Showing posts with label science fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label science fiction. Show all posts

Friday, February 12, 2016

Popcorn & Coffee: Legend: The Complete Series



$14.98; 9 hrs 58 mins; Buy Link: Amazon

I'm sure there are many television series that we liked, but were quickly for canceled. Luckily, many of these titles are now available on DVD.

The short-lived "Legend" that air on the UPN in 1995 and was released on DVD from Mill Creek Entertainment last month, featuring all 12 episodes.

The series started Richard Dean Anderson, who at the time just ended his run as MacGyver, and John de Lance ("Q" from Star Trek: The Next Generation). Anderson played Ernest Pratt, a dime-store novelist who gets dragged to small town, where someone has been impersonating his fictional character, "Nicodemus Legend."

Upon arriving he quickly learns that Janos Bartok, an European scientist/inventor (played by John de Lance), has been using "Nicodemus Legend" to help save the townsfolk of Sheridan, Colorado. Ernest stays around to help, but had all intentions of leaving immediately. However, he had been suffering from writer's block prior to meeting Janos, and decides the best way to come up with new adventures is to actually experience them.

Episodes on the two-disc set are:

Birth of a Legend
Mr. Pratt Goes to Sheridan
Legend on His President's Secret Service
Custer's Next-to-Last Stand
The Life, Death, and Life of Wild Bill Hickok

Monday, October 19, 2015

DVD Review - Killer Clowns From Outer Space



While clowns are supposed to entertain children at the circus, most kids are deeply afraid of them. As a kid, clowns never appealed to me, especially after I watched part 1 of the 1990 miniseries of Stephen King's It, which almost literally scared me to death. It took me about 8 years or so before I finally watched the entire miniseries. No, it wasn'y as scary as I remembered it, but Pennywise still freaks me out.

That being said, you can probably imagine that I don't watch any movies with killer clowns in them. However, while I was at my local Walmart a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon their Halloween movie selections and found Killer Klowns From Outer Space. Now I'm well aware of the 1988 cult classic as it aired on television many times throughout the 1990s, but it never caught my attention. I was looking for a new horror film to watch this year to get me in the mood for Halloween, so I bought the DVD.

Directed by the  The Chiodo Brothers and released in 1988, the film centered on a group of evil alien klowns that invade Crescent Cove, California in their circus tent spaceship. The clowns don't speak, but they do turn humans into cotton-candy cocoons. A young couple, Mike and Debbie, happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and witness the klowns killing a local farmer. They try to tell the police, whom includes Debbie's ex-boyfriend Dave Hanson, but they don't believe their wild tale.

The klowns wreck havoc all over town and captures more victims. Mike and Dave must work together, along with a few friends, if they plan on stopping the klowns from killing everyone in town.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Blu-ray Review: Tomorrowland


Tomorrowland
Director: Brad Bird
Cast: George Clooney. Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy and Hugh Laurie
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Retail: $39.99
ASIN: B00WAJ8OLG
Running Time: 130 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD and Blu-ray this Tuesday from Walt Disney Home Entertainment is the fantasy-adventure Tomorrowland. Directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles), the film stars George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy and Hugh Laurie. Bonus Features on the Blu-ray includes Remembering The Future: A Personal Journey Through Tomorrowland With Brad Bird, Animated Short: The Origins Of Plus Ultra, Casting Tomorrowland, A Great Big Beautiful Scoring Session, The World Of Tomorrow Science Hour - Hosted by Futurologist David Nix, Deleted Scenes, Brad Bird Production Diaries, Blast from the Past Commercial and 4 Easter Eggs.

Loosely inspired by the Disney theme parks' Tomorrowland attraction, the film centers on a Florida teenager, Casey Newton (played by Britt Robertson), who has a niche for technology and science. She also has a wild streak that gets her into trouble with the law, which doesn't sit well with her father (played by Tim McGraw), a  NASA engineer.

After being bailed out of jail, a police officer hands over Casey's belongings. She quickly notices that one thing isn't hers - a strange-looking pin that is embossed with a "T" symbol. When she touches the pin, she sees a glimpse of a futuristic world!

With a quick internet search, Casey finds no information on the pin, except that a Houston memorabilia store has been looking for it. She is determined to find out what the pin is and travels to Texas, but upon arriving she is attacked by robots. Luckily for her, she has a new-found friend - an Audio-Animatronic robot named Athena (played by Raffey Cassidy).

Now with more evil robots hot on the trail, Casey and Athena must seek out the inventor Frank Walker (played by George Clooney) to help them travel to Tomorrowland save it from extinction.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Blu-ray Review: Spaced Invaders





Spaced Invaders
Director: Patrick Read Johnson
Cast: Douglas Barr, Royal Dano, Ariana Richards
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: September 15, 2015
Retail: $14.98
ASIN: B011PS4ZY2
Running Time: 101 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Do you recall watching a movie that was so stupid that it was actually enjoyable? Well, that's what I have always felt about the 1990 science-fiction comedy Spaced Invaders! Despite the fact that the film is set on Halloween Night, it was originally released in the spring! It was critically panned at the time and didn't do very well at the box-office. Over the years, the film has picked up a small following. Now on September 15th, Mill Creek Entertainment will be releasing Spaced Invaders on DVD & Blu-ray.

The movie centers on a small Martian spaceship with a small-minded crew (Captain Bipto, Blaznee, Lieutenant Giggywig, Dr. Ziplock, Corporal Pez) who picks up a signal that they thought was from their fleet, but in fact it was from a radio broadcast of Orson Welles' 1938 The War of the Worlds. The crew crashes their ship into a barn in Big Bean, Illinois and they make plans to invade Earth.

The pilot Blaznee stays behind to guard the spaceship and to keep an on eye on the Enforcer Drone, all while the others head into town with their Scout-in-a-Can robot. After an accident occurs that separates Captain Bipto from the rest of the crew, Lieutenant Giggywig, Dr. Ziplock and Corporal Pez attempt to proceed with the mission. Unaware to them, the town's celebrating Halloween and they easily blend in with the trick-or treaters, where they befriend the sheriff's daughter, Kathy.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

DVD Review: Halo: Nightfall


Halo: Nightfall
Director: Sergio Mimica-Gezzan
Starring: Mike Colter, Steven Waddington, Christina Chong
Studio: Microsoft Studios
Release Date: March 17, 2015
Retail: $20.99
ASIN: B00QSHWZA2
Running Time: 98 minutes
Rating: TV-14
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD & Blu-ray this week from Microsoft Studios is Halo: Nightfall, a live-action Xbox Originals web-series that debuted last year. Directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, it starred Christina Chong, Christian Contrearas, Luke Neal, Alexander Bhat, Jennie Gruner, Eric Kofi Abrefa and Alexis Rodney. Special Features include Over 35 Minutes Of Exclusive Behind The Scenes Footage and Unlock Over 17 Minutes Of Second Story Extras, Including Highly Confidential ONI Eyes Transmissions To Discover More About Halo:Nightfall.

Halo: Nightfall is based on the best-selling first-person shooter video game franchise. It centers on Jameson Locke (played by Mike Colter). He is an agent of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), the Earth's most powerful military branch.

After investigating what sounds like terrorist chatter on the distant planet Sedra, Agent Locke and his team are caught in a biological attack. Only his team of skilled soldiers can stop the new threat, but they must first cross the rocky planet in search for a hellish artifact.

Friday, February 27, 2015

DVD Review - Doctor Who: Last Christmas


Doctor Who: Last Christmas
Director: Paul Wilmshurst
Starring: Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Nick Frost
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 17, 2015
Retail: $14.98
ASIN: B00QHND1BO
Running Time: 60 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: DVD, Blu-ray

Review:

Now available to own on DVD & Blu-ray from BBC Home Entertainment is Doctor Who: Last Christmas. Paul Wilmshurst directed this 60-minute 2014 Christmas Special that stars Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth, Jenna Coleman as his companion Clara Oswald and Nick Frost as Santa Claus. Bonus Features include Behind The Scenes featurette and a commentary.

Set on Christmas Eve, schoolteacher and frequent companion to Doctor, Clara, is woken up by a loud sound coming from the rooftop. She rushes up to roof to find a sleigh, magical reindeer, elves and Santa Claus. Then the TARDIS appears and once again the Doctor needs her help. And, of course, Clara, hops in the TARDIS to go on another adventure.

The Doctor and Clara arrive at the North Pole, where they encounter a troubled group of scientists as their fellow colleagues have been attacked by a Facehugger-like creature. The aliens puts the victims in a coma, While the victims are dreaming, the aliens slow devours their brains!


Saturday, December 13, 2014

DVD Review - The Device


The Device
Director: Jeremy Berg
Starring: Angela DiMarco, David S. Hogan, Kate Alden
Studio: Image Entertainment
Release Date: December 16, 2014
Retail: $27.97
ASIN: B00NC9TSY0
Running Time: 90 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD this Tuesday December 6, 2014 from Image Entertainment is the scifi-drama The Device. The film is directed by Jeremy Berg and stars Angela DiMarco, David S. Hogan and Kate Alden. Special Features include an audio commentary with the writers, producers and director Jeremy Berg, an audio commentary with the cast and an audio commentary by Tracy Torme, screenwriter of Fire In The Sky and Intruders.

The Device centers on sisters Abby (played by Angela DiMarco) and Rebecca (played by Kate Alden), who both returns to their family's cabin, a place they haven't been to since the time Rebecca disappeared when they were younger. They never planned on returning to the cabin, but at the request of their late mother, they have returned here to scatter their mother's ashes in the forest and the nearby lake.


The sisters discover strange markings on the ground, which they presumed was from some sort of crash years ago. Abby finds a mysterious black orb and takes it back to her fiance Calvin (played by David S. Hogan), who think it may bring them into lots of cash if they they sell it. They return home the next day along with Rebecca and odd occurrences begin to happen, all of which is connected to the strange orb. Bizarre dreams haunt the sisters and Calvin begins to act differently, almost if he is interacting with the orb. Could the orb be connected to extraterrestrial beings?

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Blu-ray Review - Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Lost Missions



Arriving on Blu-ray from executive-producer George Lucas is the exciting conclusion to the Emmy Award-Winning series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, titled Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Lost Missions, which features all 13 episodes from the final season. Bonus Features include Never-Before-Seen - 16-Minute Documentary Celebrating The Entire "Clone Wars" Series With Riveting Behind-The-Scenes Footage and 4 Additional Unfinished Story Reels.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is set between Star Wars - Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars - Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. A feature film was released in October 2008 and quickly followed by the debut of the television series which aired on the Cartoon Network until the end of the fifth season. The Walt Disney company bought Lucasfilms in 2012 and officially canceled the series in 2013, but 13 episodes were still in development at the time. These episodes aired exclusively on Netflix in early 2014 and is known as "The Lost Missions," which lands on Blu-ray and DVD this week. "The Lost Missions" sets up the event that will occur in "Revenge of the Sith."

The 13 episodes on the 2 disc set are:

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

DVD Review - Doctor Who: Deep Breath

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine.


After celebrating its 50th Anniversary last year, Doctor Who has returned for an eight season (series) with Peter Capaldi taking over the title reigns from Matt Smith. The eight season (series) premiered on August 23rd on BBC One and BBC America with the 80-minute episode, titled Deep Breath. Typically a DW fan would have to wait until the full season (series) DVD or Blu-ray release to own the first episode, but BBC America will be releasing Doctor Who: Deep Breath on a single-disc DVD and Blu-ray today, September 9, 2014. Bonus Features include: a Prequel Scene, Behind the Scenes, Doctor Who Lives: The Next Doctor and The Real History of Science Fiction: Episode 4 - Time.

Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and Clara (Jenna Coleman)
Deep Breath picks up shortly after the ending of The Time of the Doctor with newly regenerated Doctor suffering from a bit of post-regenerative trauma. The adventure beings with the TARDIS being spit out of the mouth of a Tyrannosaurus Rex that is causing chaos in Victorian London. The Doctor's latest companion, Clara Oswald (played by Jenna Coleman), is still in shock about the Doctor's new incarnation and seeks help from the Paternoster Gang - Silurian Madame Vastra (played by Neve McIntosh), her human maid/wife Jenny Flint (played by Catrin Stewart), and the Sontaran butler Strax (played by Dan Starkey).

While the Doctor tries to rest, the Paternoster Gang helps the local police deal with the Tyrannosaurus Rex problem.  Out of nowhere the Tyrannosaurus Rex spontaneously combusted into thin air.

The Doctor, along with Clara and the Paternoster Gang, investigates the strange occurrences, which leads them on the trail of human-like robots that is lead by a cyborg who wants to become human.


Friday, February 28, 2014

DVD Review - Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor

Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor
Director: Jamie Payne
Starring: Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman and Peter Capaladi
Studio: BBC
Release Date: March 4, 2013
Retail: $14.98
ASIN: B00HCK7THS
Running Time: 63 minutes
Rating: NOT RATED

Review:

BBC's Doctor Who franchise celebrated its 50th anniversary last year with a slue of DVD/Blu-ray releases, the second half of Series 7 and the 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor. It all ended with Matt Smith's final adventure in the Christmas Special Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor, which is arriving on Blu-ray and DVD this Tuesday, March 4th. Special features include "The Time of the Doctor - Behind the Lens," "Farewell to Matt Smith," and "Tales of the TARDIS."

Picking up shortly after the events in "The Day of the Doctor" that revealed the possible survival of the Doctor's home planet, Gallifrey, the Doctor's Cyberman head "Handles" picks up an odd signal coming from an unknown planet, which the planet is orbited by thousands of aliens, all wanting to know who or what sent the signal.

Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor; the Doctor (Matt Smith) and Clara (Jenna Coleman) Photo Credit: © BBC

The Doctor's latest companion, Clara Oswald (AKA - the impossible girl), is trying to have a normal Christmas dinner with her family, when the Doctor magically shows up, once again dragging her into the TARDIS to travel to the unknown world to figure out what the signal is coming from. With the use of Handles, they track down the strange signal which is located in a town called Christmas, where the Doctor encounters a familiar mystery - the crack in the wall, which was thought to have been closed in "The Big Bang."

Saturday, November 30, 2013

DVD Review - Doctor Who: The Doctor's Revisited - Ninth-Eleventh

Doctor Who: The Doctor's Revisited Ninth-Eleventh
Starring: Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith
Studio: BBC America
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Retail: $39.98
ASIN: B00EZQH11G
Running Time: 339 minutes
Rating: Not Rated

Review:

Doctor Who turned the big 50 last weekend and BBC is continuing the celebration by releasing Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited - Ninth-Eleventh featuring a 2-part story for each actor's (Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith) tenure as the Doctor. Each story is presented in its original 2-part version, a feature film version with an introduction by Steven Moffat and a 25-minute documentary on each Doctor. Additionally, there are four magnets included with the set.

Christopher Eccleston's stay as the ninth Doctor may have been short, but he did help reboot the franchise for a new generation of fans. His final two episodes, Bad Wolf & The Parting of Ways) are presented in this set. The Doctor, Rose and Captain Jack Harkness suddenly find themselves separated on various game shows (The Weakest Link, Big Brother and What Not To Wear), only for a few minor changes - the losers are exterminated. As the Doctor escapes the game show, he soon learns his enemy - Daleks are responsible. The Parting of Ways finds The Doctor sending Rose in the TARDIS back to Earth while he tries to stop a Dalek invasion, all leading to his regeneration.

The Stolen Earth and Journey's End are the two final episodes of the tenth Doctor's (David Tennant) third season (series) which brings former companions Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, Captain Jack Harkness and Sarah Jane Smith, to help him stop another Dalek invasion (created and led by Davros and the red supreme Dalek), but this time the Daleks are a step ahead the Doctor, as the Daleks have literally stolen Earth and have relocated it. It almost seems the Doctor will finally be defeated by his nemesis, but everyone's fate lies in the hands of Donna Noble.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

DVD Review - Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited: Fifth - Eighth

Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited: Fifth - Eighth
Starring: Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Retail: $39.98
ASIN: B00DNQKF2G
Running Time: Approx. 735 minutes

Review:

BCC's Doctor Who is celebrating its 50th anniversary next month with the special "The Day of the Doctor," but before then you can experience the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth doctors with today's release of Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited: Fifth - Eighth, starring Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann in four exciting adventures, Earthshock, Vengeance on Varos, Remembrance of the Daleks, and Doctor Who - The Movie, on four discs.

Earthshock aired in March 1982 and has the Doctor (played by Peter Davison) and his companions (Adric, Nyssa or Tegan) arriving on Earth in the future. They explore a few caves and run into Lieutenant Scott and his men, who claim the Doctor and companions killed Professor Kyle's exploration team. The Doctor convinces Scott that they didn't have anything to do with Kyle's disappearance and offers his assistance to help with the search, leading the Doctor to come face to face with the Cybermen.

Colin Baker plays the Doctor in Vengeance On Varos, which originally aired in January 1985. After the TARDIS comes to a complete stop in the middle of space, the Doctor and his companion (Peri Brown) go to Varos (formerly a prison planet) in search of Zeiton-7, which is what the TARDIS needs to run properly again. The planet is operated by the evil Governor and getting the Zeiton-7 will be more difficult (even deadly) for the Doctor.

Remembrance of the Daleks first hit the airwaves in October 1988 starring Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor, who (along with his companion, Ace) arrives in Shoreditch in 1963, where they track down the strange magnetic fluctuations near the Coal Hill School, which happens to be a grey Dalek. The Daleks have followed The Doctor through time in search of the Hand of Omega; all leading to the return of the creator and leader, Davros.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Review: Doctor Who - The Doctors Revisited: One - Four

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine.


To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who, BBC Home Entertainment is releasing the best serial from each of the eleven Doctors. The first release features the first four Doctors, William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, and Tom Baker, from the years 1963-1981, each in one classic episode, The Aztecs, Tomb of the Cybermen, The Spearhead From Space, and Pyramids of Mars.

My introduction into the world of Doctor Who was when the episode "Rose" aired on the Sci Fi Channel (now known as SyFy) in the spring of 2006. I was aware of the previous series that aired from 1963-1989, but I had never watched an episode before, though I had watched the Peter Cushing's version, Doctor Who and the Daleks and Daleks - Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D., so I was eager to watch the four-disc set, which I received free of charge from BBC Entertainment in exchange for my honest review.

Each episode can be watched in its original four-part version or as a feature presentation with an introduction by Steven Moffat. For a bonus, there is a profile special on each doctor.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Review: Orphan Black: Season One DVD

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine.


BBC America's critically acclaimed sci-fi thriller Orphan Black: Season One arrives on DVD and Blu-Ray on Tuesday July 16th, 2013 starring Tatiana Maslany ("Ghost" in Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed), who recently won a Critic's Choice Television Award.

Tatiana Maslany plays Sarah Manning, a young woman who grew up as an orphan and is now a con artist/thief. She's in shock when she witnesses the suicide of her look-alike Detective Elizabeth "Beth" Childs, whom just happens to leave her purse containing her identification. Being a con artist, Sarah takes over Beth's identity, mostly to clear out Beth's bank accounts before the authorities learn of her death; plus, Sarah is trying to runaway from ex-boyfriend. She hopes the money is enough for her to start a new life with her seven-year-old daughter, Kira.

The longer Sarah stays as Beth, the more dangerous her life becomes as she learns there are more look-alikes, a housewife, a science nerd, and a crazy assassin. Allied with her foster brother, Felix, and two of her chameleons, Sarah is determined to figure out what is going on and who she really is.

Orphan Black, Season 1, Episode 1, Sarah (Tatiana Maslany)

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

DVD Review - Doctor Who: Series Seven, Part Two

Doctor Who: Series Seven, Part Two
Starring: Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
Release Date: May 28, 2013
ASIN: B00BXTH49M
Retail: $24.98
Running Time: 360 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon.com

Review:

The legendary Doctor Who turns fifty-years-old this November and it is the time to catch up with the second half of series seven with the two-disc DVD of Doctor Who: Series Seven - Part Two out in stores today.

Picking up where the 2012 Christmas special, The Snowmen, ended, The Doctor tracks down the modern day version of Clara Oswin Oswald, aka The Impossible Girl, who just happens to need his help to stop the Great Intelligence. The Doctor is intrigue with Clara as she doesn't remember ever meeting him before. He takes her on a several adventures across the universe and across time in the TARDIS, but waiting in the shadows is the Doctor's darkest secret.

Doctor Who, Season 7, Episode 10, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and the Doctor (Matt Smith)

The episodes on the two-disc set are:

Saturday, May 25, 2013

DVD Review - Doctor Who: The Snowmen

Doctor Who: The Snowmen
Starring: Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman
Studio: BBC Warner
Release Date: May 28, 2013
ASIN: B00CENXWA6
Run Time: 60 minutes 
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review: 

The 2012 Doctor Who Christmas Special is finally making its way onto DVD and Blu-Ray on Tuesday, May 28th, 2013, which introduces Jenna-Louise Coleman as the Doctor's new companion, Clara Oswin Oswald, or otherwise known as the Impossible Girl.


After losing his previous companions, Amy Pond and Rory Williams, the Doctor has parked the TARDIS above London in the year 1892. He's still grieving and would prefer to be alone, in which his allies, Vastra, Jenny, and Strax, keep others from seeking his help. That is until a barmaid, Clara Oswin Oswald, accuses him of building a snowman in front of her workplace. He ignores her and instructs Strax to erase her memory with a memory worm, but the snowmen appear out of nowhere.

Doctor Who: The Snowmen, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and the Doctor (Matt Smith) 

Clara flees to her other job as a governess to Captain Latimer's children, but she will once again cross paths with the Doctor, who can't quite figure out where he has seen her before. The ghastly snowmen return along with an icy ex-governess, all leading to return of one of the Doctor's oldest enemies, the Great Intelligence.

 Bonus features on the DVD are:
  • Clara's White Christmas - Behind-the-scenes of The Snowmen. (3.5 minutes)
  • Vastra Investigates - A three-minute prequel to The Snowmen.
  • Children in Need Special: The Great Detective - A three-minute prequel to The Snowmen.

Doctor Who: The Snowmen, Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh), Commander Strax (Dan Starkey), and Jenny Flint (Catrin Stewart)
Doctor Who is celebrating its 50th anniversary this November, though I have only been aware of the program since 2006 when I watched Series One of the new incarnation on the Sci-Fi Channel (now known as SyFy). I became a fan by the end of the first episode. Since the end of Series Four, the series has aired on BBC America, which isn't offered through my local cable company. Therefore, I have patiently awaited each new DVD release, which I prefer as I can watch the episodes back-to-back.

The Snowmen runs about sixty-minutes and it feels more like a feature film than a television episode. The snowmen special effects look great and at times are a little frightening. Introducing the old enemy, the Great Intelligence, is pure genius, especially with Sir Ian McKellen as the voice. Jenna-Louise Coleman is a perfect as the new companion Clara Oswin Oswald and adds a bit of mystery for the Doctor to unravel. The new TARDIS design looks great as well as the new opening credits. The Snowmen is now my favorite Doctor Who Christmas special. I highly recommend it to others.



*Disclaimer - I received a free DVD in exchange for my honest review.

Monday, October 29, 2012

DVD Review - 4 Movie Collection: Hollow Man/ Hollow Man 2/ Fortress 2/ The Harvest


4 Movie Collection: Hollow Man/ Hollow Man 2/ Fortress 2/ The Harvest
Directors: Paul Verhoeven; Claudio Fäh; Geoff Murphy; David Marconi
Starring: Elisabeth Shue, Kevin Bacon, Josh Brolin, Peter Facinelli, Laura Regan
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment 
ASIN: B008XAT0OG
Release Date: October 9, 2012
Running Time: 394 minutes
Rated R

Review:

I've always been a fan of The Invisible Man film series that blended horror and science fiction together. Tower PR and Mill Creek Entertainment kindly sent me a complementary copy of the two discs movie collection, containing Hollow Man, Hollow Man 2, Fortress 2, and The Harvest, for me to review.

Hollow Man is an updated version of The Invisible Man that was released back in 2000. Kevin Bacon plays Sebastian Caine, a scientist, who has created a serum that can turn a gorilla invisible, but now he wants to experiment on himself despite the objections of his ex-girlfriend Dr. Linda McKay (played by Elizabeth Shue)and her boyfriend Dr. Matt Kensington (played by Josh Brolin). Within days, Sebastian starts to go mad with his new power of invisibility. At first he is just pranking his fellow colleagues, but then he starts killing them one by one.

I saw Hollow Man when if first came out and now again on DVD. It's not as bad as other reviewers have claimed it to be. Yes, the characters are not well developed, but horror movies never have much character depth. Even twelve years later, the special effects are pretty amazing.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

DVD Review - Super Cyclone

Super Cyclone
Director: Liz Adams
Starring:  Nicholas Turturro, Dylan Vox, Andy Clemence, Ming-Na
Studio: Asylum Home Entertainment
ISBN: ASIN: B00834JR1S
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 90 minutes
Unrated

What happens when you blend in the scripts from Armageddon, 2012, Twister and Volcano? You get the direct-to-DVD Super Cyclone.

I've never cared much for disaster movies, even though it seems like there is a new one on the SyFy Channel every other week. To me they are basically all the same. A natural occurrence happens destroying cities and our government tries to stop it with some unbelievable plan. I have reviewed a few other Asylum titles this year and they kindly sent me a free invite to stream this movie online through Fordela in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, August 17, 2012

DVD Review - 100 Greatest Sci-Fi Classics



100 Greatest Sci-Fi Classics
Directors: Various
Starring: Vincent Price, Jesse Ventura, Bill Paxton, James Earl Jones, Ben Kingsley, Dorothy Stratten, Mark Hamill, and Many More!
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
ASIN: B0088JH7C4
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Approx. Runtime 132 Hours 34 Minutes
Rating: NR, G, PG, PG-13, R

Mill Creek Entertainment has recently released the 100 Greatest Sci-Fi Classics to DVD which consists of two previously released sets, Sci-Fi Classics Anniversary Edition and Sci-Fi Invasion at the retail price of $44.98. 

Even though I grew up watching Sci-Fi movies, I have never of heard of most of the titles on either sets. 

The Movies on Sci-Fi Invasion are the following:

Disc 1 -Brain Twisters, The Head, The Day Time Ended, Eyes Beyond the Stars
Disc 2 - Hands of Steel, War of the Robots, 984: Prisoner of the Future, Top Line

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Review - The Fall

The Fall
BY: Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan
PUBLISHED BY: Harper Collins
PUBLISHED IN: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-06-155822-1
Pages: 308
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

I have never read the first book, The Strain, but I easily picked up the previous plot by reading the first few chapters. The vampire plaque is spreading and consuming the world. The Master’s grand plan is to start a war between the Old and New Vampires. Hidden, is a book detailing the vampire’s history and their darkest secrets. This book has the key to killing the virus.

A brilliant professor Abraham Setrakian, Vasiliy Fest, Eph and other survivors plan on stopping the vampires before the infest the world.

The Fall is dark and chilling. It takes the vampire legend and brings it into the real world. The plot is easily believable; a vampire virus is spreading all over the world. Abraham Setrakian reminds me of Van Helsing. I can see this book series becoming a movie.