Tag: DVD

Geekscape Reviews: ‘One-Punch Man’ Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack

by Natalie Kipper

The anime One-Punch Man was released on DVD and Blu-Ray recently, and I was given the chance to experience the show by way of the Blu-Ray/DVD combo set. I know that the series has many, many fans, but unfortunately, I am not one of them. I can see that the show has its merits, but it just didn’t grab me. I must not be the target audience or something.

The premise of One-Punch Man is promising enough. It follows the trials of Saitama, a man who became a hero for fun. After taking on a special training regimen, he became so strong that he could defeat any foe with a single hit.

©ONE, Yusuke Murata/SHUEISHA, Hero Association HQ

The show has a wealth of fight scenes and thankfully, they are well-animated. Unfortunately, outside of those scenes, the show was moderately plain. One-Punch Man is billed as an action/comedy, but the humor just falls flat despite the majority of the show attempting to prove it can get laughs. While it might just be a case of the humor being lost in translation, plenty of the jokes are visual, so I don’t think that is it.

©ONE, Yusuke Murata/SHUEISHA, Hero Association HQ

In my opinion, the show had a case of confused identity. I think if it focused solely on the action aspect, I would have liked it a whole lot more. The constant switching between serious and comedic tones was not only jarring but also after a while, a bit annoying.

I am sorry to say that in my book, One-Punch Man gets a 1 out of 5. I understand that despite my dislike for this series, it is much beloved by fans all around the world. I don’t know what I am not seeing that others found enjoyable.

Speaking of fans, the California-based punk rock band, Guns of Eden, liked the show so much that they created a musical tribute to it. You can view it below.

[This review is based on a sample provided by VIZ Media. All opinions are my own.]

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

by Josh Jackson

*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 Jackson

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

Add ‘Sailor Moon Crystal’ Season 2 To Your Home Library

by Natalie Kipper

It is no secret that I am crazy about Sailor Moon Crystal. The anime earned a 5 out of 5 in my review of VIZ Media‘s Blu-Ray and DVD set of Season One. Now it is Season Two’s turn to head to retail and as we saw in the recently announced One-Punch Man home media releases, there are multiple options available.

Fans can purchase the Limited Edition Blu-Ray and DVD Combo Pack ($79.99), the Standard Edition Blu-Ray and DVD Combo Pack ($69.99), or simply the DVD Set ($39.99). The Limited Edition Blu-Ray and DVD Combo Pack, seen below, contains all 12 episodes of Season Two on both Blu-Ray (in 1080p) and DVD (in 480p) as well as bonus content like clean opening and closing themes, a digital art gallery, and even a special interview with the J-POP group who sang the theme, Momoiro Clover Z. The four discs are packaged in an exclusive chipboard box, stuffed with art cards and a booklet filled with full-color illustrations, episode summaries, and more. Pre-ordering the Limited Edition Combo Pack from RightStuf also scores you an exclusive sun catcher as a gift-with-purchase.

For those who need a refresher, Season Two of Sailor Moon Crystal takes us through the “Black Moon Arc,” where we meet key characters like Chibi-Usa (you may remember her as “Rini” from that dub way back in the day) and Sailor Pluto. The season picks up immediately after the first season, in which a strange, little pink-haired girl crash-lands on Usagi and then proceeds to demand (at gunpoint!) that she surrender the Silver Crystal. I won’t spoil the rest for fans who haven’t watched yet (I am sure there are some of you) but I will say that I am personally excited to own this second season and it is definitely one you should check out.

The Standard DVD Set is available now but the other two, the Limited- and Standard-Edition Blu-ray and DVD Combo Packs, will be released on February 28.

[header image via Sailor Moon News]

‘One-Punch Man’ Is Heading To Blu-Ray And DVD This Spring

by Natalie Kipper

The popular action-comedy anime One-Punch Man will see its North American home release debut this Spring, courtesy of VIZ Media. The series follows the trials of Saitama, a superhero hopeful whose years of special training left him so overpowered that a single punch knocks any who oppose him flat on their behinds! Check out the trailer below to get a taste of the action (and humor).

This release will be available as a Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack ($59.99), a Standard Edition Blu-Ray set ($49.99), and a Standard Edition DVD-only set ($39.99). The combo pack is a special edition that also includes an exclusive chipboard box, six OVA animated shorts (also available on the Standard Edition Blu-Ray set), six art cards, and a full-color booklet with episode summaries, character profiles, interviews with the team, and more. And of course, Blu-Ray episodes are presented in 1080p HD (DVD ones are 480p). Regardless of which set you choose, it will contain episodes 1-12 of the series, available both in original Japanese dialogue with English subtitles as well as English dialogue.

The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is limited in edition and available for pre-order now at many retail sites as well as brick and mortar locations. But if you choose to place your order through Right Stuf, you will also receive a special, yet-to-be-revealed gift with purchase (while supplies last). The other two versions are likewise currently available for pre-order at the same places. All are scheduled to release on April 25.

[header image: ©ONE, Yusuke Murata/SHUEISHA, Hero Association HQ]

Geekscape Reviews ‘Zootopia’ On Blu-Ray

by Josh Jackson

*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.

Zootopia Review Banner

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.

Zootopia Image 5

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.

ZOOTOPIA

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.

ZOOTOPIA – Pictured: Judy Hopps. ©2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

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.

Zootopia Image 1

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.

Zootopia Image 4

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

New DC Animated Film Announced: Justice League Vs. Teen Titans!

by The_acz

DC and Teen Titans fans should be happy today.

This morning, website TV Insider has reported that there is a brand new Teen Titans animated feature in the works. Launching sometime this spring, Justice League Vs. Teen Titans is about Robin being sent off to work with the titans after his unruly behavior causes the league a failed mission. While the cast from the original 2003 will not be reprising their roles, that’s no reason not to watch this since the new talent is looking to be top notch.  Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead) is set to play Trigon, while Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story) is set to play Raven. For more info on casting (including a picture of Jon Bernthal recording his lines), check out the original article. Are you excited for a new action filled Teen Titans movie? Sound off in the comments below!

New ‘Tomorrowland’ Trailer is Everything We Loved About ‘Tomorrowland’

by jake108

For those who have seen Tomorrowland, you’ll find that this trailer strikes right at the heart of the film. For those of you who missed out, well, you’ll get to see a different side to what Tomorrowland was all about.

Tomorrowland was a different kind of movie that obviously didn’t sit well with everyone. I know it, and Disney obviously knows it too. Take a look at their press release below:

While industry competitors at the Walt Disney Studios had hoped to curb the apocalyptic trend started by the 1984 groundbreaking classic ToxiCosmos, their big-budget, hopelessly optimistic attempt from Director Brad Bird, Tomorrowland, was met with box office indifference from a public that very firmly knows what it wants. Now, after more than a decade absence, the ToxiCosmos franchise returns.

Tomorrowland releases on Blu-Ray, DVD, and digitally October 13!

Viz Targets Pokemaniacs With Two New ‘Pokemon’ DVD Releases

by Josh Jackson

In the mood to catch up on the long running Pokemon anime? Viz has you covered! The distributor has announced that two different releases are available now, one from the Diamond and Pearl generation, and the other diving into the newest world of X and Y.

First, Pokemon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior follows Ash as he encounters Shaymin, the Mythical Pokemon who protects nature. But when a new evil attempts to take control of Giratina, the dimension shifting Pokemon that has the power to warp time and space itself, it’s up to Ash and Shaymin to save the world from this emerging threat. Featuring many of our favorite Pokemon from the fourth generation, including Regigigas, this film serves as a look back to the DS glory days!

Pokemon Giratina Movie Image

Second, while the past was great, there’s no time like the present, which is where Pokemon The Series: XY comes in. Catching up with Ash as he pursues his 15 + year journey to become a Pokemon Master, his latest adventures take him to the Kalos region. With 70 new Pokemon to discover, new friends to follow him on his journey, and new rivals to take on, this three disc set could be a great way to jump back into the series with the first 24 episodes.

Pokemon XY Anime Image 1

Retailing at $19.97 and $26.95 respectively, these two releases are on shelves now for your trainer consumption. Do you still keep up with the Pokemon anime? Share your favorite moments in the comments, and check out the full press release below!

 

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE HOME MEDIA RELEASE OF POKÉMON: GIRATINA AND THE SKY WARRIOR

Second Feature Film Of The POKÉMON DIAMOND AND PEARL Movie Collection Available Now!

 

VIZ Media delivers the fun adventures of POKÉMON to fans of all ages with the home media release of POKÉMON: GIRATINA AND THE SKY WARRIOR on DVD.

The new release is the 11th POKÉMON feature film and the second movie in the POKÉMON DIAMOND AND PEARL movie collection. POKÉMON: GIRATINA AND THE SKY WARRIOR is rated ‘TV-Y7,’ for viewers ages 7 and older, and will carry an MSRP of $19.97 U.S. / $24.98 CAN. An official manga edition is also published by VIZ Media and is rated ‘A’ for All Ages and available with an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

POKÉMON: GIRATINA AND THE SKY WARRIOR takes audiences deep into the heart of the Reverse World, ruled by the Legendary Pokémon Giratina. Ash and friends meet up with the feisty and sharp-witted  Mythical Pokémon Shaymin and discover that its journey and their own share similar themes – love of nature and all living things, and exploring the fragile line between humans and Pokémon. And to make it even more spectacular, get ready for the appearance of Regigigas, a super-powerful Legendary Pokémon with a frosty demeanor! Add to the mix a helpful researcher, a dangerous villain who wishes to control Giratina, and a plan to rule the world, and you have all the makings of a Pokémon epic! Learn to fly all over again with POKÉMON: GIRATINA AND THE SKY WARRIOR!

POKÉMON is one of the most successful international entertainment franchises of all time. To date more than 270 million POKÉMON video game titles and over 21.5 billion Pokémon Trading Cards have been sold in more than 73 countries in addition to substantial publishing and merchandise sales. Pokémon the Series: XY is the 17th season of the POKÉMON animated series and airs in the U.S. on Cartoon Network. VIZ Media is the official North American home media distributor for the POKÉMON anime series and feature films as well as the publisher for POKÉMON manga graphic novel series including POKÉMON ADVENTURES X•Y, POKÉMON ADVENTURES, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: DIAMOND & PEARL, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: GOLD & SILVER, and POKÉMON ADVENTURES: BLACK & WHITE.

For more information on other manga and anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

 

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES HOME MEDIA RELEASE OF POKÉMON THE SERIES: XY SET 1

 

Journey To A Stylish New Land For Dazzling Adventures In The Latest POKÉMON Anime Series Box Set Available On DVD Now!

 

Exciting new Pokémon adventures await fans of all ages as VIZ Media announces the home media release of the latest anime series for the venerable franchise. Inspired by the new generation of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y video games, Pokémon THE SERIES: XY Set 1 is now available on DVD.

 

The 3-disc set, rated ‘TV-Y7,’ for viewers ages 7 and older, features Episodes 1-24 of the exciting new series and will carry an MSRP of $26.95 U.S. / $31.98 CAN.

 

Ash Ketchum’s journey continues in Pokémon the Series: XY as he arrives in the Kalos region, a land bursting with beauty; full of new Pokémon to be discovered! Setting his sights on the Kalos League, Ash is ready to battle and catch as many new Pokémon as possible. Along the way he will have to face the formidable Gym Leaders of this region and gain some exciting new insights into Pokémon Evolution. While he has new friends Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie at his side, there are also plenty of familiar faces and Pokémon along the way as Ash pursues his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master!

 

POKÉMON is one of the most successful international entertainment franchises of all time. To-date more than 260 million POKÉMON video game titles and over 21.5 billion Pokémon Trading Cards have been sold in more than 73 countries in addition to substantial publishing and merchandise sales. Pokémon THE SERIES: XY is the 17th season of the POKÉMON animated series and has aired in the U.S. on Cartoon Network. VIZ Media is the official North American publisher for POKÉMON manga graphic novel series including POKÉMON ADVENTURES X & Y, POKÉMON ADVENTURES, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: DIAMOND & PEARL, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: HEART/GOLD SOUL/SILVER, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: BLACK & WHITE and distributes a wide variety of POKÉMON home media including animated series and feature films.

 

For more information on other Pokémon manga and anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

 

Saint Mort’s Nostalgia Nightmare – ’10 Movies That Should Be on DVD By Now … And 2 Only Mort Wants on DVD’

by Saintmort

This week’s Nostalgia Nightmare involves Saint Mort cracking down a list of 10 movies that desperately need to be on DVD/Blu-Ray as well as two movies that I want to see made available on these formats… but I’m sure no one else does. Let’s start the countdown!

In recent years there’s been an underground movement of VHS collectors. The movement was popular
enough to get not one but two documentaries (Adjust Your Tracking and Rewind This). While some
people write this off as “hipster bullshit,” what they fail to see is that people are collecting these VHS
tapes is because it’s the only way they’re able to see some of their favorite films.

These films are classics (in their own right) but have yet to see the light of Blu-Ray, and many of them have just barely received a DVD release. One of the weirdest moments in organizing this list was knowing that I was going to make Society my number 1 only to discover that next month we’re finally getting a double disc release. Here’s 10 films we all hope will get a Blu-Ray/DVD release (and 2 that only I hope for).

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10. The Mutilator

Right off the bat… The Mutilator is not a good movie. It’s easily the worst film on this list. During the peak of the slasher bomb in the 80’s tons of low-budget horror films got quick and easy VHS releases. The Mutilator was just one of the many to come out but its incredible VHS cover made it more memorable than the others.

9. Fright Night 2

I thought for sure that with the release of the Fright Night remake that we’d finally get a Fright Night 2 release. But it never came. The movie was briefly on DVD which most used copies going for $40+ on sites like Amazon and eBay. Fright Night 2 is a fun movie, but it’s not $40 fun. It’d be nice to get a good solid release of this entertaining sequel.

Phantom_of_the_Park

8. Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park

This is a pipe dream wish for a lot of people. It was VERY briefly released on DVD and now goes for $40 on used DVD traders. The chances of this coming out are slim. The members of KISS (usually known for grabbing at any cash-in possible) have very actively tried to make sure this movie is wiped from the world’s memory banks. Sorry guys, but you can’t just forget a TV Movie that plays out like an episode of Scooby-Doo starring Kiss.

7. Tales from the Hood

Anthology films are tough. Usually the best you can get is 50% of the stories being good. I can’t even think of how many anthology films I’ve owned simply because of one really great story. Even when the stories are pretty decent the movie has painfully bad wrap-arounds. Tales from the Hood is the exception to the rule. Not only does it have a brilliantly crafted wrap-around story but each individual story is smart, satirical and spooky. However after its first DVD release it fell out of print and has yet to be saved. While not as pricey as Fright Night or Kiss a used copy will still run you $25-$30 and that’s for a very bare-bones DVD. I’d love for someone like Scream Factory to give this movie the beautiful Blu-Ray release it deserves.

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6. Mr. T’s Be Somebody… or Be Somebody’s Fool

I spent a long time trying to decide if I wanted to go with this Mr. T special about self-esteem or the classic anti-drug PSA Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue. I decided to go with the more absurd of the two (of course Cartoon All-Stars is an honorable mention). This Mr. T special has a ton of classic moments (including a charming rap song about mothers) but my favorite segment has always been “Recoup” which is 2 minutes of Mr. T-isms that you and your friends won’t be able to not quote.

5. The Applegates

The Applegates (also known as Meet The Applegates) is a bizarre movie. It was Michael Lehmann’s very unsuccessful follow up to Heathers. It tells of a family of shift-shaping Giant Praying Mantis’ that disguise themselves as a typical American family in hopes of creating a nuclear holocaust leaving only bugs to role the world. It’s got a pretty impressive cast, some biting social commentary, some laugh out loud moments and it’s a genuine shame that the film is yet to get a proper DVD/Blu-Ray release.

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4. Suburbia

Richard Linklater is one of my favorite directors. He shines when he’s making dialogue heavy films be it the experimental Slacker, the nostalgic Dazed and Confused or the romantic Before Trilogy. Suburbia was Linklater’s adaptation of a play about Generation X and in a lot of ways it’s probably his best film. Everyone (Linklater included) wants to see this movie get a proper release but for some reason we always get hints and promises followed by nothing.

3. Arena

If you grew up on the early days of HBO, Showtime and Cinemax then you know Arena. It’s that film that can only be described as Rocky in outer space. It’s an underdog story of a human being fighting his way up the Intergalactic Boxing ranks. Every so often this film will pop up on instant watch and it was made available as part of a 4 movies on one disc release but this movie deserves its own special Scream Factory treatment.

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2. Dead of Night

Dead of Night may be one of the most popular and cliche’d movie titles in horror history. There’s at least 6 movies that are (or were) titled this at one point or another. But the original (and arguably best) of the Dead of Night movies is the 1945 anthology film. The whole film is worth your attention for the final story The Ventriloquists Dummy. It’s a story you’ve heard before (a puppeteer and his dummy… is the dummy alive) but this was the telling of the story that set the standard for all to follow. The film has been praised repeatedly and constantly ranked one of the greatest horror movies ever made and yet it’s still not received the Blu-Ray/DVD release every horror buff knows it deserves.

1. Fade To Black

This is one of the most unique takes on the slasher genre. Pushed to the edge a young film-buff takes his revenge on the people who torture by becoming the villains of his favorite movies. He dresses himself up as Dracula, the Mummy and countless others and kill all those who wrong him. Meanwhile he’s in love with a girl who looks exactly like Marilyn Monroe. It was released on DVD by Anchor Bay in 1999 but now the cheapest copy is a used double feature release for $60+ used. I imagine that the biggest hold up on this cult classic getting the release it deserves is the countless clips from other films scattered all over it.

Beyond these 10 great films that I’m sure everyone would love, there are two movies that desperately need to get re-released on DVD for a customer of one… me.

Alligator 2 – The first Alligator movie is one of my favorite films of all time. I adore every weird second of it. I grew up watching both movies repeatedly on a VHS tape. It saddens me that Alligator 2 isn’t available on DVD (despite how lackluster it might be)

Special Dead – Not many people know of Special Dead and that’s a pity because it’s a genuinely hilarious movie. It’s about a group of special needs kids on a  camping trip forced to fight off a horde of Zombies. it’s a small but funny little indie film. Sadly if you (or more important if I) want to own it you better have $4,000 because that’s what the used copies are going for online right now.

Honorable Mentions: The Brain, Invasion of the Saucer Men, Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue, The Star Wars Holiday Special, Possession, The Poughkeepsie Tapes and Noroi: The Curse

Geekscape Reviews ‘Sailor Moon’ Season 1 Part 2

by Josh Jackson

Now that Sailor Moon is neck deep in its revival, it’s time to wrap up season one with the final 26 episodes! As the remaining Sailor Guardians are discovered, their quest to find the Moon Princess they’ve been tasked to protect becomes even more urgent, as the Dark Kingdom zeroes in on the seven Rainbow Crystals. Whoever possesses these will obtain an immense power that not only threatens the heroes if they fall into the wrong hands, but may even draw a rift between the team and the mysterious Tuxedo Mask, who is after the crystals for his own ends. As the fight between our heroes and the Dark Kingdom draws to a close, this marks the first time that many of these episodes have been dubbed in their unedited form, serving as a true test as to whether or not the new cast can bring these crushing scenes to life. Now that the credits have rolled and the curtain has closed on the first full season, I’m happy to say that the team has nailed it!

More so than Part 1, which was mostly introductory and filler material, Part 2 takes no time in hurrying the story along, starting with Nephrite’s heartbreaking last stand. In between the introductions of Sailor Jupiter, the guardian of lightning and thunder, and Sailor Venus, the long teased original guardian, the team must fight off their latest threat in Zoisite. Perhaps the cruelest of the Dark Kingdom’s Four Kings, their chase after the reincarnated monsters that hold the Rainbow Crystals takes an unexpected turn when Tuxedo Mask begins claiming the crystals for himself! This struggle eventually leads to some shocking revelations, changing the dynamic between Sailor Moon and her team, with their uneasy allegiance with Tuxedo Mask, and a final battle against Queen Beryl, her right hand in Kunzite, and the ultimate evil in Queen Metalia. One threatens to leave the Sailor Guardians in shambles.

Of course, none of this would come off as great as it sounds if the voice acting didn’t follow through. Yet, whether it was Liam O’Brien’s emotional performance as Nephrite, Mars’ and Jupiter’s actors sounding almost exactly like the original 90’s voices with so much more material to work with, or the rest of the cast leaving their own stamp on such iconic characters, it didn’t take long for me to completely forget that I was listening to a new cast, and become completely absorbed in the world that they were bringing to life. Of course, the true test would come in the final few episodes, which have never aired in English before now without heavy edits. There’s no way that I’m spoiling it here, but if you’re a long time fan, know that these pivotal scenes were performed to near perfection, living up to the enormous task of establishing the emotional tone while completely selling me on Stephanie Sheh’s Usagi/Sailor Moon. Make no mistake about it; she’s the real deal!

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But with all the praise that I’m giving the new content, not all was perfect in the Moon Kingdom. Namely, the animation never felt like I was watching a remastered, high definition version. Considering that the animation is older, this can be mostly forgiven. However, if it wasn’t for the DVD being bundled with the Blu-Ray release, I wouldn’t see any reason to purchase it over the cheaper alternative if you just want the series.

Part of the aim with this new set is to bring a faithful version of the series to Western audiences, sticking to the Japanese version as close as possible. Yet, in the case of the episode titles, our friends in the East have a habit of giving away the plot in both the episode previews and in the titles themselves! I’ve watched these episodes multiple times, but if I was a new viewer, I’d hate to have the surprises ruined for me before I watch. On a side note, the eye catch, (or break between episode halves,) was awkward in Japanese, with its cringe worthy Sailor Moon cry. In English, it feels even more out of place. Personally, I could do without, but this will likely be an issue spanning the entire series since the original cuts keep them around.

As for the episodes themselves, there is still a fair amount of unnecessary content, some of which feels extremely out of character in certain cases. Namely, in Episode 43, the whole concept that the Sailor Guardians would double cross Sailor Moon was absurd, and even though the episode is fun if not taken too seriously, it’s hard to believe that both the Guardians AND the Dark Kingdom would fall for each other’s thinly veiled traps. Some moments are head scratching to say the least.

On that subject, Kunzite gets the short end of the stick in the worst way. Despite being the most powerful and most threatening of the Dark Kingdom, his entire arc consists of nearly all filler content, often feeling like an afterthought compared to not only his subordinates, but the allies he interacts with. Once he finally takes the stage in his only real battle, he’s so easily defeated, that it’s hard to understand why he was so hyped up to begin with. Still, the final moments and everything before were so strong, that it’s easy to forgive these underwhelming moments.

In addition to the main episodes, the set comes with some collectable cards with various artwork, and a series of special features that fully explore the revived Sailor Moon fandom. Including clips of the activities held on Sailor Moon Day at various conventions during the summer, fan interviews discussing their favorite memories of the series, and the full Anime Expo Sailor Moon panel, (much of which we covered as they were happening,) these bonuses served two purposes from what I can see. One, they helped people like me relive such a great time for longtime fans who were finally rewarded for their patience with this revival. Two, it allowed those who couldn’t make it to enjoy the festivities like those who were in attendance did! Outside of these sections, the standard clean opening and endings, trailers, and art galleries round out the extra content, all of which is worth a watch!

Cards

All in all, watching the first season has made me so excited for what the rest of the series will deliver. With so much never before released content in the West on the way, this will be a long term commitment, one that seems like it will be worth taking. Season One Part Two has set the bar high in terms of vocal quality, which has been boosted by the (mostly,) excellent story that it was framed around, and despite the dated visual quality, it delivers in almost every other way. Obviously, you might want to start with Part One, since this set starts at the end of a running storyline, but most of the most important developments are housed in Part Two, making it so much better for it. Plus, this set will fit nicely in that Part One Box Set with the gaping hole in the side! Whether you’re a new fan, or a longtime Moonie who still believes in the Guardians of Love and Justice, you can’t go wrong with this set!

Key Episodes: (WARNING! Some Titles Are Spoilerific!)

24: “Naru’s Tears: Nephrite Dies for Love”

25: “Jupiter, the Powerful Girl in Love

27: “Crushing on Ami: The Boy Who Can See The Future”

30: “Grandpa Loses Control: Rei in Danger”

31: “Love and Chased: Luna’s Worst Day Ever” (Complete filler aside from the Rainbow Crystal plot, but a fat, green cat that mimics Tuxedo Mask is too hilarious to miss!)

33: “Enter Venus, the Last Sailor Guardian

34: “The Shining Silver Crystal: The Moon Princess Appears”

35: “Returning Memories: Usagi and Mamoru’s Past

41: “I Won’t Run Away from Love Anymore: Ami vs. Mamoru”

42: “Sailor Venus’ Past: Minako’s Tragic Love” (A MUST WATCH for Venus fans, detailing her past as Sailor V, bridging the original Manga with the anime. Never before dubbed until now.)

44: “Usagi’s Awakening: A Message from the Distant Past”

45: Death of the Sailor Guardians: The Tragic Final Battle” (Uncut and dubbed for the first time, this episode will sell you on the new cast if you weren’t already.)

46: “Usagi’s Eternal Wish: A Brand New Life”

Final Score: 4/5

Saint Mort’s Nostalgia Nightmare: Ode To Horror Movie VHS Covers

by Saintmort

Today in my blog Every Damn DVD I did a write-up of the forgettable (but still fun) redneck slasher movie American Gothic. In my write-up I mention that the VHS cover was great but the DVD cover definitely lost something. I provided a shitty side-by-side comparison below for a better example:

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As you can see, the original cover had small little details, and those details made the cover all the more terrifying. you throw in some blood, a knife, a different facial expressions and the screaming teens in the window and you’ve got a classic VHS cover.

This isn’t the first DVD that completely destroyed the magic of the original VHS cover. The VHS cover for Alligator used to stare at my from the Blockbuster shelf. I obsessed over it trying to build up the courage to rent it one day. If the VHS cover was the same as the DVD version,  I’d have never had an interest in it.

AlligatorCompare The VHS shows us that frightening beast just staring right into you. It’s far more effective than this shitty cartoon of an Alligator tearing up the sewer. It just doesn’t have the same impact.

For well over a decade, VHS was king. There was something magical about going to the video store and looking at all those beautiful covers staring back at you. I was a member at so many video stores growing up. First there was Movie King (which didn’t last very long), followed by a Blockbuster, and beyond.

I was absolutely terrified of horror movies as a kid. I didn’t want anything to do with them; I refused to watch them as I knew they’d give me nightmares. Clearly this was bullshit though. My parents did a great job of instilling fear into me, but even as a kid I loved the morbid. My favorite movies were things like Beetlejuice, Monster Squad and Ghostbusters. My favorite cartoon was Toxic Crusaders. I loved monsters and mutants and ghosts and  ghouls.

The horror fan that was inside of me was constantly trying to break free. This is probably the reason why every trip to Blockbuster included me roaming the horror section and just looking at VHS tapes. I’d obsessively tough boxes and stare at the covers. How can you just walk past this as a kid and not want to know more.

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Then came West Coast Video. I don’t know why this video store randomly popped up in my town. They didn’t have a fighting chance against the Blockbuster (made evident by their life span of roughly a year, maybe two). But by the time West Coast Video appeared I had see Scream and accepted that I was a horror movie fan.

Last Year I decided to watch wrestling. I found that I really enjoyed it. A year later I have a subscription to the WWE Network, over 20 Wrestling DVDs, merch for my favorite wrestlers and an extensive knowledge of wrestling history so vast that a lot of people think I’ve been watching since I was a kid. I tell this story so that you understand something about me. When I find something I like, I dive in head first. Horror was no different.

I went to west coast video every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I  would just work my way through the aisles and rent anything my heart desired. So many of those VHS tape covers are forever burnt into my retinas.

The thing about VHS covers is they were the biggest liars. The better the cover the more likely the film was garbage. That’s something anyone who was tricked by this…

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or this…

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could tell you.

These are bad movies, some would even call them terrible movies. But I would gladly hang posters of those covers on my wall. They’re works of art.

When DVD rolled around this art form died. Instead of a well planned photoshoot, or a beautiful artistic drawing we get photoshopped heads. So many photo-shopped heads. There’s a handful of companies like Arrow and Scream Factory that get it. They still appreciate the that these were a lost art, something from childhood we didn’t appreciate it until it was gone.

VHS TAPE COVERS! I SALUTE YOU!

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. Matt will be crying about the loss of his local video stores for years to come but something off his Amazon Wishlist will always cheer him up.

Geekscape Reviews: ‘My Little Pony: Adventures Of The Cutie Mark Crusaders’ DVD

by Shane O'Hare

We’re back with another incredible My Little Pony collection from Shout! Factory Kids. This time around we’ve got five episodes all about those fancy tattoos called cutie marks!

I love these DVDs from Shout! Factory Kids because they are the perfect package FOR a younger fan of the show. These series of DVDs all have their own cohesive theme that I believe are great for a kid to enjoy in nice long binge sesh. Like Netflix for kids but without the bandwidth overages from Comcast!

Adventures of The Cutie Mark Crusaders centers around, well the Cutie Mark Crusaders (and the amazing Cheese Sandwich episode)! You get on disc:

The Cutie Mark Chronicles

 

The Cutie Pox

 

Flight To The Finish

 

Pinkie Pride

 

Twilight Time

Now I don’t want to get into reviewing each of these episodes. Frankly we don’t have enough time in the WEEK for me to coherently deconstruct each episode. I just want to give you an opinion on the entire package.

The episode selection is top notch with this release. I feel they curated a great series of episodes from all four seasons that all center around, what appears to be, the never ending journey of the CMC getting their cutie marks.

Bonuses include one of the genuinely fun Sing Alongs (hey, I’m a sucker for ridiculously sweet things OKAY!), a collection of surprisingly well done wallpapers and a printable coloring sheet.

Final Thoughts

All and all Adventures of The Cutie Mark Crusaders collection is a great product, just like all of these collections from Shout! Factory.

I give it a definite buy for a younger fan. As an older fan of the show, I don’t think it would appeal to the Brony/hardcore collector.

You can get your hands on Adventures of The Cutie Mark Crusaders February 24th!

Score: 3.5/5

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Keep and eye out for THIS DVD case!

 

Scream Factory Announces March Titles

by Saintmort

Continuing their on going track record of keeping horror classics alive Scream Factory has some great titles coming out this March.

unnamed-2For starters on March 3rd the Blaxploitation classic Blacula (and its sequel Scream Blacula Scream) on a double feature DVD and will feature a commentary track from Film Historian David F. Walker (author Reflections on Blaxploitation: Actors and Directors Speak) and a new interview with Richard Lawson of Scream Blacula Scream.

For those of you not familiar with this cult classic it tells the tale of African Prince Mamuwalde (played by the intensely entertaining William Marshall) who visits Count Dracula only to end up being transformed into a vampire. After two centuries of being trapped in his tomb he gets unleashed onto the mean streets of Los Angeles.

The underrated sequel pits the titular vampire against some voodoo power and stars cult favorites Richard Lawson and Pam Grier.

That same day they’re also releasing the Italian Post-Apocalyptic Exploitation Fan Favorite Exterminators of the Year 3000.

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Eagerly awaiting the release of the newest Mad Max movie? Well you can fill some time with this post-apocalyptic future where the earth is a desert and water is the most precious substance of all. A band of survivors turn to a mysterious stranger to battle a ruthless gang of motorcycle psychos for control of the wasteland and the water. A glorious crash of guns, nuclear fallout, and synthesizers make this a must-see for anyone who’s been longing for the day in which they can finally get beyond Thunderdome.

With a commentary track from the director Robert Iannucci makes this film’s blu-ray debut just that extra level of special.

They’ve also announced the upcoming releases of Invaders from Mars, The Babadook and recently they acquired Stigmata.

Keep your eyes open on Geekscape.net for some upcoming reviews for their February releases Phantom of the Opera, The Love at First Bite/Once Bitten double feature as well as the  Vampires Kiss/High Spirits double feature.

 

Matt Kelly is the host of the Saint Mort Show available on Soundcloud as well as the sole writer of the Every Damn DVD blog.

Geekscape Giveaway: Win One Of Five Copies Of ‘Star Wars Rebels: Spark Of Rebellion’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion offered a great start to what looks to be a stellar new chapter in the Star Wars story. Maybe you’d like to relive the magic again and again, or maybe you missed it on Disney XD the first time around.

In any case, we’re giving you a chance to get your hands on your very own copy of the Star Wars: Spark of Rebellion DVD! We’ve got five copies up for grabs in total, so get started by rewatching the movie’s trailer below, and keep on reading to learn how you can win one yourself!

Starring a small band of heroes — Sabine, Kanan, Hera, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper — Star Wars Rebels is set in a time where the Empire rules through fear and shrouds the galaxy in darkness. This trailer offers many new glimpses at sequences from the show, including the starship Ghost chased by TIE Fighters; young Ezra watching as a Star Destroyer looms overhead; Stormtroopers marching; a zero-g fight between our heroes and Imperials; and Kanan, a secret Jedi, assembling his lightsaber and preparing for battle. It ends, however, with an Imperial officer reporting to the Inquisitor — the Empire’s Jedi hunter, seen and heard here for the first time. Star Wars Rebels takes place between Star Wars: Episode III and IV as the Empire tightens its grip on the galaxy and a rebellion begins to form.

This giveaway is open to all US and Canadian residents, and entry is pretty simple. Here’s what you need to do:

– Like Geekscape on Facebook
– Share this photo on your Facebook wall, and be sure to comment, letting us know your favourite Star Wars moment and why (don’t forget the why)
– Email a screencap of the share, PLUS your mailing address to contests@geekscape.net
– Reside in the United States OR Canada (hell yeah!)

That’s it! We’ll pick five winners next Thursday, and be in touch! Get sharing!

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

by Josh Jackson

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 Jackson

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 19th, 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

‘Wolverine Weapon X: Tomorrow Dies Today’ Motion Comic Looks Freaking Awesome

by Shane O'Hare

Marvel Knights Animation has been putting out some incredible content lately. Their motion comics truly are works of art, and Wolverine Weapon X: Tomorrow Dies Today is something to behold. Check out the trailer below!

The future is controlled by a malevolent mega-corporation known as Roxxon — which keeps its tight grip on society through the use of cyborgs, the Deathloks, whose sole purpose is to seek out current and future vigilantes — and neutralize them with extreme prejudice. Now, in order to prevent Roxxon’s rise and the eventual slaughter of the world’s heroes, Wolverine must join forces with a mysterious woman possessing unexplained knowledge of the coming dystopia. He won’t give up until the Deathloks are stopped, but what hope is there to prevent a future that has already come to pass?

The DVD boasts a behind the scenes featurette that goes inside the creation process of a Marvel Knights animation.

You can snag  Wolverine Weapon X: Tomorrow Dies Today on DVD only at Shout! Factory on May 13th!

The ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’ Complete Series Collection Is Headed To The U.S. On August 5th!

by Josh Jackson

It’s been a long time coming. Courtesy of NIS America, the classic Clamp anime, Cardcaptor Sakura, is getting a complete collection release. After over a decade since its network TV debut here in the states, this will be a collection that no anime viewer who remembers waking up in the morning with Kids WB on the screen will want to miss.

Featuring all 70 episodes in both Japanese and English, this set will come in both a standard and premium versions. The premium box is full of all the extras you would expect from an NIS release, which includes a 9 metallic gloss blu-ray disc set, a fully illustrated 76 page hardcover art book featuring new illustrations, and a collectable slipcase to hold all that awesome stuff together. The collection will be available at select online retailers, including Right Stuf, The Anime Corner Store, Anime Pavilion, and NIS America Online Store.

About the show:

Ten-year-old Sakura lives a pretty normal life with her older brother, Toya, and widowed father, Fujitaka. At least she did, until the day she returned home from school to discover a glowing book in her father’s study. After opening the book and releasing the cards within, Sakura is tasked with collecting each of these magical cards, while trying to live the life of a normal fourth grader. In the monumental task of collecting all the cards, Sakura must rely on her friends and family, and decide what she finds most important in life.

I’ve always loved Cardcaptor Sakura, but I never got a chance to watch the whole series. With all of it collected into one box, complete with all these extras, it looks like I finally have my shot. Let us know if you’re planning on picking this up on August 5th when the complete series is released.

Bring Home The Action With ‘Accel World’!

by Kari Lane

AccelWorld-Set01-BD

The exciting sci-fi/fantasy anime series, Accel World, is now available on DVD ($44.82) and Blu-ray ($59.97)! The new 2-disc set features 12 episodes and is rated ‘TV-14.’

A special 48-page premium art booklet featuring art and character profiles from this popular series and is also included (only while supplies last) as a special free gift with purchase from select online anime retailers including Right Stuf, Anime Pavilion, and Robert’s Anime Corner Store.

AccelWorld-Set01-GWP-Artbook-Cover

ACCEL WORLD dialogue features include English and Japanese stereo audio, English subtitles, as well as a character art gallery, clean opening and closing segments, and the original Japanese broadcast trailers.

Curious to know what this show is all about? Read on!

In the year 2046, people use portable devices called Neuro-linkers to manage their daily lives in virtual reality networks. But advances in technology haven’t managed to do away with bullies, and 13-year-old Haruyuki Arita finds himself a frequent target. Haruyuki escapes his miserable life in virtual games – until the day Kuroyukihime, the most popular girl in school, introduces him to a mysterious program called Brain Burst and a virtual reality called the Accel World.

accelworld2

“ACCEL WORLD is the hottest new anime title to join the VIZ Media home video library and we are very excited to also offer it to buyers with a gorgeous, full-color bonus art booklet that is only available for a limited time through select anime retailers,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Manager, Animation Marketing. “This series blends a highly imaginative online game with real world impact and adds a new twist to one teen’s solution to being bullied. ACCEL WORLD quickly became a fan favorite since VIZ Media debuted it on the same day as its Japanese broadcast and we look forward to the series drawing in new and veteran fans alike with this exciting release that arrives in time for the start of the holiday season.”

For more information on ACCEL WORLD and other animated titles from VIZ Media please visit www.VIZAnime.com/accelworld.

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Check out the trailer!

 

My review on the series!

Geekscape Movie Reviews: ‘Blood of Redemption’

by Dennis Finocchiaro

When you put a movie in and the film stars Dolph Lundgren (Expendables, Universal Soldier) and Billy Zane (Titanic, The Phantom), your expectations are likely low. With that in mind, Blood of Redemption was worth watching.

The plot is simple. Lundgren plays the bodyguard of a mob boss whose sons (played by Zane and Gianni Capaldi) mean the world to him – enough so that he wants out of the business and for the two of them to live normal lives. After his murder and the subsequent arrest of his older son, Lundgren has to figure out who killed the boss and framed his son for identity theft.

As with almost any action film, the fighting scenes were well done. The only negative would have to be the random scenes that were sped up or slowed down: it seemed almost like some of the actors were getting a bit old for the fight scenes, so the editor tried using speed changes to make it a bit more exciting. Blood of Redemption‘s soundtrack was so bad that it was almost distracting. Some of the chase scenes weren’t exactly exciting either. But that all sounds so negative: it was still a fun, guilty pleasure viewing.

stars

Lundgren’s character narrates the film, which definitely gives a lot away. While it seemed the director wanted the audience to be surprised at some of the later revelations of the film (who orchestrated the whole thing, major characters dying just when you think they’re safe) it was a a bit predictable. And some of the ideas (and even some word-for-word lines) were obviously stolen from The Godfather.

One of the better points of the film was the sexy Jelly Howie (Reach, Compound Fracture), who played Zane’s wife and co-conspirer. She gave the movie a little of the hot edge that every action film needs.

Another bright spot was actor Vinnie Jones (Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) as the man who takes over for the family as it falls. He’s always fun to watch, and while he didn’t have many action sequences, his acting was decent enough to make him believable in the role.

Overall, I think the main reason I thought this film was fun was that you don’t watch a film like this expecting Oscar-winning performances or comical one-liners. It’s about sitting down and watching a guilty-pleasure action film. And with that in mind, Blood of Redemption delivers.

I would rate it a 3 out of 5.

Blood of Redemption is out now and available on Amazon.

http://youtu.be/lyVkDn0sPxo

‘Tank Girl’ Blu-Ray Announced!

by theocean85

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 17th!

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!

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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'Hare

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!

Geekscape Podcast! Behind The Scenes At MetaCafe’s ‘Pause/Play’!

by Jonathan

For the past few weeks, I’ve been hosting ‘Pause/Play’ for the folks at Metacafe! We review and highlight the latest releases on DVD and Bluray… and I do a pretty good job of embarrassing myself for thousands of viewers. If you’re a Geekscape listener, you’ll no doubt enjoy the show. And if you’re not, give it a try and maybe you’ll discover something you love! Either way, I take to producer Matt Raub and director Nick Gregorio about the show, having me on it… and my awful inability to stop mumbling!

Subscribe to the show on iTunes!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:04 — 5.7MB)

Geekscape Reviews The Red vs. Blue X 14 Disc Box-Set!

by jake108

It was in April 2003 when we first got a dose of Rooster Teeth’s Red vs. Blue. It’s hard to believe it’s been so long and it’s been an amazing run so far. Red vs. Blue X helps commemorate the awesomeness that is Red vs. Blue in this 14-disc set that packs over 18 hours of footage and remastered 5.1 surround sound. Just take a look at it for yourself!

I’ll reserve any comments I have about the actual episodes and story of the Red vs. Blue saga, mainly because we all know how awesome it is already, and instead will focus on the presentation and packaging of the set. Firstly, the packaging:

The box folds out twice revealing the majority of the discs. The others are located on the other side of the second fold. Each disc is securely in place and owners won’t have to worry about any disc slipping out and developing scratches over time.

If you haven’t seen a Red vs Blue Menu yet, know that they are just as humorous as the show itself.  The 14-Disc DVD Pack is amazing, and Blu-Ray makes it that much better. Special features include a collectible booklet, miniseries, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage that totals an additional eight hours to runtime. Rooster Teeth couldn’t have picked a better time to release this box set. I can see it now: Thanksgiving hangover accompanied by a flashback to start of the Blood Gulch Chronicles. Bliss.

If you’re thinking about buying this set and are a fan of Red vs. Blue and Halo, you should make the purchase. Even if you were once a fan and fell off the wagon, use this opportunity to catch up, because honestly, there’s no better way to watch these episodes than on your HDTV. And if you don’t have an HDTV, the Holiday Season is upon us and it’s 2012.

Red vs. Blue X – DVD

Red vs Blue X – Blu-Ray

Enter Our Contest For ‘The Raven’ To Win One Of Two Prize Packs!

by GeekscapeStaff

In honor of next Tuesday’s Blu-ray/DVD release of the thrilling and chilling horror film The Raven staring John Cusack, we’ve got a new contest for you! This contest will have not one, but TWO (2) winners! The prize two packs include:

Grand Prize winner will receive:
DVD copy of THE RAVEN     
Mini poster     
Hard cover copy of the book The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe
 
Runner up will receive:
DVD copy of THE RAVEN
Mini poster
 

 

The rules for entering the contest are super easy:

1) Simply go to the Geekscape Facebook page and click ‘like’

2) Then find our contest post (featuring the image below) on the Facebook page and ‘share’ it on your personal Facebook page.

Share me to win, bro!

See? We told you entering was easy!

The contest is only open to residents of the United States!

The deadline to enter is contest is 11:59 PST on October 11th, so enter before it’s too late!

Once the contest ends we will randomly select two (2) lucky winners.

All you’ve got to do is share the contest with your friends and you’re entered. Good luck!


THE RAVEN arrives on Blu-ray and DVD October 9 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment in time to commemorate the 163rd anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s mysterious death (died Oct 7, 1849).

 John Cusack and Luke Evans star in this blood-curdling tale of terror that’s as dark and haunting as the legendary master of the macabre who inspired it – Edgar Allan Poe.

Baltimore, 1849. While investigating a horrific double murder, police detective Emmett Fields (Evans) makes a startling discovery: the killer’s methods mirror the twisted writings of Edgar Allan Poe (Cusack). Suspecting Poe at first, Fields ultimately enlists his help to stop future attacks. But in this deadly game of cat and mouse, the stakes are raised with each gruesome slaying as the pair races to catch a madman before he brings every one of Poe’s shocking stories to chilling life…and death.

Geekscape Interviews: Cedric Nicolas-Troyan

by Molly Mahan

Tuesday, September 11, marked the official Snow White and the Huntsman on DVD and Blu-Ray. Say what you want about the story, the acting, and the mess of celebrity gossip surrounding the film and its potential franchise, but what cannot be denied is that it is a visual and cinematic delight. All of the creatures and landscapes seen in the 127minute feature are fantastic and belong very much in the modern take on classic fairy tales. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with the visual effects supervisor, Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, who tells me that working on a project like Snow White and the Huntsman is why you get into visual effects in the first place.

Nicolas-Troyan’s earlier projects, from One Hour Photo to The Weatherman were all very grounded in the real world. But according to him, Snow White and the Huntsman is the kind of project he has been trying to look into for a longtime. “You don’t get into visual effects to stay in the real world, you do this because you want make trolls and dragons and fantastic environments,” he says.

That said, it is without a doubt his background in the making the mundane interesting that got him on board this project. Well, that and director Rupert Sanders, whom Cedric had previously worked with on several commercials. Once he expressed interest in bringing Cedric on, the two began to decide on the kind of the world they wanted to make. After all, it is a fairytale so it has to be fantastic, but they very much wanted to make it for a modern, somewhat jaded audience.

Cedric with Rupert Sanders on set of Snow White and the Huntsman.

“First, we had to figure out the type of film we wanted to do,” Nicolas-Troyan says, “what kind of fairytale we wanted to do. We looked at the original story–the fairytale–and it is actually really short … Obviously we wanted to make it very imaginitive, as it is a fairytale, but we wanted to make it modern for the audience. We wanted to get away from the cliches of how fairytales are told and tell the story in a new way. And then after all that, it is about constructing the world and what the world could be.”

And what kind of world did they want to create? According to Cedric, it was to lay “right between” the fantasy epic of The Lord of the Rings and the historical retellings of Robin Hood. It would not be any kind of pure fantasy like Lord of the Rings. “Once we settled on that, we began creating the creatures.”

Like the setting chosen, the creatures had their limits, too. Although gruesome and literally grounded in earth by the look of it, Cedric says the troll is the most “farfetched in the universe” he created. While it is a fantasy, Cedric wanted to make certain everything was believable for that world. “There’s no fantastic stuff. Every creature we made existed for a reason and within the terms of the world we settled upon.”

Breath mints, however, were not part of his department.

But what about the magic? After all, the very root of the story comes from the idea that the Queen, played masterfully by Charlize Theron, drains the very youth out of the women of the kingdom to remain forever the fairest. “For all the magic for the queen–for Ravenna–we tried to give everything a sort of a look, somewhat of a reasonable kind of world. It’s not realistic, but it is not all over the place.” Everything, trolls and magic proper aside, is very much in the real.

“We took the real world and tweaked it a bit to give it the look. It is very stylish, but it’s not too far out there, like you’re sitting on a massive mushroom,” in reference to the producer’s previous project Alice in Wonderland.

And he’s right. For what Snow White and the Huntsman may lack in story and character development, it truly is an visually interesting world that will delight anyone of any age, no matter their level of creativity and imagination.

Snow White and the Huntsman is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Scooby Doo Tag-Teaming With WWE For An All-New Animated Movie!

by Shawn Madden

Scooby-Doo and the gang are returning in an all-new movie animated movie that will take place in the world of professional wrestling. Yes, you can expect all your favorite WWE wrestlers to make cartoonish cameos. No, I don’t know which one will secretly by Mr. Johnson in a mask.

WWE Studio’s press release:

Warner Bros. and WWE Studios (NYSE:WWE) announced they will co-produce a Scooby-Doo animated feature that will find Scooby and the gang solving a mystery at WrestleMania®.The announcement was made today by Jeff Brown, Executive Vice President and General Manager, TV, Family & Animation, Warner Home Video and Michael Luisi, President, WWE Studios.

WWE Superstars and Divas including Triple H®, John Cena®, Kane, The Miz®, Brodus Clay™, Santino Marella®, Sin Cara™ and AJ™ will appear in animated form and lend their voices to the project. WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon® will also lend his voice and appear in animated form.

The Warner Bros. Animation movie will be made available on Blu-ray, DVD, VOD, and digital download.

Source: WWE/Indiewire

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

by Josh Jackson

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.

‘The Raid: Redemption’ Gets A DVD Release Date

by Shawn Madden

Mark your calenders. On August 14, 2012 ‘The Raid: Redemption’ comes to DVD and Blu-ray. Now whether you never heard of this film (where have you been…in a cave?), want to relive the action over and over again or just missed its limited theatrical run… this is a must-have DVD in any collection. One of the greatest action films ever made.

“Deep in the heart of Jakarta’s slums lies an impenetrable safe house for the world’s most dangerous killers and gangsters. Until now, the run-down apartment block has been considered untouchable to even the bravest of police. Cloaked under the cover of pre-dawn darkness and silence, an elite swat team is tasked with raiding the safe house in order to take down the notorious drug lord that runs it. But when a chance encounter with a spotter blows their cover and news of their assault reaches the drug lord, the building’s lights are cut and all the exits blocked. Stranded on the sixth floor with no way out, the unit must fight their way through the city’s worst to survive their mission. Starring Indonesian martial arts sensation Iko Uwais.”

Source: DVD Releases