BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991) Blu-Ray Review

While it was 1989's THE LITTLE MERMAID that may have made critics and audiences begin to take a more serious look at animation, it was 1991's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST that proved that animation wasn't just for families.

After its triumphant preview at the New York Film Festival, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST developed a buzz that few if any animated films had. It would eventually become the first animated film ever to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.

I was in college when the film came out. A lifelong Disney fan, after seeing the 20/20 segment on the making of the film, I left campus the afternoon it came out, driving an hour to the nearest theatre to see it. When I got back, everyone asked me what I saw. After embarrassingly mentioning it was the latest Disney cartoon, rather than strange looks, instead everyone was saying "Oh how was it? I want to see that."

Disney animation was back.

Without having seen the film in a few years, I put on the Blu-Ray. The film looks amazing. Colors are perfectly rendered.

But aside from the animation, the music in the film more than holds up. I had forgotten just how much fun the Alan Menken / Howard Ashman score was. From the opening "Belle", to "Gaston", "Be Our Guest" and the title song, the film was on its initial released often compared to a great Broadway show. Of course, it became one later on.

The film is being released in a three disc Blu-Ray. There are two Blu-Ray discs with a third DVD of the film. While the Blu-ray will be released in a three pack next week, October 5, the DVD will be released on its own on November 23rd.

DISC ONE

There are three viewing options for the film. There is the extended version featuring the very catchy "Human Again" added to the film. There is also the Theatrical Version as well as the theatrical with the "Work Print" version in a picture in picture comparison.  An audio commentary is available for the extended version.

Other extras include

• COMPOSING A CLASSIC (20:18) - Alan Menken discusses writing the music for the film.

• DELETED SCENES - There are two never before seen deleted scenes including an alternate story opening (18:24) and Belle in the library (8:27). Both of these are in rough form, with introductions.

• BROADWAY BEGINNINGS (13:07) - Donny Osmond, Deborah Gibson and Nick Jonas among others discuss what it was like appearing in the Broadway play.

• MUSIC VIDEO (3:26) - Jordin Sparks sings a new version of the title song.

DISC TWO

BEYOND BEAUTY - An excellent almost hour long documentary featuring crew members, along with others such as Jeffrey Katzenbeg, who discuss the making of the film. This is shown in enhanced mode where, at a few points in the feature, you can click on the remote to hear even more information about a certain point being discussed.

Disc two also features the extras from the previous DVD, including a documentary, music video, alternate versions of scenes, deleted scenes, animation tests, and TV spots.

DISC THREE

Disc three features the feature film and extras on standard DVD 

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST DIAMOND EDITION is available on DVD and Blu-ray .

LONE STAR Cancellation - What is wrong with network TV?

FOX has officially canceled LONE STAR, the best new series of the season.

Despite glowing reviews, no one tuned in.

But did FOX really think they would?

LONE STAR was opposite ABC's DANCING WITH THE STARS. All the families, and most of the female audience is watching that.

It was opposite the much hyped THE EVENT on NBC. That takes most of the male audience, along with the "fanboy" crowd that had been watching CHUCK before it.

On CBS you have the always popular comedies, which are watched by a younger audience that isn't watching the other programs.

Let's not forget MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL on ESPN.

So, who is left? Very few people.

LONE STAR had a minuscule potential audience.

Why didn't they try it on another night? They had the critics. No other new series was as positively received.

But they didn't. Instead of reworking the schedule, moving it to where there were people who would potentially watch, it was canceled.

No word yet, but due to the reviews, you would think that a cable network, maybe FX since this was a FOX show, would come in and save it. Doubtful, but the show was honestly too good to see be the first canceled.

Oh well.

It was a great 2 episode run. Three episodes will remain on the shelf, with production shut down in the middle of the sixth.

Leonard Maltin and Gloria Stuart

Leonard Maltin has a wonderful tribute to Gloria Stuart who passed away.

If you only know her from TITANIC, there is a lot more to her life and career.

WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS (2010) Review

1987’s WALL STREET was one of the most important films in my life.

When it came out, I was in high school, planning on being a business major. I literally counted down the days until the film opened, and was there opening night. I loved the film.

Remember that scene in BOILER ROOM where Ben Affleck and his friends sat around watching WALL STREET and running the lines from it while watching it? That was my high school. I remember a gym class, during a volleyball game where all the guys were reciting the Gekko / Bud Fox beach phone call scene.

This was the end of the Reagan era and we all wanted to be Bud Fox. Forget the fact that the film was meant to be a cautionary tale, that Bud went to jail at the end. The life it showed was where we all wanted to be.

The problem with me came that, instead of loving the world, I began to just love the film. The way that Oliver Stone’s camera circled around Michael Douglas during some of the discussion scenes, I began to be more interested in filmmaking. While I went to college as a business finance major, I eventually switched over to Communications and Film.

Cut to twenty years later.

I didn't go into film. Lately, its gotten to the point that I haven’t even cared about films all that much. I haven’t been to one in over four months. And now the sequel, WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS opens.

To be honest, I thought of continuing my movie hiatus and waiting for Blu-Ray. The reviews haven’t been all that terrific to go out to the theatre.

But, with nothing better to do, I decide to go see it.

Gordon Gekko is out of jail. The trial dragged on for five years, and he ended up serving an eight year term. He has written a book “Is Greed Good” a cautionary tale of Wall Street Excess.

Shia LaBeouf is Jake Moore, a Bud Fox like trader who is engaged to Gekko’s estranged daughter Winnie (Carey Mulligan). After hearing Gekko speak, Moore approaches him to introduce himself. With Moore’s trading bank taken down in the economic collapse, Moore wants Gekko’s help in going after the bank that he blames for the collapse.

This may not be a perfect film.

While Josh Brolin is very good as a rival trader, there is also a bit about how he and Gekko have a history. Umm, when WALL STREET came out, Brolin was only 19 and just a couple years from his appearing as the older brother in GOONIES. That would have been difficult.

Susan Sarandon also has a couple scenes as Jake’s mother, a house flipper in financial trouble. This seems to only be there to show the human side of the housing crisis and feels more like a deleted scene than anything else.

And I could kind of have done without the David Byrne soundtrack. Nothing against Mr. Byrne, but it just didn’t fit.

Getting that out of the way, I truly loved everything else about the film. It is my favorite film I have seen this year.

There is a scene early on where Frank Langella, as the head of a bank in financial trouble, pleading with the Federal Reserve for help that gives a better idea of what was really going on than you would know from just watching the nightly news.

Michael Douglas is fantastic. He is as good here as he was in the original.

Plus, there is a moment, I won’t give it away as I’ve seen no mention in any of the reviews, but I almost cheered when it happened. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.

As I mentioned, the original was always a favorite of mine. So, my reaction may just be my own.

But if you loved the first film, this is truly a must see.

KING KONG (1933) Blu-Ray Review

KING KONG is one of the greatest films ever made.

There is no denying that.

Remade twice (so far), neither of the reworkings with all of their updated special effects have matched the original. The iconic image of King Kong at the top of the Empire State Building with Fay Wray has never been topped.

I first saw the film over thirty years ago. It was in the days before DVD, VHS, or even cable TV.  During the summer the town showed movies on 16mm to kids in the basement of the library. KING KONG was one of those films.

While the film is full of memorable moments, from the finale, to Fay Wray chained while Kong first attacks, the sequence that always stayed with me was of Kong battling the pterodactyl on the side of the cliff.

From its original 35 mm release, to 16 mm, VHS, laserdisc, and finally DVD in the 2000's, KONG has seen every format imaginable. It now has been released in Blu-Ray.

This is another Warner book release, where the film is housed in a small hardback book (written by film historian Rudy Behlmer).  The book is the same size as a Blu-Ray case with a very interesting essay on the film.

The extras have been carried over from the previous special edition DVD release.

• A commentary track with Special Effects guru Ray Harryhausen, Ken Ralston along with director Merion C. Cooper and star Fay Wray

• A 7 part documentary on the making of the film, RKO Production 601: The Making of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World (2:38:58) with fans and filmmakers interviewed.

• The TCM documentary I'm King Kong!: The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper (57:02)

• The Lost Spider Pit Sequence (5:58) - Peter Jackson and his team's attempt to recreate the legendary lost scene from the film. They do a darn good job as well, making it feel like an actual deleted scene.

• Creation Test Footage (4:57) with Commentary by Ray Harryhausen

• Original Theatrical Trailer (1:33).

A note on the Blu-ray Transfer. I have to admit that this is one of the grainiest Blu-ray transfers I have seen. The black and white picture is filled with grain. Some purists appreciate this, as this is the way the film is meant to be seen, with the grain giving a better representation of what it looked like in theatrical settings. There have been plenty of raves about this transfer from those who know more about the transfer process than I do.  The film is still perfectly watchable, even with the grain.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: BEST OF 2009 / 2010 DVD Review

Every year for the past five years, one of my favorite DVD releases has been the annual SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE season sets from Universal Home Video. They release a full season, with every episode including all the music acts. They have released the first five seasons so far.

No other show is as much of a pop culture time capsule as SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. From the hosts plugging a then popular movie or TV show and musical guests, to the sketches focusing on what was in the news that week, and the Weekend Update jokes about some forgotten news event, they gave you a better look at the period than any sitcom or hour long drama.

Sadly, it appears that Universal has given up on the Season Sets. After releasing the first five seasons, featuring the original cast, there has been no announcement for a release this year.

Some have argued that it was because the next season to be released (which had Eddie Murphy as a featured player) was not at all popular. But on a personal level, the 1980-1981 season is when I first started to watch it on a regular basis. I’ve seen some on Comedy Central in recent years and it wasn’t as bad as people remember. While I would have definitely bought it, I guess Universal didn’t think enough would and the series is going to stay on the shelf.

Instead, Universal is releasing a Best of collection of the 2009 / 2010 season. Much like last year’s set that was originally sold at Starbucks, this is a 103 minute collection of sketches.

The sketches on this DVD are:

• Cold Open with Barack Obama and Chinese Presdent Ju Jintao

• Betty White Monologue

• Brownie Husband commercial with Tina Fey

• ESPN Classics Bowling with Will Forte’s hilarious sports announcer.

• What Up With That?

• Three McGruber Skits

• The Return of Delicious Dish with Betty White’s muffins

• DIGITAL SHORT: SHY RONNIE with Rihanna

• Jon Hamm as Senator Scott Brown

• Who Wants To Be A Millionaire with Gabourey Sidibe

• A collection of WEEKEND UPDATE jokes

• A parody of THE TWILIGHT ZONE's Nightmare at 20,000 Feet

• Zach Galifinakis and Kristen Wiig learn about a bidet

• The Sarah Palin Network

• Hollywood Dish with Taylor Swift

• The Kick Spit Underground Rock Festival - "Literally everyone gets a pitchfork!"Worth buying the DVD for this alone!

• The Vincent Price Christmas Special

• DIGITAL SHORT: ON THE GROUND

• TCM Parody with Alec Baldwin

• Goodnights with Betty White

I’m sure everyone will have favorite sketches that didn’t make the set. Where are Jenny Slate’s commercials for the doorbell company?

The EXTRAS Are:

• A Bronx Beat deleted sketch with Betty White

• From Update, a deleted bit with Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig as Garth and Kat, the never prepared singing duo.

• There are outtakes from Update featuring jokes that didn’t make air or went really badly.

• There are also a few sketches from WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY.

SHOULD I BUY IT?

I can see not buying this set. In a way, buying it is telling the studio it is okay that they aren’t releasing the full seasons anymore. But, there is also some good material here that makes it worth seeing.

Let’s hope that Universal either continues with the full season SNL releases or licenses them out to someone who will.

Remembering The Drive In

Last Saturday, I was looking at the movie timetables in the newspaper.

I happened to see in the listing a drive-in. All of the drive-ins in my immediate area are long gone. This was at a place over an hour away in Connecticut, the Mansfield Drive In. I was surprised it was even listed in our paper. What made it even more interesting was it is a three screen drive in, with three different double features every night.

What was playing on one screen?

A double feature of GREASE and SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER.

That is something of a dream double feature for me. The rerelease of the singalong of GREASE never made it to my area, but to see it on a double bill with SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER? Sure, GREASE 2 would be a perfect pairing, but FEVER is pretty darn cool as well. I seriously thought about making the drive to see it.

It was back in the late 70's, when the two films might have originally played together, that I first went to the drive in. In the late 70's, early 80's, there were at least three drive ins in my area. They would always have the biggest ads in the newspaper.

My first trip must have been in 1978 when my parents took me and my sister to see a double feature of YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. I remember little about LIFE except for the theme and fell asleep early on in CLOSE ENCOUNTERS.

Next up, probably in 1980 or 81, was the Don Knotts / Tim Conway comedy THE PRIVATE EYES and BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS. Once again, remember little about the first, fell asleep in the second.

I've always been a bit confused about the next double feature. I always thought it was THE CANNONBALL RUN and MEGAFORCE. That would make sense, as they were both Fox releases, directed by Hal Needham. BUT, they were also released in two different years. Since I literally begged my parents to take me to CANNONBALL (due to Roger Moore starring in it), I may have already seen it by the time MEGAFORCE opened and was seeing it for a second time. However in 1982, we had cable and it might have already been playing. Anyway, I stayed awake for this one.

My final drive-in experience was the Tom Cruise film ALL THE RIGHT MOVES and BACHELOR PARTY. My parents once again took my little sister and I to the films. My mom thought the second film was just a little comedy with "that nice guy from BOSOM BUDDIES, Tom Hanks". I was just excited because Adrian Zmed from GREASE 2 was in it (at the time, and still today, I was a little obsessed with GREASE 2). What I remember most about this trip was that it was like we were seeing the end of the drive in. The place was disgusting. It was falling apart.

By this time, home video had taken off. In looking at the release dates for the films, they always paired films from different years. In later years, one of the films would have already been on video. In those days, before video or even cable, it was a way for the studios to get secondary income from a title.

A few months after that visit, the drive in closed. It closed before I even got a drivers license to go on my own.

They were a lot of fun. The pre-show movies, the snack bar, listening to the soundtrack on the speaker or later radio.

I am glad to see that they are still around.

2010 TV: LONE STAR

FOX's LONE STAR premiered last night.

Bob Allen (James Wolk) is a con artist in Texas. Since childhood, his father (David Keith) has been using him to help run scams. Now an adult, he is in the family business full time, selling rights to non-existent oil wells across Texas.

Even his private life is a scam. He has a small town fiance, Lindsay (Eloise Mumford) along with in another city being married to the daughter (Adrianne Palicki) of an oil tycoon (Jon Voight) that he is working for.

In the opener, Bob is given a promotion at work, giving him even more control over Voight's business. Bob's father sees this as the opening to finally fleece the company, but Bob thinks it is time to go straight. He is in love with both of the women in his life, and doesn't want to hurt either one.

Will he be able to make something out of the "house of cards" that he has created for himself? With David Keith trying to bring him back into the game, burned victims of his previous scams around every corner, and Voight's sons, jealous that they were passed over for promotion, looking to dig up dirt, it isn't going to be easy.

That is the set up for the series.

The pilot was extremely well done. There is a sequence set in a gas station that was perfectly realized.

The cast was terrific all around. I've mentioned previously how I thought James Wolk should have already been a big star from his TV movie FRONT OF THE CLASS, and he again confirms that here. And Voight and Keith are terrific as the sort of battling father figures.

One funny thing about the episode.

The small town girlfriend was played by an actress named Eloise Mumford. I wasn't familiar with her name, yet every time I saw her on screen I couldn't help but think "Where do I know her from?".

It was driving me crazy. At the ads, I was looking up the show in the TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly, looking to see if they said what she did before this. Other than a few episodes of TV, nothing I would have picked up on.

It wasn't until 15 minutes after the show ended, in the middle of WEEDS when it was still bothering me, that I realized who she was.

She's the girl in the McDonald's New England coffee commercials!



The "wicked bad storm" girl whose "hair smells like sunshine." This ad was all over TV last year, at least here in New England. I even mentioned her here, when she was also starring in a Target ad, calling her the "commercial star of the season". Those ads led her to get this GREAT role.

I haven't seen the ratings for last night's episode yet. Opposite THE EVENT (which I DVRed but haven't seen yet), DANCING WITH THE STARS, and the CBS Comedies, it is a very difficult time slot. (EDIT: Just read the numbers at the Hollywood Reporter and they were not good. It came in last of the night, with only 4.1 million viewers, almost a third of THE EVENT. Let's hope they change the time slot)

I hope that people tuned in. If not, you can watch it online, or On Demand.

LONE STAR airs Monday night at 9 P.M. EST on Fox

The Joaquin Phoenix Hoax

Last year, after Joaquin Phoenix was on Letterman, the talk of the internet was "What has happened to Joaquin?" His rambling and incoherent appearance shocked audiences. At the time, it was said that Casey Affleck was making a documentary of his life. That documentary, I'M STILL HERE has finally opened.

Critics have been very favorable to the film. Most of them believed what they are seeing is for real. They felt they were really watching Phoenix in the middle of a meltdown, both of his career and his life.

Finally, yesterday, Casey Affleck announced that the whole thing was a hoax. It was all an elaborate act to make a mockumentary of sorts.

Not to say I told you so, but in February of 2009, I wrote this piece claiming "Joaquin Phoenix is no Crispin Glover". I never for a moment believed that the Letterman appearance was for real. There were little moments in it where you could see Phoenix almost giggling to himself, not able to keep character. I honestly couldn't believe how many people fell for it. Now, my suspicions were confirmed.

But the big question seems to be, why is Affleck admitting the hoax now? The film just opened. With the reviews it is getting, more people would be going out there to see it. Knowing it is fake, they will probably stay home.

I can see admitting on the DVD commentary it is a fake. But especially with Roger Ebert, in his three star review stating, "All of this is true. At least we must assume it is. If this film turns out to still be part of an elaborate hoax, I'm going to be seriously pissed.", why ruin the fun now?

THE BIG BANG THEORY SEASON THREE (2009-2010) Blu-Ray Review

THE BIG BANG THEORY Season Three will go down as the season that FINALLY earned Jim Parsons the Emmy. It was about time. He had been deserving it since the first season, creating one of the funniest, and most memorable characters on TV.

Season three proved to be yet another winning season. For those that haven't been watching, it follows two physicist roommates, Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johny Galecki), their across the hall neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and two other scientist friends, Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar). The show is part THREE'S COMPANY and part a reworking of the Howard Hawks film BALL OF FIRE (where Barbara Stanwyck taught Gary Cooper and a group of professors about life).

It is no accident that the two leads are named Sheldon and Leonard. The two are named after Sheldon Leonard the legendary TV producer of such shows as THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW and THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. THE BIG BANG THEORY is on its way to become the same sort of classic comedy. While some could argue that the whole Sheldon / Penny romance weakened some of the tension in the series, the writers knew enough that they had a great supporting cast that they could always rely on.

Wil Wheaton returned as Sheldon’t nemesis. Stan Lee guest starred, along with Danica McKellar and Katee Sackhoff.

WHAT IS ON THE BLU-RAY?

The Blu-Ray has all 23 episodes on two discs, twelve on the first disc, eleven on the second. The DVD spreads them across to three discs.

Also on the second disc are the extras.

TAKE OUT WITH THE CAST (10:25) - All five cast members sit on the couch, eating Chinese food, and discussing the season, answering questions from fortune cookies.

SET TOUR WITH SIMON AND KUMAL (7:40) - The actors who portray Howard and Raj give a tour of the set.

GAG REEL (7:51) - Fun collection of missed lines.

SHOULD I BUY IT?

THE BIG BANG THEORY is on its way to becoming the sort of classic sitcom you will see years from now on TV Land. It is well worth owning.

The 2010-2011 TV Season

It is that time of year again. The new Fall TV season is about to begin.

Here are some of the highlights.

MONDAY

The most heavily hyped show this fall seems to be THE EVENT (NBC). Airing at 9 P.M., this series is said to be so mysterious that even the cast members aren’t given full scripts so they don’t know what is going on with the full story. Will it catch on and become the new LOST? We will see.

Airing at the same time on FOX is one of the shows I am looking forward to most, LONE STAR a Texas set story about a con artist. While the supporting class is quite impressive, including Jon Voight, David Keith, and Adrianne Palicki (Tyra on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS), the big reason to see this is its star, James Wolk, who was excellent in the 2008 Hallmark Hall of Fame film FRONT OF THE CLASS and has the potential to be the big breakout star of the season.

Although with LONE STAR airing opposite THE EVENT, ABC’s DANCING WITH THE STARS, and the CBS comedies (including MIKE AND MOLLY with Melissa McCarthy of THE GILMORE GIRLS and SAMANTHA WHO), LONE STAR could easily get lost in the shuffle.

10 P.M. has the revamped version of HAWAII FIVE-O on CBS. At first, I didn’t think much of it. But seeing the ads, and now that I am in the middle of watching BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and have become a fan of Grace Park, this might be worth watching. It will be airing opposite NBC's CHASE which is almost as heavily hyped as THE EVENT.

TUESDAY

Tuesday is Fox’s night. With GLEE at 8, and two new comedies at 9, this is where I will be.

The new comedies are RAISING HOPE, from the creator of MY NAME IS EARL with Martha Plimpton and Cloris Leachman. That is followed by RUNNING WILDE, another must see from the co-creator of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and starring Will Arnett and Keri Russell.

WEDNESDAY

The highlight of the night is MODERN FAMILY at 9 P.M. on ABC. Other than that, not much to get excited for, although BETTER WITH YOU, the ABC 8:30 sitcom starring JoAnna Garcia (anyone remember WELCOME TO THE CAPTAIN?) might be worth watching.

Reality TV fans will have to decide between SURVIVOR NICARAGUA (CBS) and AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL (THE CW) at 8. HELL’S KITCHEN (FOX) returns at 9. While I like HELL’S KITCHEN, isn’t it too soon? Each episode is essentially the same.

THE DEFENDERS is new at 10 P.M. on CBS about lawyers in Las Vegas. From the ads, I don’t know if the show knows what it is trying to be.

THURSDAY

Why do networks do things like this? CBS moving THE BIG BANG THEORY to Thursday at 8? Opposite the NBC comedies? I’m glad I have a dual tuner DVR, but this isn’t a good move.

They moved it so they can team it up with $#’! MY DAD SAYS, a show that hasn’t had the best buzz. If it fails, will THE BIG BANG THEORY go down with it?

The NBC comedies will continue with PARKS AND REC (which will return in the winter) replaced by OUTSOURCED. I loved the film that OUTSOURCED was based on, about a man who goes to India to run a novelty company phone room. BUT, from watching the ads, it appears that the low key, LOCAL HERO like film has become an “Aren’t Indian accents funny?” type comedy. I hope this isn’t the case.

At 10 on NBC will be the return of THE APPRENTICE. While Trump may still be the most awkward reality show host (after all these years, he still doesn't understand how to do post production overdubbing), the show itself is one of the strongest and smartest reality shows.

FRIDAY

It is good to see the networks giving some attention to Friday nights. There are a few new shows.

CBS has replaced THE GHOST WHISPERER with MEDIUM. I think this is a mistake as GHOST was the better show.

Following it they are running CSI NY. While I’m not much of a CSI fan, with Sela Ward joining the cast, I might just have to be! (And while I am at it, where is Season three of ONCE AND AGAIN on DVD???).

At 10 P.M. is BLUE BLOODS. Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan and Donnie Wahlberg star in this story of a police family. Reviews have been promising.

SATURDAY

Anyone remember Saturday night TV? There were sitcoms like SILVER SPOONS, THE FACTS OF LIFE, GIMME A BREAK, GOLDEN GIRLS, and EMPTY NEST. There was THE LOVE BOAT and FANTASY ISLAND. And let’s not forget about HUNTER.

Now, there is nothing. No new shows, or any shows (other than COPS and AMERICA’S MOST WANTED) for that matter. With today’s time shifting, with most cable boxes being DVRs, you would think they wouldn’t give up on the night. But alas, it is gone.

There is still SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE though.

SUNDAY

With THE AMAZING RACE (CBS) and THE SIMPSONS (FOX), Sunday still has some programming. The ABC dramas continue to be popular.

On HBO, the very funny BORED TO DEATH is back, along with the new Martin Scorsese series BOARDWALK EMPIRE and the return of EASTBOUND AND DOWN.

What will be the big hit of the season? What will be the first cancellation?

Stay tuned.

TINKER BELL AND THE GREAT FAIRY RESCUE (2010) Blu-Ray Review

Disney continues the Tinker Bell direct to DVD films with TINKER BELL AND THE GREAT FAIRY RESCUE. This is yet another film that brings the genre of direct to video animation a step higher.

The film opens with Tinker Bell (voiced by Mae Whitman, Ann Veal on ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and now a star on PARENTHOOD) seeing a car. Since fairies can't be seen by humans for fear of discovery, the rest of the fairies hide.  But Tinker Bell follows. As a “Tinker Fairy” she wants to discover how the car works.

She becomes trapped by Lizzy (Lauren Mote) who lives with her scientist father, Dr. Griffiths (Michael Sheen of THE QUEEN and 30 ROCK). The father has a collection of butterflies pinned to the wall. Fearing that Tinker Bell will wind up the same way, Lizzy keeps her hidden from him, and Tinker Bell teaches her about fairies.

Meanwhile, Vidia (Pamela Adlon of KING OF THE HILL and GREASE 2) and the rest of the fairies (featuring the voices of Kristin Chenoweth, Lucy Liu and Raven-Symone) try to rescue Tinker Bell. Their attempts are hampered by a rainstorm that makes it impossible to fly.

As with the previous films, the computer animation is beautiful. Especially on Blu-ray, this is a great looking disc. Once again produced by Pixar's John Lasseter, this isn't quite at Pixar level, but it is pretty close.

This film is geared more to the younger audiences. While the second in the series, TINKER BELL AND THE LOST TREASURE I found to be one of the better animated films in recent years, this is more for the kids. Parents may enjoy it too, with a terrifically staged chase scene at the end.

WHAT IS ON THE BLU-RAY?

This is a 2 disc set, featuring the Blu-Ray as well as a standard DVD version of the film.

Extras include:

DELETED SCENES (14:44) - The director and producer introduce deleted scenes in various stages of completion (from storyboards to fully realized sequences).

MUSIC VIDEO “How To Believe” by Bridget Mendler (3:02)

DESIGN A FAIRY HOUSE (1:48) - A group of kids build fairy houses at EPCOT while the winner of an online contest has her house designed.

TANGLED PREVIEW (3:39) - A preview of the upcoming animated film.

There is also a game FAIRY FIELD GUIDE where, with the remote. you create your own field guide, as seen in the film.

SHOULD I BUY IT?

This is sure to be a welcome addition to a Disney Fairy fan’s library.

PRINCE OF PERSIA (2010) Blu-Ray Review

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal) is the adopted son of the King.

When the King is murdered, Dastan is framed for the crime and escapes with Tamina (Gemma Arterton). The actual murderer is after a dagger in Dastan’s possession that allows to owner to reverse time.

WHO MADE IT?

Based on the video game, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the film was adapted by Boaz Yakin (FRESH, A PRICE ABOVE RUBIES), and the team of Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard (THE UNINVITED)

It was directed by Mike Newell (ENCHANTED APRIL, FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL, DONNIE BRASCO, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE).

IS IT ANY GOOD?

THE PRINCE OF PERSIA is an old fashioned swashbuckling adventure story. Full of characters scaling walls, jumping, and battling with daggers, it has the feel of something that would have starred Errol Flynn.

While I have never played the video game, I have seen clips of it. The film does appear to be quite similar to the gameplay, with the emphasis on racing across rooftops and climbing up walls.

Jake Gyllenhaal makes a surprisingly credible action hero. He is well served by Ben Kingsley and the always fun Alfred Molina, who is increasingly becoming one of the most reliable actors of today.

The film is fast paced, with a lot of great action scenes.

Despite being released by Walt Disney Pictures, this is a PG-13 rated film. While most of the violence is bloodless, it might be a bit much for the youngest viewers. Although in my day, the PG rated RAIDERS OF THE LAST ARK was far more violent.

WHAT IS ON THE BLU-RAY?

The film is available in a combo pack, a 3 disc set featuring a Blu-Ray, DVD, and a digital copy of the film.

Extras include

THE SANDS OF TIME - This is a way of viewing the film, using the Cinexplore feature.  At various points in the film, a dagger will pop up on the screen and, if you click on it, you will be able to see over 40 different featurettes, expanding on what you are watching. This is only on the Blu-ray version. On the DVD, there is a standard making of featurette with most of the same material.

There is one deleted scene (1:26) that is probably best skipped by younger audiences (as it involves severed heads).

SHOULD I BUY IT?

If you enjoyed the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN films, PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME is worth a look.

"I Want My Two Dollars!" - A BETTER OF DEAD Reunion

Moviefone has a fun look back at BETTER OFF DEAD, with interviews with director Savage Steve Holland along with most of the cast.

No word from John Cusack, although they talk about his dislike of the film which coincides with what I wrote about the film.

The Cartoon Network Gets MAD Magazine Right!

Last night, the Cartoon Network premiered the first episode of their new MAD MAGAZINE series.

This isn't the magazines first attempt at crossing over to TV.



In 1974, the magazine created a half hour special. Whether this ever aired or not is open to debate. Some claim they saw it. But Mad Publisher William Gaines has stated it never aired, due to complaints from advertisers.



In 1980, after the success National Lampoon had with ANIMAL HOUSE, they attempted to branch out to feature films with MAD MAGAZINE PRESENTS UP THE ACADEMY. The results were such that not only did Mad Magazine sue to remove their name from the film after its release, star Ron Leibman also had his name taken from the credits. (I wrote much more about the film here).

The magazine remained a magazine throughout the 1980's, with little expansion beyond board games. Mad cartoonist Sergio Aragones animated TV'S BLOOPERS AND PRACTICAL JOKES. MAD TV was launched in the mid 90's. This had little to do with the magazine though.

Now that MAD is part of the Warner, which owns the Cartoon Network, it is natural corporate synergy.

The resulting 15 minute episode that aired last night (and can be watched at their website) was very typical of MAD. There was AVATURD, an AVATAR parody utilizing SOUTH PARK / JIB JAB like animation that worked quite well. There were SPY VS SPY and Don Martin cartoons along with several Sergio Aragones interstitials. And several other comic bits.

Like MAD itself, the result was very hit and miss. I'd say more missed than hit. But that is just the way I remember MAD. I would like to see if they could do something with "The Lighter Side" cartoons.  Those were always favorites of mine (although, are they still even in the magazine?  I haven't read it in years)

As this airs early evenings on The Cartoon Network, and not as a part of Adult Swim, I'd like to think that this might help out the magazine which not too long ago announced it was switching to a bimonthly publishing schedule.

MAD airs Monday at 8:30 PM EST on The Cartoon Network

THE GREAT SPACE COASTER update

I updated my Forgotten TV piece on THE GREAT SPACE COASTER with an excellent cast reunion podcast from Just My Show.

Five Years of the Moviezzz Blog

On September 2, 2005, The Moviezzz Blog began.  In the years since, there have been over 2,800 posts, and over a million unique readers.

For the past few years, it has been a daily blog. But, after recently taking my first vacation in that five years, I came back and have been having trouble getting back into the daily habit.

Partly because of this year at the movies. I think it has truly been the worst year for film in decades. I haven't been to a film in months (since TOY STORY 3 I believe). Normally in the summer, I see one or two movies a week. While there have been a few films that I would eventually like to see, nothing had me wanting to run out to the multiplex and pay $8 for a ticket.

The other reason for my lack of blogging is, dare I say this, I think that blogging is on the way out.

A few years ago, blogging was in its golden age. Everyone was doing it. You would go online and have discussions on one site jump to discussions on other sites. There was linking back and forth.

Today, many of those bloggers have given up. While I am still here, as you can tell, my posting schedule has declined quite a bit.

What has taken its place?

Twitter.

While I still don't quite "get" how Twitter works (meaning, how you develop followers and discover other Twitterers) I have found it to be a lot of fun, at least for "following" celebrities. Why watch the nightly news, or read a gossip blog, when you can hear directly from the stars? The sense of community that was in the blogosphere is missing, and at 140 characters, it isn't all that insightful, but it is something.

There is also the fact that DVD is on the decline. Many studios have cut back on releases. While Blu-ray was going to save the industry, it seems studios are more into digital downloads or on demand than releasing older titles on DVD.

So, while blogging will continue, it doesn't look like the format has another five years in it.

Thanks for reading.