‘La La Land’ And The Impact Of “What If”

by Josh JacksonApril 27, 2017

*WARNING: SPOILERS FOR THE ENTIRE FILM AHEAD*

Now that La La Land is available for DVD, Blu Ray and 4K platforms, it seemed like an opportune time to wrap up my review on the film. But between the praise its received since release, the almost unattainable amount of hype it built up before Oscar season, and the many other sites that will surely do a fantastic job explaining how great the film and all of the special features are, (the making of the show stopping Another Day of Sun freeway number being a personal favorite), I doubt there’s anything I can say regarding the quality of the film that you haven’t heard a thousand times by now. I still can’t decide which movie I liked better among the Best Picture nominees between this and Hidden Figures, but Damien Chazelle’s ode to the musicals of decades past has stuck with me since I walked out of the theater months ago. When I’m asked about why I enjoyed this love letter to the dreamers of the world as much as I did, it always comes down to that ending.

Seb’s passion for Jazz becomes shared.

Detractors of the film have stated that everything ends up a little bit too perfect for Sebastian (Ryan Gossling) and Mia (Emma Stone), aspiring entertainers who are lost among the stars of Los Angeles. Trying to find a path to success, their love sets them on their respective paths to achieve their dreams. While they don’t end up together, Seb opens the Jazz club that he always dreamed of while Mia becomes a famous actress, giving each other one last nod of approval after what might be the last of their many chance encounters throughout the film. And to be honest, I can’t argue with that assessment! From a pure conflict resolution standpoint, the majority of the film focused primarily on their need to achieve their respective goals, and while they had to sacrifice their romance to do so, they both got where they wanted to be with relatively minor resistance.

But what makes the ending great is that it’s not the only right answer.

The viewer’s perspective shapes how they interpret the final ten minutes of what was a relatively straightforward story up until that point. After a brief time skip, we’re re-introduced to the characters in quick fashion, with Mia being a successful actress with a husband and daughter. It’s not until they wander into a club that turns out to be Sebastian’s dream bar that the film sets us up for that big turning point. During that vibrant “what if” scenario that the pair envision, we see what things could have been like if a few of their choices were different. An argument can be made that even this scenario still isn’t perfect, since it’s implied that Seb never gets his club. And yet, he seems perfectly happy being at Mia’s side, helping her achieve her big dreams.

What could have been

Which brings me to City of Stars, the popular duet that I’m sure you’ve heard a thousand times by now. More specifically, one particular set of lyrics speak volumes. At this point in the film, Mia is hard at work writing a one woman show that Seb convinced her to put together as a way to avoid the humiliating auditioning process, since he fully believed that her enthusiasm would draw people to her rather than her having to essentially beg for work. On the other side, Seb has just joined a more pop oriented Jazz band that pays enough to help him support himself and Mia, but plays a style that he’s personally unhappy with. Far from ideal, especially on his side. Yet in the song, the pair sing,

I felt it from the first embrace I shared with you.

That now our dreams, they’ve finally come true.

Despite them being very far from where they want to be career wise, in this moment in time, they feel like their dreams have already been achieved by being with each other. Unfortunately for them, the pressure of being unhappy in the band and Mia’s show tanking leads to the pair splitting, but not before Seb gives Mia one last boost of encouragement by taking her to an audition that came about in response to her show. Once we see that Seb decided to name his club “Seb’s”, using the same name and design Mia suggested, instead of “Chicken on a Stick”, a name that he was 100% adamant about earlier in the film, it’s clear to see how Mia’s memory had become a driving force that ultimately pushed him to open his club.

A final goodbye

Now onto the ending itself. I personally feel that the movie is tragically cold with the abrupt way that it ends after showing us what could have been. Yes, they achieved their dreams, but there’s a cruel irony about being completely estranged from the person who enabled those dreams in the first place. Not only that, but over the course of the film, their dreams changed to simply wanting to be together. Having to sacrifice one dream that we watched grow and blossom as viewers for the sake of dreams that are achieved off screen really drives home how unfair it is. But the most lasting part of the ending is that it’s one that we can all relate to. Would our lives be better or worse if we handled those past circumstances differently? I have my dream career, but was it worth losing touch with the people who grew alongside me to achieve it? How can a person who was my biggest supporter become a stranger within the blink of an eye? And why can’t the people who enabled, encouraged and empowered us to be the best version of ourselves be by our side when the fruits of their labor finally comes to fruition? It’s not fair. Life rarely is. But like Seb and Mia, sometimes we have to nod, smile, and resume our lives with the circumstances we’re presently in.

So yes, I can’t argue that from one perspective, the film is pretty straightforward, with the characters getting everything they fought for from the beginning and more. I can’t even argue with someone who says the ending was happy since sometimes, we have to make sacrifices to win at this crazy game. Which is what makes the ending so beautiful. Depending on your own perspective, you can draw so many different conclusions from it. Yet for me, even with whatever success may come, I’m still wondering if it was worth it.

La La Land is now available on DVD, Blu Ray and 4K formats.

Celebrate ‘La La Land’ Day With Festivities Across The City Of Stars!

by Josh JacksonApril 24, 2017

To commemorate the record breaking Golden Globe winning and almost Best Picture Oscar recipient La La Land‘s release on home media, April 25 will become La La Land Day across the city of stars.

Beginning with an official declaration by Mayor Eric Garcetti, screenwriter/director Damien Chazelle will be honored for his “extraordinary portrait of the city and its iconic locations”. Which makes sense when you consider that tourism has skyrocketed since the film’s release. Also on hand will be composer Justin Hurwitz, production designers David and Sandy Wasco, choreographer Mandy Moore and jewelry designer Kyle Chan. The festivities will be topped off with a live arial performance by the dance troop BANDALOOP.

Outside of the official declaration, special events will be held throughout the City of Stars. From dance lessons, set recreations, screenings and full recreations of Seb’s club from the film, both at the original location in Hermosa Beach to other Jazz clubs throughout the city, check out the full list of events below!

Grand Central Market will hold a La La Land dance lesson at 10am at 317 S. Broadway in downtown, and Sarita’s, the site of Mia and Sebastian’s first date will be featuring a La La Land photo op with the stools they sat on.

3^rd Street Dance will offer La La Land themed Dance Class at 7pm at their 8558 West 3^rd St. location.

Kyle Chan Design will display the jewelry that Academy Award^® Best Actress winner Emma Stone wears in the film at 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Ste 114. The first three people to come in and buy La La Land jewelry will take home a Blu-ray of the film.

Brits in LA will host a “Brits in La La Land” Breakfast at Cecconis on “La La Land Day” and give away free breakfast to the first 20 people who share an image that best represents #LaLaLand to them and why.

The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising will have their final day of display of the La La Land costumes in their museum, along with the unveiling of the La La Land inspired costume design contest winner.

Inglewood Library will have a La La Land themed activities hour at 4pm for youth who want to express their creative side with La La Land activity sheets and coloring pages.

Jazz bars across the country will be transformed into “Seb’s” on April 25, for one night only, including Long Beach’s “The Blind Donkey” (149 Linden Ave), the original location for “Seb’s” in the film, featuring live music, themed drinks and a full size Seb’s neon sign.

Additional area taverns will also celebrate with La La Land themed nights featuring ‘enter to win’ boxes with Blu-rays offered as prizes. Bars include:

Light House Café – 30 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA

No Vacancy – 1727 N. Hudson Ave. Los Angeles, CA

Bar One – 12518 Burbank Blvd. North Hollywood, CA

Far from a waste of a lovely night for sure. How will you be celebrating La La Land Day?

The film will be released for home media on April 25.

The ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Is Getting A Limited Edition Blu Ray Steelbook!

by The_aczDecember 29, 2016

Yes, you read that correctly. No, this isn’t an extremely late April fools prank.

Online retailer Zavvi announced yesterday that they will be releasing a special limited edition of the Super Mario Bros. Movie for $20 next year on February 13th. Just in time for Valentines Day 2017. In all fairness, I very much enjoy Super Mario Bros. It’s certainly not a good movie by any means, but the approach to the film is just so odd you can’t help but laugh and have a good time at how bad it is. If you’d like to pick up the film, Check out the Pre-order page here! Do you like the Super Mario Bros. Movie? Tell us in the comments below!

Geekscape Reviews ‘Star Wars Rebels’ Season 2 On Blu-Ray

by Josh JacksonSeptember 5, 2016

I’ll admit. The idea of Star Wars Rebels was a tough one to accept when it was initially announced. With all of the hubbub surrounding the Extended Universe being scrapped canon wise, it was hard to imagine how a kid focused prequel linking the two trilogies would do anything but complicate the continuity. Bringing in new Jedi, Sith, and obviously, Rebels, that we never hear about during any of the major events of the films sounded like a recipe for disaster on paper. Then… Season 1 happened, and quickly changed the minds of many of its skeptics. By creating its own identity while tying loosely into the abruptly cancelled Clone Wars animated series, Rebels teased the potential to create a proper bridge between episodes three and four. In this way, the show doubles down throughout its second season, creating constantly compelling storylines that work surprisingly well both as standalone episodes, and serve as glimpses into what the future may hold for The Force and its users. That is… When the show isn’t spinning its wheels with inconsequential content.

The crew is back for season 2!

Following the defeat of the Sith Inquisitor at the end of the first season, Kanan Jarrus, the Jedi Knight who avoided Order 66, and his newly discovered apprentice, Ezra Bridger, continue to travel the galaxy as part of the Lothal Rebels, who are working towards the destruction of the Empire long before Luke took up a lightsaber. Leading the group alongside Kanan is Hera, an ace pilot who’s exposure to battle dates back to the Clone Wars. Rounding out their crew is Sabine Wren, a Mandalorian soldier with a past as a bounty hunter, (and a penchant for graffiti), Zeb Orrelios, a Lasat warrior who is out for revenge after The Empire attacked his homeworld, and their droid, Chopper. With the idea of rebellion still in its infancy, the crew constantly finds itself hiding from their enemies as they fight for territory and resources, narrowly escaping danger at every turn. But with The Empire’s strongest enforcer, Darth Vader, now on the hunt, will the return of Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice, Ashoka Tano, be enough to protect the crew from the wrath of the Dark Side? And will its pull be too much for the crew itself to resist?

From the very first episode, Rebels raises the stakes with the crew’s first encounter with Vader. The setup puts many of the season’s themes and conflicts into place, including Kanan’s paranoia over not being strong enough to protect his apprentice and crew, Ezra’s growing frustration with his mentor’s lack of faith as the Dark Side begins to tempt him, and Ashoka’s inevitable reunion with her former master. As if to ensure that this wouldn’t be a one sided conflict from the get-go, Vader inexplicably disappears after the rebels narrowly escape, sending two new Inquisitors to complete the job that he was so close to finishing himself. Along the way, the crew meets Lando, Leia, and other key figures as they travel the galaxy in search of a way to defeat the Empire, all while avoiding detection themselves.

Seeing Rex again is one of the highlights of the season.

In the episodes in between the first two and last three, the season uses its 22 episode total to better acquaint us with the crew and their backgrounds as they work towards establishing their new base. Hera’s skill as a pilot and her history with her father, the Clone Wars hero, Cham Syndulla, is given its time in the spotlight, alongside Sabine’s bounty hunter past, and Kanan’s distrust of Clones after Order 66 when Captain Rex resurfaces. Among the side stories however, none were more compelling than late in the season, when Zeb becomes stranded alongside Agent Kallus, the Empire commander who spends most of the season trying to weed out the heroes. Easily the most compelling episode that’s not focused on the Jedi and Sith, the two enemies are forced to work together to survive the native threats that surround them, all while finding a better understanding of each other. Through their interactions, we learn that not everyone in the Empire is evil. Many think they’re doing the right thing by bringing order to the galaxy, and see their enemies as those who misunderstand their good intentions. From Kallus’ point of view in his days as a low rank officer, his squad was meant to help Zeb’s home world, but distrust and unrest from the natives led to paranoia from the ground troops, which would eventually break into the battle that would nearly wipe out the Lasat. By the end, both characters develop mutual respect for each other as people despite being pit against each other in the larger conflict, bringing a sense of humanity to the evil Empire we’ve grown accustomed to for decades. That is, in between jokes about how Stormtroopers are terrible shots, which is on full display here. In fact, outside of the Sith and Kallus, it’s hard to take any of them as a serious threat when they come off as so incompetent every time one of the team’s unlikely plans to escape their predicaments goes off without a hitch. You’ll start to wonder how they held a grip on the galaxy for as long as they did.

Yup, still imposing. And we love him for it.

Make no mistake about it though, because when the Dark Side is in full force, they’re still the group that we love to hate. With some gripping build up to the final conflict of the season, old friends such as Yoda re-surface to impart some lasting knowledge on our master-less Jedi and his Padawan. After the well constructed build up finally hits its crescendo, and we finally get the face off between Ashoka and Vader, there’s so many moving parts that all fit so well together that even this long awaited battle can’t overshadow what’s going on with Kanan and Ezra. I won’t spoil too much for those who haven’t seen it, but by brining back a ghost from the past, we suddenly have ties that go back to the earliest points in the film timeline, all the way to The Force Awakens. In typical Star Wars fashion, the second story ends with the heroes in a bad spot. By the time it was over, I definitely wanted more, and I can’t wait to find out what the fallout is going to be after the events of the finale. But most of all, I’m very anxious for how all of this is going to end.

With all the excitement out of the way however, I can’t talk about the season as a whole while ignoring some poorly placed episodes in the season that serve as nothing more than time fillers, making certain points throughout the run feel like they were stretching out material to meet the season total. I get that in a weekly cartoon, especially one marketed with children in mind, they’re not going to be the ones analyzing whether or not the episode had merit. They’ll largely care about seeing the characters do some cool stuff to hold them over until the following week. But even among the pointless episode here and there, the episode before the two part finale is the most unfortunate of all. After making an announcement that was teased to have everlasting effects on the crew, Kanan and Ezra find themselves playing Starship Troopers near their newly founded base with the rest of their team, in a complete throwaway that undercuts the gravity of the first and last two minutes of the episode. Thankfully, the following episodes were enough to pull me back in, but the change in tone was jarring to say the least.

Will Ezra be tempted by the Dark Side?

Now if you’ve watched the season as it aired and were looking to get your money’s worth with extra content, you’re going to find yourself disappointed on that front. Each disc in the 3-disc set has its own set of Rebels Recon shorts, where we learn about what went on to develop each episode. These mini documentaries however, have been on StarWars.com since each episode aired, so you can head over to the site and watch them there, rather than needing this set. The third disc houses two bonus shorts, one going over the history between Ashoka and Anakin, while the other talks about easter eggs that tie the season to the rest of the Star Wars continuity. While interesting, each one clocks in at less than five minutes, making the package feel bare bones outside of the actual episodes.

Lightsaber duels will never stop being great.

So if you’re someone who wants a satisfying continuation of the unfinished Clone Wars saga, who never watched Rebels and want some fantastic storytelling in that galaxy far, far away, or who can’t wait to re-live the events of the second season, do yourself a favor and pick up Season 2. The special features might be sparce, and the season could have been better without a few episodes, but overall, these episodes succeed in producing original stories that manage to be compelling all on their own, while enriching the established film universe. Most of all, I can’t wait for more! So in that sense, mission accomplished.

Key Episodes:

Episode 1: The Siege of Lothal Part 1

Episode 2: The Siege of Lothal Part 2

Episode 3: The Lost Commanders

Episode 4: Relics of the Old Republic

Episode 5: Always Two There Are

Episode 8: Blood Sisters

Episode 9: Stealth Strike

Episode 11: Legacy

Episode 12: A Princess on Lotahl

Episode 16: Homecoming

Episode 17: The Honorable Ones

Episode 18: Shroud of Darkness

Episode 21: Twilight of the Apprentice Part 1

Episode 22: Twilight of the Apprentice Part 2

Season Score: 4/5

Blu-Ray Score:3/5

Geekscape Reviews ‘Zootopia’ On Blu-Ray

by Josh JacksonJune 7, 2016

*WARNING: Contains minor spoilers for the two people who haven’t seen the movie.*

Chances are that you’ve probably seen Zootopia by now. I mean, once a movie makes over one billion dollars, it’s safe to say everyone has, right? But upon second viewing, Disney’s latest animated feature stands just as tall as it did when it hit theaters back in March. Following the escapades of Judy Hopps, the first bunny cop who’s stepping foot into the sprawling metropolis straight from the country, and Nick Wilde, a con-artist fox who gets pulled into Judy’s first big case, the film’s relative ease at weaving together a crime caper with social commentary on racial prejudices within a family friendly package staring anthropomorphic animals is a cinematic feat in and of itself. If for no other reason though, the Blu Ray release is worth picking up just to see how much went into making this film come to life from concept to big screen.

Watching Zootopia again felt like it was my first time seeing it. Once you know what the general plot is going to be, that gives you more time to focus on the city itself, with background action that’s always interesting enough to catch your eye. Whether its the internally impatient animals waiting for their turn at the sloth run DMV, or the dozens of rodents going about their business in Little Rodentia, there’s always something going on outside of the main characters themselves. This was a major focus for the creators, making sure that they captured what they felt a city full of animals who behaved like humans would look like.

Which is why the Special Features go into a huge amount of detail about how much work it took to make Zootopia feel as authentic as possible. If you loved the movie on its own, it’s hard not to have even more admiration for it after watching how much care was put into getting things just right. The map for example, was built with real life practicality in mind, placing the deserts of Sahara Square behind the arctic Tundratown, acting as a ventilator in the same way as an air conditioner. Melted ice from Tundratwon then goes on to create the waterfalls and rain in the Rainforest District, and so on. All logic that I never would have considered as a viewer, but that makes sense in the best way a city with four different climates could.

Aside from the environments, the animals themselves were researched heavily, leading to multiple trips to sanctuaries like Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida to observe the behaviors of each species. The hard part comes not only from adapting said behavior to a two legged version, but to get the scale just right. While previous animal films like Disney’s Robin Hood made its animals human sized, Zootopia stays true to their actual size. So making a city where lemmings can co-exist with giraffes and elephants was a unique challenge in itself, creating structures that accounted for these differences. The attention to detail didn’t end there, considering Judy and Nick alone consist of close to 10,000 individual furs each. My hands are cramping just thinking about it.

Once all of these details come together, the movie’s most memorable takeaway is still its plot and the themes across its 108 minute run time. While a few scenes early on come off as heavy handed with its take on racial prejudice, Zootopia does a brilliant job of sprinkling hints of these ideas until they’re forced into the forefront of the film at the start of the third act. If Frozen‘s big twist came from the fact that its Prince Charming was a two faced villain, then Zootopia doubles down by making its main character, the one who is discriminated against through most of the film, come off as the accidental villain as she turns the town’s underlying paranoia towards predators into a full on epidemic. All of this is proceeded by a highly entertaining crime caper where the “token” bunny cop that no one believes in uses her wit to force a team up with a criminal in order to solve a series of disappearances without the resources of the ZPD. With parodies based on everything from The Godfather to Breaking Bad, there’s plenty of humor to give even more life to an already excellent plot.

It’s surprising that everything came together so well considering how different the film was when it came to its original concept, all the way to late in its development. Using a concept where all predators would have to wear collars to measure their aggression levels, Nick would have been the focus in this version as he went through life seen as a vicious con artist, whether or not it was true. With a much more in your face version of the discrimination found in the final release, Judy would eventually be added in, and even took the form of a spy film before settling on what we ended up getting. In Nick’s case however, him being seen as a threat just because he’s a fox ends up shaping him in a huge way after the revisions as well, keeping that layer of development that makes him the most tragic character in the movie.

Even after the credits have rolled, there’s still plenty to see in Zootopia. the ZPD Forensic Files highlight many of the film’s easter eggs, many of which I had completely missed the first time around. Hidden Mickey’s, Pascal from Tangled, and a couple of elephants who are big fans of Anna and Elsa are just a few of the secrets that flew completely over my head. In depth interviews with the animators, a music video for Shakira’s Try Everything, (as famous pop star, Gazelle,) and a set of deleted scenes and characters in the form of the Gerbil Jerks, round out the full feature set of one of the best movies Disney has ever produced.

Aside from some heavy handed dialogue early on and Gazelle being placed on a pedestal, (I get wanting to get mileage out of Shakira, but why was she the ONLY voice of reason outside of Judy in the two minutes of screen time she had?), Zootopia could be looked back on as the best film Disney has ever produced. With plenty of visual humor, striking environments and cute, charming characters to keep the kids entertained while the adults ponder the expertly woven themes found in the film, not only is there something for everyone, but everything it does is done to the best of its ability. The special features only further prove how much passion went into getting this just right, and they succeeded in every way. Good job, Disney. You’ve delivered another masterpiece!

Final Score: 5/5

Geekscape Giveaway: Win An ‘Everest’ Blu-Ray Combo Pack & Everest Carabiner!

by Shane O'HareJanuary 13, 2016

We’ve got ourselves another incredible giveaway for you ‘Scapists!

We’ve teamed up with Universal to give you a chance to win yourself a copy of the Blu-ray combo pack of Everest (which includes the Blu-ray, DVD and a Digital HD code), starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin and Jason Clarke. On top of that, to get into the climbing spirit, we’ll be including an awesome Everest themed carabiner!

First, lets learn a little bit about the film:

On the morning of May 10, 1996, climbers (Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin) from two expeditions start their final ascent toward the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. With little warning, a violent storm strikes the mountain, engulfing the adventurers in one of the fiercest blizzards ever encountered by man. Challenged by the harshest conditions imaginable, the teams must endure blistering winds and freezing temperatures in an epic battle to survive against nearly impossible odds.

How To Enter:

Entering is simple! Just sign up with your email or Facebook with the widget below, and choose from multiple ways to enter! The more you do, the better your chances, and you can even tweet once a day to maximize your chances! Please be sure to use an email you check regularly, as we will contact you for your address through that. Contest is open to U.S. residents only!

Everest is available now on Digital HD, and will hit stores January 19th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Climbers, you’ll be most excited about this little goodie:

Check Out This Steelbook Blu-Ray For The First 3 Pokemon Movies!!

by The_aczJanuary 12, 2016

Want to own the original 3 Pokemon movies in beautiful HD? Well, now’s your chance!
Pokemon: The Movies 1-3 Steelbook Blu-ray is now available to pre-order on amazon. The film contains all 3 movies on Blu ray in 16 X 9 Widescreen format. Order it right HERE! Are you going to pick up the collection when it releases on February 9th?

Saint Mort’s Nostalgia Nightmares “Invaders From Mars” Blu-Ray Review

by SaintmortApril 7, 2015

After a brief break Saint Mort’s Nostalgia Nightmare is back! This week we’re reviewing the Scream Factory release of Invaders From Mars. I’ve seen it once before this Blu-Ray came in the mail and raises the question if I’m the wrong audience for this movie.

Before I talk about Invaders from Mars I want to discuss the fact that I’ve thought it was directed by Joe Dante for a long time. I guess it just feels like something Dante would make, a fairly innocent and non-offensive movie about a child in a weird situation with occasionally adult moments. It’d felt right in with Gremlins and Small Soldiers, but instead this movie is directed by Tobe Hooper which might not work to it’s advantage.

Tobe Hooper has had an uneven career and that’s speaking as someone who defends more of his movies than most people. It’s undeniable that Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a masterpiece and whether or not Poltergeist was directed by him or Spielberg it’s still a great movie. That being said, I’ve also defended The Funhouse as an unappreciated masterpiece, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 was a brilliant ‘fuck you’ to people forcing him to make a gorier sequel, I found Lifeforce to be a complete blast, and I don’t even completely hate Eaten Alive.

Somehow I never knew this movie existed until I was in college. The peak of my horror fandom was in Junior High during the very early years of the internet. I had no clue what IMDb was back then so I wasn’t checking into filmmaker’s filmographies and even then Tobe Hooper wasn’t really at the top of the list of directors whose filmographies I felt I needed to see anyway.

Anyways, when I worked at a video store I stumbled upon the VHS of this and watched it. It was okay, nothing to write home about. I remember thinking it was probably Joe Dante’s worst movie (see first paragraph). This might sound like an insult but Joe Dante has had a pretty solid career and even at his worst he’s still damn good.

Invaders From Mars isn’t a great movie, but I don’t think anyone is pretending that it is. Not even Scream Factory. But it is a fun movie. It’s that awkward combination of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Monster Squad that makes this movie more fun than I originally remembered. The screenplay was written by Dan O’Bannon and follows in line with Return of the Living Dead’s subplot about the Army coming in and handling the situation.

There’s plenty of great performances in this movie (including a great role from Bud Cort) but the star of the show is Stan Winston’s monster designs. The creatures look so cool in that super 80’s way (specifically one alien who looks like Krang from TMNT).

What hurts this movie is its undecided tone. The movie keeps trying to be a genuine horror movie and a kids movie at the exact time, since it never seems to settle on a tone it constantly feels awkward and uneven. The ending is cliche’d and infuriating

I also can’t believe how many times they say the name David Gardener in this movie. This movie should be shown to writing students as a reminder to limit how often people refer to each other by name.

Invaders From Mars is available on Blu-Ray from Scream Factory today. Beyond a beautiful transfer of the film it also contains a commentary track from Tobe Hooper and an amazing behind the scenes feature. Pick up your copy today!

Matt Kelly is the host of the Saint Mort Show Podcast and co-host of the Reddit Horror Club. He also runs the Every Damn DVD blog. Instead of eating Ham and Mashed Potatoes with his family on Sunday he watched Invaders from Mars FOR YOU! Show up how much you appreciate his handwork by getting him something off his Amazon Wishlist to watch.

Geekscape Reviews: Equestria Girls ‘Rainbow Rocks’ Blu-Ray

by Shane O'HareOctober 25, 2014

Hot off the presses from Shout!Factory is the next in the Equestria Girls franchise. The full title. “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks”, was how you say, a bit long to put in the title of this review.

In case you aren’t in the know, “Equestria Girls” is a spin-off film series of the now HUGELY popular “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic”. In these films there exists and alternate dimension similar to that of MLP’s Canterlot. This is not a dimension of sight or sound, but of hands and feet! That’s right, Ponies are People too!

The first film had our lead character, Twilight Sparkle, traveling through to this alternate dimension to stop the plans of an evil doer. Rainbow Rocks pretty much starts out the same, but this time there are THREE bad guys!

The story, much like the first one, is what it is. A nice feel good story with valuable lessons for the young crowd. For the older crowd, such as myself, it’s more of an elaborate fan service. Seeing all of our favorite characters human counterparts put a huge smile on my face throughout the entire film. The “adult” references throughout were always met with an audible laugh.

Equestria Grils Rainbow Rocks Daft Punk Rarity — This was hands down my favorite shot from the film.

The entire goal for our protagonists in “Rainbow Rocks” was to sing a song that would counter the evil magic from the films villains, The Dazzlings.

Hands down the best part of “Rainbow Rocks” was the amazing soundtrack. The entire plot revolves around a Battle of The Bands. The show’s composer, Daniel Ingram, freaking killed it. 10 all new original recordings from Daniel really stole the show (how many stage puns do you think I can get into this review?).

The Blu-Ray edition comes with both the Blu-Ray and DVD copy, as well as a code for the digital download version. The bonus features are a tad slim, but it is to be expected for a childrens release. The one feature I was extremely grateful for was the audio commentary. A gaggle of the films crew were present. Writers, producers, editors, animators. The entire crew was well represented. I really appreciated that it was obviously a group of people that loved their job, it wasn’t “dumbed down” for a younger audience. They pointed out small minute animation details that you wouldn’t normally have caught. It was a joy listening to it.

Final Thoughts

“Rainbow Rocks” was a must see for me this year. After the surprise that was the first Equestria Girls movie (it really superseded all my expectations), I knew that the sequel would have only improved on everything. Boy was I right.

The bonus features are lacking. Besides the audio commentary you get three sing alongs and the eight prequel shorts. The audio commentary and the fact that you get what amounts to three copies of the film more than makes up for it.

This is a must have for any MLP fan, young OR old.

You can get your hands on your own copy of “Rainbow Rocks” NEXT WEEK! It hits store shelves October 28th. There are some retailer specific bonuses too! If you get the DVD version at Target, Walmart or KMART you will get a Rainbow Rocks bracelet, Music CD or A Backstage Pass respectively.

SCORE: 4/5

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Review

by Dennis FinocchiaroSeptember 15, 2014

It seems that everything Marvel does these days turns to gold, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. did not disappoint. After a slow start in the first few episodes, the show really picked up and became one of the better shows on television.

Unfortunately, when the season started, many fans of the films gave up on the show a bit quickly. While the show did start out a bit slow, those who persevered were not disappointed, especially once the season finale came around.

The release of season one on blu ray will be the best chance for the quitters to come back and get into the show, and they should. With the addition of Marvel’s Agent Carter this year, the show will have even more exciting events take place, and will likely have many more crossovers within the Marvel Universe.

Season one had its share of crossovers. Thor’s Lady Sif came into an episode chasing after a war criminal from their world, and a few episodes tied directly into Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Not to mention many smaller mentions of characters, places and events from Avengers and other Marvel films.

Overall, the blu ray’s best draw for those who already watched the season is the abundance of extras. Five Behind-the-Scenes Field Reports are interesting views from the set of the show as it was being taped. A special effects breakdown shows how some of the cooler scenes were shot as well. The usual commentaries are there as well.

And what season of television isn’t complete without a gag reel and deleted scenes? While I won’t divulge anything specific, there are a few hilarious moments, and the deleted scenes had me wishing they were able to keep some of them in the show. Also included is the airing of the first episode at San Diego Comic Con.

Overall, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season One is absolutely worth purchasing, whether you were a die-hard fan, curious, or you were one of those who gave up on the show a bit too early. The bonus features are outstanding, and the show, well obviously I loved the show.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is out now on Blu Ray.

Here’s the trailer for Season 2:

NIS America Announces Two New Anime Releases For 2014

by Josh JacksonJuly 20, 2014

During a weekend full of announcements, NIS America revealed their own anime releases hitting stores in 2014.

First, Hanasaku Iroha the Movie ~ HOME SWEET HOME ~ is coming in a premium edition box on October 14. Retailing at $49.99 , the package gets you the Blu-Ray film and an art book containing interviews with the staff behind the film.

From the press release:

About the movie:

In the days before the Bonbori Festival, Ohana’s friend Yuina comes to Kissuiso for training. While cleaning up after her, Ohana discovers a logbook kept by Beans from when her mother, Satsuki, was still a youth at Kissuisso. Through the logbook, Ohana catches a glimpse of her mother’s struggles, and realizes that maybe the two of them aren’t so different after all. Meanwhile, the rest of the inn staff are caught up in dealing with a blackout.

About the extras:

– Hardcover art book (full color, 32 pages) which provides a deeper viewing experience through scene-by-scene director commentary, staff member interviews, concept sketches, and setting illustrations.
– Original Japanese commercials

Second on the list is Nyaruko: Crawling with Love! Complete Second Season, also coming in a Premium Edition package on November 11th. Promising to pile on the charm in between saving the world, this 12 episode collection will also include its own art book at $59.99 MSRP.

Check out the synopsis from the press release:

About the show:
Mahiro has become accustomed to his protection detail of Nyaruko, Kuko, and Hasuta making his life interesting. Nyaruko starts scheming with Tamao to turn up the charm and sway Mahiro’s resolve, while Kuko reconsiders her own stance on love. Things get tricky as the gang deals with a monstrous monkey, an unexpected visitor from Kuko’s past, balancing love and duty, and of course, saving the world.

About the extras:

– Nyarlathotep-tested, alien-approved hardcover art book (full color, approx. 36 pages) with episode guide, character info, and gorgeous full color illustrations.
– Clean opening and endings, Japanese trailers

For more information on either series, visit NISAmerica.com/iroha and NISAmerica.com/Nyaruko, and check back with Geekscape for more anime news, impressions and reviews!

Anime Expo 2014: The Classic ‘Sailor Moon’ Series Is Getting A New Box Set!

by Josh JacksonJuly 9, 2014

Since it was announced a few months back that Viz would be re-dubbing and re-releasing the entire Sailor Moon series after winning a years long bidding war for the licensing rights, Moonies have been patiently waiting for more details on when the episodes would start rolling out. Based on Viz’s Anime Expo announcement, it looks like Christmas will be a very happy time for lovers of all things magical girl.

Releasing on November 11th, the first box set will be episodes 1-23 of the first season as a double pack, spanning three DVDs and three Blu-Rays in a two sided case. In addition, each box will include an 88 page color art book, a double sized box to hold the second half when it hits shelves and art work on the back that will line up with all subsequent boxes, making a full image when season five is eventually released. If that wasn’t enough cool stuff to throw in, early preorders at rightstuf.com will come with an exclusive collectors coin while supplies last, (which will also fit in the box for those completionists out there). The price? A low, low 79.98, and I mean that will all the sarcasm I can muster.

It’s great to finally know when we can start throwing money at this thing, especially when you consider that numerous episodes, (including the entirety of the final season, Sailor Stars), have never been dubbed, or even released in the West. On the other hand, if each half season is going to be $80, there are going to be a TON of broke anime watchers in the next year or two.

Will you be picking up any of these releases? Do all the extras make it too hard to pass up, or will you wait until the final box is released? And are you anxious to find out when we’re getting dubbed Sailor Moon Crystal!?

Viz Media Licenses Entire ‘Sailor Moon’ Franchise; Entire Series To Be Released On Hulu!

by Josh JacksonMay 18, 2014

This weekend was a great time to be an anime fan.

After a bidding war that has spanned the years since ADV left the anime distribution business, companies have been fighting for the right to bring the classic anime, Sailor Moon, to our shores once again. Right off the heels of the first details of the highly anticipated reboot, Sailor Moon Crystal, Viz has finally come out on top, reaching a deal that will not only bring us the new series both dubbed and subtitled, but will also revive the original series in its entirety, including the three movies and the never before released Sailor Stars series finale!

If that wasn’t exciting enough, starting Monday, May 19^th, episodes of the original series will begin airing on Hulu in their subtitled form, starting with the first four episodes. Two new episodes released weekly, with half season DVD/Blu Ray sets scheduled for the fall, with brand new dubs following in the coming months completely unedited, (although it’s unclear of the dubs will be part of the box set). If you always wanted to watch the version of the series where the Sailor Scouts, (Senshi?) don’t mysteriously leave the final battle of season one for no reason, where Sailor Uranus and Neptune aren’t actually cousins or where the villainous Zoicite is still a dude, you might want to sign up for a subscription.

Plus, whoever thought we would see Star Gentle Uterus in English? Yes, that’s a thing.

For nostalgia freaks and Otaku alike, this is an exciting time to carry the Sailor Moon banner. What do you expect from the coming months? And will you say goodbye to any resemblance of a social life you had to watch the series in its entirety? Continue the conversation below!

Source: Crunchyroll.com

Geekscape Movie Reviews: ‘Knights of Badassdom’

by Dennis FinocchiaroApril 17, 2014

Knights of Badassdom is definitely one of those movies that viewers could either love or hate. I could see why someone would love this movie, especially someone into live action role playing (LARP). But it’s equally easy to imagine the viewers who don’t love it finding a lot to hate about this film.

Me, I’m not into LARP, but the movie wasn’t so bad, and there were plenty of funny moments in the film. The storyline is pretty simple; a group of friends band together to fight in a huge LARP event in the middle of the woods, forcing their friend Joe (Ryan Kwanten) to join them after a heartbreaking end to his relationship with Beth (Margarita Levieva). One of his friends, Eric (Steve Zahn), who considers himself the wizard of the fictional group, buys an ancient book on eBay as a prop. As he reads from it, he fails to notice that it is an old book of magic, and he releases a demon that goes on a killing rampage in the middle of the imaginary war in the woods.

Of course, enter the heroine and future love-interest of Eric, Gwen (Summer Glau), who is only there because she accompanies her insane cousin who honestly thinks these wars are real. She is another reason to watch the film; besides being incredibly beautiful in her old-time garb, her character really places what some would consider an average person into the middle of the battle.

The film’s best character was played (naturally) by Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage as Hung. He is truly the character who best earns the title of badass in the movie. As a matter of fact, according to IMDB, the whole cast got training at LARP, and Dinklage was the obvious master of the group. At times funny, often endearing, Hung really made the film worth watching.

The movie had a bit of the same feeling you get from watching The Big Bang Theory, in that you can’t decide if the film is making fun of geeky/nerdy types, or if it is a tribute to those that love the role playing events. It’s entirely possible it is made this way on purpose, so that it would not alienate anyone watching the film.

Overall, if you have fun LARPing, or like some of the actors (or at least Summer Glau) the film is absolutely worth checking out. It’s available on Amazon now.

Grade: 2/5, but fun.

Watch the trailer:

http://youtu.be/6DcRUEiVp-Y

‘Tank Girl’ Blu-Ray Announced!

by theocean85August 18, 2013

Tank Girl has had an abysmal record on home video. You can pick up a copy on Amazon for $54.99 (or a cheaper version if you happen to have a multi-region DVD player). For the most part, TankGirl has remained a true cult classic. You can be forgiven if you haven’t actually seen it. But your excuses will be running out soon, for Tank Girl gets a Blu ray release on November 17^th!

As yet, no details have been released on special features or technical specs. All I will say is that you shouldn’t expect Criterion Collection-level treatment. Part of my excitement comes from seeing this movie for the first time in over fifteen years. I have missed the hammy Malcolm McDowell, the hammy Lori Petty, and the ham—wow—now that I think of it, this movie was pretty over-the-top. Also it has a Ice-T and a young Naomi Watts.

Tank Girl, for the uninitiated, is based off of a British comic property and bears few similarities to its source material. Purists of the world, unite! We know, we know: you were into Tank Girl before it was cool. Well, I was into liking things before they were cool before that was cool, so suck it! Anyway, Tank Girl takes place in a world where it hasn’t rained in eleven years, and evil Malcolm McDowell controls most of the world’s water. He can even extract water from the bodies of people he kills!

What separates Tank Girl from the other unsuccessful sci-fi/fantasy movies of the era is its sincere lack of sincerity. It knows exactly what it is and plays it up as much as it possibly can. This is the height of over-the-top! Those who can appreciate the goodness of a bad movie that knows exactly what kind of movie it is (like The Phantom if it understood a little better how stupid it was) will love Tank Girl.

But those of you who have already seen it didn’t really need to read any of that.

My love of Tank Girl has more than just nostalgia and a love for good bad movies behind it; Tank Girl was an early feminine role model for me, right up there with Willow, Leeloo Dallas (Multipass) and Matilda (shut up). Long before I made peace with the fact that my true gender identity is that of a woman, I was a young boy who had women heroes who I loved to see kick some serious ass and give ALL of the snark. Tank Girl’s independence and attitude made me the woman I am today. I am grateful that it is getting the chance to live on in this next generation of home video. Pre-order your copy today!

Lauren’s obsession with movies began at the age of three when she was shown Follow that Bird on VHS. From there she developed obsessions such as the James Bond franchise and began defending Jaws 2 as actually being pretty damn good. You can find her occasionally babbling on about personal issues at The Trans Pirate Lauren

Shout Factory To Unleash The Bruce Lee Legacy On Blu Ray!

by Shane O'HareMay 17, 2013

When I saw this news I flipped out. One of the greatest human beings of ALL time, Bruce Lee, is getting his greatest films released on Blu-Ray with a stack of extras. Check out the Press Release:

Featuring four of the classic Bruce Lee films that would make him one of the most important martial artists ever to grace the screen, THE BRUCE LEE LEGACY COLLECTION contains the first-ever Blu-ray™ presentation of THE BIG BOSS, FIST OF FURY, WAY OF THE DRAGON and GAME OF DEATH;
Three feature-length documentaries BRUCE LEE: THE LEGEND (and the original version BRUCE LEE: THE MAN, THE LEGEND), the critically acclaimed I AM BRUCE LEE and THE GRANDMASTER AND THE DRAGON: WILLIAM CHEUNG AND BRUCE LEE; a special bonus disc with hours of new bonus content exclusive to this set, and four DVDs of aforementioned action-packed classics. A fitting tribute and celebration in honor of the legend, these sumptuous offerings are collected in a deluxe book-style packaging, brimming with 68 pages of archival materials, rare and never-before-released photos, new essay on Lee’s amazing career, and much more!

Bruce Lee was and always will be a legend. His acting and his personal philosophies are so unique no other person will match him. His life was tragically cut short and the day he died we lost a great person. So if you are a huge film buff or just a fan of Bruce himself get your hands on the Legacy Collection on August 6th!

Celebrate 50 Years Of Bond With Special Screening of ‘Dr. No’ At AMC Theaters

by Shane O'HareSeptember 19, 2012

The greatest super hero of all time is celebrating 50 years of being on film. With the incredible Blu-Ray Collection coming out on Tuesday the 25th, MGM and AMC are teaming up to give us a special treat on the day before.

Monday September 24th, 50 select AMC theaters across the country will be showing a special screening of the first James Bond film “Dr. NO”. From the press release:

In celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise, AMC Theatres, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Park Circus are bringing the original James Bond film, DR. NO, to 50 theaters nationwide on Monday, September 24 at 7PM. Tickets for the event are just $7.

You read that? $7! SEVEN US DOLLARS! For the price of a Venti Java Chip Frappuccino you can see one of the BEST Bond films, IN A THEATER! Not only that, you get a little extra for showing your devotion to Bond. All attendees of the screening will get a special limited edition 50 years of James Bond print. I’m guessing they will be the same ones they had at Comic Con, and those were pretty cool. Additionally each theater will be giving away one copy of the ENTIRE collection of Bond films on Blu-Ray! That is the most $7 has gotten anyone EVER!

Fore info and to find a theater showing it, check out the AMC PAGE HERE.

I am severely pissed that I live in Alaska, as they are not doing the screening up here! Probably the only chance I could ever see my all time favorite James Bond film in theaters and I get screwed by geography. So all you people in America, don’t waste this opportunity!

Dr. No hits theaters September 24th. Bond 50 Year Collection hit stores September 25th and Skyfall is out November 9th.

Check Out This 20th Anniversary Tarantino Blu-Ray Collection: ‘Tarantino XX’

by Shane O'HareSeptember 17, 2012

So the cult director Quentin Tarantino is celebrating his 20th year in film making. With that Miramax is releasing a special edition Blu-Ray set of 8 films. From the press release.

Tarantino XX contains eight films chosen by Tarantino to illustrate the first 20 years of his career, featuring the films that helped define his early success, including Reservoir Dogs, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof and Inglourious Basterds. To complete the stunning high definition 10-disc set, the Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection also features two discs with five hours of all-new bonus material, highlighted by a critics’ retrospective on Tarantino’s groundbreaking catalog of films and “20 Years of Filmmaking” that contains interviews with critics, stars and other masters of cinema.

Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection showcases one of the most innovative filmmakers of our time and is a must-have for serious film fans, as Tarantino’s highly-anticipated new film, Django Unchained, prepares to hit theaters. Honoring the 20^th anniversary of Reservoir Dogs – the cultural milestone that brought Tarantino to the forefront as a cinematic legend – the collection is highlighted by recurring appearances from celebrated actors including Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill), Harvey Keitel (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction), Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) and Steve Buscemi (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction), and also includes starring performances from iconic actors such as Brad Pitt (Inglourious Basterds), Pam Grier (Jackie Brown) and Robert Forster (Jackie Brown).

So to give you a nice TL;DR the movies that will be featured in this set are

Reservoir Dogs

True Romance – Directors Cut

Pulp Fiction

Jackie Brown

Kill Bill Vol. 1 & Vol. 2

Death Proof

Inglourious Basterds

There will also be 2 special edition discs that have various documentaries on the director.

“How much?” you ask, in your best Borat impression. Well you can get this big ole stack of films for an MSRP of $119.99 and it comes out November 20th. Another cool bit of this announcement is that Mondo have designed the packaging and given nice new covers for each film! If you want to read the full press release and get more details on each film release check it out HERE!

‘The Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase One: Avengers Assembled’ Set Delayed

by Shawn MaddenSeptember 6, 2012

Well, it appears that the lawsuit surrounding The Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase One: Avengers Assembled Blu-ray box set has caused the release to be delayed until spring 2013. The collection was previously scheduled for release on September 25, 2012 and no specific date has been announced on when it will be actually released.

German luggage manufacturer Rimowa GmbH is claiming that their Topas attaché case, used by Nick Fury in the movie was reproduced outside of the terms of their agreement with the studio. They’re currently suing for trademark infringement, trademark dilution, unfair competition, and basically just saying essentially that Marvel is counterfeiting their case. he set, which includes a glowing replica of the Tesseract, is now being redesigned.

What will happen to the discarded plastic briefcases and what the new version of the set will look like is currently also unknown. Well, I know some people that are about to punch a hole in their wall.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

‘InuYasha: The Final Act’ Is FINALLY Coming To DVD/Blu Ray

by Josh JacksonAugust 15, 2012

Anime Expo wasn’t short on big announcements, but this was one of the few I gave a damn about. After so many agonizing months of waiting, my patience will finally be rewarded when InuYasha: The Final Act gets its dubbed release in November of this year.

Being released in multiple sets, The Final Act continues where the original InuYasha series left off, following the half demon and wielder of the powerful sword Tetsusaiga, (Tessaiga for the purists,) and his band of warriors as they hunt down the Jewel of Four Souls, which has nearly been completed by their nemesis, Naraku.

With so many loose ends left behind, (you know, like an ending,) Final Act will answer any questions left lingering over the last few years. What will become of the love triangle between InuYasha, Kikyo and Kagome? Will Naraku stop making demon babies? And speaking of, will Miroku ever get laid?

Sure, these answers have been available in Manga and Japanese dubbed form for awhile now, but I started watching it in English dammit, and I’m going to finish it that way. And while a few of the original voice actors, (namely David Kaye’s Sesshomaru and Moneca Stori’s Kagome,) weren’t able to get back into the recording booth, I’m both excited and nervous about how the dub will turn out. But as long as I still get Paul Dobson’s and Richard Cox’s sexy voices, I’m good.

Episodes will be released this fall as apart of Viz Media’s Neon Alley streaming service, but November needs to hurry the F up so I can finally complete my collection.

He Has An Army. We Have A Trailer For ‘The Avengers’ Blu-Ray.

by Shawn MaddenJune 28, 2012

‘The Avengers’ is set to hit shelves on September 25th. We have a trailer for you to get you excited the Blu-ray release that even seems to sneak in some of the new footage that will be seen on it. I won’t lie…kind of made me want to go see it again. Are you ready to assemble again?