Officers Jimmy Monroe and Paul Hodges have their weapons drawn on a gun-wielding killer. They agree to shoot on three. But, wait, does that mean 1…2…shoot or 1…2…3…then shoot? Punches hit hard and laughs hit harder (or is it the other way ’round?) when action star Bruce Willis and ace comic Tracy Morgan pair as bickering-but-got-your-back Brooklyn buddy cops. Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy) directs the gritty, goofball goings-on as the guys hunt for a stolen 1952 mint-condition baseball card (Jimmy needs it to fund his daughter’s wedding), a hunt plunging them into a gunslinging war with a deadly drug ring. Batter up, fans. The boys are ready to take you out to the ol’ brawl game!

Studio: Warner Brothers
Year: 2010
Release Date: July 20, 2010
Run time: 107 minutes
Rating: PG-13

Audio: DTS-HD MA lossless 5.1 mix
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Disc Spec: 1 BD50
Region: A

To tell the truth, I wasn’t looking forward to this film at all. I’m a pretty big fan of most of Kevin Smith’s work, but he didn’t write the film. It could be argued that he did write Jersey Girl and that could be considered a bomb, but his films usually average about $25-$30 million anyway. A Kevin Smith film isn’t really about bringing in a large amount of money at the box office. His charm is in his writing, especially the dialogue and interaction between characters. There’s a very specific audience his films will appeal to and none of them have really branched away from that. But him not writing this one made me think, “Eh. Not sure what that’ll be like since he didn’t write it.” When it comes to Bruce Willis, I’ve never talked to anyone who dislikes him entirely. There always seems to be at least one of his films everybody enjoys. Die Hard, The Fifth Element, and Sin City are just a few off the top of my head. The real buzzkiller for me though was Tracy Morgan. He’s just never been funny to me. He was beyond lame on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock has never been able to hold my attention for very long. Not to mention all the trailers for Cop Out didn’t make me laugh. Thankfully though, first impressions can be so very wrong.

One of Cop Out’s biggest charms is that it feels like a buddy cop comedy you’ve seen before, but have forgotten how much you enjoy it. The film feels similar to a 48 Hrs or Beverly Hills Cop film. Bulletproof is also a good example. Cop Out is pretty much what you expect when it comes to roles Bruce Willis chooses as it’s pretty much no different than his role as John McClane on the surface, but he’s a lot funnier this time around. As far as Tracy Morgan goes, the funniest thing I could remember him saying was his one line in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (“Man… I don’t know what the f— you just said, Little Kid, but you’re special man, you reached out, and you touched a brother’s heart.”) until this film. He was downright hilarious at times. The only person who was funnier than Morgan was Seann William Scott who stole every scene he was in. Even though Kevin Smith didn’t pen the script this time around, it still feels like a Kevin Smith film. It could be due to the fact that Jason Lee has a small role in the film, but I like to think it’s because Cop Out offers the same kind of comedy you’d find in a Kevin Smith film with a bit more action. It also took me forever to place Scarface from Half Baked as Poh Boy.

Cop Out is surprisingly funny and incredibly entertaining. Give this film a chance even if the trailers may not be doing anything for you. I felt the same way and wound up thoroughly enjoying the film. After a long, stressful day at work, an R-rated comedy with a lot of laughs is one of the best ways to relax and this film offers just that. It’s a great film to go into with no expectations other than to just have a good time.
Movie Quality: 9/10

Print/Audio Quality

The print is presented in 1080p/VC-1 with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. found this print to be rather eye pleasing with vibrant colors. Fleshtones are very natural and accurate, considering that we see a few bare necessities throughout. Black levels are solid throughout. The image was also sharp with excellent details. The image is clean and pristine making this a very nice looking image.
Video Quality: 9/10

The audio is presented in DTS-HD MA lossless 5.1 mix. This film is a dialogue driven film. Dialogue was clean through the center channel with a nice degree of depth. I never had to raise or lower the volume to make out what was being said. The soundfield does get a effects into play, but they do not come off as dynamic as I would have expected. The soundtrack takes advantage of the soundfield with audio also pouring through the rears. I was left a bit underwhelmed by the end of the film on the audio side of things.
Audio Quality: 8.5/10

Special Features

• Wisdom from the Shit Bandit [HD]
• Focus Points [HD]
• DVD/Digital Copy combo disc
• Resume Play

Special Features: 4/10

Final Thoughts

Cop Out is surprisingly funny and incredibly entertaining. Give this film a chance even if the trailers may not be doing anything for you. I felt the same way and wound up thoroughly enjoying the film. The special features are lacking for this film which will disappoint fans of the film. On Blu-ray, the video stands out but the audio is one area lacking for a film of this nature. I still recommend this film on Blu-ray and well worth a viewing for fans of comedy.
Overall Rating: 8/10

The Losers provides nonstop and pretty thrilling action, with a stellar cast, doing the comic book series from which it was adapted proud in the process. The movie may not have an airtight plot line, but its enthusiastic, talented actors–Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, and the underappreciated Jason Patric–and the crisp, punch-packing direction by Sylvain White more than make up for it. The Losers follows the gambits of a team of U.S. Special Forces, with appropriately comic-bookish names like Clay (Morgan), Roque (Idris Elba), Jensen (Evans), Pooch (Columbus Short), and Cougar (Óscar Jaenada). They’re sent to Bolivia, where they are double-crossed and presumed dead–with a big bad evil guy, Max (Patric), hot on their trail. In the jungle, they join up with a mystery woman (Saldana, a confident, believable action hero) with her own agenda–and perhaps not the most trustworthy of intentions. The action is nonstop, with plenty of great special effects, as the team continues mostly under the radar with both its mission and trying to stay one step ahead of the shadowy Max. Morgan is terrific as a budding action star, self-deprecating in the manner of George Clooney, and a man who (almost always) gets the job done. And he’d be nowhere without his crew of sidekicks, all of whom have great chemistry and repartee, though it’s Evans’s Jensen who gets the best comic-relief lines. “I’m warning you, I am a lethal killing machine,” Jensen intones to a mocking disbeliever. “In the words of ancient Taoist masters, ‘Don’t start none… Won’t be none.’” Saldana brings great sex appeal to her role as the mystery ally. The comic-book nonstop action in The Losers makes it the perfect movie escape–a true winner for fans of action, humor, and a little extra kick in the pants.

Studio: Warner Brothers
Year: 2010
Release Date: July 20, 2010
Run time: 106 minutes
Rating: PG-13

Audio: DTS-HD MA lossless 5.1 mix
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Disc Spec: 1 BD50
Region: A

Hollywood is sometimes down right weird! This year two movies with the same plot and same characters came out with in months of each other,The Losers and The A Team. The Losers is based on a comic book and the A Team well you know…. When the A Team video comes out I will review it, but of the two, The Losers was the best. It is grittier and rougher arond the edges and true to its source the comic book. Edgy is the key word here. The Losers are a no nonsense group of men and woman. The whole picture is feels harsh , grimy, rough, and deliberately anti slick.

The characters are stereo typical in many ways, but since they are not well known actors they come across fresh and dare I say it “likeable.” I am very impressed with Morgan[Clay] the leader. His character has flaws and he is not always right. The action is enhanced by the use of different camera angles. The main thing I want to praise and bring attention to is the use of humor. Humor in films particularly action movies must never be forced or corny. It must flow out of the action and usually it is dead pan. The Losers does this right and it makes the funny lines sound natural and funnier.

If there was death match between the A Team and the Losers, it would be no contest..The Losers, they fight to win and they don’t fight fair or try to trick you. The credits were welcome and a nice touch. I hope there will be another film, but since this one didn’t really make money, I doubt it. That is a shame because I would love to see this group again.
Movie Quality: 8.5/10

Print/Audio Quality

The print is presented in 1080p/VC-1 with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. Color management is excellent with the style that is being used in the film. Colors are bold, vibrant, and pop off the screen. There is a golden tint being used and is very noticeable on everyone’s faces. Black levels are rather deep. ‘The Losers’ is one detailed film due to strong color management and deep blacks. There are no blemishes on this print at all, it looks clean with a subtle use of grain throughout the film.
Video Quality: 9/10

The audio is presented in DTS-HD MA lossless 5.1 mix. I couldn’t believe how dynamic the sound effects and the soundtrack were across all surrounds. From gun shots to action heavy sequences, you will feel like the action is taking place right in your living room. Bass management is also well done in this film. Again, I think that Warner engineers have also nailed down the use of proper bass management in their films. With the film split between action and dialogue, voices come through the center channel rather clean.
Audio Quality: 9.5/10

Special Features

• Zoe and the Losers
• Band of Buddies: OPS Training
• The Losers: Action-Style Storytelling
• Sneak Peek at Batman: Under the Red Hood
• Deleted scenes

Special Features: 6/10

Final Thoughts

But take a closer look at The Losers and you’ll start to see that there’s more than just mindless entertainment going on here. It’s not trying to deliver a message, thank god, and it’s not an action movie with pretentions of being great art. But it’s smart, well written and well acted, and that separates it from the last 10 action movies you paid good money to sit in the dark and stare at. On Blu-ray, the video and audio are very well done and this is highly recommended for those looking for something different in their action films.
Overall Rating: 8/10

In Clash of the Titans, the ultimate struggle for power pits men against kings and kings against gods. But the war between the gods themselves could destroy the world. Born of a god but raised as a man, Perseus (Sam Worthington) is helpless to save his family from Hades (Ralph Fiennes), vengeful god of the underworld. With nothing to lose, Perseus volunteers to lead a dangerous mission to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus (Liam Neeson) and unleash hell on earth. Battling unholy demons and fearsome beasts, Perseus and his warriors will only survive if Perseus accepts his power as a god, defies fate and creates his own destiny.

Studio: Warner Brothers
Year: 2010
Release Date: July 27, 2010
Run time: 106 minutes
Rating: PG-13

Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 mix
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Disc Spec: 1 BD50/1 DVD
Region: A

The story is essentially a Cliff’s Notes version of the original, with Perseus (Sam Worthington) saving the citizens of Argos after they angered the gods by destroying temples and statues. He embarks on a heroic quest, heavy-handedly aided by the gods – because his dad just happens to be Zeus (Liam Neeson) – to save humanity from the wrath of Zeus, unleashed via proxy by Hades (Ralph Fiennes). If he is unsuccessful, the city’s only option is to sacrifice princess Andromeda (Alexa Davalos) – no fault of her own, just a result of her mother Cassiopeia’s ignorance and arrogance – to the Kraken, a sea monster unleashed by Poseidon. During his journey with some soldiers of Argos, Perseus gets gifts and hints from not only his father, but the beautiful Io (Gemma Arterto – HUGE upgrade to Bergus Meredith), another demigod stuck in the middle of the story.

As with many movies recently, dialogue has taken a backseat to special effects and action sequences. There’s a watered down heroic thrust to the movie, and no real incentive for Perseus to save Argos, much less Andromeda; all he wants is revenge on the gods, and the people of Argos are an afterthought. This is a major flaw considering Andromeda was the driving force of the original quest, and here she’s merely window dressing.

At times the original Pegasus flew straight out of Napoleon Dynamite’s notebook, but the 2010 version is outstanding! A major upgrade. Each scene trumps the next, convincing the viewer of not only the scene’s reality, but fluid movements suggest that a winged horse actually exists. Great special effects. The best, however, is clearly Medusa. Snakes for hair, sinewy muscle, a lethal bow and arrow, a gaze that turns men to stone. The combination was enough to leave children with nightmares in 1981, and every facet was improved upon. Add in a sinister laugh and an upgraded crib replete with chasms, razor-sharp stalagmites, “liquid hot magma,” and the result is one of the scariest supernatural villains ever to appear on film. (It’s just too bad that she’s so easy to kill in both version of COTT).
Movie Quality: 9/10

Print/Audio Quality

The print is presented in 1080p/VC-1 with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. I was very impressed with this print on Blu-ray and having seen this film in the theater, I felt like Warner did a fantastic job presenting this film in high definition. Colors are not the strong point in this print as the world is intentionally made to look very dark and drabby due to the nature of the film. There are certain colors that due stand out, and when they do, they carry a nice pop to them. Black levels are inky and very strong throughout the film. Details are also excellent with facial pores being so evident and then. This is a film that you will feel like a part of the atmosphere which the image quality does pull you in. Even the CGI is well done not looking overly done.
Video Quality: 9.5/10

The audio is presented in DTS-HD MA lossless 5.1 mix. Warner churns out yet another impressive audio mix on Blu-ray, taking advantage of the film’s sound design. I was immersed at all time throughout no matter if it was special effects or dialogue. The depth of the dialogue is well done through the center channel sounding very clear and crisp. The action sequences sound nice and expansive in the sound field with plenty of bullets whizzing around, car chase sequences, and the vampires hissing when attacking. Then add the special effects when someone gets bitten or torn apart adding to the soundfield.
Audio Quality: 9.5/10

Special Features

• Maximum Movie Mode
• Sam Worthington is Perseus [HD]
• Zues: Father of Gods and Men [HD]
• Enter the World of Hades [HD]
• Calibos: The Man Behind the Monster [HD]
• Tenerife: A Continent on an Island [HD]
• Scorpioch [HD]
• Actors and their Stunts [HD]
• Wales: A Beautiful Scarred Landscape [HD]
• Bringing Medusa to Life [HD]
• Prepare for the Kraken [HD]
• Sam Worthington: An Action Hero for the Ages [HD]
• Deleted Scenes [HD]
• Alternative Ending [HD]
• DVD
• Digital Copy

Special Features: 8.5/10

Final Thoughts

I grew up as a fan of the original “Clash of the Titans”, which this day and age doesn’t hold up really well at all due to the bad special effects. The remake has the total package to be better than the original, except two major areas, which are the narrative and character development. I just did not feel like the remake did a good enough job in these areas. The video and audio quality is some of the best I have seen on Blu-ray. The special features are excellent and nice to see that they are also in high definition. This is highly recommended for fans of the the remake, for others I would consider renting this first.
Overall Rating: 8/10

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* Please allow 2-3 weeks to receive the prize.
* Email us at george@beyondmediaonline.com with your name, address.
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Best of luck

Comedy legend Rodney Dangerfield is at the top of his game as Chester, a salesman looking for a little respect…and a big job promotion. To impress his boss, Chester becomes the coach of the company-sponsored girls’ soccer team, the Ladybugs. But when Chester and his assistant coach (Jackée) see their woefully unskilled players, they realize the Ladybugs are going to get squashed! Chester decides the team needs a girl who plays like a boy, so he secretly enlists his fiancée’s son, Matthew (Jonathan Brandis), to become Martha, the Ladybugs’ newest member. With his harebrained plan in place, Chester figures he has a shot at winning the championship and saving his career…or losing everything!

Studio: Lionsgate
Year: 1992
Release Date: June 6, 2010
Run time: 90 minutes
Rating: PG-13

Audio: DTS-HD MA lossless 5.1 mix
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Disc Spec: 1 BD50
Region: A

Comedy legend Rodney Dangerfield is at the top of his game as Chester, a salesman looking for a little respect…and a big job promotion. To impress his boss, Chester becomes the coach of the company-sponsored girls’ soccer team, the Ladybugs. But when Chester and his assistant coach (Jackée) see their woefully unskilled players, they realize the Ladybugs are going to get squashed! Chester decides the team needs a girl who plays like a boy, so he secretly enlists his fiancée’s son, Matthew (Jonathan Brandis), to become Martha, the Ladybugs’ newest member. With his harebrained plan in place, Chester figures he has a shot at winning the championship and saving his career…or losing everything!

This early 90’s effort is arguably Rodney Dangerfield’s last truly great comedy. He’s in top form in this one as an engaged working class guy who agrees to coach the “Ladybugs” girls soccer team to finagle a promotion from his boss & better support his future wife (Ilene Graff). Soon, he discovers how deep over his head he’s in—the team is a disaster. That is, until he convinces his teenage future son–who has natural skill as a player–to don drag as new member “Martha” & whip the team into shape. So it sort of functions as a “Tootsie” on a soccer field as both must keep up the charade in order to have a winning season & impress the boss with his coaching.

Jackee Harry gives fine comic support as Rodney’s sassy assistant, and even the late child actor Jonathan Brandis has some very good moments. Highlights: A scandalously hilarious bit in a girl’s dressing room; Brandis frantically switching from boy clothes to drag (several times) when both his Mom and the girl on the team he likes are under the same roof; Rodney donning drag himself to rescue Brandis from a potentially disasterous “skinny dipping” session with the girls; Rodney rattling off some of his one-liners in traditional fashion; the soccer action sequences; Rodney finally standing up to his boss with the great line, “What good is it to be the best when it brings out the worst in you?”; and Rodney’s unforgettable closing gag (I won’t spoil it for you!).
A fun & breezy comedy, “Ladybugs” definitely scores!

If you loved Dangerfield, you’ll love him here. This movie is just plain fun. Dangerfield and his girlfriend’s son Matthew (played by the late Jonathan Brandis) work together to achieve their goals. Dangerfield gets stuck coaching a girls’ soccer team to get in good with his boss and Brandis just wants to play soccer. That’s when Dangerfield hatches a plan to dress Matthew up as a girl to play on the soccer team and make the team better. Known as Martha to the girls, the web starts getting tangled here as Matthew/Martha and Dangerfield try to hide this from everyone else.

Movie Content: 9/10

Print/Audio Quality

The print is presented in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. Colors are not strong, but are sufficient for a film that is 19 years old. This is a brighter looking color palette, this helps in balancing out the lack of pop. Flesh tones are natural and accurate. Black levels are strong. There is film grain throughout the print which never becomes a hindrance to the image. This print is an upgrade over the previous DVD release which will make fans of the film happy.
Video Quality: 8/10

The audio mix has a DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio lossless track. I was quite impressed with the depth of the dialogue coming through the center channel. Dialogue was clean and clear with no apparent issues. This is more of a front heavy experience with minimal usage of the rears until a few sound effects come pouring through. They are very minimal at best. The soundtrack actually is much more front heavy than I expected. The soundtrack would have been the one element which should have been in play in the soundfield.
Audio Quality: 8/10

Special Features

• Trailer

Special Features: 1/10

Final Thoughts

This film has to be one of Rodney Dangerfield’s best films of all time just to receive recognition for an older movie to come back on Blu Ray is an honor but this movie is definitely worth it. The lack of special features is a shame here for fans.
Overall Rating: 7/10

The show is entertaining and addictive. The interaction of the characters is what makes this show a must see. The two lead characters work together to solve white collar crimes, one is FBI, the other is former (or maybe still practicing) criminal on a work release. There is a light touch of comedy in their interaction with each other. They both work well together and are learning the perspective of the ‘other side’ from each other as they solve the crime. Both characters have appeal. Neal easily stretches the rules to get what he wants, Peter goes by the rules.

Studio: 20th Century Fox
Year: 2010
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Run time: 315 minutes
Rating: NR

Audio: DTS-HD MA lossless 5.1 mix
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Disc Spec: 3 BD50
Region: A

I don’t think I’ve ever quite heard of a show quite like “White Collar,” a clever new mystery show in which the FBI decides to employ a brilliant criminal to help them bust other “white collar” criminals. While it has an intriguing new twist on the odd-couple cop show, it also has brilliantly witty writing, a murky conspiracy within the FBI, and some excellent actors with plenty of chemistry — and it promises to get even better.

While searching for a thief known as the Dutchman, FBI agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) hears that gentleman thief/conman/counterfeiter Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer)– who he put in prison — has escaped, only to allow himself to be recaptured. Caffrey is desperate to find his girlfriend Kate, and so he makes Burke an offer: free him from prison, and he’ll help him catch the Dutchman.

Though he’s dubious about Neal, Peter reluctantly agrees. After only a few hours out, Neal has a new wardrobe, a luxurious apartment and a wealthy landlady who doesn’t care that he’s a former thief. And he’s working for the FBI.

Together, the odd partners tackle a bunch of tricky white-collar cases: data hidden in a designer dress, a priceless Bible stolen from a mobster, a painting with a dodgy trail, smuggled Iraqi artifacts, clashes with Interpol in Chinatown, a jewel robbery, infiltrating Wall Street, real estate fraud, an illegal organ-trafficking ring, priceless wine bottles, and a kidnapper who is gunning for Neal. And as Neal tries to unravel the clues that Kate has left him, he and Peter become entangled in a shadowy conspiracy within the FBI…

The first season of “White Collar” is a lot like Neal Caffrey — elegant, smart and charming, to the point where you don’t really care that it has some painfully unrealistic moments (trotting their only witness onto a rooftop party with the KILLER nearby?), and a few slow spots. Fortunately, the writers seem to be smoothing the lumps out.

And the writers have a knack for winding together the one-off cases with an overarcing plot about a corrupt FBI agent who is conspiring against Neal and Peter. There’s plenty of hilarious dialogue (“It’s a loft, seized in a DEA bust — fifteen hundred square feet, service elevator. It’s perfect!” “Is that a chalk outline?” “I’m sure they’ve cleaned that up by now”) and suspenseful little scenes where Neal and/or Mozzie disguise themselves to infiltrate secure places where the FBI can’t go without a warrant.

But the show’s heart is DeKay and Bomer. DeKay is a snappy, sharp-edged FBI agent who is willing to bend the rules to get the job done, and respects Neal more than he’ll admit. And Bomer is a sort of 21st-century Remington Steele: boyishly handsome, clever, charming, refined, and a little bit rakish. At the same time, you really feel sorry for him because of the loss of Kate, and the hints that she may be in on the plot against him.

There’s also a solid supporting cast — Tiffani Thiessen as Peter’s loving, long-suffering wife, and Willie Garson as the hilarious Mozzie (“I just said that to a guy who enjoys killing people with his bare hands!”). Also good performances by Diahann Carroll and Noah Emmerich.
Movie Content: 9/10

Print/Audio Quality

The print is presented in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Having watched every single episode of this series on broadcast television in high definition, this show looks really good in its transfer to Blu-ray. Colors are strong throughout and vary from episode to episode to fit with the atmosphere. Details are great especially with scenes where the camera is up close. Black levels are very strong considering that the series has many dark scenes throughout each episode. Fans of the show will not be disappointed the slightest..
Video Quality: 9/10

The audio is presented in DTS-HD MA lossless 5.1 mix. The rears get a fairly good work out with a dynamic sounding experience. I couldn’t believe how dynamic the sound effects and the soundtrack were across all surrounds. Dialogue is well balanced and very clean. The sound here totally makes up for the inconsistencies with the image.
Audio Quality: 8.5/10

Special Features

• With commentary featuring Jeff Eastin, Tim DeKay, Tiffani Thiessen & Matt Bomer.
• Threads
• Books of Hours
• Flip of the Coin
• The Portrait
• All In
• Free Fall
• Gag Reel
• Deleted Scenes
• Pro and Con
• A Cool Cat in the Hat
• Nothing But the Truth

Special Features: 7/10

Final Thoughts

It sounds like just another odd-couple cop show, but “White Collar Season 1″ has the benefit of excellent writing, acting and some grippingly suspenseful plots. I highly recommend this show on Blu-ray.
Overall Rating: 7/10

For over 25 years, Sylvester Stallone’s “mythic commando” Rambo (VARIETY) has thrilled audiences worldwide. From “ragged and flashy” FIRST BLOOD (THE NEW YORK TIMES) to the “shockingly entertaining” RAMBO (SEATTLE TIMES), the series chronicles a reluctant killing machine as he wages war against corrupt global forces – all while facing a battle within his own soul. RAMBO: COMPLETE COLLECTION has everything the ultimate Rambo fan needs, including all 4 films together for the first time! .

Studio: Lionsgate
Year: 2010
Release Date: July 27, 2010
Run time: 386 minutes
Rating: R

Audio: DTS-HD MA lossless 7.1 mix
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Disc Spec: 1 BD50
Region: A

The biggest and most obvious omission is the new Rambo – Extended Cut that is being released on Blu-ray on its own the exact same day as this set. That’s right, a whole new version of the fourth movie with 90 minutes of new extra features and it’s being left out. Why it was not included in this “Complete” set makes absolutely no sense to me at all.

The second big omission is a bonus disc including all of the extra features and documentaries that were available on a bonus disc first in the Special Edition Trilogy set and then the DVD version of the Complete Collector’s Set a couple of years ago. There are nearly 2 hours of documentaries and featurettes about the original 3 movies that are not on the blu-ray discs out now. Wouldn’t this have been a perfect opportunity to press a new bonus blu-ray disc with all these features and include it with this set?

The third thing missing from this set and, although not nearly as important as the first two, should still have been included is the deleted scenes from Rambo III. For some reason Lionsgate left them off of the Rambo III blu-ray. Since the July 27 Complete Collector’s set appears to just have the same blu-ray of Rambo III out now don’t look for it to have those deleted scenes.

First Blood
He never fought a battle he couldn’t win–except the conflict raging within his own soul.Academy Award-nominee Sylvester Stallone stars as war hero John Rambo. An ex-Green Beret haunted by memories of Vietnam, he was once the perfect killing machine. Now he’s searching for peace, but finds instead an over-zealous, small-town sheriff who’s spoiling for a fight. All hell breaks loose when an unjustly imprisoned Rambo escapes and becomes the target of a massive manhunt. Now he must use all his cunning, combat skills and weapons training to stay alive and outwit his pursuers. Co-starring Brian Dennehy and Richard Crenna, First Blood is an explosive action-thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final, powerful frame.

Rambo: First Blood Part II
He’s back! Superstar Sylvester Stallone is John Rambo, the ultimate action hero, in this explosive Oscar(r) -nominated sequel to First Blood that boasts a riveting screenplay by Sylvester Stallone and James Cameron (Titanic). Although the Vietnam War is officially over, Rambo remains the perfect fighting machine. But his survival skills are tested with a vengeance on a top-secret mission that takes him back to the jungles of Vietnam in search of American POWs. For when Rambo is double-crossed, this “expendable” hero, armed with just a bow, arrows and knife, must defeat savage enemies equipped with deadly firepower.

Rambo III
The battle rages on as superstar Sylvester Stallone detonates the third blast in the action-packed Rambo series. Combat has taken its toll on John Rambo (Stallone), but he has finally begun to find inner peace inside a monastery — until his friend and mentor Col. Sam Trautman (Richard Crenna) shows up to ask for his help on a top-secret mission in Afghanistan. A war-weary Rambo declines, but when Trautman is captured, Rambo erupts into a one-man firestorm to rescue his former commanding officer and decimate the enemy. It’s an intense, pulse- pounding adventure that boasts unrelenting action and suspense from start to finish!

Rambo
As storytelling, the latest Rambo is the most bare-bones of the bunch. Rambo has little to say, so it’s especially galling that Stallone, as director and co-writer, obliges him to have essentially the same conversation at three different points (the final distillation: “Live for nothing or die for something”). The Burmese army goons seem in competition to commit the most hideous atrocity (e.g., child skull-crushing underfoot), the better to justify the eventual, lovingly protracted spectacle of them being eviscerated by high-powered weaponry. Although shot in Thailand, the movie has mostly been photographed in brown, reducing any particular sense of place but, perhaps, perversely increasing our gratitude for the splashes of purple whenever hot metal tatters flesh.

The audio mix for ‘Rambo: Extended Cut’ has a DTS HD 7.1 Master Audio lossless track which is the same encode as the previous Theatrical release. The audio mix is a sonic boom from the point that action starts on the screen all the way to the final scenes of the film. The entire soundfield was filled with all kinds of bullets whizzing by and hard hitting fists. At all times I did feel like I was a part of the action, then add the intense firefight towards the end of the film which will blow the roof off of your house. Dialogue is clear and loud so you can hear perfectly what is being said. Lionsgate has found the perfect mix for both where they get equal footing.
Movie Content: 9.5/10

Special Features

First Blood: Ultimate Edition

• Audio commentary with Sylvester Stallone
• Alternate Ending
• Interactive Military Special Operations Features- Survival Mode, Early Warning System, MetaBrief, MetaScope, MetaSight, MetaPoint, MetaMap

Rambo First Blood Part II: Ultimate Edition

• Audio commentary with director George P. Cosmatos
• Interactive Military Special Operations Features- Survival Mode, Early Warning System, MetaBrief, MetaScope, MetaSight, MetaPoint, MetaMap

Rambo III: Ultimate Edition

• Audio commentary with director Peter MacDonald
• Deleted Scenes
• Interactive Military Special Operations Features- Survival Mode, Early Warning System, MetaBrief, MetaScope, MetaSight, MetaPoint, MetaMap

Rambo: 2-Disc Special Edition

• Audio commentary by Sylvester Stallone
• Deleted Scenes
• “Legacy of Despair: The Struggle in Burma” featurette
• “It’s a Long Road: Resurrection of an Icon” featurette
• “A Score to Settle: The Music of Rambo” featurette
• “The Art of War: Completing Rambo” featurette
• “The Weaponry of Rambo” featurette
• “A Hero’s Welcome: Release & Reaction” featurette
• Digital Copy of the feature film

Special Features: 6/10

Final Thoughts

This is very hard for me to recommend this set to fans of ‘Rambo’ that already own the previous releases on Blu-ray as the single releases or the previous trilogy set. The main reason is that because of the ‘Extended Cut’ of Rambo not being a part of this set and you get the mere ‘Theatrical Cut’. As I mentioned earlier in my review, there are special features missing from this set which is a real shame. We did not review the video and audio quality for this set since they are the same as the previous releases which were reviewed in 2008.
Overall Rating: 8/10

Modern and mythical worlds collide in this thunderous fantasy-adventure starring Pierce Brosnan, Kevin McKidd and Uma Thurman as you’ve never seen them before! Percy Jackson is no ordinary teenager…he’s just learned he’s the son of Poseidon and is accused of stealing Zeus’ ­lightning bolt – the most powerful weapon ever created! With storm clouds brewing, Percy embarks on an incredible cross-country journey to prove his innocence, recover the bolt and prevent a war amongst the gods that could destroy our world!

Studio: Fox 2000 Pictures
Year: 2010
Release Date: June 29, 2010
Run time: 118 minutes
Rating: PG

Audio: DTS-HD MA lossless 5.1 mix
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Disc Spec: 1 BD50/2  DVD
Region: A

Yet another adaptation of fantasy novel, “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” is pretty decent as mindless entertainment, but still a slight disappointment, considering the film is helmed by Chris Columbus, director of the first two installments of “Harry Potter” franchise. “Percy Jackson” is nice to look at (with Uma Thurman as campy snake-headed Medusa), but it lacks something that makes a truly thrilling adventure tale.

Gods and goddesses of Greek mythology really live. The film’s story is set in today’s America, where an ordinary high school boy Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman), who is actually son of Poseidon, is accused of stealing the lightning bolt of Zeus (Sean Bean). Percy doesn’t know anything about the theft. In fact, he didn’t know anything about his lineage until he is attacked by a winged creature and is saved by his best friend Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) and mysterious teacher Mr. Brunner (Pierce Brosnan).

The setting is unique (I like Mick Jagger-ish Hades played by Steve Coogan), and the special effects are reasonable, but you may not find wisecracking Grover very funny. I haven’t read the original books by Rick Riordan, but even so, I can see considerable changes have been done to the source material. The story and the character development both are weak and underwritten. So what does Percy really want to do, save the world or his mother? What is the point of stealing Zeus’s lightning in the first place?

The two-hour film, of which script is unfocused at best, fails to build up the necessary tension that is essential to the storyline. The film has interesting fantasy elements – Zeus’ warning on global-scale war, romance of Percy’s mother, Percy’s potential as a demigod – but none of them really rings true. “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” is a fairly enjoyable, but a little disappointing, adventure movie.
Movie Content: 7/10

Print/Audio Quality

The print is presented in 1080p/MPEG-4 with a 2.85:1 aspect ratio. The stylized colors used in this film do an excellent job in bringing the world of Greek mythology come to life. Dark tinted blues are the primary colors that are used in the film. Blacks are deep. I found the details to be excellent considering that this is a darker looking film. The image quality is crystal clear providing some of the best visuals seen on Blu-ray.
Video Quality: 9.5/10

The audio is presented in DTS-HD MA lossless 5.1 mix. From the action to the dialogue scenes, I felt immersed the entire time. Bass is just perfect with the score and even adding that excellent punch with gun shots and explosions. The soundfield is engaging at all times pulling me in making this a very atmospheric experience. The rears encompass nice directional movement from speaker to speaker. Dialogue is very clean and crisp through the center channel.
Audio Quality: 9.5/10

Special Features

• 10 Deleted Scenes
• Secrets of the Gods
• Discover Your Powers Quiz
• The Book Comes to Life
• Inside Camp Half-Blood
• On Set with Brandon T. Jackson
• Meet the Demigods
• Composing for the Gods: A Conversation with Christophe Beck

Special Features: 7/10

Final Thoughts

Director Chris Columbus did a lot better with Harry Potter. “Percy Jackson” has a lot of plot holes, very derivative and predictable storylines, subplots that make no sense, and leaves many unanswered questions.
Overall Rating: 7/10

Hot Tub Time Machine hits the bull’s-eye: it’s a rude, crude comedy with enough smarts and emotional sweetness to make it completely entertaining. Seeking to bring some youthful optimism back to their failed, miserable lives, three middle-aged guys–Adam (John Cusack), Nick (Craig Robinson), and Lou (Rob Corddry)–go to a mountain resort where they spent some of their wildest days (reluctantly dragging along Adam’s nephew, Jacob, played by newcomer Clark Duke). A drunken accident in the titular hot tub sends them swirling back to 1986, where each of them decides to risk changing the future (and possibly erasing Jacob from existence) by doing things just a little differently. A plot summary doesn’t capture the movie’s rambunctious, daffy spirit as much as… well, the ridiculous title: this is a movie called Hot Tub Time Machine! Any expectation you may have will be met and surpassed. John Cusack delivers another underplayed yet marvelously funny performance, his best since High Fidelity; Clark Duke, from the TV show Greek, proves a promising young comic talent. But the movie really belongs to Robinson and Corddry, who’ve been floating around the edges of tons of comedies–some have been good, some have been bad, but they’ve both been consistently funny even in crappy movies. Hot Tub Time Machine gives them center stage and lets them reveal the comic chaos they can deliver. It helps, but is not necessary, to have lived through the ’80s to find Hot Tub Time Machine exquisitely silly.

Studio: MGM
Year: 2010
Release Date: June 29, 2010
Run time: 99 minutes
Rating: PG-13

Audio: DTS-HD MA lossless 5.1 mix
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Disc Spec: 1 BD50/1 DVD
Region: A

Four downtrodden, depressing friends get together for a wild male weekend full of cavorting and camaraderie at a ski resort. This ski resort is special because it’s where three of them had some of the most memorable experiences of their lives in the 80’s, and the trip is meant to reinvigorate youthful momentum and break adult monotony. Unfortunately, the resort is now in shambles, not nearly what they remember, and depressing as hell. Not what they expected. When the four decide to obnoxiously drunk in a hot tub, you know what happens next: They are transported back to their debaucherous and exciting 20-something lives of Winterfest ‘86 where they careened recklessly down the slopes, dove face first Scarface-style into mounds of drugs, and bedded bimbo ski bunnies dressed in atrociously colored yet wonderfully form-fitting 80’s attire (spandex is a privilege, not a right). The rest is side-splitting comedy, as the foursome must make every attempt to make their way “Back to the Future” while possibly righting past wrongs.

The main cast (John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, Clarke Duke) is perfect together. Tons of chemistry. The supporting cast is just as good: Chevy Chase is the aloof hot tub repairman; William Zabka is the same character William Zabka always plays; and Crispin Glover is the oddball, one-armed* bellhop (a great touch considering his McFly roots in Back to the Future). It’s just too bad they couldn’t find a bit role for Michael J. Fox. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the FACT that Rob Corddry absolutely steals every scene.

With 80’s references to pop-culture, music, fashion, politics, and everything else, the movie is packed full of hilarity. When Robinson gets onstage to relive his musical glory days, I defy you not to bob your head and snicker at his “new” song. When Corddry wakes up hungover in the hot tub and says hello to a squirrel in his own special way, there is no way you don’t laugh. And the “gag” joke between Zabka and Corddry is epic. With the exception of the awkward insertion of a new love interest for John Cusack – a subplot never fully developed – the entire film is a compounded running joke that will evoke great memories for those who are fond of the era, mixed with various forms of laugh out loud comedy. Add in an awesome soundtrack and a predictable yet completely fulfilling twist ending (it’s the ultimate what if we all imagine if we were allowed to time travel), and this movie is easily the most enjoyable of the year. While not quite on par with the cult status Hangover deserves, this film is very comparable, quotable, and hilarious.
Movie Content: 9/10

Print/Audio Quality

The print is presented in 1080p/MPEG-4 with a 2.85:1 aspect ratio. The print actually looks stunning with a very nice looking color palette that pops. There are a lot of rich colors like reds, blacks, and yellows. There are some subtle hints of grain in the print, but not as noticeable. Colors are vibrant throughout the entire film. Blacks are deep which result in some very good details. Once the guys go back to the 80’s, the film looks very good switching a bit in styles to fit the 80’s as if we were there once again.
Video Quality: 9/10

The audio is presented in DTS-HD MA lossless 5.1 mix. The soundfield is spectacular for this film as it presents a a great sense of atmosphere. The 80’s songs from the soundtrack sound so crisp in the soundfield. The panning effects across the rears add to the atmosphere as if you were in a concert setting. Dialogue is crystal clear and crisp through the center channel..
Audio Quality: 9/10

Special Features

• Deleted Scenes
• Theatrical Promotion Spot
• Production: Acting Like Idiots
• Chevy Chase: The Nicest Guy in Hollywood
• Totally Radical Outfits: Dayna Pink
• Crispin Glover: One Armed Bellhop
• Theatrical Trailer

Special Features: 7/10

Final Thoughts

This is a great, funny comedy that keeps you laughing and on the edge of your seat. This is different than most comedies out there right now. John Cusack, again, has another great movie under his belt. I highly recommend this film if you are looking for a very good comedy.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10