvement over the original DVD set release in every way possible. Having attended Francis Ford Coppola's press conference in front of the Morrissey Coppola Pasta Factory in Park Slope, Brooklyn back in 2001, I still remember Coppola stating that he considers the first two films to be the story and the third to be the epilogue of a cinematic novel. Paramount Home Entertainment graciously provided me with the first two films on Blu-ray, which feature the same solid 1080p, full HD widescreen presentations along with the English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround Soundtracks as well as an English Mono Soundtrack and French and Spanish Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtracks. English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired are provided for both films and the feature length retrospective audio commentary by Francis Ford Coppola is also included for each.

If you are looking for just the individual films and extra value content is not an issue for you than these discs are for you. If not, buy the Coppola Restoration BD set or wait and maybe we will get a 4K UltraHD Blu-ray Disc Set in time for the film's fiftieth anniversary. The Godfather 45Th Anniversary Blu-ray Disc Releases for all three films are now available at retailers on and offline courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment.

(C) Copyright 2017 By Mark A. Rivera.

All Rights Reserved

Vixen: The Movie Blu-ray Disc Review

Please note, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.

As seen on the streaming channel, CW SEED, Vixen: The Movie has arrived on Blu-ray Disc complete with a limited time only redeemable code on an insert within the BD case for an Ultraviolet Digital Copy for streaming stationary and mobile devices. The story centers upon Mari McCabe, an African immigrant who lost her family to criminals and now has inherited the Tantu Totem, a device that allows her to harness the power of animals like the strength of a gorilla or the speed of a cheetah. With her amazing abilities, Vixen fights to protect the world from the same threats that claimed her family.

The film is a combination of the CW SEED webisodes and additional animated segments added in order create a 75 minute animated movie. As a result the narrative can be a bit choppy. Vixen: The Movie is presented with a somewhat monochromatic picture quality because of the nature of the story. The 1080p (1.78:1) widescreen aspect ratio presentation is about on par with the average D.C. animated features and comes with an exceptional English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround Soundtrack with English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired as well as French and Spanish Language Subtitles encoded as options. 

Extra value features besides the above mentioned limited edition Ultraviolet Digital Copy code on the insert within the BD case include Vixen: Sprit Animal (16:13), which features Marc Guggenheim. comic book historian Alan Kistler and voice actors Victor Garber and Carlos Valdes. Two of a Bruce Timm's picks from Justice league Unlimited, which are Hunter's Moon (23:09) and Grudge Match (22:53) wrap up the extra value features on this Blu-ray Disc.

Vixen: The Movie is now available on Blu-ray Disc at retailers on and offline courtesy of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

(C) Copyright 2017 By Mark A. Rivera.

All Rights Reserved.