New Blu-ray Reviews

The Borgias: The First Season Blu-ray Movie  

Paramount Pictures | 2011 | 467 min | Rated TV-MA | Dec 27, 2011 | Martin Liebman

The saga of a crime family in the Vatican in 1492 Italy

Crime / Drama / History / Epic / Period

Portlandia: Season One Blu-ray Movie  

Blu-ray + DVD

MVD/VSC | 2011 | 132 min | Not rated | Dec 06, 2011 | Jeffrey Kauffman

A television series that is set and filmed in Portland, Oregon, and features Saturday Night Live cast member Fred Armisen as well as Carrie Brownstein, a member of Sleater-Kinney.

Comedy

Memphis: The Original Broadway Production Blu-ray Movie  

Shout Factory | 2011 | 131 min | Not rated | Jan 24, 2012 | Jeffrey Kauffman

Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, 'Memphis' recounts the story of a white DJ who dared to play "race" music in the fifties.

Musical

The Simpsons: The Fourteenth Season Blu-ray Movie  

20th Century Fox | 2002-2003 | 483 min | Rated TV-PG | Dec 06, 2011 | Casey Broadwater

The Simpsons' Emmy Award-winning fourteenth season features guest stars galore and arrives on Blu-ray with a ton of special features, including audio commentaries for each episode.

Animation / Comedy / Family

The Broken / The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations Blu-ray Movie  

After Dark Horrorfest Blu-ray Double Feature: Volume 3

Lionsgate Films | 2008-2009 | 2 Movies | 178 min | Rated R | Jan 04, 2011 | Michael Reuben

The Broken: The life of a successful radiologist spirals out of control when she sees the spitting image of herself driving down a London street. Attempting to discover the identity of her double, she stumbles into a terrifying mystery that involves her family and closest friends, leaving her with no one to trust. The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations: Sam possesses the ability to travel through time. He uses his gift to help police solve cases, but has learned from bitter experience not to change the past, lest he change the present in unforeseen ways. But when the sister of Sam's former love begs him to find the woman's killer, Sam breaks his own rule...with deadly consequences.

Crime / Drama / Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller

Deep Purple: Phoenix Rising Blu-ray Movie  

Eagle Rock Entertainment | 1975-2011 | 137 min | Not rated | Jun 28, 2011 | Dr. Svet Atanasov

This documentary examines the period of Deep Purple's career when Ian Gillan and Roger Glover left the band, but the group forged ahead by hiring David Coverdale. GETTING TIGHTER: The full length 90-minute documentary of the story behind Deep Purple after Ian Gillan and Roger Glover’s departures. Jon Lord and Glenn Hughes tell the story of the "post Gillan" years, through never-before-seen live images, backstage footage, never before told stories and original video material collected through years of hard work. The untold story of Deep Purple Mark 4 generation (Coverdale Hughes Lord Bolin Paice) that went through all the ups and downs of rock n roll. Included is a wealth of live footage from the mid and late seventies, as well as a detailed explanation of how the band finally sputtered to an end due to a drug overdose. RISES OVER JAPAN: 30-minute-long live footage filmed in 16mm in Japan, restored in HD. Never before released, not even on bootlegs. Originally planned to be included in a Deep Purple film the short movie was never released after Tommy Bolin’s death. Track list 1. Burn 2. Getting Tighter 3. Love Child 4. Smoke On The Water 5. Lazy 6. Homeward Strut 7. You Keep On Moving 8. Stormbringer

Documentary / Music

Dragon Ball Z: Level 1.2 Blu-ray Movie  

FUNimation Entertainment | 1990 | 410 min | Rated TV-PG | Dec 13, 2011 | Jeffrey Kauffman

Raditz, Gokus brother has traveled to Earth to find out why Goku has not yet destroyed the planet as he was supposed to do. But while as a baby, Goku was dropped (down a huge cliff) and forgot his real mission. Kakarot, Gokus real name battles his brother Raditzs along with former enemy Piccolo and friend Krillin. Meanwhile, Gohan; Gokus son reveals his hidden powers against Raditz and nearly kills Raditz. However Goku is killed in the end, but Raditz is eventually defeated by Piccolo. Before he dies, he tells them that two evil-saiyans even more powerful then he is, are on route to Earth. The remaining fighters, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, and Chatsu begin their training to battle the evil saiyans, while Piccolo takes off with Gohan to train him in using his new found power.

Action / Adventure / Anime / Comedy / Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Martial arts / Comic book / Foreign

Underworld Trilogy: The Essential Collection Blu-ray Movie  

Underworld / Underworld: Evolution / Underworld: Rise of the Lycans | Also includes Underworld: Endless War / Blu-ray + UV Digital Copy

Sony Pictures | 2003-2011 | 4 Movies | 331 min | Not rated | Dec 20, 2011 | Martin Liebman

See individual titles for their synopses. <br><br> All three <i>Underworld</i> films, plus the animated <i>Underworld: Endless War</i>.

Action / Adventure / Animation / Fantasy / Horror / Thriller / Supernatural

A Christmas Visitor Blu-ray Movie  

Echo Bridge Entertainment | 2002 | 87 min | Not rated | Sep 30, 2008 | Martin Liebman

In the small U.S. town of New Chatham, Christmas is approaching for the Boyajian family. But father George, mother Carol, and their daughter, Jean, have lost the desire to celebrate. Immersed in grief since the death of their son on Christmas Eve 1991, in the Persian Gulf War, George and Carol have forgone the familial comfort and pleasures of the holidays. But this year, George's annual visit to his son's grave has renewed faith in a heartsick father. Splitting logs for a Yule fire and retrieving old ornaments from the attic, George is determined to bring his family together. His wish comes true in ways none of them could have anticipated. It begins when George picks up a young man named Matthew, a hitchhiker presumably without a place to stay. Accepting the generous invitation to spend the night at George's house, Matthew also agrees to a well-intentioned charade: to pretend, for Carol's sake, that he knew their beloved son in the war. But once inside the warmth of the Boyajian home, settled around a festively decorated tree, Matthew has a few surprises in store for all of them—ones that will renew their faith in each other and in the extraordinary miracles of Christmas.

Drama / Holiday

Rapt Blu-ray Movie  

Kino Lorber | 2009 | 126 min | Not rated | Dec 06, 2011 | Dr. Svet Atanasov

Wealthy industrialist Stanilas Graff (Yvan Attal) is kidnapped in a daring daylight operation, and held ransom for 50 million Euros. As his family scrambles to raise the funds, his multi-national company is more concerned with massaging public opinion and limiting their financial exposure. Before long, the unsavory details of Graff's personal life are splashed over the tabloids. He is revealed to be an inveterate gambler, adulterer and worse, and with this disgrace the private urgency to free him disappears. It is left to the police to secure his escape. For Graff, however, the world he might return to has become just as dangerous and lonely as the one in which he is imprisoned.

Crime / Drama / Film-Noir / Thriller / Foreign

Another Gay Blu-ray Blu-ray Movie  

Another Gay Movie / Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!

TLA Releasing | 2006-2008 | 2 Movies | 193 min | Unrated | Nov 01, 2011 | Brian Orndorf

The most raucous teen-sex comedy is now in HD! Follow our favorite foursome and their various gay sex adventures that will have you giggling with glee and gasping from the uncensored outrageousness! These horny schoolboys make a pact to lose their virginity by graduation in the smash hit Another Gay Movie. In Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild, the gang enters a competition to experience as much butt-love as possible in vacation hot-spot Ft. Lauderdale. With guest appearances by RuPaul, Graham Norton, Perez Hilton, Brent Corrigan and more, Another Gay Blu-ray is two times the fun and double the raunchy humor!

Comedy / Romance

Straw Dogs Blu-ray Movie  

Sony Pictures | 2011 | 110 min | Rated R | Dec 20, 2011 | Martin Liebman

David and Amy Sumner, a Hollywood screenwriter and his actress wife, return to her small hometown in the deep South to prepare the family home for sale after her father's death. Once there, tensions build in their marriage and old conflicts re-emerge with the locals, including Amy's ex-boyfriend Charlie, leading to a violent confrontation.

Action / Crime / Thriller / Psychological thriller

City of God Blu-ray Movie  

Cidade de Deus

Lionsgate Films | 2002 | 130 min | Rated R | Dec 13, 2011 | Jeffrey Kauffman

In the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.

Crime / Drama / Foreign

Michael Feinstein: The Sinatra Legacy Blu-ray Movie  

Image Entertainment | 2011 | 63 min | Not rated | Dec 06, 2011 | Michael Reuben

A live concert taped in May 2011 at the Palladium in Carmel, Indiana, and based on the 2008 CD "The Sinatra Project".

Music

Velvet Goldmine Blu-ray Movie  

Lionsgate Films | 1998 | 119 min | Rated R | Dec 13, 2011 | Jeffrey Kauffman

In 1984, British newspaper reporter Arthur Stuart is investigating the career of 1970s glam rock star Brian Slade, who was heavily influenced in his early years by American rock singer Curt Wild, whose show was quite crazy for his time.

Comedy / Drama / Music / Period

Tora! Tora! Tora! Blu-ray Movie  

20th Century Fox | 1970 | 1 Movie, 2 Cuts | 149 min | Rated G | Dec 06, 2011 | Casey Broadwater

The story of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor is told from U.S. and Japanese viewpoints.

Action / Adventure / Drama / History / War

Cape Fear Blu-ray Movie    

Universal Studios | 1962 | 106 min | Rated BBFC: 15 | Oct 10, 2011 | Dr. Svet Atanasov

Small-town lawyer Sam Bowden's life becomes torturous when Max Cady re-enters his life. Cady went to jail for 8 years after Bowden testified that Cady attacked a young woman. Now that Cady has been released, he begins to terrorize Bowden and his family, particularly targeting Bowden's daughter, Nancy. Initially, Cady uses his newfound knowledge of the law (learned in prison) to annoy the Bowdens, then poisons the family dog... Who's next ?

Crime / Drama / Thriller / Psychological thriller

Steve Reich: Phase to Face Blu-ray Movie  

Ideale Audience | 2009 | 52 min | Rated G | Oct 25, 2011 | Jeffrey Kauffman

Composer Steve Reich is profiled in this French television documentary.

Documentary / Music

Reign Over Me Blu-ray Movie  

Sony Pictures | 2007 | 124 min | Rated R | Oct 09, 2007 | Michael Reuben

Former college roomates Charlie Fineman and Alan Johnson meet up again by chance on a Manhattan street corner. Five years after losing his family on 9/11, Charlie — once a successful dentist — has retreated from his life, and Alan is stunned to see the changes in his formerly gregarious friend. At the same time, Alan — who should be enjoying his beautiful wife, children and career — is overwhelmed by his responsibilities. Their rekindled relationship becomes a lifeline for the two men, who are both in need of a trusted friend at this pivotal moment in their lives.

Drama

Talbot / Wheeldon: Alice's Adventures In Wonderland Blu-ray Movie  

Ballet

Opus Arte | 2011 | 208 min | Rated G | Oct 25, 2011 | Jeffrey Kauffman

Lewis Carroll’s ever-popular story provides the basis for Christopher Wheeldon’s spectacular new work, starring Royal Ballet Principal Lauren Cuthbertson.

Music