New Blu-ray Reviews

Athena: Goddess of War Blu-ray Movie  

Blu-ray + DVD

Giant Ape Media | 2011 | 118 min | Rated TV-14 | Oct 23, 2012 | Jeffrey Kauffman

In this spin off of the Korean drama series 'Iris,' beautiful double-agent Yoon Hye-in is caught in the middle of a game of nuclear espionage – and torn between two very different men. One heroically fights beside her on the anti-terror taskforce known as NTS. The other ruthlessly controls Athena, the extremist organization NTS is trying to stop. As Yoon Hye-in struggles to choose between them, growing suspicions from all sides put her life on the line. Can she keep her double-life hidden? How long can she play both sides of the law – and two powerful men – before her cover is violently compromised? The countdown to an explosive stand-off begins now!

Action / Drama / Foreign

Un-Go: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie  

Sentai Filmworks | 2011 | 325 min | Rated TV-14 | Oct 30, 2012 | Jeffrey Kauffman

Some call him the 'Last Great Detective'. Others call him the 'Defeated Detective'. What's certain is that he's Shinjurou Yuuki, a young man with a passion for mysteries and a talent for solving them that has made him the target of dark forces now stirring within the sinister underworld of a near future Tokyo. That could prove lethal, given that not even the other 'good guys,' including the police, are exactly on Shinjouro's side. Fortunately Yuuki's not completely on his own, and with the aid of his uniquely talented associate Inga, he's ready to cut a swath through the veils of secrecy that have been laid before him. Get ready for mind against matter and a lot of cloak and dagger as the ultimate battle of clue and deduction begins in UN-GO!

Anime / Crime / Mystery / Sci-Fi / Foreign

Alcatraz: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie  

Blu-ray + UV Digital Copy

Warner Bros. | 2012 | 572 min | Not rated | Oct 16, 2012 | Michael Reuben

In 1963, all the prisoners and guards mysteriously disappear from Alcatraz. In the present day, they resurface, and a task force works to recapture them.

Action / Crime / Drama / Mystery

Magnifica Presenza Blu-ray Movie    

Magnificent Presence

01 Distribution | 2012 | 106 min | Rated T | Sep 12, 2012 | Dr. Svet Atanasov

An aspiring actor (Elio Germano) discovers that his spacious new apartment comes complete with eight friendly ghosts.

Dark humor / Foreign

Sunset Boulevard Blu-ray Movie  

Paramount Pictures | 1950 | 110 min | Not rated | Nov 06, 2012 | Martin Liebman

Noir-comic classic about death and decay in Hollywood. Joe Gillis, a handsome but bankrupt screenwriter, is hired by washed-up silent screen star Norma Desmond to pen her a comeback star vehicle. Gillis has had his latest screenplay rejected by the studios, and, desperate, takes up Desmond's offer to write Salome for her. She demands that he stay with her while he writes, and soon he becomes a virtual prisoner of the actress and her gloomy house.

Drama / Film-Noir

Entourage: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie  

HBO | 2004-2011 | 8 Seasons | 2640 min | Rated TV-MA | Nov 06, 2012 | Kenneth Brown

A Hollywood upstart and his three closest friends try to make it big.

Comedy / Drama

Trilogy of Life Blu-ray Movie  

Criterion | 1971-1974 | 3 Movies | 353 min | Not rated | Nov 13, 2012 | Dr. Svet Atanasov

See individual titles for their synopses.

Comedy / Drama / Fantasy / History / Romance / Erotic / Foreign

The Spy Who Loved Me Blu-ray Movie  

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | 1977 | 126 min | Rated PG | Oct 23, 2012 | Casey Broadwater

Roger Moore as agent 007 teams with a beautiful Soviet agent Triple-X to battle Stromberg in order to save the world from total annihilation and a 315-pound villian, "Jaws".

Action / Adventure / Thriller

A View to a Kill Blu-ray Movie  

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | 1985 | 131 min | Rated PG | Oct 02, 2012 | Casey Broadwater

When James Bond (Agent 007) is sent to investigate a security leak at the high-tech Zorin Industries, he discovers a hotbed of murder and deception. The company's mysterious owner, Max Zorin has devised a plan to corner the world's microchip market--even if he has to kill millions to do it. But before Bond can stop Zorin, he must confront the madman's beautiful and deadly companion May Day. With help from the gorgeous Stacey, Bond launches an all-out assault on Zorin's deadly scheme, which leads to a treacherous duel against May Day on the upper spans of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Action / Adventure / Thriller

The Penalty Blu-ray Movie  

Kino Lorber | 1920 | 90 min | Not rated | Oct 23, 2012 | Casey Broadwater

A deformed criminal mastermind plans to loot the city of San Francisco as well as revenge himself on the doctor who mistakenly amputated his legs.

Crime / Drama / Horror / Thriller

Sound of My Voice Blu-ray Movie  

20th Century Fox | 2011 | 85 min | Rated R | Oct 02, 2012 | Casey Broadwater

Aspiring documentary filmmakers Peter (Christopher Denham) and Lorna (Nicole Vicius) infiltrate a secret sect in order to expose Maggie (Brit Marling), the cult's charismatic leader. Intrigued by rumours about the cult, whose leader claims to be from the future, Peter and Lorna soon find themselves being led blindfold to a house in the San Fernando Valley. There, under the watchful eye of follower Klaus (Richard Wharton), the pair are finally introduced to a barefoot, linen-clad Maggie, who recounts her tale of how she was sent back from the year 2054 to warn a select few of the disaster about to unfold. Over the coming days and weeks the pair's initial scepticism begins to wane, as, for entirely different reasons, they both begin to fall under Maggie's strangely mesmerising spell.

Drama / Mystery / Thriller / Psychological thriller

The Santa Clause Blu-ray Movie  

Disney / Buena Vista | 1994 | 97 min | Rated PG | Oct 16, 2012 | Michael Reuben

Scott Calvin accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall to his death from his roof on Christmas Eve. When Scott and his young son, Charlie, finish the late St. Nick's deliveries, they go to the North Pole where Scott learns he must become the new Santa and convince those he loves that he is indeed Father Christmas.

Comedy / Drama / Family / Holiday

Faces Blu-ray Movie    

The John Cassavetes Collection / Blu-ray + DVD

BFI Video | 1968 | 130 min | Rated BBFC: 15 | Apr 23, 2012 | Dr. Svet Atanasov

Richard and his wife, Maria, attempt to escape the anguish of their empty relationship in the arms of others.

Drama

Super Cyclone Blu-ray Movie  

Asylum | 2012 | 89 min | Not rated | Sep 18, 2012 | Martin Liebman

An oil rig accidentally drills into an underwater volcano, unleashing an unstoppable tornado! Indeed, the tornado gets so powerful that it picks up Navy cutters like tinker toys. Then it makes the sky rain oil, then fire. And somehow the oil rig does not get scooped up like Wizard of Oz... somehow. Additionally, the big tornado seems to hover in just one spot for almost the whole movie! Don't ask too many science questions. You won't get answers as to how the sky can catch on fire. You won't get answers about ships weighing hundreds of tons can get catapulted into the air. You won't get answers as to what nanotubes have to with bad weather. And you certainly won't get answers as to how an 18" drill bit can create... a Super Cyclone!

Action

Daimajin / Return of Daimajin / Daimajin Strikes Again Blu-ray Movie  

Daimajin / Daimajin ikaru / Daimajin gyakushu | Triple Feature

Mill Creek Entertainment | 1966 | 3 Movies | 240 min | Unrated | Sep 18, 2012 | Martin Liebman

Set during Japan’s "Warring States" era, the Daimajin movies told the story of Majin, a giant statue of an angry god that would come to life in times of desperation to punish evildoers. But when Majin’s rage was unleashed, it could be directed at both the wicked and innocent, alike.

Action / Drama / Fantasy / Supernatural / Foreign

Weekend Blu-ray Movie  

Week End

Criterion | 1967 | 104 min | Not rated | Nov 13, 2012 | Dr. Svet Atanasov

Determined to collect an inheritance from a dying relative, a bourgeois couple travel across the French countryside while civilization crashes and burns around them.

Adventure / Comedy / Drama / Dark humor / Foreign / Surreal

Deep Rising / The Puppet Masters Blu-ray Movie  

Double Feature

Mill Creek Entertainment | 1994-1998 | 2 Movies | 215 min | Rated R | Oct 09, 2012 | Martin Liebman

No synopsis for this title.

Action / Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller

A Woman Under the Influence Blu-ray Movie    

The John Cassavetes Collection / Blu-ray + DVD

BFI Video | 1974 | 147 min | Rated BBFC: 15 | Sep 17, 2012 | Dr. Svet Atanasov

The emotional breakdown of a suburban housewife and her family's struggle to save her from herself.

Drama

The Ambassador Blu-ray Movie  

Blu-ray + Digital Copy

Image Entertainment | 2011 | 93 min | Not rated | Oct 23, 2012 | Michael Reuben

An enigmatic white diplomat arrives in central Africa sporting dark glasses, riding boots, and a cigarette holder. Officially, he is there to start a factory that will employ locals to produce matches. Unofficially, he has really come to gain access to the area’s vast reserves of diamonds. It soon becomes apparent that, in this post-colonial economy, nearly everyone is out to rip off everyone else, and the dangers become all too real.

Documentary

247ºF Blu-ray Movie  

Starz / Anchor Bay | 2011 | 88 min | Rated R | Oct 23, 2012 | Martin Liebman

Jenna, Renee, Ian and Michael arrive at a lakeside cabin owned by Ian's uncle Wade. Intending to enjoy a carefree weekend, instead, three of them become locked in the hot sauna. First they think its Michael playing jokes on them, but soon realize that help is not coming and they must find a way out before the heat kills them. As the heat rises they are pushed to their physical and psychological limits - staying alive is not easy any more. Breaking a small window - may be the worst thing they can do, because cool air will trick the thermostat to run the heater full blast. They need to get out, but all they can is wait! Wait for what, wait for who?! How long could you wait in the heat up to 250 degree Fahrenheit.

Horror / Thriller