Warner Bros’ latest superhero epic packs and even bigger punch on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Last year, when I heard a new superhero movie was coming out, I shook my head at how much Hollywood latches on to trends with their movies.  Just look at the last few years, when one hyped movie is about to come out, 3 others with the exact same premise get released as well.  1997 had “Dante’s Peak” and “Volcano,” 1998 had both “A Bug’s Life” and “Antz” and “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon.”  The trend continues.  When someone lands on a good idea, four other people jump on the money train.

This is not the case with Warner Bros’ latest release to DVD and Blu-Ray, “Watchmen.”  This is not some last-minute jump on the bandwagon to success and riches, but a 23-year journey from print to the silver screen.  Previous to the film, I had never heard of or read the graphic novel, and wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was in for quite a ride.  Directed by “300” director, Zack Snyder, “Watchmen” follows an alternate reality where masked vigilantes exist and have had their effect on America’s history since their emergence in the 1930s.  Now, these are not the superheroes that the general public is use to seeing in movies.  Watchmen, while part of the DC Comics’ universe, does not have any mention of the more widely recognized Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.  This is not a world of superheroes as we know it, but more of a world of masked crusaders with exaggerated abilities.

The movie, based on the 1985 graphic novel of the same name, follows our heroes following their forced retirement as the U.S. moved into the cold war with Russia, and how they manage to overcome the stigma placed on their vocations by society to come around save the day, though not in the usual frosted Hollywood happiness.  Applauded and panned by critics alike for its much darker portrayal of the superhero genre, “Watchmen” draws you into this world with exceptional ease, catching you up to date with the storyline that very few are familiar with prior to watching and pushing you down further into the action, emotion, twists and turns while dazzling the viewer with cinematic beauty.

Much like his previous film, “300,” Snyder based many of his shots directly from the graphic novel, giving it a very authentic look that matches so well with the plot that follows the original so closely.  Though the film had to take some liberties and adjust some plot points, a reason why the project was released in 2009 instead of the original goal of 1986, the end product is hailed by most as the perfect screen adaptation of the revered graphic novel.

When I first watched it in theatres, I was blown away and had to take a couple days just to process what I had seen.  I didn’t know if I even wanted to see it again.  However, skeptics and fans alike can rejoice at the release of the director’s cut of the DVD, which, among many other bonus features, has 24 minutes of bonus footage that wasn’t in the theatrical cut.  These scenes, like the glorious battle sequence leading up to Hollis Mason’s death and the proceeding scene where the new Night Owl discovers this turn of events, are all parts from the graphic novel that have been seamlessly reintegrated into the film so that the viewer is just greeted by a fuller viewing experience.

The director’s cut of “Watchmen” will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 21^st, 2009.

I am going to be a student my entire life.  Not because I can’t seem to pass basic Psychology, but because I love learning.  Whether I am in a class, or just in the supermarket, I love learning new things everyday.  Sometimes, I enjoy using my new knowledge to seem cool at parties, but mostly I just enjoy learning about the world we live in.  For this reason, I loved BBC Earth’s latest project released to DVD, “Wild Pacific.”

The same team of filmmakers and scientists that brought us “Planet Earth” and “Blue Planet” now brings us a more in depth look at the world’s largest ocean, the Pacific.  Teeming with over 20,000 islands that only make up one percent of its surface, the Pacific is unfolded for the viewers’ educational pleasure in this six-hour, two-disc director’s cut, complete with an extra 10 minutes per episode going behind the scenes of the process to exploring such an expansive topic.

Complete with the smooth, vocal narration of Benedict Cumberbatch, “Wild Pacific” dazzles the eyes as well as the intellect with BBC’s expert team of high definition cinematographers capturing jaw-dropping sights ranging from the creation of islands by underwater volcanoes to the first flights of Albatross chicks.

And not only is it amazingly informative, but it looks gorgeous.  For anyone that longs to escape away to some tropical island for vacation, or just to escape from our everyday life, this DVD set is pure heaven.  With professional teams that include world-renowned surf-filmer, Bali Strickland, the viewer is treated to such sights as the underbelly of a crashing wave and schools of fish numbering in the thousands moving in tandem.  Above water, we are taken into a world of islands that range from tropical rainforests with volcanic mountains to secluded sandbars or snowed-in beaches.

Aside from the eye-candy of the landscapes presented, many of which renewed my dream of becoming exceedingly rich and building a mansion on my own island, “Wild Pacific” also documents hundreds of different types of animal life.  Many of these animals had never before been filmed, and BBC Earth had the honor of bringing their likeness to the TV screens of millions worldwide.  It was moments like these and the excitement that came with them that woke me out of the drooling stupor invoked by the numerous paradisiacal settings I had been seeing.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, though I wouldn’t suggest trying to sit and digest the whole six hour series in one go.  It is more enjoyable to be able to process what you’ve seen for a while before moving on to the next episode.  BBC Earth’s series, “Wild Pacific,” is distributed by BBC Worldwide through Warner Home Video, Inc. and is available on DVD July 14th.

Living in a world where it is often impossible to avoid the constant media buzz, one can usually have a pretty solid understanding of a film before they sit down to watch it. However recently I was subject to a film I knew absolutely nothing about aside from the title.

The Betrayed, is written and directed by Amanda Gusack. I cannot admit to having had high hopes, since the almost instant correlation to having never heard of the movie automatically caused me to assume it MUST be bad. However I must admit that I was slightly impressed by this relatively unknown movie.

The story follows a young mother and restaurant owner Jamie, played by the Angelina Jolie look-alike Melissa George, who finds herself held captive in an abandoned warehouse. There in her cell she is psychologically tortured and questioned as to the whereabouts of her husband, who may not have been the innocent family man he claimed to be, but rather a manipulative killer and  high profile criminal

As if this scenario weren’t suspenseful enough, consider the unknown motives of her captor Alec, played Oded Fehr of “Mummy” fame, who serves as her makeshift warden and dare I say sympathetic protector. Alec is under orders of his enigmatic boss Falco, and quickly reveals the added danger of Jamie’s kidnapped son Michael, a diabetic who without proper supervision could die.

Throughout the movie Jamie learns from Alec, that her husband had stolen forty million dollars from Falco, a sum that if not claimed within a certain time period could result in  death for everyone involved, Alec included. So she begins to search through recorded tapes from her own home as she seeks to find some clue as to her husband’s whereabouts and most importantly where he hid the money.

Where the script did manage to present a very interesting premise, one that could make any audience member connect to the protagonist’s plight, the pacing of the film managed to stagger and dissolve any sympathy. For me, there was a general want for Jamie’s freedom, unfortunately there was also a genuine desire for my personal freedom from the movie’s lengthy and poorly edited scenes. Take in to account some rather interesting subplots, one of which I felt could have served as a major drive in the film, which are passed over all to quickly, only adding to the disappointing presentation.

In regards to the cinematic composition of the Betrayed, I felt that the amateur cinematography, and uninspired musical compositions caused the overall presentation to fall short. Though at first glance they do add a very gritty and eerie feel to the film, it can be quickly realized that anything marked as genius is purely accidental.

In conclusion, if you find yourself in the mood for an interesting yet poorly paced thriller, with several missed opportunities, the Betrayed is for you. However, I would suggest this as a summer rental, as the DVD itself contains absolutely no added content, and only the usual language tracks.  But please be advised, that in the end the only one betrayed here was the potential of this mediocre movie.

Dragonball: Evolution follows in the footsteps of it’s fellow anime film-adaptation Speedracer, in which a beloved series is snipped and crammed into a poorly constructed storyline that cuts and pastes familiar mythos with little rhyme or reason.

It should be first noted that the story of Dragonball: Evolution is blatantly formulaic and arguably cliché. The underappreciated Goku finds himself beginning a hero’s journey after his Grandfather is killed by the evil Lord Piccolo on his vengeful quest to gather the seven wish granting dragonballs. Goku embarks to find his Grandfather’s master Roshi and along the way gathers new allies as they attempt to stop Piccolo’s quest for world domination. I cannot admit to having high hopes for the film and lucky for that because had I placed any desire for a familiar Dragon Ball world and decent Goku story-arc I would have found myself sorely disappointed and met instead with an oddly designed costume scheme and barely noticeable musical score.

Furthermore, Some of my favorite pieces of the original story managed to disappear thanks to Director James Wong’s misguided attempt to approach the story realistically. Which of course brings a question to mind, How do you portray a story which centers itself around inner ki-bending, vengeful immortal aliens, and a wish granting dragon realistically?

Now despite the pages of static dialogue and less then thrilling, slow-mo indulging digital effects the film itself does offer a few highlights. Including the numerous combat sequences, which do manage to capture the series familiar over the top nature.  Of course there is also the charming portrayal of Goku by “War of the Worlds” star Justin Chatwin and the spot-on representation of Lord Piccolo by James Marsters of Angel Fame. Likewise there is also a major disappointment found in cast member Yun-Fat Chow who delivers a rather hollow performance as Roshi.

Aside from the shaky feature film the DVD itself does include a few enjoyable features such as a Dragonball Workout-esque video, which goes into a little detail regarding the fight choreography and even attempts to deliver a quick lesson in Dragon Ball themed stage combat. A few deleted scenes which mainly contain more of the film’s chalky dialogue can be missed without loss of sleep.

Interestingly enough the DVD does not provide a director’s commentary, though after viewing the film I cannot imagine I would be willing or able to comment on this film’s directorial decisions either. 

Personally, I would discourage fans of the manga, original anime, or a decent storylines to steer clear of this film. On the other hand I may recommend this film to families looking for a on the fly movie night. It will manage to keep the whole gang entertained but shouldn’t keep anyone up all night.

Overall I give this DVD: three Dragonballs out of seven (2 out of 5)

Admittedly, as a series Power Ranger RPM does a few things wrong, but surprisingly quite alot right. With a fine balance of humor, story, and signature pyrotechnics, this first entry into the RPM series proves to have a whole lot of potential.

For those who are unfamiliar with the series; Power Rangers capitalizes on a teenage team of heroes who unite to defeat the latest power-hungry villain. This time around said baddie is Venjix, a diabolical and omniscient computer virus who is able to construct an army of robotic grunts and even more intricate mechanical monsters (which inevitably are defeated by the Rangers…until they increase in size and are defeated by the Megazord)

This new team of Rangers features a varied cast, not just in appearance or uniform color but also in character development. That’s right; shocking. The latest installment not only provides high-energy fight scenes and ridiculous Zord sequences, but also fast-paced dialogue and a rather intriguing story (so far) Scott, Flynn, and Summer (the Red, Blue and Yellow rangers; respectively) under the leadership of the mysterious Dr. K, unite as a team of super-suited defenders charged with the protection of the dome-city of Corinth, the last safe haven for humans on the planet.

The show is also driven by the new members of the team and relative outsiders, Dillon the mysterious, rugged, “rogue-hero” who’s loss of memory and mechanical circuitry make him an incredibly interesting character to follow. And rounding out the team with the lovable Ziggy, who serves as the sleezy sidekick, and accidental Green Ranger, and provides hilarious interactions with the rest of the team and even some of the Venjix operatives.

As far as DVD’s go, this is easily the most lackluster I have seen. From the confusing cover to the frustrating lack of anything resembling bonus material. Furthermore, as this disc holds only five episodes, this latest Ranger release strikes me as anything but consumer-oriented.

Power Rangers RPM is recieving an unimpressive 2 out of 5. The 2 points being in favor of this rather enjoyable Sci-Fi series, that is crippled by Buena Vista’s extremely poor delivery.

(*Author Advice: Why not consider saving your money for a more complete collection?)

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