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After helping take down Godzilla, biologist Dr. Nick Tatopoulos (voice of Ian Ziering) stumbles upon his hatchling, who bonds with the scientist as a parental figure. Recruiting his own environmentally-directed research outfit HEAT (Humanitarian Environmental Analysis Team) Nick sets out to study not only this new generation, but also to investigate the increasing reports of monsters of all types and other environmental anomalies menacing the Earth. Each exciting episode is a pulse-pounding monster-hunt driven by Nick’s team accompanied by their 300-foot giant reptile as they travel the globe defending humankind against mutant threats.

The entire 40 episode series is available together for the first time, including 2 UNAIRED episodes!

WHAT WE THOUGHT

“Godzilla: The Complete Animated Series” was an interesting attempt to keep the Godzilla 1998 revival going. However, I did enjoy using the movie cast in connection with one of Godzilla’s offspring. It’s a crazed lizard, but one that acts like an animal doing whatever the hell it wants to do. It will fight with other monsters, but it will stop to make a nest out of whatever city it is crashing in. There’s not really a ton that anyone can do to stop it.

There’s something about the Emmerich film that taints this otherwise strong show. You get the French shoe-horned into the movie alongside the attempts at breathing life into the one-dimensional humans. Still, there’s something about nostalgia and looking back at that late 90s flavor. It almost makes you wistful for a time when Godzilla could be turned into a Q: The Winged Serpent remake without anyone batting an eye. Larry Cohen should’ve been pissed.

The DVD comes with no special features. But, you do get to see two episodes that were too hot for FOX Kids to air. The A/V Quality is on par with most animated series of the era. But, that’s not like it was something that would blow out your home theater. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to fans.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!

RIO 2

TroyAnderson

May 5, 2014

Director: Carlos Saldanha
Writers: Carlos Saldanha, Don Rhymer, Jenny Bicks, Yoni Brenner and Carlos Kotkin
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andy Garcia, Anne Hathaway, Kristin Chenoweth, Jamie Foxx, George Lopez and Jemaine Clement
Studio: 20th Century Fox

“Rio 2″ opens with Blu having started a family. I guess enough time passed between the first movie and this one for Jewel to pop out three kids. But, I know nothing about how birds bone. More characters are back and there’s a lot of broad jokes. Honestly, I can’t be mad about the film as that was what has always been presented. Hell, I dare anyone watching the film to be upset that it was a carbon copy of the lackluster original.

Cartoon birds have a proud lineage. They thwart cats after properly identifying them and they guide dogs to aviation history. That being said, they can’t really carry a movie. I mean, you can build a narrative around them and force them to do things. But, it’s not like watching birds talk and carry on relationships can carry a movie. That’s when you get the musical numbers, cultural jokes and the push to turn the environment into a character.

Ultimately, it’s a movie for the slow-witted kids. If the characters started making references to the Macarena, the Lambada or any tired cultural references; I wouldn’t be surprised. So much of this movie is predicated on accepting the terrible clichés that have befallen other films. But, why can’t I bother to give this film a chance? Is it the repeat viewings of the original on FX or is it the sheer blandest of what is being offered forth? I don’t know, but I worry like Hell that the kid is going to love this stuff. I know that I loved dumb stuff too when I was younger, but I grew out of it. Oh well, here’s to the lack of taste in youth.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!

REVENGE OF THE NERDS

Blu-ray reviews

TroyAnderson

May 4, 2014

THE PLOT THUS FAR

At a big campus, a group of bullied outcasts and misfits resolve to fight back for their peace and self respect.

WHAT WE THOUGHT

“Revenge of the Nerds” is a great movie about nerds overcoming the odds. It also advocates rape, home invasions, recreational drug use and a litany of misdemeanors. Plus, the term nerd is applied to a broad spectrum of personalities for 1984. Basically, if you’re a stoner, a homosexual, a child prodigy, a minority, a dude that looks like Harpo Marx or fat…you’re an outsider. The Alpha Betas attack the nerds and they’re given carte blanche by the University. The University seems beholden to the Athletic Department and that’s par for the course at most state schools. But, John Goodman is just so obnoxious about it in an early role.

There is so much to mine without spitting out the plot synopsis. If you want that, then you’re a small child who never had Cinemax growing up. Grab a copy of Maltin’s Movie Guide and stuff it up your butt. Oh wait! You can’t anally please yourself with Maltin’s juvenile takes on film because everything is digital now. Times like these are when I feel like freaking Channing Tatum in “21 Jump Street”. While it’s great that kids are more inclusive, it only puts a bigger spotlight on how royally messed up things were in yesteryear.

The movie still functions on it its own, but I’m not sure if it can survive the forced connections in pop culture. When you think about the film, it draws instant connection to “American Splendor” or the cult favorite sequel. Hell, I like the Nerd rap from “Nerds in Paradise” so much better than the Electronic music in this one. What was up with that sequence? Kraftwerk faded for nerds about 5 years before the movie dropped and the sound wasn’t New-Wave. Plus, there were a shit-ton of sex crimes in this one. What makes it worse is that in the third one, you find out that the chick Lewis Skolnick raped would end up marrying him. The Reagan era was a weird as shit time for cinema.

The Blu-Ray comes with deleted scenes, featurettes, commentary, a TV pilot and the original trailer as the special features. The DTS-HD 1.0 master audio track is period appropriate. Yeah, I know it was a summer release in 1984, but so was Buckaroo Banzai. Guess which one will probably get dumped on Twilight Time? The 1080p transfer is pretty solid, but shows a bit of debris and noise. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.

RELEASE DATE: 05/06/14

YOUR INNER FISH

Blu-ray reviews

TroyAnderson

May 4, 2014

THE PLOT THUS FAR

Your Inner Fish reveals a startling truth: Hidden within the human body is a story of life on Earth. This scientific adventure story takes viewers from Ethiopia to the Arctic Circle on a hunt for the many ways that our animal ancestors shaped our anatomical destiny. Come face-to-face with your “inner fish” in this completely new take on the human body: You’ll never look at yourself in quite the same way again!

WHAT WE THOUGHT

“Your Inner Fish” is a look at inner bliss, but how it’s shared throughout all time. Neil Shubin is a smart guy that wants to show how everything is connected. By breaking his discoveries into three parts, we see how reptiles and fish contributed to the wonders of humanity. While that might not blow everyone’s hair back, it’s important that have a TV series that actually investigates our shared genetic roots. I appreciate all well-researched voices that shout down the wave of stupidity that comes from the celestially ordained.

Neil Degrasse Tyson has been talking a lot about shared patterns in nature on “Cosmos”. While a lot of the material overlaps, this series makes a great side treat for people that really want to study what’s going on. Evolutionary sequencing is great for people that don’t quite understand how it works. Showing the layers and selected traits that cross-splice their way across centuries and species to create something epic is just amazing. That’s real life, people. No stories about Rock Monsters. Just cold hard facts.

The DVD comes with an additional 30 minutes and a Educational PDF guide as the special features. The A/V Quality is pretty strong. The transfer is clean, but the Dolby track doesn’t get a ton of back channel support. Ultimately, it’s a pretty standard PBS series sent to DVD. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to the curious.

RELEASE DATE: 05/06/2014

COWGIRLS ‘N ANGELS 2: DAKOTA’S SUMMER

Blu-ray reviews

TroyAnderson

May 4, 2014

THE PLOT THUS FAR

Oscar Winner Keith Carradine* (Cowboys & Aliens) stars alongside a young, popular cast that includes Haley Ramm (X-Men: The Last Stand) , Jade Pettyjohn (American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars), and Emily Bett Rickards (Arrow) in this inspiring second chapter of the beloved Cowgirls ‘N Angels story! After she receives unexpected news about herself, a 17-year-old girl (Ramm) experiences an exciting, yet challenging life in and out of the rodeo circuit in this wonderful coming- of-age story. Filled with heart, horses and high-reaching adventure, Cowgirls ‘N Angels: Dakota’s Summer is an uplifting reminder that with courage, friendship and passion, anything is possible.

WHAT WE THOUGHT

“Cowgirls ‘N Angels 2: Dakota’s Summer” fulfills the promise of the Cowgirls ‘ N Angels series. I barely remember the first film, but I’m assuming it’s about a teenage girl and a horse. This movie’s staple girl is proud of her Rodeo heritage. Unfortunately, she discovers that she was adopted. Feeling that Rodeo skill is genetic, she sets out to find her real family. I guess her name is Dakota or something based on the film’s secondary title. But, I can’t be bothered to remember.

I hate horses and this time of year is just not fun for those of us in this particular area. Everything is about a horse race or a parade or the Triple Crown. Having to take a break away from that to watch a girl hang out with Martha Plimpton’s dad felt tedious at time. However, the heartfelt nature of the material was strong enough to win me over. It’s not great, but it works enough for me to look past the warts. I mean that in the best way possible.

The Blu-Ray comes with a making-of featurette as the sole special feature. The A/V Quality is pretty strong for a DTV flick. The 1080p transfer is dynamic for what I was expecting to be a quiet movie. That being said, the DTS-HD 5.1 master audio track never knows what it needs to be mixed loud. I’m not sure what to chalk that up to, other than the indie budget. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!

LEGEND OF HERCULES 3D, THE

Blu-ray reviews

TroyAnderson

May 4, 2014

THE PLOT THUS FAR

The origin story of the the mythical Greek hero. Betrayed by his stepfather, the King, and exiled and sold into slavery because of a forbidden love, Hercules must use his formidable powers to fight his way back to his rightful kingdom.

WHAT WE THOUGHT

“The Legend of Hercules” represents Hollywood’s latest mini infatuation with the world of Antiquity. Ten years ago, we had Wolfgang Petersen shooting Eric Bana and Brad Pitt hanging out in the desert. Now, we’ve got Renny Harlin and Brett Ratner staging rival productions about the true origins of a myth. The difference being is that Harlin is attacking the project with the subtle touch of Golan/Globus at their penny pinching best. But, it looks good. So, where is the fault?

The movie is bad, but just how bad is it? The movie isn’t as bad as it is rushed. With the Exorcist prequel, Harlin was shooting over someone else’s work. The only excuse he has here is that there was only so much film in the camera and he had to shoot what was left. Kellan Lutz is a non entity, as he keeps fighting through enemies like it’s a crappy game. Some of the kills are cool, but that’s it.

The Blu-Ray comes with 2D and 3D versions of the movie. Make sure that your firmware is up-to-date, otherwise the 3D version won’t trigger. I tested it out after replicating the issue based on a few complains from readers. Again, I apologize for the review being late in order to test that. But, it was an easy fix. You also get a commentary and featurette. The 1080p transfer makes the action pop, even when Harlin doesn’t quite get shoving things to the forefront. The DTS-HD 7.1 master audio track is dynamic and it continues to show that Lionsgate is the kind when it comes to Blu-Ray audio. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to the curious.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!

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