Zack Snyder's Justice League Blu-Ray

Zack Snyder's Justice League premiered in March 2021 and is still very much in the hearts of its fans. This superhero adventure generated incredible numbers on HBO Max and the rest of the platforms that distributed its content around the world. A few months ago the film went on sale in physical format (on September 7 in the United States) and the scope it is having is completely spectacular. On the Amazon page it already triumphs as the best-selling Blu-Ray. Do we see light on the horizon of the Snyderverse?

Zack Snyders Justice League Blu-ray

Zack Snyder's Justice League reached the public before a sea of ​​high expectations that were fully met. Fans were hoping for an action-packed, thrilling adventure alongside DC Comics' greatest characters, and that's what they got: four hours of an incredible journey that put Joss Whedon's 2017 version into oblivion. Good old Zack Snyder managed to make sense of things now, an effort that is paying off well in physical sales, something Warner Bros. simply can't hide.

Twitter kept popping up with posts pointing to the massive sale of Zack Snyder's Justice League Blu-Rays. Department stores were packed from the early hours, emptying the shelves on which copies of the film were placed. As if that weren't enough, on Amazon, Snyder's special physical cut ranked #1 on Best Sellers, showing that fans intend to support the director's vision to the bitter end.

Given the super success of Zack Snyder's Justice League, will Warner Bros. want to continue with the story presented by the director? The first meeting between the famous team and Darkseid is simply spectacular, with a fighting promise that deserves to be seen in the splendor of the big screen. As always, only the studio has the last word and in recent months we have not seen it interested in developing Zack Snyder's ideas in other sequels. It would be a shame if they missed out on the potential, physical sales numbers are an important guide.

The next DCEU movie was supposed to be The Flash, directed by Andy Muschietti and starring Ezra Miller, an actor who surprised us in Zack Snyder's Justice League with a phenomenal performance. Barry Allen's solo adventure had to be at or above those seen in the Zack cut, so we expect a huge effort from his creative team. However, now Black Adam will be the next movie that we will see in theaters, and it will be necessary to see to what extent it maintains coherence with the Snyderverse, after the premiere of The Batman, which had no connection.

The Snyder Cut is a must for every collector and fan of famous DC comics characters.

Harry Potter complete 8 film collection

This pack of 8 discs contains the complete saga of the Harry Potter films.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: In this charming adaptation of J. K. Rowling's bestseller, Harry Potter learns on his eleventh birthday that he is the orphan son of two powerful sorcerers and that he himself possesses magical powers. At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. Learn the sport of Quidditch and participate in an exciting game with live pieces of chess on your way to face a dark wizard, determined to destroy him.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Cars that fly, willows boxers enchanted and a mysterious elf that warns Harry Potter of the great danger that will run if he returns to the Hogwarts school of magic and sorcery. Because in the second year at Hogwarts the spiders talk and Harry's incredible gift for understanding the parrot language of snakes will make his friends start to doubt him. With more magic and action, it will be a year full of adventures and dangers where an enigmatic message written on the wall warns everyone: The secret chamber has been opened. To save Hogwarts from the threat that threatens the school, it will take all the courage and magical powers of Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban: While the despicable Aunt Marge flies through the dark sky, Harry fears for what should be his third year at Hogwarts. A harrowing ride on the Night Owl Bus takes him to Diagon Alley where he learns that the escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, is coming for him. And so, the new year begins. In Hogwarts, Harry and his companions learn the delicate art of approaching a Hippogriff, how to transform a Boggart through laughter and to go back in time. The Dementors, terrifying guards of Azkaban, prowl the entire school threatening Harry while a supporter of the unnamable curse lurks between the walls of the castle. Harry will be forced to face all of them. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón and based on the third novel by J.K. Rowling.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: This year, Howgarts will host the Triwizard Tournament, one of the most exciting and dangerous magical competitions of the wizarding community. A champion will be chosen from each of the three largest and most prestigious magic colleges. When the name Harry Potter appears in the enchanted Chalice of Fire to represent Howgarts, Harry has to compete in a series of dangerous trials to win the Triwizard Cup. Now Harry must face a dragon that spits fire, plunge into the depths of a large lake, traverse a labyrinth with its own life and have a dangerous encounter with the One Who Must Not Be Named.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Lord Voldemort has returned, but the Ministry of Magic is doing everything possible to hide the truth from the world of magicians, designating, even, the deceitful Dolores Umbridge as new professor of Defense against the Arts Dark When Professor Umbridge refuses to perform defensive magic practices, Ron and Hermione convince Harry to select a group of students and train them in secret for the terrible battle that lies in wait for them.

Harry Potter and the half-blood Prince: With sixteen years old, Harry starts the sixth year at Hogwarts amid terrible events that plague England. Chosen Quidditch team captain, training, exams and girls occupy all their time, but the quiet is short. Despite the tight security controls that protect the school, two students are brutally attacked. Dumbledore knows that the moment is coming, announced by the Prophecy, that Harry and Voldemort will face death: "The only one with power to defeat the Dark Lord is approaching ... One of the two must die at the hands of the other, because neither can live while the other is alive. The old director will request the help of Harry, and together they will undertake dangerous trips to try to weaken the enemy, for which the young magician will have the help of an old book of potions belonging to a mysterious prince, someone who calls himself a Half-Blood Prince.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (1 and 2): Harry, Ron and Hermione go in search of the Horcruxes, with the intention of destroying them. Without the help of their teachers, the three students must fight alone against dark forces that threaten to separate them. Meanwhile, the world of magic has become a threatening place for the enemies of the Dark Lord. The war has begun; Voldemort's Death Eaters control the Ministry of Magic and the Hogwarts terrorize and detain anyone who opposes them. But they also keep looking for their most valuable prey: Harry Potter.

The big date is coming. When he turns seventeen, Harry will lose the protective charm that keeps him safe. The announced deadly confrontation with Lord Voldemort is imminent, and the almost impossible mission to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes more urgent than ever. The final hour has come, the time to make the most difficult decisions. Harry must leave the warmth and security of the Burrow to follow without fear or hesitation the inexorable path traced for him. Aware of how much is at stake, only within himself will he find the necessary strength to impel him in the dizzying race to face his destiny.

A simple favor

Paul Feig focuses again on a story that explores, through comedy, the nuances and complexities of female relationships. But this time, with A small favor, Spy also director: a clueless spy ventures into the unknown terrain of the thriller, and the result is a film that finds an exceptional meeting point between suspense and acid comedy.

Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) is the perfect mom. Devoted mother and crafts vlogger, Stephanie is a passive and innocent woman. Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) is the opposite. Nelson - disgraced and highly manipulative - is a successful business woman, but a somewhat deranged mother. The life of both women takes a 180º turn when Emily asks Stephanie to pick up her son from school, and disappears without a trace. Stephanie is given the task of solving the mystery, and with the help of other mothers who see his vlog and the complicity of Sean (Henry Golding), Emily's husband, discover a dark story full of secrets and lies.
Based on Darcey Bell's self-titled bestseller of 2017, one of the film's greatest successes is the balance that Feig and screenwriter Jessica Schrazer achieve between the psychological suspense and mystery characteristic of a thriller with comedy. A small favor is not one of these tapes that at moments presents something of suspense and then move on to a comic scene. The film organically interweaves these two factors at all times and grows and nurtures them in parallel along the length of the film that unleashes laughter and exclamations of amazement alike.

The film has provoked multiple comparisons with the film noir because of the way it constructs Emily's case, the cynicism of its characters and the archetype of the femme fatale. What is interesting is that he manages to implement these elements in a context that does not belong at all to the film noir, as it is a suburb in the United States in the superficial era of the internet and vloggers. In this same way, the model of the fatal woman in this story takes a few licenses and becomes something peculiar. While Emily is the epitome of this type of character with her brazen attitude, dazzling costumes and a magnetic stage presence, at the end of the day, Stephanie also becomes a femme fatale (even more lethal) in her own way. Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively stand out in their performances, and the dumbbell they achieve thanks to their contrasting personalities and personal travel of each of their characters is a great inducement of the film.

The story of Emily's disappearance is not particularly original. Although the first act of the film catches you and keeps you on the edge of the seat, this factor gradually loses its effect as the truth comes to light and invariably falls into cliché. However, it is the comedy that ironically adds a deeper texture and complexity to an average mystery. This factor, coupled with the multiple twists in the final explosive - which despite being extremely unlikely genuinely surprise the audience - make this feature film another Paul Feig triumph.

The Mercy

Direction: James Marsh
Cast: Colin Firth, Rachel Weisz, David Thewlis, Jonathan Bailey, Adrian Schiller, Tim Downie.
Title in V.O: The Mercy
Nationality: United Kingdom Year: 2018 Release date: 07-09-2018 Runtime: 101 Genre: Drama Color or in B / W: Color Script: Scott Z. Burns Photography: Eric Gautier Music: Jóhann Jóhannsson
Synopsis: In 1968 the amateur navigator Donald Crowhurst (Colin Firth) imposes an epic objective: to win the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race going around the world in his sailboat, alone and without scales. On land he leaves his wife Clare (Rachel Weisz), his greatest defender, who like him faces alone another adventure: to move forward with his children and without the love of his life. While Claire remains firm at home, Donald continues his career on the high seas despite the many obstacles ... but his goal, today, remains a great mystery ...

It does not matter if it's a tightrope walker who tries to cross between the Twin Towers ('Man on Wire') or a scientist who is given two years at most and lives more than 50 (The theory of everything). Impossible and real challenges that came to fruition and that the British James Marsh has narrated with unequal fortune. We can not say the same about the tragic real story of the amateur navigator Donald Crowhurst, an unconscious who, after going out for a walk on weekends, goes on to run to go around the world alone; something like wanting to go from playing singles games against married to play in the first in just a few days. And, in this way, save your business and, incidentally, your family. A challenge condemned to failure that Marsh portrays in an almost episodic way - everything happens with an unusual rapidity - while he flees from the heroic story to travel through paths of madness and delirium. And, in spite of always being on the point of shipwreck, he shows courage with a tug of war that allows him to go further to go from dream to nightmare. As the character played by David Thewlis says, Crowhurst's is a story ready to be told; in this case, that of a man trapped by lies.

The hungry (Les affamés)

One of the most valuable aspects of A Place in Silence was the way in which John Krasinski escalated a story of overflowing suspense based on a strong visual language. This predominance of the image was due to two causes: the deafness of the older daughter of his character (a family man trying to keep their loved ones safe) and the fact that the alien invaders hunted their prey through the more minimal noise. Another hand-crafted film with no dialogues, thriller inputs and science fiction is The Hungry (Les affamés), French-Canadian production, an incubator of horror within the subgenre of zombies but from the perspective of auteur cinema.

Robin Aubert writes and directs the story of a group of survivors of a small town in Québec, where something - the dystopian origin is never explained - causes the conversion of human beings into fast and hungry cannibal beasts and automatons that respond only to the instinct of hunting. To survive, these children (Charlotte St-Martin), "comic" men (Marc-André Grondin), reckless women (Monia Chokri), elderly mourners (Micheline Lanctôt), among others, make up an incipient community, as survival alone It seems impossible.

Among them are formed those affective bonds that can only be formed from a traumatic experience, from a life or death scenario. However, the filmmaker also crumbles the mistrust in the other who could be bitten, the murder of loved ones - either out of fear or mercy - the abandonment of the defenseless when all that is left is to flee, and the paranoia, companions unavoidable of an apocalyptic reality.
However, praises the sacrifice-that quality of the human that prevails until the last moment before ceasing to exist or succumb to the bite of others, or mourning, as one of the characters says: "When you wake up and the first thing you do is to kill someone, you know that the world is another".

But unlike certain films of the subgenre, ironically eaten away by the cliché of the survivors wrapped in a halo of hope, that of the hungry is a pessimistic view, since transformation or death seems to be a matter of time. The undeniable paradox of his film is that despite the atmosphere of existential desolation uses the figure of the child as a symbol of the future, because it is there, in innocence, where the best of humanity is concentrated. Alfonso Cuarón did the same in Los niños del hombre, another story set in a ruined world.

While it leaves some unknowns open and the design of the zombies is conventional - they are as fast as those of Danny Boyle in Extermination, for example -, The hungry does not fall into the farce of the free scares emanating from abrupt sound effects, as the Silence is your greatest ally, just like that of the characters. They can not make noise, they should not attract attention and they need to limit their parliaments to the minimum necessary.

Even the constant use of the fixed plane and the foreground give it an intimate surrounding element. There are a couple of scenes of undeniable genius in which a flying camera rises through the air at an angle and takes the trees that make up the forest where the hecatomb is safeguarded. In the distance it seems a peaceful sight, but suddenly we hear the terrified clamor of new victims who bring us back to reality: the pandemic and death remain.

The Night Eats the World

The Night Eats the World
Well they say that, at this point in life, there is nothing new under the sun. As spectators, bringing this phrase to the world of cinema could be hopeless. However, it is thanks to the inexhaustible creativity of the new generations that we can always find something different in the cinema that comes. That is the case of The Night Eats the World (La nuit a devoré le monde), a film that manages to deliver something different from everything that the zombie film world has accustomed us.

For the audience, the idea of ​​a movie of the living dead immediately fills their minds with scenes full of action, blood, a lot of suspense and a high dose of adrenaline. From The Night of the Living Dead - to quote George A. Romero's 1968 classic as the beginning of an era of these characters that continues to be alive - until the exciting Zombie Station: Train to Busan (2016), from South Korea's Sang-ho Yeon, the subgenre has been presenting again and again the same formula that, in essence, does not change: in each film we are witnesses of the story of one or several survivors who struggle desperately to survive in a world every second more hopeless.

There are many examples. From the Resident Evil saga to World War Z or even the AMC with The Walking Dead since 2010, fans of the undead have been pleased with a story whose backbone is governed by the same principles. However, some have taken this "disadvantage" to differentiate themselves from others, as did the great land of zombies, led by Ruben Fleischer in 2009.

The night eats the world, debut work by the Frenchman Dominique Rocher, tackles a perspective rarely seen in the cinema of zombies: that of those who face an apocalypse of the living dead and whose strategy to survive is not to take up arms and fight to the enemy, but to take shelter in the safest place possible and take advantage of everything that place will allow them to survive in a world that, little by little, is rotting away.

This film, one of the great surprises of festivals such as Tribeca, Rotterdam or recently in BiFan, presents the story of Sam (played by the Norwegian actor Anders Danielsen Lie) to whom a box full of old cassettes saves his life. In what seems to be the awkward moment of picking up the things that you left in your ex-partner's apartment, Sam attends a party where someone accidentally hits him in the nose. Slightly knocked out, he enters a room where he will sit in an armchair to recover. After losing consciousness, he wakes up in a place full of blood and impregnated with the smell of death. Everything that surrounds him shows him that he is completely alone in a building in Paris whose surrounding streets are invaded by zombies.

After accepting his terrible reality, Sam begins to analyze, floor by floor, the place where he is trapped. In your exploration, you will find objects that will allow you to extend your life time. It is from this moment that The Night eats the world is entirely supported by Anders Danielsen Lie (Ghosts of the past) who manages to lead us to terror caused by his loneliness and his helplessness only with his eyes, in sequences full of silences or in others, where the only way to express their helplessness and despair is by shouting, playing a battery or even shooting at those non-living beings who have taken everything from them.

His performance is highly benefited with a prominent production design and makeup department that manages to make the streets of Paris a real apocalyptic hell, full of creatures that steal your breath. The film, in addition, is accompanied by the music of composer David Gubitsch, who manages to create sounds that make us feel part of the madness that invades little by little the character of Anders.

While those sequences full of adrenaline in which the protagonist faces non-living beings here are shortages -without being important-, the greatest success of the film by Dominique Rocher is to show that other side of a story of survival, in which the characters deal not only with the tragedy that surrounds them but with their own demons; in an increasingly bleak environment that, little by little, pushes you to accept your reality and realize that the solution is not to sit and wait for the imminent arrival of the end.

In a subgenre in which there are not many new paths to explore, The night eats the world dares to put aside the terror of being persecuted and be surrounded by zombies to explore and exploit the deep fear of finding you alive and completely alone in a apocalyptic world that constantly reminds you that luck is the only thing that has helped you survive.

The Danish Girl

Eddie Redmayne had already shown his artistic abilities with Theory of Everything of 2014, but for the following year he returns to demonstrate his chameleon skills with The Danish Girl, based on the life of Lili Elbe, one of the first people to undergo surgery transgender in the world at the beginning of the 20th century. Below is our review of Blu-ray of The Danish Girl in charge of Universal Home Video.

VIDEO

Tom Hopper achieved a great visual spectacle thanks to his work with the adaptation of the musical of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, and now with The Danish Girl once again demonstrates its quality when entering a period film again, all of this achieved thanks to the Universal Home Video transfer. The use of mirrors in the first act of the film is rewarded with a unique exposure of light and yellow tones. It is in his last act where the white colors and certain shades of gray predominate, having a little lack of color, but this as a creative decision does not have to be affected with the Blu-ray.
AUDIO

Here we have a 7.1 channel transfer on your HD Master Audio, without any great paraphernalia or science behind the period drama. The dialogues are presented in their central channels while the score is used, but I would dare to say that not used, by the side speakers. With a discreet use, there is no more that could be said about the audio of The Danish Girl more than meets promised.


CONCLUSIONS

With an outstanding production work from design to costume, The Danish Girl by Tom Hopper is a clear example of what is achieved with an actor's vehicle for its protagonists: Eddie Redmayne, Oscar nominee but defeated by Leonardo DiCaprio and Alicia Vikander, winner of the statuette. However we are left with the desire to appreciate many more extras in this edition.


REVIEW

Yes. The high expectations of seeing the charisma, versatility and professionalism of Eddie Redmayne on the big screen are fulfilled. In fact, with his performance in The Danish Girl manages to exceed that mark and footprint that left playing Stephen Hawking in Theory of Everything with now a much more intimate, disturbing and again outstanding.

The film portrays the life of Lili Elbe (Eddie Redmayne), formerly Einar Wegener, in the 1920s in Denmark, one of the first people in the world to receive a sex change through surgery. A woman trapped in the body of a man and his relationship so close, and at the same time complex, with his wife (Alicia Vikander, who has just received an Oscar nomination for this role).

The talent that we already knew Redmayne and reconfirmed, and his provocative role in this film could easily overshadow, overshadow or simply put in the background the participation of his co-star, Alicia Vikander, as a framework that is practically only there to do look and highlight your painting. The truth is that at no time Vikander is left behind, it is splendid, both performances are memorable: one for his transformation and the other for his tenacity. The way they look, the way they play, how they cry and how they laugh, their relationship on the screen is beautiful. A duo of actors who look and feel comfortable.

The film is inspired by David Ebershoff's novel about the experiences of this Danish girl who is inspired by Lili's real life. And yes, "inspired" because it takes up real life events, but like the novel, many things are modified and others are completely fictitious. And this, more than a disadvantage, is perceived as a possible attribute. The value of history and how the script is constructed by Ebershoff and Lucinda Coxon, rather than giving us a biographical side, encourages us to contemplate and reflect on two types of love, different but complementary: unconditional love towards oneself and love unconditional towards the other.

The score composed by Alexandre Desplat manages to capture the essence of another theme that is also fundamental in the story: curiosity. Curiosity for trying new things, for discovering oneself, curiosity for trying to understand something. It's not just my romantic words to embellish this text, to listen to the songs of this composer with his eyes closed, his notes, provoke wanting to open that closed door to discover what's on the other side of it.

The director of the film, Tom Hooper, returns to work with a team already recurrent and recognized from Eddie Redmayne, Alexandre Desplat (The King's speech, The Budapest Hotel, for which he won the Oscar for Best Score), until Danny Cohen in the photograph (nominated by El discurso del Rey) and Eve Stewart in the production design (nominated by Los Miserables) that they fulfill in their respective areas.

There are moments during the film that move, that even get to disturb. There are others that fall into the romantic, they become forced and false. But despite this, the relationship between the protagonists exceeds, is the great attraction and delight of The Danish girl.

Kong: Skull Island

The war in Vietnam has just ended, and a group of soldiers are instructed to accompany scientists to investigate a strange island and what happens in it. So we have the explorer played by Tom Hiddleston, the scientists that are John Goodman, Corey Hawkins (24 Legacy) and Tian Jing-I assume that he is also a scientist, because he only talks to them-and the military where we find actors like Thomas Mann ( Me, him and Raquel) Toby Kebbell (Ben-Hur) and Samuel L. Jackson himself, as well as having the photojournalist played by Brie Larson.

Upon arriving at the Skull Island, the first sequence of action is brutal. While at Godzilla we take time to see and contemplate the kaiju, director Jordan Vogt-Roberts presents the king in all his splendor, destroying what is in his way and in broad daylight. There is no mercy for the humans who have come to invade the island.
All creatures that appear in the film are solidly built, impose against the size of humans and the vast majority are a threat at all times. The CGI surprises and enters this section of productions that combine people with "animals" in the same painting as An Extraordinary Adventure (Ang Lee, 2012) and The Jungle Book (John Favreau, 2016).

But while Kong and the creatures are the main dish of history, the human factor was neglected almost in its entirety. Tom Hiddleston is an actor who has shown great charisma and chemistry on the screen, with the audience, but this does not save him from playing a character that lacks an interesting narrative arc. The scientists (Goodman, Hawkins and Jing) were the pretext to take us to the island, but otherwise they are totally replaceable. The conflict of the military Toby Kebbell is to try to write him more than "Dear Bobby" in a letter to his son but, incredible as it may seem, was one of the deepest stories in the film.

Those who steal the film - within the human department - were John C. Reily and Samuel L. Jackson. While the first one offers a nice comic relief (which towards the end rather becomes a family drama), Jackson gives his character nuances and a madness close to what would be a character of Revelation now, without a doubt the most striking of the plot.

Brie Larson, meanwhile, leaves much to be desired with his character Mason Weaver (in interview with the director, he pointed out that it was a clear reference to Sigourney Weaver and his character in Alien). The problem with the journalist photographer lies not only in the poor interpretation of Larson, but he did not have much material to work on, in addition the direction and editing make it annoying every moment he takes out his camera. Yes, we understand that this is their profession, but when it came to taking pictures, the filmmakers decided that it was a good time to explore the seventies soundtrack and offer sequences similar to a tourist montage. "Come and see the Skull Island, more magical than ever."

Within this universe of kaijus that created Legendary Pictures with Warner Bros., Kong: The Skull Island is until now the most entertaining film, although having as reference only Godzilla (Gareth Edwards, 2014), the task was not very complicated to say . And yes, wait until the end to see one of the most exciting post-credits sequences ... and it has nothing to do with superheroes, but with giant creatures, the real kings of the planet.


VIDEO
As expected of the Blu-ray (also the digital edition included free in your purchase), the quality 1080p7AVC MPEG-4 with aspect 2.40: 1 is simply spectacular, even exceeding what seen on the big screen with great contrasts and a color palette and filters that provide more clearly that touch of the 70s that wanted to capture the director originally, and that somehow was lost in the large format. The digital effects and CG of Larry Fong (constant dumbbell Zack Snyder) look realistic and detailed, especially in the scenes with the huge ape.
5/5

AUDIO
The Calavera Island album boasts both the amazing Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (curious that is not 7.1 as Atmos). It should be noted the excellent sound equalization in a tape full of action, cries of humans and beasts, explosions ... everything is clear and perfect!
4.5 / 5

ADDITIONAL FEATURES
It is a wonder. From daily video with Tom Hiddleston from Hawaii and Australia to a beautiful selection of photos by Brie Larson, a look at the Monarch organization (yes, Godzilla's) with a flick to Gamera, deleted scenes, commentary from the director and behind the scenes, The movie's 118 experience expands to almost 3 hours of content. And if you still do not jump from DVD to Blu-ray format, you'll love to know that Warner Bros. Home Entertainment included ALL the extras on DVD as well. The sleeve with texture to cover the box of the disc we loved also.
CONCLUSION
The reception of the critics and moviegoers to Kong: The Skull Island was divided -although on a personal basis, I was entertained and I was happy in my seat to see it- and despite that, I reaped more than $ 560 million dollars in the world box office before the $ 185 million dollars of budget. Tell your friends - skeptics and enthusiasts of the tape - that Kong is worth his enormous weight in gold in the Blu-ray version, with visuals, audio and extras even superior to what they saw in cinemas.

Believe me: it is worth the experience at home, because it raises the final presentation of the film, and prepares us for the future encounter against the King of the Kaiju: Godzilla.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Blu-Ray + DVD

Fantastic animals and where to find them, the highly anticipated spin-off of the magical world of J.K. Rowling, is more than anything a promise: an adventure that rises mainly as a foundation -intention and charismatic, yes- of a new franchise, which at all times gives the impression of being keeping the best cards for the future. After all, it is the first of five films that are planned around the adventures of his new hero, the magician Newt Scamander, and has the weight of multiple objectives: presenting new characters and villains, creating an expectation for the sequels, expanding the universe and fit into it, lay your own identity (separate from the Harry Potter saga), talk to the rookies of Rowling's world and, at the same time, be functional, fun and ... fantastic.

Such challenges would paralyze any franchise and make it fall under its pressure; however, this is not the case of Fantastic Animals, which under the direction of David Yates manages to stand firm and prove that the world of magicians is still quite alive, four years after the release of the last Harry Potter film (and that he also directed). Now, it is true that in most cases responds to these objectives in a more functional than fantastic, and is built to constantly remind us that this is only the beginning. However, in spite of that, Newt's first adventure is a show from beginning to end, whose main achievement (the one that clearly seeks more) lies in the fact that he manages to plant the desire to see the following. Something quite difficult to achieve in the competitive sequel scene.
Written by Rowling herself - in her first foray as a screenwriter - the film presents Newt (played by Eddie Redmayne) as the new misunderstood outsider with a wand that could save the magical community from dark forces. He narrates his arrival in the New York of the 1920s, as part of his research trips to write his book Fantastic Animals and where to find them, which will eventually become the textbook used by Harry and his friends at Hogwarts. There, the hazards of fate and an accident with his mysterious suitcase join him with Jacob (Dan Fogler), a non-maj baker (muggle, in American slang); and with two sister witches: Porpentina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), employee of the Magical Congress of the United States, and her sister Queenie (Alison Sudol), a witch capable of reading the mind.

It is in the vicissitudes of this quartet that the film has its best moments. Immersed in a community full of hate and suspicion, quite different from what is known in Hogwarts (American wizards are on the verge of war with humans), Newt, Porpentina, Jacob and Queenie star in a quest of quirky fantastic creatures to the Pokemon GO , which explores the best of the film: Newt's bestiary. The fantastic animals manage to be precisely that: fantastic, not only because of the magic of the CGI with which they are composed, but because their characteristics are again proof of Rowlingneana's imagination without limits. In addition, we open that part of the magical world that we could only glimpse a little in those infamous Hagrid classes, which sent more than one student with the Hogwarts nurse.

Also, this persecution makes clear an intention of the production to take advantage of and enrich itself of the historical moment in which it is located, in order to separate itself in tone and aesthetics from Potter's adventures. Stand out the scenarios and the design of production in general, but above all those noir atmospheres that revive the mystery and seduction of the era of the dry law of the USA: clandestine nightclubs full of cigarette smoke, tense looks and ... goblins . There are not many sequences that have this privilege, but they serve as a sample of how much the rest of the franchise could benefit if he decides to let himself be carried further by the imagery and nostalgia of the 20s, a pretty magical decade in itself. A promise that we hope will be fulfilled.

The homage to this time is also found in the dynamics between Newt and Jacob. We had already seen Eddie Redmayne playing the roles of the introverted and indecisive nerd (The theory of everything), but who is quite new is his comedy companion: Dan Fogler. Jacob's character is the revelation of the film and his dumbbell with Newt recalls the classic comic figures of silent cinema. It would not be unreasonable to say that Fogler steals the entire show. Beside him, the rest of the characters seem to remain in the mere sympathetic introduction -including that of Newt-, as promises (again this word) that we will see flourish more along the sequels. This is the case above all of Tina (Waterston), which is eclipsed on this occasion by the overwhelming personality of her sister Queenie (Sudol).

However, all this fun is asphyxiated in the other storyline, that starring Colin Farrell in his role as Percival Graves, which has the clear and heavy function of laying the foundations antagonistic for the rest of the sequels. The hidden adventures of this auror (something like a CIA policeman of the magical world), involve a troubled young man (Ezra Miller) who remembers a little Tom Marvolo Riddle, but they try so hard to build a franchise that, in Instead of being intriguing, they become the "spoilers" of the movie. They are explanatory sequences occupied in manufacturing and giving a platform to the darkness, dressed with characters of minimal appearances (Jon Voight, as an important president of a newspaper), whose only function is to present for the following sequels. While magic and fun are in the simplest part of the plot (chasing the magical beasts), the gears of the machinery inevitably loom in this subhistory. Those who are new to the Potterian universe will find refuge in the first. Even so, it achieves a few sinister moments, which the fans will appreciate.


Remember that these are the risks of creating a production that was arranged in a single film what the saga of Harry Potter did in four: on the one hand, present a new world and its characters, fond the public with them and create a franchise (The Philosopher's Stone, The Secret Chamber and The Prisoner of Azkaban); and, on the other hand, put more darkness, expand the universe beyond Hogwarts and present their main villain with bass and cymbal (The Goblet of Fire). The result is, in spite of everything, satisfactory, more practical than magical in several moments, but a worthy successor to one of the most beloved sagas of all time. It is held, more than anything, as a promising door, which suddenly stumbles in its spirit to extend beyond this first adventure, but manages to build an underworld within the universe and lay the foundations for the franchise in a functional way. Of course, we have to wait to learn more about the elements that make up the society of magicians (the school of Ilvermorny, the past of MACUSA, the main villain ...), which are only mentioned slightly.

Fifty Shades Freed 'uncensored' and the trilogy Fifty shades in full arrive on DVD and Blu-ray

The editions on DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD and limited special edition in metal box, include the version that can be seen in theaters and also a version where Gray and Steele live their passionate love 'without censorship'.

In this third installment, newlyweds Christian, played by Jamie Dornan, and Anastasia, played by Dakota Johnson, enjoy their marriage and their life full of luxury. However, just as Ana begins to relax, new threats appear that put her happiness at risk.


Fifty Shades Freed: The end of the passion story between Christian Gray and Anastasia Steele came to the homes of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment with special editions and 'uncensored'.

THE EDITION ON DVD
The DVD edition will include the film in standard definition, both the 'uncensored' version and the film version, and the following extras:

- Deleted scene
- Christian and 'Ana' for Jamie and Dakota. It recalls the evolution of Anastasia and Christian and how the actors have lived the experience.
- The Final Climax. Discover how, after the cameras, Ana, Christian and the rest of the characters face the adventure of the end thanks to this extensive featurette that reveals the key scenes of the film.

THE BLU-RAY EDITION
Blu-ray edition will include the 'uncensored' and film versions, all, the DVD extras and the following additional exclusive contents of this format:

- A conversation with E.L. James and Eric Johnson - A talk
close and relaxed between E.L. and Eric commenting on the movie,
favorite moments, soundtrack, etc.
- Music videos - For You (Fifty Shades Freed) - Liam Payne &
Rita prays; Capital Letters - Hailee Steinfeld & BloodPop;
Heaven - Julia Michaels

THE 4K UHD + BLU-RAY EDITION
This edition will consist of two discs: a 4K UHD with the film in its two versions in ultra high definition and with immersive sound, and a Blu-ray disc with all the contents of the simple Blu-ray edition.

SPECIAL EDITION LIMITED IN METAL BOX
The special edition limited in metallic box will be available in all the points of sale until end of stock, and will take the Blu-ray with all its extras plus a DVD that includes exclusive features of this edition:
- New characters: Luke Sawyer, Boyce Fox and Gia Matteo
- Finally released
- We'll always have Paris
- Friends and family
-Image gallery

Blu-Ray pack with the 30 monsters movies

Although some of the great films of the classic monsters of the Universal in Blu-Ray were already available for sale, today the company has announced that on August 28 will put on sale a pack with the 30 films made between 1931 and 1956, many of them unpublished in HD.


In addition to the films, it will include a full-color 48-page book and hours of extra content, including the Mexican version of the 1931 Dracula, behind the cameras with Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr. and Jack Pierce, comments, unpublished file, photographs of the filming, movie trailers ...

The films that are part of this pack are: Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931) , The Mummy (1932), The Invisible Man (1933), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Werewolf of London (1935), Dracula´s Daughter (1936), Son of Frankenstein (1939), The Invisible Man Returns (1940), The Invisible Woman (1940), The Mummy´s Hand (1940), The Wolf Man (1941), The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), The Mummy´s Ghost (1942), The Mummy´s Tomb (1942), Invisible Agent (1942), Phantom of the Opera (1943), Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), Son of Dracula (1943), House of Frankenstein (1944), The Mummy´s Curse (1944), The Invisible Man´s Revenge (1944), House of Dracula (1945), She-Wolf of London (1946), Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) , Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955), Revenge of the Creature (1955) y The Creature Walks Among Us (1956).

For now, it can only be booked on Amazon USA at a recommended price of $ 149.

Game of Thrones Seasons 1-5 DVD Box set

Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama television series created for HBO by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss as showrunners and main writers. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin's series of fantasy novels, the first of which is titled A Game of Thrones. Filmed in a Belfast studio and on location elsewhere in Northern Ireland, Malta, Scotland, Croatia, Iceland, the United States, Spain and Morocco, it premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011. Two days after the fourth season premiered in April 2014, HBO renewed Game of Thrones for a fifth and sixth season.

The series, set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos at the end of a decade-long summer, interweaves several plot lines with a broad ensemble cast. The first narrative arc follows a civil war among several noble houses for the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms; the second covers the rising threat of the impending winter and the legendary creatures and fierce peoples of the North; the third chronicles the attempts of the exiled last scion of the realm's deposed ruling dynasty to reclaim the throne.Like the novels it adapts, Game of Thrones has a sprawling ensemble cast, estimated to be the largest on television. During the production of the third season, 257 cast names were recorded. In 2014, several of the actors' contracts were renegotiated to include the option for a seventh season, and included raises that reportedly made the cast among the best-paid on cable TV. The following overview reduces the list of characters in Game of Thrones to those played by the actors credited as part of the main cast.

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete First Season

The Big Bang Theory is a sitcom produced and directed by Chuck Lorre ("Two and a Half Men") and Bill Prady (executive producer of "Gilmore Girls")
The series is about two nerds who share a flat: Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons).
Although both are PhD in theoretical physics and are able to calculate the probability of the existence of parallel universes, they have no idea how to relate to the outside world, especially with the girls.

The series begins with the arrival of Penny (Kaley Cuoco), the new neighbor that is installed on the floor in front. Penny, who inhabit the antipodes and intellectual life of both nerds, disrupts the quiet love life is a continuous Leonard and detonator for obsessive-compulsive Sheldon.

Normal emissions Penny also disrupting the rest of the gang: a Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) is triggered whenever hormones sees while Rajesh (Kunal Nayyar) is unable to issue a single voice in his presence .

Pope John Paul II (DVD)

One of the best made-for-television movies of the decade, Pope John Paul II is a pleasurable and memorable film chronicling the remarkable life of Karol Wojtyla, a young Polish Catholic who would one day become Pope. Nominated for a 2006 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie, Jon Voight is excellent in his role the Pope in his latter years. Cary Elwes is equally memorable in his portrayal of a young and inspiring Wojtyla. Overall, Pope John Paul II is a well produced and well cast masterpiece about the life of one of the 20th Century’s most influential men. It will cause Catholics to beam with pride that such a man was Pope, as well as inspire non-Catholics with a message of hope and peace and the recognition that, in modern times, great leaders can still triumph over evil.

The film begins with a young Karol Wojtyla (Elwes), a student who aspires to become a noted actor in Poland. During this time in life, Nazi Germany invades the nation, and the complex political and religious implications prompt him to make a series of important decisions in his life. Karol must decide whether to get married or to join the priesthood, and because of his extensive education, he is a rare individual who can warn other workers about the dangers of Communism and all its evils.

Ultimately, Karol chooses the priesthood, and he is taken under the wing of the Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Adam Sapieha (James Cromwell). New priests must be trained in secret, and the religious oppression experienced at the hands of the Nazis doesn’t end with their demise. The Soviet Union continues to use the power of the state to subvert the influence of the church, limiting public gatherings and attempting to curtail the impact of the clergy. Wojtyla immediately sparks the ire of local officials by staging peaceful protests, public religious gatherings, and student retreats. As he rises through the ranks of the Polish church, he becomes one of the most powerful and well-known priests in the nation. The Soviets promote the idea of his being considered as Pope in order to get him out of Poland, but their efforts eventually backfire when the new Pope John Paul II becomes one of the most fierce anti-Communist leaders in the world, backing Lech Walesa (Jacek Lenartowicz) the political leadership of the Polish union Solidarity and preaching a unified message with both Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. In addition to Communism, Wojtyla’s years as the Pope see him grapple with abortion, September 11th, a failed assassination attempt, and the ill effects of Parkinson’s disease.

Overall, Pope John Paul II is a vivid portrayal of a storybook life. Voight and Elwes are flawless in illustrating the many layers of complexity that formed and molded the personality and ideology of one of the world best loved political and religious figures. Their efforts are complimented by a superb supporting cast that includes veteran actors James Cromwell, Christopher Lee, and Ben Gazzara. The costumes and set design seem to be well-suited the myriad time periods covered, and the chronology of the story as told seems to flow well for a television movie. It’s rare to find a made-for-TV production equal in quality to its big screen counterpart, but viewers can be confident that in this biographical film, they’ll get all the quality and star power of a Hollywood blockbuster.

The Office (Season 2) DVD

One of the best new comedies on television, The Office chronicles the inner-workings of the fictional Pennsylvania paper company Dunder-Mifflin. The name itself sort of alludes to a bureaucratic labyrinth administered by dunderheads, and in reality, it is. Unfortunately, what makes The Office so outrageously funny is the frightening ability of its millions of viewers to relate to the onscreen happenings. Dunder-Mifflin is mis-managed by the politically-incorrect, borderline lunatic Michael Scott (Steve Carell). Deploying his twisted logic as the basis of company policy, substituting worn out clichés for real leadership, and offering an endless array of ever ridiculous group activities to “increase morale,” he fosters a white collar environment that makes the comic strip world of Dilbert seem desirable in contrast.

Carell, one of Hollywood’s hottest stars, shines in the role of the crazed and eccentric office manager, and his talents are well complimented by Rainn Wilson in the role of Michael’s butt-kissing, rule-Nazi sycophant, Dwight Schrute. Dwight’s over-the-top antics regularly conflict with the rest of the office, particularly co-worker and desk neighbor Jim Halpert (John Krasinski). An unspoken office crush between Jim and Pam Beesley (Jenna Fischer) makes for an interesting and recurring subplot. The two epitomize the rest of the Dunder-Mifflin employees who convey themselves as logical, well-reasoned, and normal individuals; normal people trapped in a bizarro world where bumbling idiots like Michael and Dwight preside over their work week. Similar in theme to the hilarious feature film Office Space, the show provides viewers with a much more excitable Bill Lumbergh lording over an army of Peter Gibbons-like worker bees. For creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, who first experienced success with the concept in the United Kingdom, it’s a surefire recipe for pure, unadulterated laughter.

The Office (Season 2) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “The Dundies” in which the annual staff awards, “The Dundies,” are handed out by Michael. Michael struggles with the event due to some corporate complaints about his past handling of the event, while still managing to offend each and every one of his fellow employees. Following a fight with Roy, Pam gets hammered and the spends the evening joking around with Jim. The two end up kissing before Pam catches a ride home with another coworker… Other episodes include “Christmas Party” in which Michael screws up the office Christmas party with another one of his erratic decisions, and “Conflict Resolution” in which Michael’s efforts to improve relations within the office result in a worse situation.

Below is a list of episodes included on The Office (Season 2) DVD:

Episode 7 (The Dundies) Air Date: 09-20-2005
Episode 8 (Sexual Harassment) Air Date: 09-27-2005
Episode 9 (Office Olympics) Air Date: 10-04-2005
Episode 10 (The Fire) Air Date: 10-11-2005
Episode 11 (Halloween) Air Date: 10-18-2005
Episode 12 (The Fight) Air Date: 11-01-2005
Episode 13 (The Client) Air Date: 11-08-2005
Episode 14 (Performance Review) Air Date: 11-15-2005
Episode 15 (Email Surveillance) Air Date: 11-22-2005
Episode 16 (Christmas Party) Air Date: 12-06-2005
Episode 17 (Booze Cruise) Air Date: 01-05-2006
Episode 18 (The Injury) Air Date: 01-12-2006
Episode 19 (The Secret) Air Date: 01-19-2006
Episode 20 (The Carpet) Air Date: 01-26-2006
Episode 21 (Boys and Girls) Air Date: 02-02-2006
Episode 22 (Valentine’s Day) Air Date: 02-09-2006
Episode 23 (Dwight’s Speech) Air Date: 03-02-2006
Episode 24 (Take Your Daughter to Work Day) Air Date: 03-16-2006
Episode 25 (Michael’s Birthday) Air Date: 03-30-2006
Episode 26 (Drug Testing) Air Date: 04-27-2006
Episode 27 (Conflict Resolution) Air Date: 05-04-2006
Episode 28 (Casino Night) Air Date: 05-11-2006

Taxi (Season 3) DVD

With its biting humor and eccentric characters, Taxi is widely lauded as one of the top sitcoms in television history. The brainchild of James L. Brooks, whose golden touch played a role in such hits as The Andy Griffith Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and The Simpsons, Taxi continues to entertain and gather generations of new fans through syndicated reruns. With a superb cast and great writers, the show introduced the world to the comedic talents of Hollywood mainstays like Danny DeVito, Tony Danza, Marilu Henner, Christopher Lloyd, and Andy Kaufman.

Taxi follows the daily operations of the Sunshine Cab Company, a New York City taxi service run by tyrannical dispatcher Louie De Palma (Danny DeVito). De Palma’s self-centered sarcastic remarks are often dispensed from the safety of his pathetically small office in the corner of the body shop, while various employees like Alex Reiger (Judd Hirsch), Tony Banta (Danza), and Elaine Nardo (Henner) socialize and plot against their common enemy. Add foreign mechanic Latka Gravas (Kaufman) to the mix and all the ingredients are in place for hours of endless laughter. As the characters deal with problems of varying degree in their personal lives, the audience is treated to some of the best comedy ever produced for the small screen.

The Taxi (Season 3) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “Louie’s Rival” in which Louie’s girlfriend Zena dumps him for a bartender at Mario’s. Danny DeVito provides another hilarious performance as the heartless Louie… Other notable episodes include “The Costume Party” in which the gang crashes a luxury yacht party in the hopes of meeting some famous people, and “Bobby and the Critic” in which Bobby happens upon one of the theater critics who recently bashed his performance.

Below is a list of episodes included on the Taxi (Season 3) DVD:

Episode 47 (Louie’s Rival) Air Date: 11-19-1980
Episode 48 (Tony’s Sister and Jim) Air Date: 11-26-1980
Episode 49 (Fathers of the Bride) Air Date: 12-03-1980
Episode 50 (Elaine’s Strange Triangle) Air Date: 12-10-1980
Episode 51 (Going Home) Air Date: 12-17-1980
Episode 52 (The Ten Percent Solution) Air Date: 01-07-1981
Episode 53 (The Call of the Mild) Air Date: 01-21-1981
Episode 54 (Latka’s Cookies) Air Date: 02-05-1981
Episode 55 (Thy Boss’s Wife) Air Date: 02-12-1981
Episode 56 (The Costume Party) Air Date: 02-19-1981
Episode 57 (Elaine’s Old Friend) Air Date: 02-26-1981
Episode 58 (Out of Commission) Air Date: 03-12-1981
Episode 59 (Zen and the Art of Cab Driving) Air Date: 03-19-1981
Episode 60 (Louie’s Mother) Air Date: 03-26-1981
Episode 61 (Bobby’s Roommate) Air Date: 04-09-1981
Episode 62 (Louie Bumps Into an Old Lady) Air Date: 04-16-1981
Episode 63 (Bobby and the Critic) Air Date: 04-30-1981
Episode 64 (On the Job: Part 1) Air Date: 05-07-1981
Episode 65 (On the Job: Part 2) Air Date: 05-14-1981
Episode 66 (Latka the Playboy) Air Date: 05-21-1981

The Simpsons (Season 8) DVD

One of the best TV shows of the modern era, or for that matter any era, The Simpsons rekindled the popularity of the prime time animation genre. A blockbuster series filled with a diverse cast of characters from the fictional town Springfield, the series aided the upstart FOX network in its rise from second-rate TV channel to the elite status of a major network like CBS, NBC, or ABC. This overwhelming success opened the door for a number of similar animated series such as Futurama (1999), The Family Guy (1999), and King Of The Hill (1997). With arguably of the best collection of writing talent in the TV industry, The Simpsons has managed to maintain consistency as one of the funniest shows on television – quite an accomplishment given the length of its run.

The Simpsons (Season 8) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “Treehouse of Horror VII,” one of the best of the annual Simpson Halloween episodes. The three stories covered include the discovery of Bart’s evil twin in the attic, Lisa’s creation of an alternative universe, and an alien invasion propagated by Bob Dole and Bill Clinton look-alikes. Other notable episodes from Season 8 include “A Milhouse Divided” in which Milhouse’s parents decide to get a divorce, prompting Homer and Marge to take sides in the separation, and “The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show” in which Homer becomes the voiceover for the highly anticipated arrival of Poochie, a new character on the Itchy & Scratchy Show. But things take a turn for the worst when reviews of Poochie are unanimously derogatory.

Below is a list of episodes included on The Simpsons (Season 8) DVD:

Episode 154 (Treehouse of Horror VII) Air Date: 10-27-1996
Episode 155 (You Only Move Twice) Air Date: 11-03-1996
Episode 156 (The Homer They Fall) Air Date: 11-10-1996
Episode 157 (Burns Baby Burns) Air Date: 11-17-1996
Episode 158 (Bart After Dark) Air Date: 11-24-1996
Episode 159 (A Milhouse Divided) Air Date: 12-01-1996
Episode 160 (Lisa’s Date with Density) Air Date: 12-15-1996
Episode 161 (Hurricane Neddy) Air Date: 12-29-1996
Episode 162 (The Mysterious Voyage of Our Homer) Air Date: 01-05-1997
Episode 163 (The Springfield Files) Air Date: 01-12-1997
Episode 164 (The Twisted World of Marge Simpson) Air Date: 01-19-1997
Episode 165 (Fountain of Madness) Air Date: 02-02-1997
Episode 166 (Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious) Air Date: 02-07-1997
Episode 167 (The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show) Air Date: 02-09-1997
Episode 168 (Homer’s Phobia) Air Date: 02-16-1997
Episode 169 (Brother from Another Series) Air Date: 02-23-1997
Episode 170 (My Sister, My Sitter) Air Date: 03-02-1997
Episode 171 (Homer vs. The 18th Amendment) Air Date: 03-16-1997
Episode 172 (Grade School Confidential) Air Date: 04-06-1997
Episode 173 (The Canine Mutiny) Air Date: 04-13-1997
Episode 174 (The Old Man and the Lisa) Air Date: 04-20-1997
Episode 175 (In Marge We Trust) Air Date: 04-27-1997
Episode 176 (Homer’s Enemy) Air Date: 05-04-1997
Episode 177 (Simpson Spin-Off Showcase) Air Date: 05-11-1997
Episode 178 (The Secret War of Lisa Simpson) Air Date: 05-18-1997

The Simpsons (Season 7) DVD

One of the best television shows of its time, or any time for that matter, The Simpsons has resurrected the prime time animation genre. A blockbuster series populated with eccentric characters from the town Springfield, it helped launch the upstart FOX network from second-tier network to a major player alongside CBS, NBC, and ABC. This success opened the door for a plethora of animated series, such as The Family Guy (1999), Futurama (1999), and King Of The Hill (1997). With some of the best and most consistent writers in television, The Simpsons has spent an unprecedented length of time as one of the funniest shows on TV. That’s quite an accomplishment given the level of excellence it takes to manufacture so many episodes over such a long period of time.

The Simpsons (Season 7) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “Springfield’s Most Wanted” in which John Walsh, host of the FOX series America’s Most Wanted, summarizes various theories as to who shot Springfield tycoon Montgomery Burns. This show originally aired prior to the season seven premiere that wraps up this plot twist, but it appears on The Simpsons (Season 6) DVD. Other notable episodes from Season 7 include “King-Size” in which Homer’s dream of working from home leads him to pursue a high-octane regimen of unhealthy binge eating (in order to get fat enough to qualify for company disability), and “A Fish Called Selma” in which Troy McClure seduces, and eventually marries, Marge’s sister Selma in enough to resuscitate his fledgling Hollywood career.

Below is a list of episodes included on The Simpsons (Season 7) DVD:

Episode 128 (Springfield’s Most Wanted) Air Date: 09-17-1995
Episode 129 (Who Shot Mr. Burns?) Air Date: 09-17-1995
Episode 130 (Radioactive Man) Air Date: 09-24-1995
Episode 131 (Home Sweet Home-Dum Diddly Doodly) Air Date: 10-01-1995
Episode 132 (Bart Sells His Soul) Air Date: 10-08-1995
Episode 133 (Lisa the Vegetarian) Air Date: 10-15-1995
Episode 134 (Treehouse of Horror VI) Air Date: 10-29-1995
Episode 135 (King-Size Homer) Air Date: 11-05-1995
Episode 136 (Mother Simpson) Air Date: 11-19-1995
Episode 137 (Sideshow Bob’s Last Gleaming) Air Date: 11-26-1995
Episode 138 (The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular) Air Date: 12-03-1995
Episode 139 (Marge Be Not Proud) Air Date: 12-17-1995
Episode 140 (Team Homer) Air Date: 01-07-1996
Episode 141 (Two Bad Neighbors) Air Date: 01-14-1996
Episode 142 (Scenes from a Class Struggle in Springfield) Air Date: 02-04-1996
Episode 143 (Bart the Fink) Air Date: 02-11-1996
Episode 144 (Lisa the Iconoclast) Air Date: 02-18-1996
Episode 145 (Homer the Smithers) Air Date: 02-25-1996
Episode 146 (The Day the Violence Died) Air Date: 03-17-1996
Episode 147 (A Fish Called Selma) Air Date: 03-24-1996
Episode 148 (Bart on the Road) Air Date: 03-31-1996
Episode 149 (22 Short Films About Springfield) Air Date: 04-14-1996
Episode 150 (Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in “The Curse of the Flying Hellfish”) Air Date: 04-28-1996
Episode 151 (Much Apu About Nothing) Air Date: 05-05-1996
Episode 152 (Homerpalooza) Air Date: 05-19-1996
Episode 153 (Summer of 4’2”) Air Date: 05-19-1996

On Golden Pond (DVD)

Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and eventual winner of 3 Oscars, On Golden Pond is an unconventional Hollywood blockbuster. Based on the play of the same name by Ernest Thompson, the film offers a character driven storyline that explores numerous themes such as aging, abandonment, and family relationships of various types. Veteran film and TV director Mark Rydell packs the big screen with a star-studded cast for this 1981 release. Because of its well developed characters and realistic portrayal of human interactions, it’s a film that’s almost certain to make you laugh, cry, and/or smile. In fact, if you don’t find Norman to be one of the most hilarious and eccentric characters ever created, then you must not be watching the same film.

On Golden Pond follows the lives of a retired New England couple on their annual summer vacation to Golden Pond. Norman Thayer (Henry Fonda) is an aging, long-retired college professor. Sarcastic and crotchety, he manages to distance himself from just about everyone but his wife Ethel (Katharine Hepburn). In fact, his biting demeanor nearly destroys he and his daughter’s relationship, Chelsea (Jane Fonda). When Chelsea brings her new boyfriend Bill (Dabney Coleman) to visit, it isn’t long before Norman stirs things up once again. But Norman and Ethel get an unexpected summer guest when Bill and Chelsea take a prolonged European vacation and leave Bill’s 13-year-old son Billy in their care. It makes for an odd threesome, but as the three learn to live with each other’s quirks, they also learn from each other. But the true test for the new family comes when Chelsea and Bill return from Europe. Can she learn to accept her father’s vices? And can Norman finally be proud of his daughter for who she is?

Hollywood veterans Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda turn in two of the best performances of their respective careers. Fonda is absolutely brilliant as the doddering and cranky Norman. One can’t help but laugh at his antics, although it helps that he has the best written lines in the entire movie. Dabney Coleman, although brief in his appearance, makes an immediate impression when he engages in a classic dialogue with Henry Fonda over the evening’s sleeping arrangements. However, in the end, On Golden Pond works because of the chemistry between the three characters who encompass the majority of the story – Ethel, Norman, and Billy. They bind together to create an epic drama rife with conflict, conquest, and chaos without all the usual Hollywood blood and gore. It’s truly rare to have a film of this nature capture audiences without boring them, and On Golden Pond pulls it off.

Complimenting this strong cast and screenplay is a simple, yet memorable instrumental soundtrack composed by Dave Grusin, veteran TV and film composer known for such works as Tootsie (1982) and The Goonies (1985). Filmed on location on and around the Squam Lakes in New Hampshire, the beauty and majesty of this untainted landscape blends perfectly with its tailor-made soundtrack to create a theme of endless peace and tranquility. Overall, it makes for a rather enjoyable movie experience. If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and watch On Golden Pond. Then, see if you can say “Ethel Thayer” really fast without a lisp!

Dallas (Season 5) DVD

Nominated for 18 Emmys and 15 Golden Globes in its thirteen season run, Dallas is the 1,000-pound gorilla of the prime-time drama/soap opera genre. Premiering in 1978 as a five-part miniseries, the show combines the classic sex and innuendo of boilerplate afternoon soap operas with the freewheeling adventure of Texas wildcats and filthy rich capitalist oil barons. The explosive combination of rampant love affairs and high stakes business dealings scored well with both men and women, prompting CBS to make Dallas the lynchpin of its Friday night lineup (back when people actually watched Friday night television). As a result, Dallas became one of the most successful TV series in history. In fact, the famous ‘Who shot J.R.?” episode (“A House Divided” Air Date: 3-21-1980) still holds its spot as the second most watched television show ever (the season finale of MASH is #1). With arguably the most memorable TV villian ever created, it’s little surprise that Dallas held the #1 or #2 spot in the Nielsen ratings for most of the 1980s decade.

Undoubtedly, the unrivaled success and popularity of Dallas was in large part due to Larry Hagman and his portrayal of J.R. Ewing. Hagman’s real life Texas roots, unique charm, and wholehearted commitment to his craft helped to create one of the most loveable villains in history, and his treachery is on fully display in season five. Although J.R. is a vindictive cutthroat, the audience grows to love his sinister smile in the aftermath of a one-sided business deal and/or a selfish act of calculating revenge. In sharp contrast, J.R.’s brother Bobby (Patrick Duffy) brings the Ewing karma back into balance with his all-American smile and impeccable character. Patrick Duffy brings his own style of charm to the small screen, and it makes for an interesting clash of personalities.

The Dallas (Season 5) DVD features some of the best episodes of the series. The initial ones center around Sue Ellen’s attempt to leave J.R. once and for all. With Dusty and Clayton Farlow by her side, Sue Ellen (Linda Grey) begins a new life at the Southern Cross ranch in San Angelo. The ensuing war between the two over baby John Ross makes for some of the most enjoyable prime time drama ever produced. The onscreen chemistry between Hagman and Grey is simply magic. They manage to portray a believable love-hate relationship between a husband and wife, and it’s one of the ongoing conflicts which launched the show to the top of the Nielsen ratings for almost fourteen years (making it the longest running prime time drama in television history).

Below is a list of episodes included on the Dallas (Season 5) DVD:

Episode 78 (Missing Heir) Air Date: 10-09-1981
Episode 79 (Gone, But Not Forgotten) Air Date: 10-16-1981
Episode 80 (Showdown at San Angelo) Air Date: 10-23-1981
Episode 81 (Little Boy Lost) Air Date: 10-30-1981
Episode 82 (The Sweet Smell of Revenge) Air Date: 11-06-1981
Episode 83 (The Big Shut Down) Air Date: 11-13-1981
Episode 84 (Blocked) Air Date: 11-20-1981
Episode 85 (The Split) Air Date: 11-27-1981
Episode 86 (Five Dollars a Barrel) Air Date: 12-04-1981
Episode 87 (Starting Over) Air Date: 12-11-1981
Episode 88 (Waterloo at Southfork) Air Date: 12-18-1981
Episode 89 (Barbecue Two) Air Date: 01-01-1982
Episode 90 (The Search) Air Date: 01-08-1982
Episode 91 (Denial) Air Date: 01-15-1982
Episode 92 (Head of the Family) Air Date: 01-22-1982
Episode 93 (The Phoenix) Air Date: 01-29-1982
Episode 94 (My Father, My Son) Air Date: 02-05-1982
Episode 95 (Anniversary) Air Date: 02-12-1982
Episode 96 (Adoption) Air Date: 02-19-1982
Episode 97 (The Maelstrom) Air Date: 02-26-1982
Episode 98 (The Prodigal) Air Date: 03-05-1982
Episode 99 (Vengeance) Air Date: 03-12-1982
Episode 100 (Blackmail) Air Date: 03-19-1982
Episode 101 (The Investigation) Air Date: 03-26-1982
Episode 102 (Acceptance) Air Date: 04-02-1982
Episode 103 (Goodbye, Cliff Barnes) Air Date: 04-09-1982

Memoirs Of A Geisha (DVD)

Nominated for six Academy Awards, and winner of three, Memoirs Of A Geisha holds its own as one of the best films of 2005. Veteran Hollywood screenwriter Robin Swicord does a superb job of adapting Arthur Golden’s bestselling novel to the big screen. This film has all the elements of a classic drama – jealousy, politics, intrigue, forbidden love, and an abundance of internal and external conflicts of varying types. Viewers in search of a typical Hollywood blockbuster will be greatly disappointed, but those who appreciate a good character-driven film which takes the time to develop the motivations of its cast and build to a climax will discover a splendid gem which offers a welcome escape from reality.

Memoirs Of A Geisha is narrated from the viewpoint of a nine year-old Japanese girl named Chiyo (Ziyi Zhang). Born into a poor fishing family, Chiyo and her sister are sold into slavery by their father. Chiyo is soon separated from her sister and finds herself in a geisha house where her new master, Mother (Kaori Momoi), will determine her destiny. Although only nine years of age, Chiyo sparks the ire of the much older Hatsumomo (Li Gong), the most celebrated geisha of the house, who accurately perceives Chiyo as a fitting rival.

Li Gong is excellent in her role as the vindictive, yet human, adversary, and her character manages to have Chiyo removed from geisha school and condemned to the life of a common slave. However, Chiyo’s life takes a turn for the better following a chance encounter with The Chairman (Ken Watanabe). Flanked by two geisha, The Chairman extends his kindness to Chiyo, prompting her to develop a lifelong crush and to dream of one day becoming a geisha herself. Chiyo’s wish comes true when a geisha from another house, Mameha (Michelle Yeoh), offers to personally train her, setting up an inevitable conflict between the two and Hatsumomo and her understudy. Meanwhile, the horrors of war and her lifelong pursuit of The Chairman’s love burden Chiyo with additional hardships.

Although some traditionalists and geisha experts might take issue with the portrayal of geishas in general, the film certainly offers an interesting glimpse into a world and culture most Americans will find intriguing. Despite its two hour and twenty-five minute running time, Memoirs Of A Geisha is a captivating film that seems much shorter in duration. Like most films adapted from a novel, those who enjoyed the book will either love it or hate it depending on how well they perceive the switch to the big screen. But even those who hate it must admit that the costume and set design are exquisite and leave little room for improvement. At times, the cast speaks with heavy accents which can be confusing at moments, but overall, the scenes flow well from one to the next. With the exception of some American actors near the conclusion (Ted Levine of Monk fame plays a US Army Colonel), the majority of the cast is composed of Chinese and Japanese actors/actresses who are relatively unknown to American audiences – although Ken Watanabe might be recognizable given recent roles in The Last Samurai (2003) and Batman Begins (2005). The utilization of this cast helps focus audience attention on the merits of the film itself and not on a cast of stars, and this helps, rather than hinders, the film. As such, Memoirs Of A Geisha is a film most fans of the genre will thoroughly enjoy.