Called “a cyberspace thriller for the male action crowd” (The Hollywood Reporter), the edge-of-your-seat suspense ride ECHELON CONSPIRACY makes a breathtaking debut on DVD and Blu-ray July 21, 2009 from Paramount Home Entertainment.  Featuring an all-star cast including Shane West (A Walk to Remember), Edward Burns (Saving Private Ryan), Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction) and Martin Sheen (The Departed), the high-tech action-thriller weaves an engrossing story of greed, intrigue and the price of national security.  Mysterious cell phone messages promise a young American engineer untold wealth — then make him the target of a deadly international plot.  Dangerous security operatives chase the engineer across the globe, while a powerful government official pursues a mysterious agenda that threatens the stability of the entire world.

Computer whiz kid Max Peterson (Shane West) receives a mysterious package prior to his departure from Bangkok and after another successful networking job. Inside the box is a mobile device that asks him to stay another day and cancel his flight. Believing it to be a hotel gimmick, he goes along with it, but later learns that the flight he would have been on crashed, killing all aboard. The device next asks him to buy a particular stock which, hours later, shoots up over 300% in value. After missing out on that tidbit, Max begins to take the fortunate-telling device more seriously, heading to Prague and subsequently winning millions by following its exact instructions in a casino. When casino security chief John Reed (Ed Burns) becomes suspicious of Max, he attempts to seize the young man for questioning but is beaten to the punch by FBI agent Dave Grant (Ving Rhames). Max soon finds himself in the middle of a technological conspiracy, at the center of it an advanced computer system known as “Echelon” that has becoming self-aware, constantly monitoring and influencing Max to do whatever it needs of him to complete its diabolical plan.

Echelon Conspiracy on Blu-ray begins unimaginatively by taking on that cold, steely blue appearance but later delivering a wider variety of colors and lighting schemes. Several outdoor shots throughout — whether in Bangkok, Prague, or Moscow — often deliver solid depth, fine detail, and a fabulous array of colors. Other shots take on a slightly more bland appearance. The inside of the Prague casino never looks all that convincing, and while awash in color, it takes on a decidedly warm appearance that highlights red and oranges considerably. Even a red dress sticks out like a sore thumb and looks so fake as to appear almost animated, like something out of The Spirit. On close examination, details sometimes don’t impress all that much; close-up shots of various objects, for instance the cardboard box in which Max discovers the mobile device, appear hazy, undefined, and soft. However, general objects that tend to look good in the better Blu-ray transfers, sidewalks, building façades, and clothing, do impress here. Flesh tones often veer towards a shade of red or orange. Blacks, too, are all over the map, ranging from solid to bright to drowning out detail. Echelon Conspiracy does feature a healthy dosage of film grain than generally gives a film-like look, but several other negatives throughout some of which are victims of poor production design.

Without an original bone in its celluloid body, Echelon Conspiracy can only hope to impress with creativity behind the camera and decent performances in front of it, but the film wallows in mediocre-to-poor production values, standard direction, a forgettable score, an unoriginal script that features dimwitted characters, and a sluggish pace. The movie strikes out at every turn; not one character is memorable nor does even one scene stand out, the result a movie that most are likely to forget an hour after the credits roll. Even the Blu-ray presentation fails to make much of an impression. The technical presentations muster up decent enough picture and sound, though at the expense of supplements. No extras, Echelon Conspiracy makes even for a questionable rental.

Dig into a delicious second helping of Pushing Daisies, the multiple Emmy® Award-winning series that USA Today’s Robert Bianco calls, “a wholly original, rich-hued delight.” In this season, Papen County’s Pie-Maker with a witching finger for waking the dead and his alive-again love Chuck have more on the menu than a Terrifying Bee-Man and a Deep Fried Chicken Magnate.  The secrets are served deep-dish when family skeletons  — both literal and figurative — loom over the Pie Hole and its patrons.  As jockey cum waitress Olive Snook joins a nunnery to mend her broken heart, the Pie-Maker who broke it hides Chuck from her Aunt Vivian and mother Lily, who believe she’s dead.  Naturally, this results in resurrecting Chuck’s father, who actually was dead.  Private Investigator Emerson Cod has daddy issues of his own when his baby-stealing baby-mama finds herself at the center of a damned dam murder case.  This wondrous, witty and moving confection is as irresistible as the Pie-Maker’s three-plum pie.

Of all the shows affected by the 2007 Writer’s Strike, none were struck harder than Pushing Daisies. When it premiered that fall, it was not only a winner with critics but a ratings success as well and seemed ready to build on that momentum to really break out. But then the strike shut everything down just as things were clicking. Even worse, however, was ABC making the baffling decision that when the strike ended, rather than try to rush a few more eps out, their three biggest freshmen shows (Daisies, Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money) would all be held back until the fall 2008 season. Needless to say, being off the air for ten months led to a downturn in interest and while the show still had critical hails and a core group of fans (including myself), it just wasn’t enough to gain big ratings. After being removed from the air in November, the show ended up burning off its last three episodes a month ago.

Even more than the first season, the show shines brightly in a way words can never adequately describe with wild angles and even stop motion animation to add to the wild stories. With some great guest stars (such as Fred Williamson and Fred Willard), wild plots, unbelievable sets and some of the absolute best dialogue you’ve ever heard topped off by a wonderful cast, you feel absolute anger at the network for canceling such a gem. It’s frustrating since there are still subplots up in the air (such as the full secret of Ned and Chuck’s fathers) that promised so much more amazing adventures. But now, fans can enjoy this classic for what it is: One of the most perfect tasty treats television has provided in years.

The cast helps it along immensely. Again, Pace and Friel forge one of the best romances television has ever seen, their chemistry absolutely perfect. The smiles they have are so infectious, you can’t help but get sucked in and the tragic touch that they’re unable to fully consummate it gives the relationship a unique touch that makes their talks all the more meaningful. They’re helped further by great subplots over the season. Pace discovers that his absent father had a family with twin brother magicians who still worship the man and Ned wrestles with whether to tell them the truth. Friel handles Chuck discovering the truth about her mother in a wonderfully emotional way while the plot involving her father is the dramatic high point of the season. Through it all, they handle their own unique love and make it shine all the way.

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)