dvd reviews

“Forgiveness” DVD Review

Helen Whitney’s FORGIVENESS explores the act of forgiveness through a wide range of stories, from adultery and personal betrayal to the post-genocidal reconciliation of nations. In focusing on specific instances of affliction—one family torn apart by abandonment, the post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation hearings in South Africa or the memories of ’60s radicals coping with their violent acts of protest—FORGIVENESS studies the psychological impetus and impacts of this crucial sentiment, illuminating its power, its limitations and, in some cases, its dangers. Giving voice to the stories of nations and individuals who have suffered and struggled to forgive, FORGIVENESS provides a moving and much-needed chronicle of reconciliation.

Synopsis
The deepest wounds can destroy countries, ravage families and damage generations to come. As difficult and painful as it can be, forgiveness is often the only thing that can heal these wounds and set things right. Helen Whitney’s FORGIVENESS explores the act of forgiveness through a wide range of stories, from adultery and personal betrayal to the post-genocidal reconciliation of nations.

It should come as no surprise that a documentary that was produced, directed, and written by someone who was nominated for an Oscar, won an Emmy and won two Peabody Awards is amazing and quite worthwhile to watch. It’s a pretty basic premise, but it’s deeply emotional in that it inevitably connects with anyone and everyone on some kind of level. It’s a universal concept and one we don’t really practice as much as we should and this film helps take a look at all kinds of forgiveness, though it often deals with weightier topics (which in turns help you put into perspective your own situations in which you must forgive others as well).

The documentary is split into two parts, with the first focusing on the “private realm.” This goes into such areas as the Amish response to the slaughter of children at the Nickle Mines schoolhouse massacre. It’s by no means a light topic to watch or witness, but it is one that is very eye opening as well. The second part is focused in the “public and political” realm, which zeroes in on such things as the post-genocide in Rwanda and the reconciliation between Jews and Germans.

It’s a very thought provoking film and one that will no doubt leave you a little shaken no matter what. Even if you’re on good terms with everyone in your life by some chance, it’s still a Highly Recommended documentary as you really won’t see anything else quite like it. After all, how many DVD covers do you know of that has a quote from the Dalai Lama on it?

The DVD
New Video/docuramafilms brings Forgiveness to DVD in a standard amaray DVD case. Nothing overly special about the presentation of the documentary here—no fancy exterior cardboard slipcase and the cover itself looks rather simplistic. Video and audio is a solid presentation overall and about what you’d expect from a documentary. As can be expected from a documentary the video is in 1.85:1 and the audio is a simple DD5.1 mix with the majority of the track focused in the front channels. Extras include:

Extended Bonus Sequences

The extra sequences are definitely worth watching if you enjoyed the film; sadly there aren’t many of them, but with a run time of nearly three hours this isn’t a documentary that needs more to it. Highly Recommended.

Forgiveness is now available on DVD.

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“The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Season One, Volume One” DVD Review

When you do a cartoon series based on some of the biggest characters in the Marvel Universe, you want to do it right. The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, to put it very simply, gets it right. Remember that terrible The Avengers: United They Stand cartoon, where the only good thing was the fact that it ended after thirteen episodes (though there was the awesome spin-off comic handled by Ty Templeton, but that’s for another time)? Well, this latest adventure series from Marvel Animation makes up for it in spades. Full of great writing, solid animation and exciting action, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes puts Marvel’s big guns out there and does them justice. Suffice it to say, this is the cartoon that countless Marvel fans have been waiting for!

Synopsis:
When the planet is threatened by super-villains, time traveling conquerors, mythical monsters or mad robots bent on the total destruction of humanity, when the forces of evil are so overwhelming that no single hero has the power to save the world, when there is no hope left… The Avengers assemble! Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Ant-Man, Wasp and The Incredible Hulk! Earth’s Mightiest Heroes must band together to protect the world from a break-out of Super-Villains the likes of which no one has never seen. Only the Avengers can stand against this threat, and the fate of the world rests on their shoulders. Discover their adventures and experience the excitement of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes!

As odd as this compliment may sound, I find The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to be…comforting. It’s straight-forward heroics with dynamic, developed characters. The action and stories feel “classic” to me, yet also not out of date. The show feels…genuine. That, to me, is probably the reason why this show has become such a fan-favorite among the comic crowd since its debut. Given some of the dubious treatment of the characters in the comics, the Avengers here feel as they should – heroes to the core. They’re called “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” for a reason, and we see it here.

We get all the big guns – like Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk and Thor – plus a few high-class B-listers – like Hawkeye, Giant-Man, Wasp and Black Panther. Together, they make up a pretty much iconic line-up of heroes. While Marvel has their fair share of big-time teams, I can’t think of any team more iconic than these guys. To me, when you think ‘super-hero team,’ you think of The Avengers (and the Justice League). Well, a comic reader like myself does, and hopefully this show will introduce this great gaggle of heroes to a new generation of comic readers.

This show works for me because it hits what I believe is the core truth of the Avengers, that they are the superteam of the Marvel Universe. Yeah, we also have our X-Men and Fantastic Four who go off and have their amazing adventures, but The Avengers are…they are what hold the Marvel Universe together. They are what other heroes strive to be at the end of the day. The X-Men want to be admired like them. Spider-Man looks up to these heroes, they are his idols. And even though this show is just starting, and the team is just coming together here, the creative team behind the show get it. They get what these characters represent on a higher level and in overall status for the Marvel Unvierse. And while they decide to become a team a bit too quickly at the end of “Breakout, Part Two,” thankfully they still do take the time in the following episodes to explore how this team will come and work together.

In fact, how the show starts off, with five episodes each composed of four inter-connected vignettes, it allows us to learn about these characters in a gradual fashion, effectively showing us just why these characters belong together. Mix in some backstory, lay the groundwork for future plotlines, and the show starts off on the right foot so, when the team does form, it works. They’re not just mushed together, but it feels a bit more natural than that. Of course the full team isn’t formed after “Breakout, Part Two,” but that’s just another charm of the series – it evolves. Yes, The Avengers are born at the end of the first two-parter of the series, but that’s not the end of it. New characters appear and join…heck, some even leave, but we do get to the final roster (for now), by the end of the last episode included on these two volumes, and it’s a good approach by the creative team. It just allows us to get to know the characters as they get to know each other, which in effect gives the viewer a bit more of a personal stake in the whole thing.

The show isn’t about each individual character and their assorted origins, but how they came together to become The Avengers, how they became a team. Yes, we learn about each of these characters, but the underlying theme in all of them is what led to each character becoming an Avenger prevails. We learn what we need to and how that eventually brings each character together.

My beefs with the show are very, very minimal. I found the birth of the Avengers at the end of “Breakout, Part Two” to be a smidgen rushed. It really needed just a couple more minutes just to allow the scene to breathe and move naturally along. And some episodes may be a bit weaker than others here, but overall I don’t really have much to complain about. The gelatinous Dough Boy seems a bit too silly as a villain to use in the episode “Living Legend,” another little nitpick I have. The writing seems just fine, the characters are all likable, the action well-handled (definitely a step-up from Wolverine and The X-Men, which seemed to suffer from slow action beats), and the stories never boring. Like I said, some episodes are better than others (the two-part “Gamma World” is easily my favorite in the collection), but there’s not an out-and-out stinker in the bunch.

The episodes included in release are “Iron Man is Born!,” “Thor the Mighty,” “Hulk Versus The World,” “Meet Captain America,” “Breakout, Part One,” “Breakout, Part Two,” “Some Assembly Required,” “Living Legend,” “Everything is Wonderful,” “Panther’s Quest,” “Gamma World, Part One,” “Gamma World, Part Two.”

Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the comic material, or new to the scene, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is definitely worth your time (and, in this case, your money). It has this charm to it, this obvious attention paid to it, that allows it to rise above most of the animated shows that have come from Marvel. While not on par with the likes of The Spectacular Spider-Man, it can proudly stand alongside the likes of Wolverine and The X-Men and the best of the Marvel Animated Features DTVs, and deserves to be added to one’s home video collection. The casting is great, the writing is great, the animation is slid, and it all comes together in fine form. The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes comes Highly Recommended.

The DVD:

Available only in Canada, though still playable on all Region 1 and Multi-Region players, Vivendi Entertainment Canada brings us The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Season One, Volume One in undeniably snazzy packaging. No doubt they’re going the extra mile to try and lure Canuck fans from importing the American releases for the series and, well, you have to admit they’re doing a heck of a great job with it.

This two-disc set, that in itself has already grabbed the attention of many, is housed in a nice cardboard digipack fold-out case. No slipcase to keep it in, unfortunately, but the cardboard case folds out to reveal two separate disc holders and an additional page to house the exclusive poster also included. It’s definitely a great looking package that, undoubtedly, will stand out on shelves. It looks, well, high-class. It reminds of the great effort Vivendi Entertainment Canada put into their Wolverine and The X-Men: The Complete First Season Steelbook release. It just looks great, plain and simple. However, packaging isn’t everything, so let’s keep going…

The widescreen transfer on all thirteen episodes, across both discs, looks great but not perfect. Compression is definitely noticeable, but not to the point where it’s too distracting. It’ll be apparent from time to time. Colors remain bright and vibrant, the blacks are deep. While not on par with the The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes DVD releases from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, they’re still nothing to scoff at. Moving on to the audio, the English Dolby track is crystal clear and, at times, just enjoyably loud and thunderous. The French audio track also gets a good showing. It’s a respectable showing from the Vivendi crew.

Extras are pretty slim here, sadly. The bonus features add up to three additional featurettes already readily available on Marvel.com. Each run only a couple of minutes and…that’s it. For those who haven’t seem these featurettes, all three are rather enjoyable fluff peices that run a few minutes. One features story editor Chris Yost, and the other two spotlight voice actors from the series, Rick Wasserman and Fred Tatasciore. Slim, yes, but could be worse…they could be barren like the recent Batman: The Brave and The Bold two-disc sets from Warner Home Video. Still, Vivendi does deserve serious recognition for making sure this is one release that people don’t skip over on the shelves.

Now, will these stop Canadian fans from importing the single-disc The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes DVDs released in America? Well, it depends on how crucial the bonus features are. If they’re not important, then this nice two-disc set from Vivendi should do fans just fine. If bonus features are important, well, I have to give the nod to Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and their informative features that look ahead at the second season of this great cartoon. Still, Vivendi also has a leg up with their release being a two-disc set at an affordable price (between $15 – 20 dollars), while Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is releasing two which’ll cost slightly higher (between $20 – 25). There are a couple things to consider for Canucks trying to decide which edition to get.

Judging this collection solely on its own merits, and no comparisons to any other concurrent releases, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Season One, Volume One two-disc DVD release definitely comes Highly Recommended to own. This cartoon is perfect – absolutely perfect – for new fans, casual fans, and the die-hards. This show embraces what makes The Avengers such a great Marvel team and just runs with it…and it works beautifully! It provides enough nods to the well-versed fans while not alienating those new to the franchise, and manages to balance it all quite nicely. Plus, the show’s just fun! Toss in a gorgeous looking package, slim but enjoyable extras, and you have a great two-disc set that fans really should pick up. Seriously – go get it!

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Season One, Volume One Limited Edition two-disc DVD release hits Canadian retailers on Tuesday, April 26th, 2011.

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“The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume One & Two” DVD Review

It’s safe to say that this is the cartoon Marvel fans have been waiting for. The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes brings it all out there, so much of what makes the Marvel Universe such a unique place, and pretty much lays it all out on the table. And, for those having flashbacks of the old The Avengers: United They Stand Fox Kids cartoon, fear not, they hit it out of the park. Yeah, there are just a handful of teensy-tiny issues but, overall, this is a very strong showing for some of Marvel’s best heroes, and simply a great new series from Marvel Animation.

Synopsis:
When the planet is threatened by super-villains, time traveling conquerors, mythical monsters or mad robots bent on the total destruction of humanity, when the forces of evil are so overwhelming that no single hero has the power to save the world, when there is no hope left… The Avengers assemble! Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Ant-Man, Wasp and The Incredible Hulk! Earth’s Mightiest Heroes must band together to protect the world from a break-out of Super-Villains the likes of which no one has never seen. Only the Avengers can stand against this threat, and the fate of the world rests on their shoulders. Discover their adventures on these new DVD home video releases – The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume One: Heroes Assemble! and The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume Two: Captain America Reborn! from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment!

Please note this review will cover both DVD volumes – The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume One: Heroes Assemble! and The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume Two: Captain America Reborn! – given the content of each.

The episodes included in these two single-disc volume releases are “Iron Man is Born!,” “Thor the Mighty,” “Hulk Versus The World,” “Meet Captain America,” “Breakout, Part One,” “Breakout, Part Two” on The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume One: Heroes Assemble! and “Some Assembly Required,” “Living Legend,” “Everything is Wonderful,” “Panther’s Quest,” “Gamma World, Part One,” “Gamma World, Part Two” on The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume Two: Captain America Reborn!.

The DVD:

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) has collected the first thirteen episodes of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes over two separate single DVD releases and, to be honest, much like the animated program itself, there’s little to complain about. Packaging is standard Amaray cases snugly tucked in foil-embossed cardboard slipcases. Looks sharp and will stand out on shelves.

Digging in, WDSHE provided what I find to be a satisfying release. In terms of audio and video, you really can’t ask for better here. The widescreen transfer on all thirteen episodes, across both discs, is pretty spectacular and near flawless. Yes, there’s some slight compression and noticeable aliasing, but you won’t see it unless you’re looking for it. The colors are bright and vibrant, the blacks are solid, and everything appears smoothe. This is a seriously high-quality transfer, something that seems to becoming a rarity on DVD thanks to Blu-ray. This show will look stunning on your TV and, thankfully, it’ll sound just as excellent. The English Dolby Digital 5.1 track is crystal clear and, at times, just thunderous. Action scenes pop and work all the channels, with quieter scenes sounding just as crisp. Crank it up, folks!

Extras are slim but not underwhelming. Outside of the standard collection of trailers (including a trailer for the live-action Thor theatrical film), bonus content consists of two featurettes, totaling fifteen minutes, looking at the second season of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. These featurettes are filled with spoilers, so watch out! Clips from first and second season episodes not yet broadcast come fast and furious, along with production artwork, so if you don’t want those ruined….becareful! The featurettes are dubbed “New Looks, New Heroes” and “New Stories, New Threats,” and deliver exactly what their names state. Personally, after watching these, I’m really excited for the first season to finish up so we can move ahead with the second. The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes looks to be moving in some pretty interesting directions.

My only gripe is that I wish this WDSHE released a two-disc set as opposed to two single-disc volume releases. The first thirteen episodes in one collection. That seems to be a growing trend among, see the recent Batman: The Brave and The Bold DVD releases, and it would’ve been nice to see that done here. Outside of that, I have nothing to complain about for these releases. Everything is pretty top-notch across the board when it comes to quality here.

Overall, fans will not want to miss out on The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume One: Heroes Assemble! and The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume Two: Captain America Reborn! when they hit shelves. I find these two volumes are the perfect way to introduce new viewers to these great Marvel characters. The stories and characters are accessible, the animation is well-done, and the show never fails to entertain. For comic fans, this is the Marvel Universe cartoon you have been waiting for – no question about it! For those looking for a great access point into the world of Marvel, this is seriously the best place for you to start. Both The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume One: Heroes Assemble! and The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume Two: Captain America Reborn! come Highly Recommended, and I recommend you pick up both volumes in order to get the full experience of Marvel’s latest and possibly greatest ‘toon!

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume One: Heroes Assemble! and The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume Two: Captain America Reborn! arrive on DVD April 26th, 2011 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

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“Fly Away” DVD Review

The poignant yet humor filled story about a single mother of a teenager severely impacted by autism, forced to reckon with her daughter’s future. As her child becomes an adult, what used to work, no longer does. What will sustain her daughter, and herself? A parent-child love story, when love means letting go.

Synopsis
A powerful film directed by Emmy Award® winner Janet Grillo (Autism: The Musical), FLY AWAY narrates the story of Jeanne (Beth Broderick, Bonfire of the Vanities, Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and her autistic teenage daughter, Mandy (Ashley Rickards, One Tree Hill). Jeanne has cared for Mandy since the day she was born, growing closer every day to a child who is charmingly offbeat one moment and nearly impossible to manage the next. In the dog park, Jeanne encounters Tom (Greg Germann, Ally McBeal, Friends with Money), an easygoing and accepting neighbor who sparks a romantic interest, but she finds juggling Mandy’s care and her own career leaves little room for a new man. As the pressures of work and her child’s needs increase, she must decide whether or not to enroll Mandy in a therapeutic residential facility. Over the course of a few weeks, Jeanne is confronted with the most difficult decision a parent can make: to let go, allowing her child to grow, but also grow apart; or to hold on tight and fall together.

Though it seems to be set up to be a documentary, this is in fact a low-budget film that only seems as such at first. I was a bit skeptical of the film at first, because it seemed like an odd combination of both documentary and film but then I looked at the back cover and recognized Greg Germann and realized that I was, in fact, watching a small little film from writer and director Janet Grillo. The premise is one that is deeply moving and unfortunately one that many parents can relate to. Raising a child as a single parent is an unfortunate circumstance and having a child with autism is just another layer to add to an already difficult situation.

Though the film is short (barely over eighty minutes), it does paint a very moving portrait of a mother and daughter and the trials and tribulations she must go through to try and support her autistic daughter as well as have a work-from-home career (which even comes under attack by her daughter when her laptop gets treated as a toy). With no help from her ex-husband, Jeanne (Beth Broderick) tries to maintain a hold on her situation but frequently finds it difficult to not only do just that but to also find new outlets for human contact. A saving grace comes in the form of Tom (Germann), but that turns sour as Jeanne cannot reconcile a relationship with him as well as maintain one with her daughter.

It’s not a film I personally felt any connection to but it was still one that was deeply moving regardless. It may feel a little bit like a Lifetime production, but it’s nonetheless a Recommended outing if only for the strength of the performances here. They were so good that it very well could have been a documentary without much trouble.

The DVD
New Video/Flatiron brings Fly Away to DVD in a standard amaray DVD case. Nothing overly special about the presentation of the film here—no fancy exterior cardboard slipcase and the cover itself looks rather simplistic. Video and audio is a solid presentation overall and about what you’d expect from a documentary. As can be expected from a documentary the video is in 1.85:1 and the audio is a simple DD5.1 mix with the majority of the track focused in the front channels. Extras include:

A conversation with the filmmakers of FLY AWAY
Autism Speaks: It’s Time to Listen (Music Video)
Companion guide with information on autism spectrum disorders

The conversation with the filmmakers is definitely a must-listen if you enjoyed the film, though sadly the rest of the extras are pretty light. I would’ve liked more insight from the actors involved, but overall a solid DVD (and one which 10% of the sales goes to Autism Speaks). Worth a Rental as I doubt it’s something you’ll watch repeatedly.

Fly Away arrives on DVD on April 26th.

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“Lucky” DVD Review

Doesn’t matter how impossible the odds are – the chances of actually hitting a Powerball jackpot are just 1 in almost 200 million – almost everyone dreams of winning the lottery. Who hasn’t found themselves daydreaming of an answer to the question, “What would I do with all that money?”

Synopsis
Directed by Jeffery Blitz (Spellbound), LUCKY offers a glimpse into the reality behind the fantasy of lottery winners. They come from an amazing range of backgrounds, but all of their lives are radically transformed by the same thing – an enormous lottery jackpot. With prize money reaching into the hundreds of millions, some lives are changed for the better, some for the worse. And together, their stories show us what happens when the fantasy turns real. Do we become what we dreamed we would or what, deep down, we really are?

It’s always something you dream about, but what if you really did end up winning multi-millions of dollars. Just by writing that sentence I went off into a dream world for a few minutes, thinking about what I’d do with my winnings and then thoughts immediately drifted to the inevitable many who would come out of the woodwork, demanding money for whatever reason. It’s a not uncommon issue among lottery winners and, as this documentary shows, it’s also not all fun and games after winning the lottery either. It brings with it its own set of headaches and some wish they had never won it at all.

As the documentary attempts to show it seems the amount you win equates to the amount of the headache, though there are outliers in both regions. Some people change drastically, for better or worse, and others stay entirely the same. It’s an interesting look at this phenomenon as it’s something that few have experienced, yet they’re thrown into the spotlight so immediately after winning that they can’t help but try to shy away from it at first. It doesn’t hurt that Lost popularized the idea of cursed winnings, but that kind of notion has been around for decades prior regardless; but I can definitely see that show as being a reason for the sudden production of this film.

It’s an interesting psychological study as well as a character study, since both undergo such drastic changes after a big win. The documentary is brief but covers a wide enough territory that you don’t ever spend too much time on any given winner. Overall it’s not a highly educational documentary like most of docuramafilm’s other releases, but it’s still a Recommended one if only to fulfill the voyeuristic desire we have when it comes to looking at the wealth of others.

The DVD
New Video/docuramafilms brings Lucky to DVD in a standard amaray DVD case. Nothing overly special about the presentation of the documentary here—no fancy exterior cardboard slipcase and the cover itself looks rather simplistic. Video and audio is a solid presentation overall and about what you’d expect from a documentary. As can be expected from a documentary the video is in 1.85:1 and the audio is a simple stereo mix with the majority of the track focused in the front channels. Extras include:

Deleted Scenes
Filmmaker Biography

The extra scenes are definitely worth watching if you enjoyed the film; sadly there aren’t many of them, but it’s not exactly a documentary that needs much more to it. Worth a Rental.

Lucky arrives on DVD on April 26th.

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“Hulk Versus Thor” DVD Review

Two heroes duking it out with one another, usually over a misunderstanding of some type, is pretty standard comic fare. Fans have long since wished to see some of the most heroic clashes brought to life and, in 2009, Marvel Animation did just that with Hulk Versus, pitting the Jade Giant against two of Marvel’s biggest characters, Wolverine and Thor. These two short movies, which together compromised Hulk Versus, were well-received across the board. Each were their own beast, both presenting standalone stories of the Hulk tackling renowned Marvel characters. Now, with the live-action Thor around the corner, Lionsgate Home Entertainment is releasing one of them, Hulk Versus Thor, as its own single-disc DVD release.

Synopsis:
With the forces protecting Asgard at their weakest, Loki the trickster seizes the opportunity to destroy his cursed stepbrother, Thor, once and for all. In an epic battle that pits god against monster, the Mighty Thor is forced to clash with the only creature that has ever been able to match his strength – the Incredible Hulk! Prepare for a battle of epic proportions with Hulk Versus Thor!

Fans of Thor may find themselves torn by this 45 minute movie. Thor takes an enormous amount of punishment in this movie, but he does it for a reason. A reason that some viewers may not realize right away, which I won’t spoil here. The plot is pretty basic, though surprisingly steeped in Thor’s mythology (considering Hulk is the headliner in the title, he’s more like a guest-star in the actual feature). Loki has brought the Hulk to Asgard in order to take over the kingdom. After separating Banner from the Hulk, Loki soon finds himself unable to control the beast, resulting in Thor and Loki teaming up to save Asgard from total destruction at the hands of that green beast. While the plot may be simple, the movie brings a majestic feel to the story, helping elevate it above such simple trappings.

Additionally, we get to see a great amount of Thor’s supporting characters, some who are given smaller roles than others, of course, but still, each one gets a moment or two to shine. Thor himself is given the largest role in the movie, more so than even the top-billed Hulk, and he’s handled quite well for the character. Again, others may find fault with how the Hulk really does take Thor to the cleaners, but I thought it worked in building the suspense in the story. And given the surroundings, it’s a story that’s really easy to get totally engaged in. Maybe it was the fantastical nature of the setting, but Hulk Versus Thor will really suck the viewer right in. We have this great new world that I find is utilized quite nicely.he designs are stylized, but they also carry a sense of the fantastic to them. The movie definitely keeps the designs true to their comic roots, giving us classic versions of some of the most beloved costumes in the Marvel Universe.

Before I go any further, I just want to make specific note of a few things. In terms of the cast, Fred Tatasciore is great as the Hulk, providing just the right amount of ferocity to the role, one he’s reprising from previous Marvel Animated Features. Matthew Wolf as Thor, brings noticeable weight and gravitas to the respective roles, making it all the more easier to believe this fantastical world he inhabits. The score by Guy Michelmore also deserves a special mention. Michelmore manages to ups his game considerably with each movie he composes, and his excellent work here is no exception.

If I have any major criticism, it seems that Hulk acts mostly as a plot point for the movie. It’s because of Hulk that Thor has to go to Hell itself to try and save Asgard. Hulk is simply a pawn here, but I suppose that is one of the most logical way to throw the Hulk into a world where we wouldn’t usually see him. On the other hand, I like that this movie actually had the nerve to toss the viewer into the middle of a story. When we first see Bruce Banner in Hulk Versus Thor, he’s already been captured by Loki. Sure, the movie gives enough exposition to keep the viewers up to speed, especially those who may be new to the Marvel Universe, but it’s a nice trick to throw us into the thick of things.

While Hulk Versus Thor may not be perfect, it will definitely please fans and newcomers, plus it still holds up as its own adventure. Those coming off the live-action Thor movie will likely get a rise out of this animated brawl. If you’re looking for a kick-ass comic movie, you got it here! The visuals are eye-popping and exciting, the characters engaging and the story is a genuine “how will they get out of this?” kinda ride. It’s a no-brainer to check off Hulk Versus Thor as Recommended.

The DVD:
Lionsgate Home Entertainment, and Maple Pictures in Canada, has released this Hulk Versus Thor DVD as a very obvious and very deliberate cash-in for the upcoming live-action Thor movie, an easy impulse buy at a very affordable price. It’s a no-frills package. No fancy packaging or inserts of any kind. Just the disc. Click here to view media from this release.

The bonus content for this disc is identical to what was released on the original Hulk Versus: Two-Disc Special Edition DVD release from 2009. We get an audio commentary with Craig Kyle and Chris Yost, an audio commentary with Frank Paur, Sam Liu and James Peters, a “Of Gods and Monsters: The Making of Hulk Versus Thor featurette, a “Jack Kirby + Thor” featurette, a First Look – Thor: Tales of Asgard featurette, and a collection of trailers. The only real new content are a few new trailers for recent and upcoming Lionsgate releases.

The commentary by Kyle and Yost is enthusiastic and informative, basically covering the same ground as the other commentary. However, they reveal an interest fact about the opening credits for Hulk Versus Thor that really adds to the movie and talk about some neat deleted concepts. The second audio commentary with Paur, Sam Liu and James Peters basically covers how they approached this story and what they wanted to convey in their style to make the movie feel as epic as the characters themselves. The “Of Gods and Monsters: The Making of Hulk Versus Thor featurette is your standard EPK featurette, covering the basics on the creation of Hulk Versus Thor. The “Jack Kirby + Thor” featurette pays tribute to Kirby and covers the influence of the famed artist on the project and how they tried to stay true to what Kirby created. After that the “First Look – Thor: Tales of Asgard” featurette gives us our first look at the next (and last) Marvel Animated Feature, hitting shelves next month, starring a young Thor exploring the world of Asgard and covering the character’s origin.

All in all, a great selection of bonus materials, but nothing we haven’t seen before. And, much like the original Hulk Versus DVD release, the animation quality is very high and it looks really nice on a standard-definition transfer. The colors look solid and everything looks smashing. The audio track, as you can expect, sounds excellent in 5.1 Dolby Digital, with everything coming out crisp and clear. A really solid audio and video transfer.

So, can I recommend this release? Well, it’s kind-of hard to. While Hulk Versus Thor can be picked up for as little as $6, the original Hulk Versus DVD release, with both Hulk Versus Thor and Hulk Versus Wolverine, can be swooped up for between $5 – 10 dollars. The only way I could recommend this release is if you really, really can’t stand or care for Wolverine, or are coming out of Thor and just want to see more of the Norse God in action. That’s it, really. To everyone else, you can easily Skip It. Besides, for a few dollars more, the original Hulk Versus Blu-ray release is still readily available for around $10.

Hulk Versus Thor is now available on DVD home video.

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“Let’s Talk About Sex” DVD Review

Every day in America 10,000 teenagers catch a sexually transmitted disease, 2,400 young girls get pregnant and 55 young people are infected with HIV.

Synopsis
LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX takes a revealing look at how American attitudes toward adolescent sexuality impact today’s teenagers. Director James Houston takes us on a journey to examine trends in American society as personified by a cast of diverse characters. At a high school for pregnant teens in Los Angeles, young girls are contemplating teen parenthood. In Washington, D.C., where HIV infection rates rival several African countries, community outreach workers are trying to save lives. The film also travels to the Netherlands, where Houston compares European attitudes with those in America, then concludes in Oregon, where the lessons learned in Western Europe are helping to create practical solutions. Real parents and youth, compelling statistics, animation and archival material all combine to paint an urgent picture of American youth in crisis, one that not enough people are talking about.

This documentary is probably not going to do much to change the way we currently teach sex education, but it makes a valiant effort to do so. The star power the film has received in terms of quotes isn’t bad either, with actor Hugh Jackman stating “Whether you have children, teach children, or are around children at all…this movie is a must-see.” And it really is; while it’s an uncomfortable topic for adults to have with children of any age, the documentary goes beyond that and helps provide multiple perspectives on the issue in an attempt to disperse the taboo surrounding “the talk.”

The film takes a pretty wide glance at everything, with the film going through a pretty wide variety of areas in the world to research the topic. Granted, the U.S. is a major focus but the trip to the Netherlands is a nice eye opener in terms of how we treat the topic compared to Europeans. Of course in that same regard, Europeans think it’s horrible that Americans enjoy watching extreme and gory violence in films…but that’s just the difference between the cultures that come into play quite a bit. In any case the documentary does a superb job in kind of narrowing down the oddities of the “situation” and discussing how we can better deal with the topic in the US.

It’s not a perfect documentary and like I said I doubt it’ll solve very many problems (and it’ll probably only solve a few if the right people watch the documentary to begin with), it’s still a valiant effort and one that will hopefully find the right people so changes can start to trickle down. As Reverend Carlton W. Veazey, President and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice said, “A humorous and factual approach to the important issue of sexuality education make this a must-see for any American.” There’s no real better way to sum up this documentary than that. Recommended.

The DVD
New Video/docuramafilms brings Let’s Talk About Sex to DVD in a standard amaray DVD case. Nothing overly special about the presentation of the documentary here—no fancy exterior cardboard slipcase and the cover itself looks rather simplistic. Video and audio is a solid presentation overall and about what you’d expect from a documentary. As can be expected from a documentary the video is in 1.85:1 and the audio is a simple DD2.0 mix. There are no extras.

Overall a disc that’s worth a Rental as I’m not sure if you’d ever want to come back and watch this a second time, but it’s definitely worth checking out at least once and to maybe pass onto others.

Let’s Talk About Sex arrives on DVD on April 21st.

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“Jews and Baseball” DVD Review

Baseball is seen as the quintessentially American sport with good reason. Emerging by the mid-nineteenth century as the nation’s most popular game, baseball provided each new wave of immigrants with an avenue into American culture. Includes interviews with former player Al Rosen, sports historian Maury Allen, celebrity enthusiasts Larry King and Ron Howard, and all-stars Shawn Green and Kevin Youklis, as well as a rare interview with baseball legend Sandy Koufax.

Synopsis
JEWS AND BASEBALL traces the Jewish involvement in the history of the sport from the game’s earliest days, through the tumultuous war years to today’s All-Star games. By bringing to life dramatic moments in this history, including how the legendary Sandy Koufax pioneered rights for players and Hank Greenberg’s support of Jackie Robinson, the film demonstrates how Jews shaped baseball, and baseball shaped them. Narrated by two-time Academy Award® winner Dustin Hoffman, this lively and thorough account of Jewish America’s love affair with baseball sheds new light on America’s national pastime.

As far as documentaries about sports go, there are hundreds to choose from on any given day. Mix in the influx of sports movies over the past decade and you really aren’t left wanting for any kind of dissection of a particular sport—every major one has been picked apart in great detail over the years. Thankfully Jews and Baseball, as indicated by its very blatant title, is a different kind of film. The documentary is just as it sounds and follows the Jewish interest in baseball from the games beginnings to where it is now. Everything from fans, to managers, to celebrities, to actual players are interviewed and covered here in quite exhaustive detail—plenty of interesting interviews and unique angles to look at when delving into this narrow-focused topic.

I’m a fan of the sport, though I admittedly have more fun playing it than I do watching or following it, but I do enjoy going to a game on occasion. That very sentence should paint me as a mere casual viewer of the sport, so I can’t even begin to share the same devotion and interest that anyone involved with this documentary can, but it is still a very interesting documentary regardless. It’s an interesting “angle” to explore, although when you take a step back it’s pretty obvious the Jewish involvement with baseball—not so much even the game of it, but just the enjoyment of it and how passionate and enthusiastic they are about the sport.

There really isn’t too much to tackle with this one. There are plenty of great interviews pushed into this ninety minute documentary and when it gets mixed with footage of the game, it’s a hard one to ignore and not want to pick up if you’re a fan of baseball. And even if you’re like me who only (very) occasionally enjoys the sport, it’s still an interesting and Recommended documentary to check out.

The DVD
New Video/docuramafilms brings Jews and Baseball to DVD in a standard amaray DVD case. Nothing overly special about the presentation of the documentary here—no fancy exterior cardboard slipcase and the cover itself looks rather simplistic. Video and audio is a solid presentation overall and about what you’d expect from a documentary. As can be expected from a documentary the video is in 1.85:1 and the audio is a simple DD2.0 mix. Extras include:

Deleted Scenes
Sophie Milman Sings “Take Me Out To the Ball Game”

Overall a disc that’s worth a Rental as I’m not sure if you’d ever want to come back and watch this a second time, but it’s definitely worth checking out at least once.

Jews and Baseball arrives on DVD on April 21st.

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“The Human Experience” DVD Review

We are all searching for answers to the most basic questions: Who are we? Why are we here? Do we really matter? Features insight and commentary from spiritual leaders and philosophers including: Anna Halpine, Dr. William Hurlbut, Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Dr. Alveda King, and Rev. Richard Neuhaus.

Synopsis
In a world fraught with hostility and violence, an altruistic group of young men endeavor to understand the true essence of the human spirit by visiting forgotten souls such as homeless New Yorkers, Peruvian orphans and isolated Ghanaian lepers. By spotlighting heartwarming stories from around the world, this uplifting documentary shows viewers that every single person, no matter his or her lot in life, is beautiful. Gorgeously filmed and masterfully narrated, THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE explores with depth and compassion what it means to be a human being.

Chances are if you’re around the film festival scene or anything relating to it you’ve seen or heard about The Human Experience. The film has been around since 2008 and for whatever reason we’re just now getting it on DVD. The documentary has won numerous awards, but more importantly it has inspired and moved countless individuals to look into their own heart and souls to try and discover what it means to be human. This documentary is by no means light material—it’s very weighty and if you’re not in the mood for a mental revolution/cleansing then you’d probably be best to ignore this film as it will definitely present you with some revolutionary thought processes as well as a flood of emotions.

The film is divided into what are essentially three segments. All three portions follow the same brothers as they experience a week on the streets of New York and see what it means to be homeless and all of the trials and tribulations that come along with it. They interview homeless individuals as well as live the life for themselves, begging for food and doing their best to fight one of the coldest weeks on record in New York. From there the film moves onto the lost children of Peru and as they did with the homeless in New York, our brothers connect with the children through simple forms of laughter and human interaction. From there the film travels to Africa and it’s there the brothers visit those suffering from HIV/AIDS as well as visiting a leper colony. Even in areas of such despair they still manage to find hope and smiles from those they talk with and connect with anyone and everyone simply because we are all human.

This is definitely a very engaging and deeply emotional film to witness. I was surprised that it had a PG-13 rating on the back, but after watching it I can definitely see why—this isn’t material meant for everyone. True, it is really just about humans but there are some emotionally jarring elements to being human and this film really tackles them all in a way that is both eloquent and poignant. It really was a remarkable film and I’m glad to have been finally able to enjoy it—I’m truly surprised it took this long for such a film to find a distributor for the home video market. This is definitely a Highly Recommended production.

The DVD
New Video/docuramafilms brings The Human Experience to DVD in a standard amaray DVD case. Nothing overly special about the presentation of the documentary here—no fancy exterior cardboard slipcase and the cover itself looks rather simplistic. Video and audio is a solid presentation overall and about what you’d expect from a documentary. As can be expected from a documentary the video is in 1.85:1 and the audio is a simple DD5.1 mix with the majority of the track focused in the front channels. Extras include:

Commentary with filmmakers
Theatrical Trailer
Photo Gallery
Subtitled in Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, German, and French.

The commentary is definitely a must-listen if you enjoyed the film; even though the documentary by its very nature gave us insight into the condition, this just gives us an even deeper look into what everyone involved with the film went through as well. Also it may seem odd to actually list the subtitles as extras but I thought it was appropriate in this case—even though the documentary is in English, it is something that transcends language. Highly Recommended.

The Human Experience arrives on DVD on March 29th.

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“Who’s the Caboose?” DVD Review

Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program.), David Cross (Arrested Development), Andy Dick (Less Than Perfect), Sam Seder (Home Movies), H. Jon Benjamin (Archer), Kathy Griffin (Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List), Laura Kightlinger (The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman), David Waterman, Andy Kindler (Everybody Loves Raymond) and more star in WHO’S THE CABOOSE, the highly worshipped alternative-comedy prequel to the highly worshipped miniseries sequel, Pilot Season.

Synopsis
When a film crew making a documentary on a rare fatal disease among the homeless stops for a drink at an underground comedy club, it doesn’t take long before they decide to turn the attention of their film to the hot and funny stand-up comedian Susan (Sarah Silverman) who is leaving New York and heading to L.A. to land a part in a TV show, unbeknownst to her “performance artist” boyfriend, Max (Sam Seder). Desperate not to lose Susan, Max chases after her in hopes of bringing her back to the “more pure” New York scene. As Susan suffers the indignities and compromises her agent (Andy Dick) hopes will make her a star, fate deals Max a winning hand in the form of entertainment lawyer Ken Fold (H. Jon Benjamin). Suddenly Max is the toast of Hollywood and everyone in town wants him. But all he wants is Susan…

Stepping into this film I thought it was some new production, but the video quality and age of the actors involved immediately clued me in that it was, in fact, quite old. Fourteen years old in fact; I’d never heard of Pilot Season, but this is apparently a prequel to it and…ah, whatever. This is a funny film whatever it is. I’m always a fan of whatever Silverman is in and when it also includes David Cross, I have no qualms at all about picking it up to watch…regardless of its age. In the case of Who’s the Caboose? it focuses on pilot TV season and all the stupidity that it encompasses as actors struggle to find their big break or just their next paycheck.

What is slightly remarkable, however, is just how much of an in-joke this whole thing feels like. There’s no real average-joe relationship to strike up with anyone in this film; they’re all in a medium that most of us will never touch and it almost feels like you have to be part of that guild to really appreciate it. In any case it’s an interesting “peak” inside an area we wouldn’t normally see (although with a lot of current productions we do see these kind of parodies more often, but Who’s the Caboose? is a very interesting little time capsule to gaze upon).

There’s truthfully not much to say about this one—it’s got a ton of talent in that we now recognize because they’ve had their big breaks (though in the case of Cross or Andy Dick, perhaps the only got a so-so break, since they seem to stick to very low-level parts…though they work for Cross and I don’t care much for Dick so he doesn’t matter to me) and for that reason alone it’s a ton of fun to watch. Regardless of your reason for checking it out, Who’s the Caboose? is a good time to be had. Worth a Rental, even if you aren’t in on the joke all the time.

The DVD
New Video/Flatiron brings Who’s the Caboose? to DVD in a standard amaray DVD case. Nothing overly special about the presentation of the documentary here—no fancy exterior cardboard slipcase and the cover itself is a big splash of yellow to the retinas. Video and audio is a solid presentation overall and about what you’d expect from a documentary. As can be expected from an older production, the video is in 1.33:1 and the audio is a simple DD2.0 mix. There are no extras.

Overall a disc that’s worth a Rental as I’m not sure if you’d ever want to come back and watch this a second time, but it might be worth at least once viewing if you like the talent involved.

Who’s the Caboose? arrives on DVD on March 29th.

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