PG-13; 89 minutes; $9.98; Amazon

Available on to own on Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment tomorrow is the 2001 comedy Just Visiting. Directed by Jean-Marie Gaubert and produced by the late John Hughes, the film stars Jean Reno, Christina Applegate, Christian Clavier, Malcolm McDowell, Tara Reid and Bridgette Wilson. There are no special features of extras on the single-disc.

Just Visiting is the American remake of the French comedy Les Visiteurs, which was also directed by Jean-Marie Poiré and starred Jean Reno and Christian Clavier. A sequel, Les visiteurs 2: Les couloirs du temps, was released in 1998 and a third film, Les Visiteurs 3 : La Terreur, is scheduled to be released this year.

The American version centers on Lord Thibault Malféte (played by Jean Reno), who is about to marry Princess Rosalind. During the wedding banquet, Thibault's drink is spiked by a witch, causing him to  hallucinate and kills Rosalind. Quickly sentence to death by the king, Thibault's loyal servant Andre (played by Christian Clavier) finds a wizard (played by Malcolm McDowell) to send him back in time. However, things go wrong. Thiabualt and Andre end up being sent to the year 2000.

Penguins of Madagascar
Director: Eric Darnell & Simon J. Smith
Voice Cast: Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights, Conrad Vernon, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Jeong, Annet Mahendru, Peter Stormare, John Malkovich
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 17, 2015
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00SK573RU
Running Time: 92 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and Digital HD today is the exciting 3D computer-animated action-comedy Penguins of Madagascar. Directed by Eric Darnell & Simon J. Smith, the film features the talented voice cast of Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights, Conrad Vernon, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Jeong, Annet Mahendru, Peter Stormare and John Malkovich. The Blu-ray is loaded with Special Features, such as Top-Secret Guide to Becoming an Elite Agent, "He Is Dave" Music Video, Flipper Slap Shake Waddie and Roll, "Celebrate" Music Video by Pitbull, Do the Penguin Shake with tWitch, Deleted Scenes, Madagascar Mash-Up, Global Flight Plan, Cheezy Dibbles Ad,World of DreamWorks Animation and a Gallery. The Blu-ray Combo Pack also comes with 2 Poppin' Penguins!

After a brief flashback showing how Skipper (voiced by Tom McGarth), Kowalski (voiced by Chris Miller), and Rico (voiced by Conrad Vernon) rescued Private (voiced by Christopher Knights) just before he cracked out of his shell, the film picks up directly after the ending of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. To celebrate Private's birthday, the Penguins leave the circus and head to Fort Knox, as they want to steal enough money to buy Private the perfect birthday present - Cheesy Dibbles, which has been discontinued.

Out of nowhere, they are ambushed and taken to a submarine base in Venice, where they meet Dave (voiced by John Malkovich), an octopus who disguises himself as a human named Dr. Octavius Brine. Once upon a time, Dave was the main attraction at the Central Park Zoo that is until the penguins arrived, whom stole all his thunder. Now he plans on kidnapping all the penguins from the world and turning them all into hideous creatures. The Penguins almost become the first victims in Dave's madness that is until the North Wind saves them.

101 Dalmatians: Diamond Editon
Director: Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman
Voice Cast: Rod Taylor, Cate Bauer, Betty Lou Gerson
Ben Wright, Lisa Davis, Martha Wentworth
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00OZLF4AG
Running Time: 79 minutes
Rating: G
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Getting the Diamond Edition Blu-ray treatment on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 is the classic Disney animation film 101 Dalmatians!

The film is based on the 1957 book by Dodie Smith, which was adapted to the screen by Bill Peet.  Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske and Wolfgang Reitherman co-directed the film, which was original titled One Hundred and One Dalmatians. It arrived in theaters in 1961 to critical acclaim and was re-released several times to theaters over the years. A live-action version was released in 1996, followed by a sequel in 2000. A short-lived animated series aired in 1997 and in 2003 the direct-to-video sequel, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure, was released.

101 Dalmatians centers on a male dalmatian, Pongo, and his bachelor owner, Roger, whom run into a single woman, Anita, and her female dalmatian, Perdita, while out for a walk on the streets of London. Roger and Anita fall in love and get married and so do their dalmatians, Pongo and Perdita. The dalmatians eventually have their own pups, fifteen to be exact - Patch, Lucky, Rolly, Penny, Freckles and Pepper. (The names for the other pups are never mentioned in the film.)

Anita's old schoolmate, Cruella De Vil, is wanting to purchase all fifteen puppies, but Roger and Anita decide to keep all the dalmatians. Everything seems to be perfect for the family until the puppies are kidnapped...

Bonus Features include:

Tales from Earthsea
Director: Gorō Miyazaki
Voice Cast: Timothy Dalton, Cheech Marin, William Dafoe and Mariska Hargitay
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00PYAE2M8
Running Time: 115 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray for the first time in the United States is the 2006 Japanese anime Tales from Earthsea. The film is directed by Gorō Miyazaki and features the American voice cast of Timothy Dalton, Cheech Marin, William Dafoe and Mariska Hargitay. Bonus Features include the Original Japanese Storyboards, the Original Japanese TV Spots & Trailers, The Birth Story Of The Film Soundtrack and the Behind The Studio: Origins Of Earthsea.

Based on the "Earthsea" book series by Ursula K. Le Guin, Tales from Earthsea takes place in a mythical world called Earthsea, a place where the crops are dying out just as the legendary dragons have reappeared and threatens all of humanity.

The film centers on a famous wizard Lord Archmage Sparrowhawk (voiced by Timothy Dalton) and a young prince, Arren (voiced by Matt Levin), whom go on a quest to discover what is threatening to destroy their world.

Porco Rosso
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Voice Cast: Michael Keaton, Cary Elwes, Kimberly Williams-Pasiley, Susan Egan, David Ogden Stiers and Brad Garrett
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00PYAE2GE
Running Time: 93 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack on Tuesday February 3, 2015 is the 1992 Japanese animated film Porco Rosso. The film was directed by Hayao Miyazaki and features the American voice-cast of Michael Keaton, Cary Elwes, Kimberly Williams-Pasiley, Susan Egan, David Ogden Stiers and Brad Garrett. Bonus Features include Behind The Microphone, Original Japanese Storyboards, Original Japanese Trailers and an Interview With Toshio Suzuki.

Based on the a three-part watercolor manga,  Hikōtei Jidai, by Hayao Miyazaki, Porco Rosso centers on an Italian World War I ex-fighter pilot named Marco. After a curse was cast upon him that made him look like an anthropomorphic pig, he became a bouny hunter and took the name Porco Rosso (Red Pig).

He is known to help strangers who are need and that is exactly what he does when a band of pirates known as the Mamma Aiuto gang attack a ferry liner. Porco (voiced by Michael Keaton) uses his unique flying skills to put a stop to the pirates, well, for the time being anyway. Before long, Porco heads off on a mission in Milan, but is shot down by the gang's leader, Donald Curtis (voiced by Cary Elwes).

A Walk Among The Tombstones
Director: Scott Frank
Starring: Liam Neeson
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: January 13, 2015
Retail: $34.98
ASIN: B00NQE6X3A
Running Time: 114 minutes
Rated: R
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Now available to own on Blu-ray is the thriller A Walk Among The Tombstones. The film is directed by Scott Frank and stars Liam Neeson. Special Features include A Look Behind the Tombstone and Matt Scudder: Private Eye (Blu-ray Exclusive).

Based on the 1992 crime novel of the same name by Lawrence Block, A Walk Among The Tombstones centers on an ex-NYPD cop Matthew Scudder (played by Liam Neeson), who happens to be eight years sober, spending his days as a private detective. Though Matthew was hesitant at first, he agrees to find out who killed the wife of Kenny Kristo (played Dan Stevens) and bring the men responsible to him.

With the occasional help from a street kid TJ (played by Brian "Astro" Bradley), Matthew begins to unravel the crime that leads to other victims. Out of nowhere, the murderers kidnap the daughter, Lucia (played by Danielle Rose Russell), of a drug trafficker and they demand a ransom. Fearing the worst, Matthew takes charge of the situation, leading him into a direct path with the murderers.

The BoxTrolls
Directors: Graham Annable and Anthony Stacchi
Voice Cast: Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Elle Fanning, Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette, Jared Harris, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, Tracy Morgan
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: January 20, 2015
Retail: $49.98
ASIN: B00NFZ367Q
Running Time: 97 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD on January 20th from Universal Studios Home Entertainment is last year  3D stop motion animated fantasy-comedy film "The BoxTrolls." Bonus Features include Dare to the Square: Behind the Scenes of the Boxtrolls, 5 Featurettes that Take You Inside the Magical World of The Boxtrolls, Feature Commentary with Directors Graham Annable and Anthony Stacchi and the Blu-ray Exclusive - Preliminary Animatics Sequences.

Based on the children book  Here Be Monsters! by Alan Snow, The BoxTrolls is set in 1809 in the fictional town of Cheesebridge and centers on a group of subterranean trolls whom live underneath the streets. The outside word believes that the trolls kidnaps and kills little children, but in reality they are kind and shy creatures that wouldn't hurt a fly. They wear boxes and draw pictures on the boxes to represent their name.

Years ago, the trolls came across a human baby and they have been raising him ever since, naming him Eggs. Like the trolls, Eggs wheres a box and crawls out of the sewers at night to find goodies  that humans leave behind in their trash cans and on the street.

The Pest exterminator Archibald Snatcher (voiced by Ben Kingsley) has been obsessed with getting a white hat as only a member of the high society receives one. He finally makes a deal with the mayor that he will receive a white hat if  he catches all of the Boxtrolls, so one by one he begins catching the trolls, including Fish, the gentle troll who is Egg's best friend.

Eggs (voiced by Isaac Hempstead-Wright) is now a young boy and begins to explore the outside world, which is where he befriends the mayor's daughter, Winnie (voiced by Elle Fanning). He unravels Snatcher's plans on destroying the trolls and sets out to find where Snatcher is keeping Fish and the other Trolls at. Somehow Eggs is going to come up with a plan to save the trolls and show the town that trolls are not the villains.

The Hundred-Foot Journey
Director: Lasse Hallström
Starring: Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte Le Bon
Studio: Touchstone Entertainment / DreamWorks Pictures
Release Date: December 2, 2014
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00MI56U6S
Running Time: 122 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray on Tuesday December 2, 2014 is feel-good movie The Hundred-Foot Journey. The film is directed by  Lasse Hallström and stars Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal and Charlotte Le Bon. Extras include The Hundred-Foot Journey with Steven Spielberg & Oprah Winfrey; The Recipe, The Ingredients, The Journey; On Set With Oprah Winfrey and Coconut Chicken.

Based on the 2010 novel of the same name by Richard C. Morais, the film centers on the Kadam family, whom leaves their home in Mumbai and eventually ends up in Saint-Antonia-Noble-Val, France. Papa Kadam (played by Om Puri) finds the perfect building for them to restart their family Indian restaurant, which happens to be directly across the road (a hundred feet) from the French restaurant named "Le Saule Pleureur" that is owned by Madame Mallory (played by Helen Mirren).

Competing against a high-end French restaurant is going to a major challenge for the Kadam family, but Papa has confidence in his head chef, his second-oldest son, Hassan (Manish Dayal). Madame Mallory is determined to get rid of them one way or another; first reporting them to the building inspectors and later trying to sabotage their restaurant.

Planes: Fire & Rescue
Director: Roberts Gannaway
Voice Cast: Dane Cook, Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett, Danny Mann, Teri Hatcher, Julie Bowen, Ed Harris,Wes Studi, Dale Dye
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Retail: $39.99
ASIN: B00MMUXOLS
Runing Time: 84 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD on Tuesday November 4, 2014 is the high-flying Disney animated adventure Planes: Fire & Rescue. Bonus Features include Exclusive Animated Short "Vitaminamulch: Air Spectacular," Welcome To Piston Peak!, "CHoPs" TV Promo, Air Attack: Firefighters From The Sky, Deleted Scenes With Filmmaker Intros, Animated Shorts "Honkers" & "Dusty Dream No More" and "Still I Fly" Music Video By Spencer Lee.

Planes: Fire & Rescue is set in the wild world of Pixar's Cars and is a sequel to last year's Planes. The film is directed by Roberts Gannaway and uses the voice talents of Dane Cook, Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett, Danny Mann, Teri Hatcher, Julie Bowen, Ed Harris, Wes StudiStudi and Dale Dye.

The sequel centers on the crop-duster turned racer, Dusty Crophopper (voiced by Dana Cook), who's racing career comes to a complete haul when his gearbox malfunctions. To make matters even worse, this style of gearbox is out-of-production, so Dusty must quit being a racer.


After an accident causes a fire at the Propwash Junction, a government inspector plans on shutting the airport down due to the lack of firefighting personnel. This is when Dusty decides to get certified as a firefighter, so the airport can be reopen. He travels to Piston Peak and is given two pontoons. He must undergo training before he can become certified. After several spot fires occur, Dusty must prove to himself that he can be a hero.

Maleficent
Director: Robert Stromberg
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00M4ADWTK
Running Time: 97 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Over the last few years studios have taken an interest in Grimm's Fairy Tales once again with the release of two different Snow White Films, a rated-R Hansel and Gretel adventure and ABC's Once Upon a Time that has put a modern day spin on about every fairy tale that has ever existed. Arriving on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD is the live-action re-imagining of Disney's 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty, titled Maleficent. Directed by Robert Stromberg, the film grossed over $700 million over the summer despite receiving a mixed-reaction from critics. The Blu-ray special features are deleted scenes, Aurora: Becoming a Beauty, From Fairy Tale to Feature Film, Building an Epic Battle, Classic Couture and Maleficent Revealed.

Angelina Jolie stars in the title role of Maleficent, a magical orphan faerie living in the magical realm called the Moors, which is located just outside of the kingdom. During her childhood, she befriended a human orphan, Stefan, but as they got older, he quit visiting her. Unknown to her, he is actually one of the King's soldiers. The King attempts to invade the Moors, but Maleficent uses her magic to defend it. Her actions causes a ripple effect that leads Stefan (played by Sharlto Copley) to betray her, so he will one day inherit the Kingdom.

Years pass by and Stefan marries the King's daughter Leila (played by Hannah New), who has inherited the crown, therefore Stefan is the Kingdom's new King. To celebrate the birth of their daughter Princess Aurora, the King has invited everyone from the land for her christening. Maleficent makes an unexpected visit and curses the princess, whom will grow up to be beautiful, but when she turns sixteen-years-old, she will prick her finger on a spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a deep sleep. Only a "true love's kiss" can break the curse.


The King appoints three pixies, Knotgrass (played by Imelda Staunton), Thistlewit (played by Juno Temple)  and Flittle (played by Lesley Manville) to raise his daughter somewhere away from the kingdom until she becomes of age and the curse is broken.

Maleficent has eyes everywhere, so she easily earns of where the pixies have taken the princess. Despite trying to hate the princess, she ends up saving her over and over again during the princess's childhood as the pixies guardians aren't exactly good at their jobs.

Time goes by and Princess Aurora (played by Elle Fanning) is getting closer to turning sixteen and Maleficent must make a decision to keep the curse on her or find another way to keep peace between the kingdom and the Moors.


I wasn't too impressed when I saw the original trailer and advertisements for the film earlier this year as it looked like another overuse of CGI, like in Alice in Wonderland and Oz the Great and Powerful. After watching the original 1959 Sleeping Beauty for the first time this year, I became interested in reviewing the Maleficent. I got to say that casting Angelina Jolie in the title role was pure genius as she looks exactly like the animated character, plus she gives a great performance in the movie. The CGI effects for the most part are used really well and after a while I forgot the pixies were even computerized. Sharlto Copley and Elle Fanning both do a decent job in their roles, though I do wish Elle Fanning had more to do in the film. Unlike the 1959 animated classic, Maleficent is the main character while Princess Aurora is just a minor-character that helps Maleficent change her evil ways. Overall, Maleficent is a little darker than I thought it would be, which is a good thing as the original fairy tales were written dark to begin with. Though the film isn't exactly perfect, I still thought it was entertaining.


*Disclaimer - I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Beethoven's Treasure Tail
Director: Ron Oliver
Starring: Jonathan Silverman, Kristy Swanson, David DeLuise and Jeffrey Combs
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Retail: $26.98
ASIN: B00LTO33X2
Running Time: 98 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Honestly, I didn't realize that it has been over twenty-two years since the original Beethoven film was released to theaters. No, I'm not referring to the famous musician of the same name, but instead I'm referring to the St. Bernard dog who starred in the 1992 blockbuster that was co-written by the late John Hughes, under the name Edmond Dantès. A sequel, Beethoven's 2nd, was released to theaters a year later. It would be seven years until the dog would return in the direct-to-video Beethoven's 3rd, quickly followed by Beethoven's 4th and Beethoven's 5th. In 2008, the franchise received a reboot with Beethoven's Big Break and its sequel, Beethoven's Christmas Adventure, in 2011.

Arriving on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD on Tuesday October 28, 2014 from Universal 1440 Entertainment is newest St. Benard adventure, titled Beethoven's Treasure Tail. The film is directed by Ron Oliver and stars Jonathan Silverman reprising his role as Eddie from Beethoven's Big Break. Co-starring is Kristy Swanson (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer) and Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator Trilogy). There are no extras or special features on the Blu-ray or DVD.

The film centers on the movie star dog, Beethoven, filming his newest movie with his trainer Eddie Bob, but he can't get the scenes right. It seems the dog is depressed or as his veterinarian said, "He has lost his mojo." The dog's lack of energy has gotten him fired the movie, so Eddie has no choice but to pack his bags and leave the movie set with Beethoven.

Rick and Morty: Season 1
Voice Cast: Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke
Studio: Cartoon Network / Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Retail: $29.02
ASIN: B00LOWJ6JY
Running Time: 242 minutes
Rating: TV-MA
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Available now on Blu-ray from Cartoon Network is Rick and Morty: Season 1, featuring all 11 episodes. Special Features include Behind The Scenes Featurette, Commentary and Animatics For Ever Episode, Deleted Scenes, and Special Guest Commentaries Featuring Matt Groening, Robert Kirman, Pen Ward, Al Jean and Friends.

Created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, Rick & Morty debuted in December 2013 and has become a ratings hit for the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block. It has also won high-appraise from critics. Season 2 is set to air sometime in 2015.

The series centers on 14-year-old Morty Smith and his crazy alcoholic grandfather, Rick Sanchez. Despite his parents objections, Morty spends way too much time with grandfather, who creates bizarre inventions that takes them to different dimensions, planets and time.

Episodes on the single-disc are:

Pilot Lawnmower Dog Anatomy Park M. Night Shaym-Alien! Meeseeks and Destory Rick Potion #9 Rasing Gazorpazorp Rixty Minutes Something Ricked This Way Comes Close Rick-Encounters of the Rick Kind Ricksy Business

Adventure Time: The Complete Fourth Season
Voice Cast: Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, Hynden Walch, Niki Yang, Tom Kenny, Olivia Olson, Martin Olson, Dee Bradley Baker, Pendleton Ward, Polly Lou Livingston, Jessica DiCicco, Maria Bamford
Studio: Cartoon Network / Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Retail: $32.07
ASIN: B00KH57UXS
Running Time: 286 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray and DVD tomorrow is Adventure Time: The Complete Fourth Season, featuring all 26 righteous episodes along with commentaries and the featurette Distant Bands: The Music Of Adventure Time.

Ever since Adventure Time premiered on the Cartoon Network in in 2007, it has been a ratings hit with both kids and adults. The series has won two Annie awards two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Motion Picture Sound Editors Award and a British Academy Children's Award. It is currently its sixth season with a seventh season planned to air sometime next year.

Created by  Pendleton Ward, Adventure times centers on a human boy named Finn and his best-friend and adopted brother Jake, who happens to be a magical shape-shifting dog. They live in the strange post-apocalyptic Land of Oo. While their not stopping the Ice King's newest evil plot, they are hanging out with their friends, such as Princess Bubblegum of the Candy Kingdom and Marceline the Vampire Queen, who is a thousand-year old half-demon aspiring rock-star.


The 26 episodes on the single-disc are:

Sleeping Beauty: Diamond Edition
Director: Clyde Geronimi, Les Clark, Eric Larson, Wolfgang Reitherman
Voice Cast: Mary Costa, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Barbara Luddy Barbara Jo Allen, Bill Shirley, Taylor Holmes, Bill Thompson
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 7, 2015
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00KB3PZ60
Running Time: 75 minutes
Rating: G
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Being released from the Disney vault this week is the 1959 animated classic Sleeping Beauty, directed by Clyde Geronimi, Les Clark, Eric Larson and Wolfgang Reitherman. The Diamond Edition features the film on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD. Bonus features include 3 Deleted Scenes, The Art of Evil: Generation Of Disney Villains, @DisneyAnimation: Artist in Motion - Extended Edition, Once Upon A Parade - Join Sarah Hyland from ABC's Modern Family as she tell us the tale of Walt Disney World's New Festival Of Fantasy Parade, Beauty Oke - Sing-Along, Picture Perfect: The Making Of Sleeping Beauty and Eyvind Earie: A Man And His Art.

Based on the fairy tales La Belle au bois dormant by Charles Perrault, The Sleeping Beauty by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Little Briar Rose by The Brothers Grimm, tells the story of King Stefan and Queen Leah's daughter, Princess Aurora. On the day of her christening she is visited by the evil fairy Maleficent, who casts a curse of the young princess. The curse states that on her sixteenth birthday she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die. Horrified by the curse, the King and Queen have no other choice but let the good fairies Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather raise and protect Princess Aurora, who renamed Briar Rose.

On her sixteenth-birthday, Aurora goes out to collect berries where she meets Prince Phillip. Later that day, the three good fairies tell her about her heritage, which leads a raven to inform Aurora's location to Maleficent, who will do anything to make sure the curse is carried through.

At the time, Sleeping Beauty was Disney's biggest budget animated film, costing nearly $6 million, but the film only earned around $5.3 million at the theaters. The film received mixed to negative reviews during its original release, though over time the film was been re-released to theaters, finally becoming a box-office success.

Houdini: Extended Edition
Director: Uli Edel
Starring: Adrien Brody, Kristen Connolly, Evan Jones, 
Studio: LionsGate
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Retail: $29.99
ASIN: B00LX26FSU
Running Time: 174 minutes (Extended Version)
                      150 minutes (Original Broadcast Version)
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD this week is Houdini, the exciting two-part miniseries that aired on the History Channel last month. The miniseries is directed by Uli Edel  and is based on the book Houdini: A Mind in Chains: A Psychoanalytic Portrait by Bernard C. Meyer, M.D.. The Blu-ray features both the Original Broadcast Version and the Extended Version (with an additional 20 minutes!). Special features include The Great Escapes, The Real Houdini, Cheating Death and Houdini the Great.

Kristen Connolly ("Bess") and Adrien Brody ("Harry Houdini") star in Lionsgate Home Entertainment's HOUDINI - 2 DISC EXTENDED EDITION.

Adrien Brody (Best Actor in a Leading Role, The Pianist, 2002) stars the The Great Harry Houdini (though the actor is a lot taller than the real Houdini). The film chronicles Houdini's life through flashbacks, showing him traveling with a magician during his childhood, meeting his future wife Bess (played by the lovely Kristen Connolly) and his "close" relationship with his mother.

A Million Ways To Die In The West
UNRATED
Director: Seth MacFarlane
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, Liam Neeson, Neil Patrick Harris, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Retail: $34.98
ASIN: B00KM9MP9I
Running Time: 116 minutes (Theatrical Version) - 135 minutes (Unrated Version)
Rated: R
Buy Links: Blu-ray, DVD

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD on October 7, 2014 is the comedy-western A Million Ways To Die In The West. The film is co-written and directed by Seth MacFarlane, who happens to play the main character. Special Features include a Gag Reel, A Fistful of Dirt ... In Your Mouth and a Feature Commentary. Blu-ray Exclusive extras include the UNRATED Version, Alternate Opening & Ending; Deleted, Extended & Alternate Scenes; Once Upon a Time in a Different West and UNRATED Feature Commentary.

A Million Ways To Die In The West centers on Albert Stark (played by Seth MacFarlane), a sheep farmer living in the small town of Old Stump in the year 1882. He becomes known as a coward to the townsfolk when he talks his way out of a gunfight, which embarrasses his girlfriend Louise (played by Amanda Seyfried). She quickly dumps him for Foy (played by Neil Patrick Harris). Feeling like a loser, Albert shelters himself from the town that is until his best-friend Edward (played by Giovanni Ribisi) and his prostitute girlfriend Ruth (played by Sarah Silverman) try to encourage him to start dating again.

Meanwhile, Anna Barnes-Leatherwood (played by Charlize Theron) is fed up with her murderer boyfriend, Clinch Leatherwood (played by Liam Neeson) and arrives in Old Stump to lie low. She is accompanied by one of her husband's men, Lewis (played by Evan Jones). When Lewis gets arrested for murder, Anna runs into Albert and they start an unlikely friendship when Albert challenges Foy to a duel, but there is one problem - Albert doesn't know how to shoot.

Krull
Director: Peter Yates
Starring: Ken Marshall, Lysette Anthony, Freddie Jones, Francesca Annis and Liam Neeson
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Retail: $9.98
ASIN: B00LU4URS0
Running Time: 121 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray for the very first time on Tuesday September 30, 2014 is the 1983 cult classic Krull. The film was directed by Peter Yates (Bullitt) and stars Ken Marshall (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Lysette Anthony (Dark Shadows), Freddie Jones (Dune), Francesca Annis (The Libertine) and Liam Nesson (Taken, Taken 2). There are no extras or special features on the Blu-ray.

There were many science-fiction adventures released during the 1980s, including Krull, which in 1983 was one of the biggest budget ($45-50 million) films ever produced. The film was critically panned and was considered a box-office flop, taking in just over $16 million. Over the years, mostly thanks to reruns on TBS and TNT in the '90s, the film now has a cult following.

The film is set on the planet Krull where The Beast and his army of Slayers arrive to wreck havoc by kidnapping Princess Lyssa (played by Lysette Anthony). Her husband-to-be, Prince Colwyn (played by Ken Marshall), is the only survivor of the wedding massacre and seeks out to save the princess and is nursed back to health by Ynyr the Old One.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, Robert Redford, and Samuel L. Jackson
Studio: Marvel Studios
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Retail: $32.99 (Blu-ray)
ASIN: B0090SI3GQ
Running Time: 136 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand on Tuesday September 9, 2014 is the action-packed Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Solider. The film is directed by brothers Anthony Russo and Joe Russo and stars Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, Robert Redford, and Samuel L. Jackson. Bonus Features includes: On The Front Line: An Inside Look At Captain America's Battlegrounds; On Set With Anthony Mackie: Cut The Check!; Steve Roger's Notebook; deleted & extended scenes; gag reel and commentaries.

Following off of the footsteps of 2012's Marvel's The Avengers and last year's Thor: The Dark World is this year's sequel to the 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger. Set two years after The Avengers, The Winter Solider opens up with Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans) and Agent Natasha Romanoff (played by Scarlett Johansson) leading S.H.I.E.L.D.'s counter-terrorism S.T.R.I.K.E. team to rescue hostages from mercenaries, but S.H.I.E.L.D has another agenda for the mission, which was ordered by Director Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson) - extract data from the ships computer.

Unable to encrypt the data, Director Fury is ambushed by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s soldiers and the Winter Soldier (played by Sebastian Stan), but before his apparent death, he informs Rogers that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been compromised.

14 Blades
Director: Donnie Lee
Starring: Donnie Yen, Zhao Wei, Wu Chun, Kate Tsui and Qi Yuwu
Studio: Anchor Bay
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Retail: $29.99
ASIN: B00L6AW1IW
Running Time: 113 minutes
Rating: R
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray for the first time in the United States is the 2010 wuxia film 14 Blades. The film was directed by Donnie Lee and stars Donnie Yet, Zhao Wei, Wu Chun, Kate Tsui and Qi Yuwu. There are no extras of special features on the Blu-ray.

Set during the late Ming Dynasty, 14 Blades centers on the Jinyiwei commander, Qinglong (played by Donnie Yen), who is ordered by the emperor's uncle, Prince Qing (played by Sammo Hung), and the Jinyiwei chief, Jia Jingzhong, to retrieve a safe box that is in the possession of imperial councilor, Zhao Shenyan. Unknowingly to Qinglong, Prince Qing and Jingzhong are planning on revolting against the emperor and they tell him that the box has evidence that the councilor is going to revolt.

To his surprise, Quinglong learns that he has been tricked, as the box contains the Imperial Seal, and he soon becomes an enemy to his fellow Jinyiweis. Now seen as a traitor to the emperor, he has no other choice, but to join the Justice Escort Agency, while he continues to stay loyal to the emperor by looking for more evidence against Prince Qung and Jingzhong.