1973 could be considered one of the most memorable years of the 20th  century in American history. Elvis Presley’s concert in Hawaii is first by an entertainer televised worldwide, being watched by more than the Apollo landing, Vietnam War ended, Roe vs. Wade, Watergate scandal, and the oil crisis begins to name a few. Sports alone became a history maker in that George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees, Miami Dolphins won the Super Bowl to be the only perfect season, the first designated hitter rule went into effect, Foreman vs. Frazier, Billie Jean King def. Bobby Riggs in a battle of the sexes tennis match. But none of these brought the country together more than one simple being, an amazing horse, Secretariat.

Mayhem Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures, who brought us the heart wrenching of perseverance and the thrill of an underdog winning in “Miracle” and “Invincible”, have teamed up again to bring us the telling of the whom some would say is the greatest non-human athlete ever.  Randall Wallace (We Were All Soldiers, Man in the Iron Mask) takes the reins of this amazing story of going for it all in the face of adversity and the “Old Boys” club. Weaving the silk that is the story is Mike Rich (Radio, The Rookie) who takes William Nack’s “Secretariat: The Making of a Champion” and covers you such warmth that is a story not just about this exquisite horse but the trials and tribulations of the woman that stood up and said ‘NO’. That woman is Penny Chenery, played by Diane Lane (Under the Tuscan Sun, The Perfect Storm), a well educated woman who must step into her father’s footsteps to show everyone that her passion is just as hot as the next man. Helping her realize her gut feelings are true in nature is Lucien Laurin the ex jockey turned trainer that is down on his laurels and needs a boost. John Malkovich (Murn After Reading, The Great Buck Howard) saddles up as the extravagantly dressed (for the time) Lucien.

It was a coin toss to decide a champion. Christopher Chenery (Scott Glenn) and the richest man in america, Ogden Phipps (James Cromwell) agreed instead of money that a coin toss would be used to give the winner the choice of foals between Phipps’ stallion and Chenery’s mares. Chenery would never see that toss but his daughter Penny (lane) would. Having stepped into the family business after her mom passed away and to help out her father whose health was failing him. Penny had never run a stable before but she knew she had it in her blood. After doing a little research she knew which foal she wanted, and she got it, even though she lost the toss. She had to find a trainer though if she was to prove her theory and on good word she found Lucien Laurin (Malkovich), a trainer and ex jockey who had trained some good horses and some busts. Penny knew he could do it and put her trust in him even though he didn’t think he could do it himself. When the day came for the foal to be born, Penny, Lucien and Eddie Sweat (Nelson Ellis) saw something they had never seen before, a colt stand up almost immediately. They all saw that flash of greatness before their eyes, the chestnut red, they called Big Red. The only issue at hand was dealing with her father’s recent death and inheritance issues she would need to step up with the ‘Old Boys’ and beat them at their own game. Once given that chance to, Big Red loved to run and run he did, with the help of jockey Ron Turcotte (Otto Thorwarth), they ran into history.

What more can I say than this film is just like a horse race. In the beginning it is steady and builds. By the first turn it picks up and there is a lot of jockeying for many parts of the story, by the back stretch you get a clearer picture of what everyone is going thru. The last turn speeds up even more as the stakes are bigger and losing is not an option. Coming around to the home stretch you have a clear view of the finish line and the roses waiting for you. Penny did a lot of what she did by gut feeling. Something many of us never act upon. Let alone everyone thought there was no way she could do it. Not even her own blood, her brother or her husband had faith in her. She didn’t care. She knew what had to be done and who to go to, to help her. Lucien, Eddie, and Ron knew she had faith and knew Secretariat was a winner. There was no stopping this horse that just wanted to run. You can learn a lot from watching this film or even going on YouTube and seeing the clips yourself of this magnificent horse and he’s amazing family. Life is like a race, no matter what, as long as you have the drive, keep running. Make the right moves and the finish line will be right in front of you.

DISC BONUS FEATURES:

BLU-RAY:
The same as the DVD, plus…

• Choreographing The Races – This piece looks at how director Randall Wallace and the filmmakers used innovative tools and technology to accurately and excitingly recreate the Triple Crown races that make the viewer feel like they are standing on the backstretch themselves.

• A Director’s Inspiration: A Conversation With The Real Penny Chenery – Director Randall Wallace sits down with Secretariat owner Penny Chenery to review the movie and some of the key scenes. Penny reflects on what it was like to have been a woman in a male dominated sport and to have been part of horse racing’s most exciting moments in history.

• Audio Commentary By Director Randall Wallace – View the film with optional audio commentary from Director Randall Wallace.

• Deleted Scenes With Optional Audio Commentary By Director Randall Wallace – The same deleted scenes as the DVD, plus four more…
    o Alternate Opening
        o Introduction
        o “Are You A Golfer?”
        o No Time To Rest

• Secretariat Multi-Angle Simulation – Relive Secretariats triumphant 1973 Preakness race by viewing the race from a number of perspectives as well as listening to commentaries from fans, announcers and even the jockey who rode Secretariat to their record finish.

DVD:

• Heart Of A Champion – This feature takes a look at one of the most famous thoroughbred horses ever known. Secretariat was a horse with style as well as amazing speed and an unsurpassed racing record. We interview all the key players from the day as well as today’s filmmakers to learn more about the horse affectionately called “Red.”

• Deleted Scenes With Optional Audio Commentary By Director Randall Wallace
    o Director Introduction
    o Memories
    o Seth Joins The Team
    o Too Soon To Celebrate
• Music Video – AJ Michalka “It’s Who You Are”

EST :
The same as the DVD, plus…
• Choreographing The Races

A timeless story comes to live once more after 25 years in stunning digital color and sound via Blue Ray magic. Warner Brothers and Amblin Entertainment bring back the original film which stunned audiences around the world and brought us all face to face with the realities and traumas of life in Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple”.

This time honored tale of love, hate, betrayal and hope is brought back to a new set of audiences everywhere with so many beautiful extras and a great insight to the creation of both the incredible Pulitzer Prize winning novel and this Academy Award nominated film.  The clarity of Blue Ray shows the incredible details of each and every character from Celie’s innocent smile to each sparkling red sequins of Sug’s red dress.  There isn’t enough I can say about this Blue Ray to really show you all the incredible joy it was to watch this time honored classic in Blue Ray quality.

“The Color Purple” is a film that opened the eyes to millions around the world as a novel showing us the hardships of life of poor black youth in the South at the turn of the century. Celie and  Netty’s struggles to stay together as beloved sisters thru the mire and abuse of the men around them. From Pa’s incestuous and evil ways, to Mister’s physical and mental abuse which separates the sisters for more than 30 years. We join them thru their journey to find the strengths to say, “no more”.  Whoopie Goldberg (Ghost, Jumping Jack Flash) delivers a stellar performance as Celie the elder of the two sisters whose life has been a series of abusive encounters and heartbreak. As her first on screen performance in a lead role Whoopie Goldberg still stuns me 25 years later at how seamlessly she stepped into the role of dramatic leading lady from standup comedian.  Ghanaian actress Akosua Busia (The Seventh Sign, Ascension Day) brings Nettie to life on the screen playing both young and older Nettie. Her love for her sister persevered even the oceans crossing to Africa and the time it took to find her way home.

The extras for this film include the making of “The Color Purple”, Writing, “The Color Purple”, Casting and Acting “The Color Purple” and several behind the scenes photo stills from production and the actual film. It comes in a variety of languages for both audio and closed captioning which included not only English and Spanish but also French, Italian, Polish, Yiddish and Norwegian.  One of the most brilliant things I believe they did with this film was to put the previews of coming attractions as an option not an obligation at the beginning of the film, they are actually an option you can use to view these at your own discression.

The Blue Ray also includes a 40 page mini digibook which is incorporated as part of the Blue Ray packaging this lovely addition features photos and quotes as well as pieces of information from the production team and Alice Walker herself. For any lover of this beautiful book, and the equally stunning film this is a must have.

There is nothing negative I can say about this amazing and stunning film which I honestly believed could not get any better than when it was first put on screen, until now. The Blue Ray has served as a catalyst to bring a new audience into this amazing and heartfelt story which will open the eyes and fill the hearts of new generations to come in stunning quality and sound.

It can be a tricky business reviewing films such as Raging Bull.  There is a certain expectation that comes with writing about these “masterpieces,” and Heaven forbid you don’t agree with the rest of society.  It’s been 30 years since Raging Bull was released, and since that time, it has taken on a sort-of mythic status.  In writing a review such as this, you have to acknowledge that fact while being able to simply review the film.  Basically, this is my long-winded way of saying that Martin Scorsese made a terrific film, but one that doesn’t deserve the pedestal it has been placed upon.

I suppose my biggest problem with the film comes from the narrative itself.  Yes, it’s a true story.  And yes, it’s an extraordinary recreation of one man’s life.  But is his life really THAT compelling?  I would argue that it isn’t.  While the story may be true, it’s still one that we’ve seen a thousand times.  In telling the story of a superstar whose personal demons cause him to lose it all, we as a viewer are taken on the same journey we’ve been on several times before.  Whether it be in film, music, sports, etc., this story has been told.

Having said all that, Robert DeNiro brilliantly captures the inner turmoil of boxer Jake La Motta, a fiercely violent competitor who struggles to leave his intensity in the ring.  We witness the chapters of his life from 1941 to 1964, and in this time, we see him rise to prominance in the boxing world, and plummet to becoming his own pathetic punchline in his attempts at stand-up comedy.

I’m sure this has been said many times before, but while this is a film about a boxer, it is definitely not a film about boxing.  It is about this man’s life.  He is a violent, suspicious and angry man.  The back of the box describes La Motta as having “psychological and sexual complexities.”  He definitely has psychological and sexual issues, but I don’t necessarily agree that he was all that complex.  There were definitely some anger issues, but to me, he comes across as just kind of a jerk.  Granted, that may be a massive over-simplification, but I just couldn’t get behind this character.

Now, having said all of that, I have to admit that the film itself is a technical marvel.  Shot in beautiful black and white, the picture is just stunning.  The transfer on this Blu-Ray is meticulous, and by far, the best the film has ever looked.  Scorsese is without a doubt, a master behind the camera.  He takes the audience right into the ring with the boxers and really puts everyone in the midst of the action.  Bobbing and weaving around the actors, you feel as if you are right there with them, and it’s a fascinating place to be.

Not only is he a master of the camera, but he was also able to get brilliant performances out of his actors.  DeNiro infamously “became” La Motta, transforming his body to match the given moment of his story.  By the end of the film, when he has become a pudgy, pathetic nightclub act, it’s hard to believe it’s the same actor.  His performance is the epitome of method acting, and he absolutely deserved the Best Actor Oscar that he won for the role.

This performance gets a lot of attention in the newly-released 30th Anniversary Blu-Ray.  In fact, there is an incredible wealth of material that makes this a must-own for any film buff.  I may not have given the movie itself the written standing ovation that most critics have, but I have to commend this amazing release.  As I mentioned above, the picture looks great, and the 5.1 Dolby Digital, and Dolby Surround sound terrific.  As for the extras, there is an incredible amount of material.

To start, there are three commentary tracks.  The first is a very conversational track with Scorsese and his editor Thelma Schoonmaker.  Then there is a track with several members of the cast and crew, and finally, there is a track with the real people the film is portraying, including La Motta himself.

This particular set includes four new features that have not been released before.  In total, these run a little over 45 minutes, and include “Marty and Bobby,” “Raging Bull: Reflections on a Classic,” “Remembering Jake,” and finally, “Marty on Film.”  These are pretty much exactly what they sound like, with various people looking back on both the film itself, the relationship between Scorsese and DeNiro, the evolution of film itself and Raging Bull’s role in that, etc.  It’s a neat group of extras, and while it’s not very technical, it gives perspective to the film itself.

The most random extra on the set is Cathy Moriarty’s 03/27/81 appearance on The Tonight Show.  I enjoyed seeing this from a historical perspective, but found it odd that they included something so inconsequential for such a substantial film.  On the flip side, the best feature is a fascinating documentary called “Raging Bull: Fight Night.”  This segement is divided into 4 parts, and it covers EVERYTHING you could ever want to know about the film.  Weaving the entire tapestry that is Raging Bull, this is the type of feature worth buying a Blu-Ray for.

Next up is The Bronx Bull, a “behind-the-scenes featurette” that runs just shy of half an hour.  It’s an interesting feature, and definitely worth watching.  After this, they’ve included a shot-by-shot comparison of La Motta’s real fights and the recreations of the film.  It’s incredibly impressive to see just how accurate the film is in this regard.  It’s very obvious that a lot of work went into every detail of making this film.  Finally, rounding out the extras is a piece of vintage newsreel footage from one of La Motta’s fights.

And that is the 30th anniversary of Raging Bull.  While I might not find the film as worthy as most, I definitely appreciate it on a technical level.  After watching these extras, there is no denying that Scorsese and DeNiro are masters of their craft.  While I wish I could have identified with the story a little bit more, I still found watching this Blu-Ray to be an amazing experience.

When I hear Zack Snyder directing a film, I think of ‘300’ or ‘Watchmen’; action based, graphic novel inspired films that are full of visuals and sounds so intense your body feels every detail. Then I see that instead of a live action film, an animated feature, I get a little skeptical and proceed to forgo the film altogether while it was in release. Now I sit back at home to see this animated story at home and am left stunned. Not in a bad way but rather upset I did not see this film in its full glory on the big screen.

Snyder and Warner Bros. have teamed up with Village Roadshow and Animal Logic to bring to the screen the stories of Kathryn Lasky. Adapted by John Orloff and Emil Stern, ‘Legend of the Guardians’ will take you into the kingdom of the owls.

A young owl, Soren and his brother Kludd are ambitious owls who have been taken from their tree hallow. They find themselves with the Pure Ones; owls bent on taking over the owl kingdoms. Soren does not like this new place and with another young owl, Gylfie, need to escape. Believing in and following his gut, the two young ones set out to find the Guardians whom his father always spoke of. While searching for the path, they come upon an unlikely pair in Digger and Twilight. The newly formed band continues their quest to find the Guardians and bring them to thwart the plans of the Pure Ones.

Kathryn Lasky has created 15 books to date on the Guardians and has the first three brought to the screen by Stern and Orloff. The story they have weaved sets up a wonderful look into the lives of owls. The mirroring of human existence draws you into the story and yet still shows the raw spirit of these animals.

Snyder has brought his sight for breathing life into the story in a way many have not been able to do. Going from live action to animation is a tough transition in some cases and easier in others. Working with actors live on a set is easy in that you can yell ‘cut’ and do the scene over. Then again you may have an actor who can pull out a ‘prima donna’ and there goes your day. In animation you need to be more focused on the issue of several animators work on one character. So you better know what you want before they finish or you could have many people on your case. Snyder does the transition smoothly and works his magic very few have been able to do.

Working with these very talented individuals, Snyder has orchestrated a film for all to see. Much like the owls themselves, the artist ranged from the wise to young; such long time animators as Simon Ashton to new bloods Tohru Patrick Awa and Cecile Dubois-Herry. Along with a talented array of artistic visionaries, they have created an eye caching film that leaves your mind in an uplifting feel of air. From the smooth flight of these noble birds to the effects of flying thru a monsoon, the animation is breathtaking.

The detail Snyder has thrust upon them has raised the bar, especially in regards to the background and visual effects animation. Such details you can come to expect when doing a live action film but not so detailed in animation for something that may be seen for a fraction of a second. The visual effects alone are quite amazing when you feel as though it is filmed using a high speed camera and can see every drop of water that creates a water spiral or the breath of the flames in the forest fire. Bravo to work well done.

Bringing to life the characters to the big screen is a talented group of veterans with a couple new comers. Such notable actors as Sam Neill (Jurassic Park series, Daybreakers) as Allomere, Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of the Caribbean series, The Warriors Way) as Ezylryb, Helen Mirren (The Queen, Inkheart) as Nyra, Hugo Weaving (The Matrix series, V for Vendetta) as Noctus and Grimble, David Wenham (Public Enimies, 300) as Digger, Ryan Kwanten (True Blood, Dead Silence) as Kludd, along with journeymen Anthony LaPaglia (Without a Trace series, Happy Feet) as Twilight, and Joel Edgerton (Whisper, Smokin’ Aces) playing Metalbeak,  have lent their vocal skills to a wonderful film. New comer Emily Barclay has stepped in to playa lead voice role as Gylfie alongside Soren voiced by Jim Sturgess (21, Across the Universe).

With such a diverse choice of voices and styles of acting it is tough to say who stands out in this film. All do great bringing the inflection needed to get you lost in the film and forget the animation and enjoy the story.

If anything were to fault in the film it would be that of the title song, “To the Sky”. It is far from the 30 Seconds to Mars song used in the trailer, which fit the context of the film to a tee. The song used is by Owl City is bright and overly hokey for my taste.

Since this is a Blu-Ray review I should delve into what’s in store for the buyer.

The compilation includes the Blu-Ray along with DVD/Digital Copy discs. This is becoming a standard now among several studios to combine all three formats.  I enjoy the ability to have the digital copy but have consistently had issues after during the download process and have to contact WB’s customer service to get a new password. Once you do get it downloaded it is great to have available, especially if you have children and travel a lot.

The Blu-Ray is presented in 1080p with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, for English, French, Spanish and Portuguese as well as the corresponding subtitles.

One issue arose while enjoying the film. During the first 20 minutes or so of the film some audio quality was present. The mixing of the background music and speech of the characters was either muddled or over balanced. It eventually was corrected for the rest of the film.

The special features include:

Maximum Kid Mode- Soren acts as a guide of what is in the movie versus reality in the wild. This way to watch the film is fun to educate younger audiences about where some of the owl tales get their real life start.

Legend of the Guardians: Rise of the Guardians- A animated short told by Sorens’ pa. The short is just that, short. The way it is shown feels as if it was cut from the original film and thrown in as an extra.

To the Sky, music video by Owl City- Enough was said earlier.

4 Artwork Galleries- Detailed sketches, watercolors and test used for the making of the film.

True Guardians of the Earth- A presentation with Digger and Rico Rodriguez, of the hit show ‘Modern Family’, taking you inside the true world of owls and how they exist with humans.

New Looney Tunes cartoon: Fur of Flying- This is the first new cartoon with the beloved Wile E. Coyote and that pesky Road Runner. Okay, yes I am biased and love Wile E. Why does that Road Runner have to always have the upper hand? I mean, come on don’t you feel a little sorry for the coyote. That darn bird is always… I apologize for my rambling. It is a fun animated short and foray into the computer animation realm for these tow longtime enemies.

Whether you rent or buy this lovely gem of a film, you
will be happy. It delves into the heart of the young and pulls out the spark of life. Love all who are close to you and never stop learning.

Never stop learning. That is a take away from this film. Soren learns first of the Guardians as legends a kind of folk learning. Then when all seemed lost an older owl takes him under his wing and helps him to learn on the fly, literally. Once out he takes his knowledge of the Guardians and seeks them out with the help of his new family. Learning by doing, hence keep learning. Once he finds the Guardians, an owl takes him under his wing and teaches him the wise ways… you see where I am going. We are never too young or old to learn new things. Some may even say you die a little when you stop learning. I enjoy writing these words knowing that someone will be correcting my English or punctuation (wink, wink) but I take it as a learning experience. Now yes I may come across as upset at the time I’m told. Remember, I am still learning. I will apply the new lesson in the next writing. And keep doing so till I get it right. It is an important lesson to never stop learning. No one person can know or do everything. And when you have a supportive family and friends behind you the sky is the limit. Fly high.

Thank you to Alejandra Meleldez for her input on the review and watching this enjoyable film.

[P.s. I’ll be waiting for those tips.  ;-) ]

If you would like to follow news, happenings or events please follow me on Twitter @SCThrillsMarc. See you there!

Charlestown is one square mile area community in Boston MA that produces the most bank robbers per capita than any place in the world. Stepping in the directors’ seat to tell the story of those who rob and the people of this neighborhood is one of Boston’s own, Ben Affleck (State of Play, He’s Just Not That Into You). Using the novel “Prince of Thieves” by Chuck Hogan and the film ‘Heat’ as his influences, Affleck is stepping up his game as an actor, writer and director.

Doug is cool, calm, collective and about to pull off a bank robbery with 3 of his closest friends, Jem, Gloansy and Desmond. Something’s different this time. They take the bank manager hostage when they leave. Doug, being the brains, reassures the young woman, Claire, she will be okay. During their escape they drop of Claire, unharmed, and head home to Charlestown. After all is said and done the crew blows of steam partying and ‘cleaning’ the money while FBI agent Adam Frawley investigates the robbery. While ‘watching’ Claire, Doug becomes enamored with her and begins a relationship that will test his ties to his friends, his ‘job’ and his past.

Taking part in a movie in more than one capacity is tough for anyone let alone three. Affleck does a phenomenal job as an actor, director and writer with the help of fellow scribe Aaron Stockard (Gone Baby Gone) and new writer Peter Craig. The three collaborated to bring the true nature of this little neighborhood to light. Not just the bad elements, the good people who have lived there for generations. Robbing may have become a trade but it is still the people that make Charlestown what it is an unforgettable place.

Making us feel the realness of Charlestown were not just Hollywood types but those that grew up right in the middle of it. Boston raised Affleck played the lead Doug MacRay alongside the love interest Claire played by Rebecca Hall (Dorian Gray, Frost/Nixon). The head strong, ‘not going back to jail’ friend, Jem played by Jeremy Renner (Hurt Locker, Take), wheelman, Gloansy, is portrayed by Bostonian Slaine (Gone Baby Gone) and techie, Owen, played by Charlestown native Owen Burke, are the crew Doug hangs and works with. Other prominent actors include Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) as Jem’s drugged out sister and Doug’s one time girlfriend Krista. Playing the heavy, Fergie is the journeyman actor Pete Postlethwaite (Inception, Clash of the Titans) and countering as FBI agent Frawley is John Hamm (Mad Men).

Burke is not the only Charlestown native to be lit up on the silver screen. Affleck held casting for several smaller roles to be portrayed by those who live in this tight nit group of individuals and families. Dennis McLaughlin caught Affleck’s eye with his broodiness that he was cast as Fergies’ muscle, as was Daniel Woods and his charm placed himself in the uniform of a Boston PD officer. This is just a sample of those who the production team, especially Affleck wanted to involve; those that have lived and still live in what many believe a birthplace for bank robbers.

From the first shot on film to the end I do commend the Special Effects and Stunt teams. The amount of skill and artistry these teams put into each chase, each gun battle is above par. Besides how many effects people have been able to say the shot the heck out of Fenway Park? 

Being able to step into different shoes during the process became ever so smooth a transition for Affleck as told by the many actors and production crew during the making process. It is all available for you to view in the Blu-Ray extras.

The Blu-Ray is packed with the DVD/Digital Copy disc. This will be extremely helpful if you want to watch the film on your media player when you are in Boston and want to trace the steps of the action.

Presented in 1080p with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound in English, French and subtitles for both as well as Spanish give you a good choice for viewing either the theatrical or extended cut versions of the film.

Having not seen the theatrical version I chose to watch the extended. There was some good and bad to that choice. It is an excellent film but having not seen the film it was a little hectic to keep looking up in the left corner to see the ‘camera’ icon to let you know you were seeing an extended cut. This also led to some drastic differences of the two films, not to mention inconsistencies. 

The extended cut offered a more in depth look into the relationship between Doug and Claire. The romance of this action movie needed to be balanced out, hence the cuts in the first place. As noted it provided some odd inconsistencies. In one extended scene Claire asks Doug about his parents, to which 15 minutes after this in the theatrical version part she asks him again as if we would have forgotten she just asked him that.

Overall though the extended cut was a bit long and drawn out and not clear in direction. It would have faired better if someone from continuity sat with Affleck and the editor and pointed out holes or just added them as deleted scenes in the features section. As I go back to watch this film it will be the theatrical version only.

The Blu-Ray offers several options and features to view:

Theatrical and Extended Cut versions with commentary by Ben Affleck- Perhaps I should go back and watch it with the commentary and see if Affleck can catch all the hiccups.

Filming in his hometown Segments include-

‘The Cathedral of Boston’ which looks into all the production company had to do in order to film at the famed Fenway Ballpark. 

‘Nun’s with Guns’ features a scene break down of filming in the north end near which the real bank robbery the scene is depicting happened.

‘Pulling of the Perfect Heist’ takes us behind another real bank robbery that took place in the same bank they used to film. With a little help of a local born retired FBI agent, the production team pulls of stunning visuals that some people who lived thru the event were taken aback by its accuracy.

‘The Town’ is Affleck’s thank you to the town many have given up on, Charlestown. The people and places are chronicled. The shoot was so real as to employ many who lived in the area either in front of or behind the camera.

With such a diverse group working together, you can not help but be pulled into its gritty drama. Well acted, written and portrayed on the screen.

The story itself delves into, do we make who we become or are we made into it. Is it the people and places around us that show us what we are or do we show everyone what we are? I believe it’s a little of both. When we are young we are surrounded by those who care for us, depending on how gives us the mental insight as to whether we are to continue in this life following the same or break out and go anew. It is one of life’s moral dilemmas. Light and darkness have their ideas of family and only you can make a conscious decision to break the mold or create on
e. Believe in yourself first and foremost, then and only then can you live a long, truly happy life.

Thank you to Alejandra Melendez for her input and quick eye and ear to details.

If you would like entertainment news, updates, happenings and events in So Cal, follow me on Twitter @SCThrillsMarc. Se you there!

Like so many people, I saw Christopher Nolan’s latest masterpiece Inception during it’s opening weekend in the theater.  It quickly rushed to the top of my favorite movies, and one of the my first thoughts upon exiting the theater was that I couldn’t wait for the sure-to-be spectacular Blu-Ray release.  Not only was I eager to revisit the film again and again, but for the first time in a long time, I was genuinely excited to discover how some of the mind-blowing special effects were achieved.

Well, Warner Bros. has finally released a 3-Disc set, including a DVD of the film, and two Blu-Ray discs.  The first Blu-Ray contains the film itself, and the option to view it in “Extraction Mode.”  This is a feature in which the film will periodically switch to a behind-the-scenes documentary pertaining to the sequence you are currently viewing.  You can also choose to view all of these segments isolated from the film.

There are a lot of great segments in this feature, and I was thrilled to find that most of the sequences I was curious about got a closer look.  For example, there is a segment detailing, in full, how they achieved the infamous hallway fight featuring Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  Much like 2001: A Space Odyssey, this sequence was shot on a 360 degree rotating set.  I assumed it was something like that, but to actually see the sequence being shot from the outside of the set was amazing.

However, they don’t just focus on the obvious big set-pieces.  There are also moments in the film that seem more subtle, but in reality, required just as big an undertaking.  Whether it be the impossible stairs, the flooding of the castle, or even the gravity-defying maneuvers around the hotel room, almost any moment you would be curious about gets a feature.

The second disc is nothing but special features.  There is a pretty cool one called “Dreams: Cinema of the Subconscious,” hosted and directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  I don’t usually care for “educational” features that peripherally relate to a film’s theme but not to the film itself.  However, this one was really fascinating.  It explores all aspects of dreams, and does so in a fast-moving, creative way.  There is a lot of great insight from several scientists in the world of dream study, and even some interesting analysis from Christopher Nolan, Leonardo DiCaprio, etc.  It’s obvious in watching this feature that it isn’t simply a marketing tool, but a project that Gordon-Levitt was genuinely interested in making, and a topic that everybody involved was interested in exploring.

The other big feature is a motion comic that serves as a prequel to the film.  It’s an interesting experiment, but honestly, I’d have rather just read an actual comic.  The story was interesting enough, but it was kind of slow moving (literally), and I found myself getting bored, wishing I could just read ahead.  Rounding out the disc are several selections from Hans Zimmer’s brilliant score (there is no justice if he doesn’t get at least an Oscar nomination), all presented in 5.1, as well as concept art (I wish there was more), promotional art (some great pieces I had never seen before), and the brilliantly cut together trailers and tv spots.

A masterpiece of modern filmmaking, Christopher Nolan has topped himself in every way.  It works as cerebral drama, all-out action, completely original sci-fi, etc.  He has combined genres on such an epic scale, this is one of the few Summer blockbusters that I would classify as art.  It really doesn’t get much better than this.

The first (and best) part of the Rush Hour trilogy has arrived on Blu-Ray.  Released in 1998, this is the film that introduced the world to the comedic pairing of stuntman extraordinaire Jackie Chan with self-proclaimed “motor mouth,” Chris Tucker.  In telling the story of two cops with nothing in common, forced together on a case, it was apparent that this film wouldn’t be breaking any new ground.  The concept of mismatched partners is obviously an old one.  Coming after the likes of Lethal Weapon, Tango and Cash, etc., the only way this film could work is if there is terrific chemistry between the leads.  And in this case, there is.

Going into this film, I was impartial to Jackie Chan and I strongly disliked Chris Tucker.  Of course, I respected Chan’s physicality, but I still wasn’t on board with him as an actor.  And as far as I was concerned, Tucker’s gratingly obnoxious schtick not only ruined The Fifth Element for me, but his film Money Talks is one of the very few movies I’ve actually walked out on.  I just didn’t get Tucker’s appeal.  But somehow, when put together, they both became instantly likeable.  Everything about this production is by-the-numbers, but I still really enjoyed seeing these two interact with each other.

The interplay between them feels natural, and never once does it feel like they are forcing the comedy.  While a lot of the humor is racially motivated, a lot of it is genuinely character-driven.  This is why I feel the film works.  The plot mechanics are irrelevant.  This is a movie about these characters and that’s it.
The Blu-Ray is presented in 1080p High Definition, and the picture looks great.  Because Chan infamously does his own stunts, the camera will often linger on an action sequence, giving the viewer the opportunity to revel in Chan’s movements.  Previously, I had only seen the film on a worn-out VHS, and it was nice to see the image cleaned up, and really be able to focus on what was happening.

As far as the extras are concerns, there is quite a lot of material, but it’s not all that great.  There is a commentary by director Brett Ratner, who is obviously a fan of the film, as well as his student film “Whatever Happened to Mason Reese?”  I hate to put down a student film with obviously good intentions, but this was just awful.  Featuring one of the most genuinely unlikeable characters I’ve seen in a long time, I couldn’t wait for this to end.

There are also a couple of music videos, the trailer, and an isolated score commentary.  However, the big feature is a documentary running just over 40 minutes called “A Piece of the Action: Behind the Scenes of Rush Hour.”  Broken up into several mini-segments, this is a combination of interviews and actual behind-the-scenes footage.  Unlike most of these features, it feels strongly under-produced, and serves as more of a fly-on-the-wall type of feature.  While I usually enjoy these, this one is unusually boring.  They seem to capture the most miniscule, incidental moments, and linger on them.  I found myself growing bored very quickly.

Overall, it’s a strong disc on a technical level, but a mediocre one for the extras.  The pairing of Tucker and Chan helped this to be a much better movie than it should have been.  Unfortunately, the mediocre sequels became a lot more slapstick and the jokes much more forced.  However, as a stand-alone film, I strongly recommend this one.  You won’t see anything new, but you’ll have a great time.

A fun, modern-day adventure follows Dave (JAY BARUCHEL), just an average college student, or so it appears, until the sorcerer Balthazar Blake (NICOLAS CAGE) recruits him as his reluctant protégé and gives him a crash course in the art and science of magic. As he prepares for a battle against the forces of darkness in modern-day Manhattan, Dave finds it is going to take all of the courage he can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE.

The film begins in 740 AD where we meet Merlin’s  three apprentices — Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage), Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina), and Veronica Gorloisen (Monica Bellucci). During the fall of Camelot, Horvath joins with Merlin’s mortal enemy Morgan le Fay but Merlin and Blake are able to stop them before they can raise an army of the dead.

Merlin grants Blake immortality while tasking him with finding the Prime Merlinian (the person who will inherit Merlin’s powers) as they are the only person who can permanently defeat le Fey. Over the next millennia Blake imprisons Morganians, (sorcerers who try to release Morgana), including Horvath, into new layers on the Grimhold while conducting his search.

The film looks visually impressive. The details are spectacular, befitting a movie so dependent on special effects. What really stands out are the blues and reds that are on display when the wizards battle, those particular colors really pop. The black levels are crisp and defined and never wash the actors out.

The movie is very flashy and nice to look at, but the story is just lacking. I thought Baruchell was great as the apprentice and was the right amount of nerdy geek to play the part. Cage was doing more of his crazy stuff which he’s been doing for a while and while it worked, it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. I enjoyed Molina, good guy or bad guy he’s is excellent in whatever role he portrays, but the script needed more than just a loose concept that seemed to fill in as the movie progressed.

Bonus Features: Go behind the scenes and on location to learn all about the making of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Blu-Ray:
Magic In The City
The Science Of Sorcery 
Making Magic Real 
The Fashionable Drake Stone 
The Grimhold: An Evil Work Of Art 
The Encantus 
Wolves & Puppies 
The World’s Coolest Car 
5 Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
And more!

DVD / iTunes:
The Making Of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (DVD only) 
Deleted Scene: Balthazar Recruits Dave