It is nice when the people you write about are kind enough to drop a quick kind note back.

The folks at Star Trek: Phase II sent me a quick note, which felt good. Thank you guys. Note below:

From all of us, thanks Mark!

Download episodes, including their latest, "Kitumba," which I reviewed as well, scroll down the posts to read, and cut and paste the link below to view and download Star Trek: The New Voyages: Phase II.

http://www.startreknewvoyages.com/?category_name=episodes&orderby=title&order=desc

From My Book The Final Arbiter.

"Changes of form. Change of sight. Colors melting... Blending into each other to create new sensations and stimulations like the painter, Dali."

--From The Final Arbiter

By Mark Rivera.

(C) By Mark Rivera.

All Rights Reserved.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/1461040515?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

More To Enjoy Than Not & Thank You James Cawley!

Okay, here is my quick no spoilers review of the first of two new episodes to be released this year of Star Trek: Phase II. The episode entitled "Kitumba" was based on a two-part script written in 1977 for the Phase II series, but was revised into one hour and five minute long episode, which ironically might be close enough to what two parter without commercials will soon be on television for an hour long series with adverts. 

The swan song for James Cawley is Captain Kirk is honorable and the performances from the series regular actors, who have been with Mr. Cawley producing the series with a goal of fleshing out the final two seasons of Star Trek: The Original Series with the animated series taken into consideration so as to show the transition toward the Star Trek: The Motion Picture setting and look is admirable. 

Occasionally some of the Klingon makeup just looks bad and I did not like one visual reference made because it seemed as though it were placed as an after thought to keep some kind of continuity with Star Trek Into Darkness, which is in it's own separate universe. There is a verbal reference to an event in Abrams' Star Trek, which I did not like either because it conflicts with what we know of Kirk's childhood from The Original Series. However it is not beyond the possibility that something like what is referenced did happen in the original timeline. Fans will discover little Easter egg references related to events from Star Trek: Enterprise and things set up to follow in the twenty fourth century television programs too.

Where the episode seemed a bit hampered was in the use of non professional actors and extras to portray the Klingons. Some are just plain awful and I found myself squirming at certain sights within a pub setting. Yet there are moments of good old Star Trek camp that seemed refreshing. I am mixed on the pacing because of the nature of the episode. To go into that further would to be risking more spoilers. However and as a whole there is more to enjoy than to cringe at in this episode of Star Trek: Phase II and the link to watch it for free on YouTube is below. Please cut and paste it into your browsers if it is not active so one can view the episode.

This series is made not for profit, but for admiration and love of an American sci-fi television classic. Nothing could be more sincere and of all the fan film productions out there, this is the only one I have found to truly cross the boundary into professional with enough support, participation and cooperation from those involved with Star Trek professionally that I personally consider it part of my own imaginary Star Trek cannon and what better complement could a reviewer give to a production such as this. Thank you. Big thanks to James Cawley and everyone involved with Star Trek: Phase II for your labor of love. May you all Live Long and Prosper in the knowledge that your mission has been a success.

Episodes can be viewed at www.startrekphase2.com and please donate to the production if you can. Thank you again.

(C) Copyright 2014 By Mark Rivera

All Rights Reserved.

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/419hNYe2OaY

Found Footage Can Still Be Scary Fun With Banshee Chapter!

Inspired by both H.P. Lovecraft's short story From Beyond as well as the 1980s shlock cult adaptation directed by Stuart Gordon, Banshee Chapter takes the basic concept while acknowledging Lovecraft's story in the dialogue and tells the tale of a journalist looking for a close friend from college after he mysteriously disappears shortly after taking an experimental drug secretly used on MKUltra tests subjects that he wishes to write a novel about. Her search leads her to the home of a counter culture maverick author who may have provided the drug for her friend to experiment with. Not long after arriving at his home, they both experience strange phenomena and otherworldly creatures that appear to be aware of them. The search culminates at the site of the experiments where they make contact with extra-dimensional beings.

The film was produced by Actor Zachary Quinto and stars Michael McMillan, Katia Winter, Ted Levine, and Jenny Gabrielle. While this is a "found footage" film, I found the story to be both scary with some nice make your heart jump in your chest moments and some creepy scenes where what you don't see is just as frightening as what you do and the film does give enough reasonable clips of the creatures, which are sentient and malevolent. Basically I was left wanting to know more and at the same time feeling satisfied with what I did see since to have the alien agenda completely explained in a film like this would spoil the imaginative horror in one's mind that can never be matched by any concrete reasoning or full disclosure. I found myself completely sympathetic with the lead in the film too. In one scene, after revealing the truth of what she discovered she adds that she wishes she didn't know. After seeing this film you will concur with her. Everyone in the film delivers competent performances and the story for the most part holds together well though after some scrutiny you may find yourself going over the events of the film in your mind trying to figure out at what point did certain things occur, which I cannot divulge due to spoilers, to carry the action through to it's conclusion.

A neat indie Sci-Fi Horror Chiller, Banshee Chapter is playing in select theaters now or can be rented through video on demand services like iTunes. A DVD video release is due to follow tentatively in February.

(C) Copyright 2014 By Mark Rivera

All Rights Reserved.

RETURN TO NUKE 'EM HIGH, VOL. 1 New York Q&A on Friday, January 10th and Saturday, January 11th!

New York Q&As at Village East Cinemas!

Join Lloyd Kaufman and cast & crew for Q&As at Village East Cinemas on Friday January 10^thand Saturday, January 11^th;

Moderated by cast members of Science Channel’s “Oddities!”

Come celebrate Troma Entertainment’s 40^th Anniversary with Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman along with the cast and crew of Troma’s newest “Tromasterpiece” RETURN TO NUKE ‘EM HIGH, VOL.1 at special Q&As after the 8pmshows on Friday, January 10^th andSaturday, January 11^th at New York’s Village East Cinemas. The Friday January 10^th event will be moderated by Evan Michelson and Mike Zohn from the Science Channel show “Oddities!”

Fans will have a chance to hear about, and ask questions, regarding the making of the latest release from the world’s leading independent film company!

Schedule:

Friday, January 10, 2014 – Q&A after the 8pm show

Evan Michelson & Mike Zohn – Moderators;

Lloyd Kaufman, Writer/Director/Producer;

Justin Martell, Producer;

Stars Asta Paredes, Catherine Corcoran, Vito Trigo and Clay von Carlowitz

Saturday, January 10, 2014 – Q&A after the 8pm show

Stars Asta Paredes, Catherine Corcoran – Moderators;

Stars Vito Trigo and Clay von Carlowitz

Location:

Village East Cinemas

189 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

212-529-6799

www.villageeastcinema.com

RETURN TO NUKE ‘EM HIGH, VOL. 1 is Lloyd Kaufman’s latest Tromasterpiece. A hilarious, thoughtful sci-fi event film with themes ripped straight from today's headlines: the contamination and degradation of the world's food supply, rampant bullying and LGBTQ love triumphing over prejudice and violence. The film -- a revisiting of Troma's 1986 Class of Nuke 'Em High -- is in the same vein as other classics such as Class of 1984, Rock 'n' Roll High School and Carrie, but it's seen through the unique vision of Lloyd Kaufman and the Troma Team.

  

Welcome to Tromaville High School, where, unfortunately, the glee club has mutated into a vicious gang of Cretins. Chrissy and Lauren, two innocent lesbian lovers, must fight not only the Cretins, mutants and monsters, but also the evil Tromorganic Foodstuffs conglomerate. Can they and Kevin the Wonder Duck save Tromaville High School and the world?

Come celebrate Troma’s 40 years of creating some of the most revered – and reviled – films of all time!

Theatrical trailer for "Return to Nuke 'Em High: Vol. 1":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XCKyYSkF4Q

Star Trek: Enterprise Season Three Blu-ray Disc Set Review

Star Trek: Enterprise is the last in the long line of Star Trek TV programs  and movies officially produced and licensed by what is now CBS Paramount Television before J.J. Abrams and company created an alternate Star Trek timeline so that they would not be locked into the established continuity of Star Trek and yet borrow and reference whatever they chose from Star Trek's rich mythology.

The third season of Star Trek: Enterprise was different from the first two seasons in many ways. For starters the restored Star Trek title was put back into the the series. The first two seasons were originally broadcast simply as Enterprise. Even the series opening song "Faith Of The Heart" was sped up a bit to reflect the urgency of the series new tone while keeping the mix of archival footage and Star Trek produced scenes to give the viewer a sense of the timeline from our early twenty first century present to the mid twenty second century setting of the show, approximately 150 years into the future when the episodes first aired and one hundred years before the time of Kirk and Spock as an approximate end point for the series.

The first two seasons of Star Trek: Enterprise suffered from too much referencing things other Star Trek shows had already explored or dramatized with little to no dramatic effect on the overall storyline. However with the third season of Star Trek: Enterprise, what had been developed that worked from the first two seasons gave the third season the backbone to create a season long story arc set up from the second season finale.

In the second season's chilling finale, a mysterious and deadly race of aliens called the Xindi sprang from the far reaches of the galaxy and attacked Earth, massacring millions of people.  With another more catastrophic attack looming, Archer and the Enterprise crew are forced to undertake a life or death mission into the Delphic Expanse, a perilous and frightening place where even the known laws of physics do not apply, to seek out the Xindi and save the Earth. 

The third season premiere quickly establishes that six weeks have passed since the devastating attack on Earth by the Xindi. The Enterprise has entered the Delphic Expanse in with an eye toward stopping their next offensive at any cost. Captain Archer (Scott Bakula) is following a lead to the Xindi on a desolate mining outpost where he hopes to gain the coordinates to the Xindi Homeworld. Trip (Connor Trinneer) has been suffering from nightmares about his sister’s death. This lack of sleep could eventually hurt the mission since his role in engineering is pivotal to the ongoing functionality of the ship. So Dr. Phlox (John Billingsley) arranges for Trip to undergo an intriguing and intimate Vulcan cure for Trip’s vivid nightmares of his sister’s death with the help of Vulcan Sub Commander T’Pol (Jolene Blalock.)

After some bartering with the local administrator of the mining facility, The Captain and Trip are finally introduced to their first live Xindi, who looks far more human than the corpse recovered on Earth after the first attack. When they attempt to leave with the Xindi back to the shuttle pod, they discover it is a trap. Warships are heading toward the Enterprise with the intention of disabling the ship and taking the crew back down to the planet to work as slave labor. Meanwhile a council of the various Xindi species is already aware that the Enterprise has entered the Delphic Expanse and has sent out a scout to deter their mission. So from here are the seeds of action, loss, love, desperation, hope, tragedy, and eventual help and cooperation are planted that grow far beyond this storyline and in fact impact the series' fourth and final season, which no one can deny was Star Trek: Enterprise' best and thus the show can be looked back fondly as truly ending when it was in it's prime, something few television series can claim credit for doing regardless of the reasons.

Off all of the releases of Star Trek on Blu-ray Disc, Star Trek: Enterprise was the only shot shot natively in 16 by 8 as opposed to (1.33:1) and broadcast in high definition, making it practically tailored made to be viewed on Blu-ray Disc and the results are clearly apparent with it's  beautiful 1080p/24fps high definition (1.78:1) widescreen presentation that looks superior to both the original high def television broadcasts and viewing the standard definition DVD discs up converted to 1080p/60hz on an upscaling DVD player or Blu-ray Disc player. 

I realize purists will not like this, but I love watching Star Trek in high definition widescreen so much that I wish the option was available on the other shows even if it means some shots might have to be digitally altered to accommodate the matting of the image because on the high def extras found on other Trek television Blu-rays, widescreen clips of scenes from the classic shows are often presented in 1080p and they look great.

A new theatrical English DTS-HD MA  5..1 Surround Soundtrack is provided for all twenty two season three episodes spread across six Blu-ray Discs within the Elite Blue BD case and there is a German Dubbed 5.1 Surround Soundtrack as well as French and Japanese Language Dubbed Stereo Surround Soundtracks encoded for each episode along with English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired and German, French, Dutch and Japanese Language Subtitles encoded as options.

There are also a lot of new high definition and archival extra value features carried over from the original DVD sets in standard definition. More than I can possibly expound upon completely, but I can touch upon the bulk of the new stuff and note the old. On disc one for the episode "The Xindi," the text commentary by Mike and Denise Okuda is provided and two short mission logs from the DVD releases covering "The Xindi Saga" beginning and Enterprise Moments from season three are also provided.

Disc two features a brand new audio commentary by David Livingston and David A. Goodman on "Impulse" along with an archival text commentary by Mike and Denise Okuda for the episode too. Another audio commentary by Mike Sussman and Tim Gaskill recorded in 2008 for "Twilight" has been carried over from the previous DVD release. 

Disc three includes both a new audio commentary by David A. Goodman and Chris Black on "North Star" as well as an earlier recorded audio commentary for the same episode with Mike DeMeritt. Writer Manny Coto recorded two audio commentaries for the episode "Similitude." The new one is shared with Actor Connor Trinneer while the previous one was a solo commentary with Coto. Deleted scenes for that episode and "Chosen Realm" from the DVD release wrap up the bonus features on disc three.

Disc Five features a brand new audio commentary by David A. Goodman, Chris Black and Connor Trinneer for the episode "The Forgotten" and standard definition deleted scenes from the episode "E2" as in "E

Squared"

The final disc has the most extra value content, including all of the newly created video material for this Blu-ray Disc release. A brand new audio commentary by Chris Black and Andre' Bormanis is provided for the third season's penultimate episode, "Countdown" as well as an archival text commentary by Mike and Denise Okuda. Then there are four interesting brand new retrospective documentaries included on the final disc.

The first three are really parts of a larger feature length documentary although the parts can only be viewed individually. Under the heading "A Time Of War" are part one, "Call To Arms" (28:07), which features brand new interviews with Scott Bakula, Branon Braga, Rick Bernan, and Seth MacDonald. This gives more of the point of view of the producers and creative crew as well as the lead Star's perspectives on the direction the show had gone down from the first two seasons and the necessary changes made to develop Star Trek: Enterprise into the show it evolved into by the fourth season. Basically the consensus is that season three was where Star Trek: Enterprise found it's unique voice.  

The second part entitled "Front Lines" (29:51) gives the cast perspective with interviews that include a frank Jolene Blalock, who basically seems rather subdued and just goes out of the way to tell viewers not to go school just for modeling and acting since the likelihood of success is so slim. I can applaud her for being honest about her feelings. She reveals that she was just twenty two years old when she appeared on Star Trek: Enterprise and I think she means to tell young people that what happened to her and to be able to work in two tough careers steadily doesn't happen often.

Other cast members who participate in the documentary include Conner Trinneer, John Billingsley, Linda Park,  Dominick Keating, and Anthony Montgomery. One insight from a cast member was if the show went from the pilot to season three and then the fourth season was the second, the series would have exceeded what fans wanted and had the potential to be the most innovative Star Trek yet since they would have future seasons open to explore beyond what viewers expected.

The third part "Final Conflict" (28:36) continues with more cast and crew interviews, including Manny Coto, and brings the entire triple feature to a truly comprehensive and retrospective summary of Star Trek: Enterprise' third season. An additional featurette entitled "Temporal Cold War: Declassified" (20:17) brings the entire multi season story arc into focus from the first season through the early part of season four with interviews with recurring cast members that include Matt Wilson, John Fleck and Scott MacDonald.

Archival footage carried over from the DVD extra features that include a profile on Conner Trinneer, Director Roxann Dawson, behind-the-camera with Marvin Rush, Enterprise Secrets, Outtakes, a Photo Gallery and three NX-01 Files wrap up the bonus features included within this set. 

The interactive seamless menus are well rendered and easy to navigate. Star Trek: Enterprise Season Three is  the definitive home video presentation of the TV series on Blu-ray Disc and is a must add to any sci-fi and Star Trek fan's home video collection. It is available now as of January 7, 2014 at retailers on and offline courtesy of CBS Paramount Home Entertainment.

(C) Copyright 2014 By Mark Rivera

All Rights Reserved.

Last Vegas Arrives On Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack On January 28, 2014 From Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

“A once-in-a-lifetime cast makes this a must-see movie event.” –Pete Hammond, Movieline

 “A totally fun and new take on Vegas!” –Rachel Smith, FOX 5

Starring Academy Award^® Winners

Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline & Mary Steenburgen

LAST VEGAS

 

Available Jan. 28 on Blu-ray^™Combo Pack*, DVD* & Digital

With Writer & Director Commentary, & Six Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes

 

 

CULVER CITY, CALIF. (Jan. 6, 2014) – Director Jon Turteltaub (National Treasurefranchise) brings together a legendary all-star cast for the box office hit LAST VEGAS, available Jan. 28 on Blu-ray^™ Combo Pack* and DVD* from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Academy Award^® winners Michael Douglas (Best Actor, Wall Street, 1987), Robert De Niro (Best Supporting Actor,The Godfather: Part II, 1974; Best Actor,Raging Bull, 1980), Morgan Freeman (Best Supporting Actor, Million Dollar Baby, 2004) and Kevin Kline (Best Supporting Actor, A Fish Called Wanda, 1988) star as four 60-something-year-old friends who take a break from their day-to-day lives to throw a bachelor party in Las Vegas for their last remaining single pal. The cast also includes Academy Award^®winner Mary Steenburgen (Best Supporting Actress, Melvin and Howard, 1980), as well as Romany Malco (Think Like a Man, TV’s “Weeds”) and Jerry Ferrara (TV’s “Entourage”).

 

Fans can go behind-the-scenes with in-depth bonus materials included on the LAST VEGASBlu-ray Combo Pack and DVD, including filmmaker commentary with director Jon Turteltaub and writer Dan Fogelman. Also included are three featurettes exploring the film’s storyline and character arcs -- “It’s Going to be Legendary,” “Four Legends,” and “The Flatbush Four.”  Three additional featurettes on the supporting cast and filming in Las Vegas are available exclusively on the Blu-ray Combo Pack, including “Shooting in Sin City,” “Ensemble Support,” and “The Redfoo Party,” which breaks down the pool party scene hosted by musician Redfoo of LMFAO.

 

*Blu-ray ComboPack Includes DVD & Digital HD UltraViolet™

*DVD Includes UltraViolet™

 

Synopsis: 

Billy (Michael Douglas), Paddy (Robert De Niro), Archie (Morgan Freeman) and Sam (Kevin Kline) have been best friends since childhood. So when Billy, the group’s sworn bachelor, finally proposes to his 30-something-year-old girlfriend (of course), the four head to Las Vegas with a plan to stop acting their age and relive their glory days. However, upon arriving, the four quickly realize that the decades have transformed Sin City and tested their friendship in ways they never imagined. The Rat Pack may have once played the Sands and Cirque du Soleil may now rule the Strip, but it’s these four who are taking over Vegas.

 

Directed by Jon Turteltaub from a screenplay by Dan Fogelman, LAST VEGAS wasproduced by Laurence Mark and Amy Baer, with Nathan Kahane, Jeremiah Samuels and Lawrence Grey serving as executive producers.

 

Blu-ray Combo Pack Bonus Features Include:

§  Three featurettes:

o   “Shooting in Sin City” – Explore the grand scale re-creation  of present day Las Vegas and shooting techniques used to capture its young vibe

o   “The Redfoo Party” – Dive into a fun pool party scene showcasing Redfoo of LMFAO and the cast

o   “Supporting Ensemble” – Get an introduction to the outrageously funny, stellar supporting cast members and special guest cameos who helped make the film a comedic hit

 

Bonus Features on the Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD Include:

§  Filmmaker Commentary with Director Jon Turteltaub & Writer Dan Fogelman

§  Three Featurettes:

o   “It’s Going to be Legendary” – A behind-the-scenes look at the production of the film with commentary from the main cast

o   “Four Legends” – A look at the ensemble main cast and their insights on working with one another on such a comedic film

o   “The Flatbush Four” – A candid glimpse at the character arcs of the four main characters in the film

 

LAST VEGAS has a running time of about 105 minutes & is rated PG-13 for sexual content & language.