The San Diego International Film Festival is Just Days Away

Jeri Jacquin

That’s right! The 2017 San Diego International Film Festival begins October 4^th through the 8^th right here in Americans Finest City.

Beginning with Opening Night, October 4^th, at the uxorious downtown Balboa Theatre, the night opens with the special film MARSHALL. This film tells the story of the first African-American Supreme Court Justice and how he battled through cases in his career. Chadwick Boseman plays the role of Thurgood Marshall and Josh Gad also stars as Sam Friedman. Following the screening is the amazing After Party as attendees enjoy the beautiful San Diego skyline at night.

The first full day on October 5^th begins at Regal Theatre Horton Plaza with such films as Under the Rose, Entanglement, Storm Letter of Fire, My Friend Dahmer, OtherLife, as well as the documentary Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS.

Also, at the Pendry San Diego is VARIETY Night of the Stars Tribute which is always a fantastic opportunity to speak with filmmakers and talk about the first day of films.

On October 6^th, there are Dramas, Social Impact and more Documentaries and all include 20 Weeks, Unstoppable Women, Twisted Humor, A Stranger in a Stranger Land, Poisoning Paradise, Wasted! The Story of Food Waste and For Shorts and Giggles.

At the ArcLight Cinemas/UTC there are more films offered with Dog Years, Room for Rent, and The Bachelors.

The evening ends with the Friday Party with a Purpose directly outside the Regal theatre at Horton Plaza. This event mixes a cause with a party right in the heart of downtown San Diego and is a perfect way to end a screening day.

On Saturday October 7^th, the day begins at Regal Theater Horton Plaza with Animation Filmmaking which is always amazing to see what is new and exciting. Also included are Student Shorts along with the features Room for Rent, The Divine Order, RiverBlue: Can Fashion Save the Planet?, Branded Entertainment Film & Panel, Apache Warrior, And Then There Was Eve, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.

ArcLight Cinemas/UTC will be showing The Scent of Rain and Lightning, The Price, Butterfly Caught Spirit of Discover, Herd, Legion of Brothers and American Indian Stories.

The evening ends with the Filmmaker Awards Show and Party at Pendry San Diego as filmmakers from around the world are presented the Jury Awards for the competition of films.

The final day of the San Diego International Film Festival begin with the 49 Hour Film Track, Heart Baby!, The Lavender Scare, Illusion, Behind the Curtain: Todrick Hall, Life Hack, Gun, Under the Rose, and the evening will end with the Feature Winner of the San Diego International Film Festival.   

At ArcLight Cinemas/UTC begins with the Culinary Cinema: 42 Grams as chef Jake Bickelhaupt’s story is told becoming a culinary celebrity, Down the Fence, The Price, Juggernaut, Becoming Who I Was, Selling Isobel, and Dismissed.

This is just a small list of what happens and what can be seen at the San Diego International Film Festival from October 4-8. I will be there moderating at the Regal Theater in downtown San Diego and would love for everyone to stop by and say hello. For information on tickets and schedule of showings please visit http://sdfilmfest.com!

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Most Successful Norseman Series Brings its Fourth Season to Bluray with VIKINGS

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the series that has fans coming back for more with VIKINGS Season 4 Volume 2.

Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) wastes no time upon his return to Kattegat challenging his sons if one of them wants to be King. The one to step forward is Ubbe (Jordan Smith) but for a completely different challenge. Wanting his sons to return to England with him, he is surprised when Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) tells Ragnar that he has his own plans with Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard), Harald (Peter Franzen) and Hvitserk (Marco Llso) to take the Mediterranean.

Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) also has no intention of going to England with Ragnar even after he apologizes to her for everything that has happened. Thinking that his time might be up in this world, the ravens have other plans for Ragnar. When he returns to Kattegat it is to ask Ivar (Alex Hogh) to go to England. Before anyone leaves, Ragnar wants Bjorn to find peace with Rollo while Lagertha refuses to find peace with Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland).

Before he leaves, Aslaug reveals a vision she’s had but Ragnar and Ivar won’t be stopped from going to England. When a storm capsizes the boat, Ragnar and Ivar get to shore and King Ecbert (Linus Roache) is told. Trying to find peace with Rollo (Clive Standen), Bjorn ends up in jail with his companions but safe passage isn’t far away.

Lagertha decides it’s time to reclaim what is hers and takes Ubbe and Sigurd captive with every intent on removing Aslaug from the throne. Proclaiming herself queen, Lagertha hears from Aslaug that she will tell her sons not to fight back if she can leave free. Of course the new queen has a plan of her own with Astrid keeping Ubbe and Sigurd in check.

In Aethelwulf, Ecbert promises that nothing will happen to either Ragnar or Ivar and introduces them to Magnus. Ragnar makes a claim about Kwenthrith and Ecbert admits a few truths of his own. After a few drinks the two reminisce about Athelstan and Ecbert is surprised when Ragnar asks him for death. Refusing to take part in it, he instead agrees to take Ragnar to King Aelle so that Ivar can go home. In the same agreement, he tells Ecbert that Wessex will not be the focus of his son’s revenge.

Before returning home, Ivar learns from Ragnar of his plan and when Ivar lashes out promising revenge before he is taken to a ship going home. Ragnar sees Alfred and gives him a gift of his father before a journey where he has time to rethink all that has happened. Ecbert can not stay away and when the time comes, he knows that he has lost a friend.

Ivar returns to Kattegat to find Lagertha on the throne and his mother gone. When he challenges the new Queen she ignores it and focuses on building Kattegat’s back up. But a longship brings a mysterious stranger and more challenges begin. Bjorn reaches the Mediterranean and along with Rollo they attack Algeciras. Coming in contact with praying men in the mosque, Floki wants their lives spared. The news of what has happened to Ragnar reaches Spain and Bjorn and Lagertha is told by a mystic that a son of Ragnar is planning to take her down.

A return to England is on the minds of Ubbe, Sigurd and Ivar as a way to revenge Ragnar. Help is also on the way when Earl Jorgensen brings his ships to help the Lothbroks. Floki knows that Ivar will stop at nothing to go to war and so he builds him a chariot and now he had the ability to be a true leader of the troops.

Ivar wants total leadership of the armies but Bjorn has something to say about it. As the Viking troops advance, Athelwulf knows he needs more help and turns to Ecbert and in Northumbria, King Aelle is taken and his fate is sealed.

A surprise attack on Kattegat brings the capture of Egil who lets it be known that it is King Harald that ordered the attack. The Viking army is still on the move and Prince Aethelwulf tries everything to stop them. When he is forced back to Wessex, he tells Ecbert to retreat which he will not do. Instead, turning his crown over to his son, Bjorn then allows him to decide his own fate.

As the brothers decide where they will go next, it is Ivar that stands out with an action that brings even Bjorn into shock.

Fimmel as Ragnar has taken this character to depths that are absolutely amazing. He is not a vocal character by any means but when he does speak, the clan better listen. As Ragnar has grown season by season, it is clear that both the good and bad choices of his life are coming to a decision that had the viewing audiences’ jaws dropping. I can not think of one actor that could have done what Fimmel has for the role of Ragnar.

Winnick as Lagertha has also gone to hell and back as a woman in a world where wielding a weapon and shield is equally as important as having a family. Lagertha has also made good and bad choices but is solid and strong even when she is wrong. I have to give props to a bad ass chick who can give a look that says ‘yea, I was wrong – what about it?’ Winnick is powerful and she’s back on the throne!

Ludwig as Bjorn has grown out of his father’s shadow. Wanting to get back to the sea and do what Vikings do is now his motivation. Making a name and life for himself, Bjorn also begins to understand Ragnar more and more. Standen as Rollo grabs onto the creed of ‘once a Viking always a Viking’ and it’s good to see him back with the axe of nightmares.

Andersen as Ivar is one crazy individual who doesn’t have a problem being without legs. His mind is sharp and his decisions are sharper. Being the son of both Ragnar and Aslaug means he isn’t someone to be toyed with as he can mix plotting, war and revenge in a wine cup and swallow in one breath. Sutherland as Aslaug doesn’t fair as well with Lagertha this time around as her own plotting just doesn’t have the umph that hers does.

Roache as King Ecbert has played the game with Ragnar to the point that they are both played out.  

 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

 VIKINGS Season 4 Volume 2 also contains the special features of The Queen and the Shield Maiden, Vikings – Valhalla and the Legacy of Ragnar Lothbrok, Creator’s Audio Commentary with Michael Hirst and Linus Roache on Selected Episodes, The Journeys of Bjorn Ironside and Deleted Scenes. There are ten unrated episodes with extended and deleted scenes not shown on television.

The episodes include: The Outsider, The Vision, Two Journeys, In the Uncertain Hour Before the Morning, All His Angels, Crossings, The Great Army, Revenge, On the Eve and The Reckoning.

The History Channel has brought a magnificent series to television and it just gets better and better. Yes I hate when the show loses characters but I know that means more room for the story to go in another direction as it should. There is so much more to come and I, for one, will be there when it happens.

Of course if you have ever been to San Diego Comic Con International you know that fans wait in ridiculously long lines to see the actors from the series. They want to know as much as can possibly be shared and share their own costumes of proud VIKINGS. Of course I have my own drinking horn that is always used when watching VIKINGS.

If you are looking for action, adventure, intrigue, fantastic costuming, intense story lines and all wrapped up with actors who have made VIKINGS a smash, then this is the show for you. Catch up on all the prior season of VIKINGS and look for VIKINGS Season 4 Volume to on Bluray!

In the end – heavy is the head that wears the Viking crown!

OPEN WATER 3: Cage Dive Brings Teeth to Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from writer/director Gerald Rascionato and Lionsgate is an ocean trip of survival with OPEN WATER 3: Cage Dive.

Brothers Jeff (Joel Hogan) and Josh Miller (Josh Potthoff) along with friend Megan Murphy (Megan Hill) decide to head to the Australian coast to go cage-diving with great whites. Learning what to do and seeing the sharks come around, the friends are looking forward to their time in the cage.

Without warning, a massive rogue wave turns their lives upside down – literally – as the three friends are now drifting in the water surrounded by sharks. A camera is rolling and continues to document the sharks attacking the others on the boat. Trying to stay together, the three friends believe it’s only a matter of time before the sharks come for them.

During the night they find a large life raft kit and feel like they are finally getting away from the sharks. It also gives all three time to talk and it becomes clear there are unresolved relationship issues with the two brothers.

They find a survivor floating in the night water but one moment of panic puts them all back in the water and fighting for their lives once again.

Hogan as Jeff is trying to keep it all together but when you are surrounded by sharks that might be difficult. Potthoff as Josh is treading water in more ways than one and when you have something with large teeth swimming around your feet it’s time to come clean about life. Hill as Megan is doing double duty in the relationship department. Megan mainly remains calm until that one moment on the raft and then she’s done for.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000 motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at www.lionsgate.com.

OPEN WATER 3: Cage Dive is the kind of film that shark lovers have to see. First of all, the cinematography is pretty fantastic. It’s difficult enough to do a story in the water but to make a film that has both day and night scenes and sharks, well that’s cool.

There is such a mixture of stories here as well, with the news stories, the relationship drama and how videoing everything leaves nothing to chance and survival in open waters. Does it give viewers bites? Yes. Is it intense? Absolutely. Did I watch it twice – okay yes I did.

That’s what makes OPEN WATER 3: Cage Dive a film that I would ask friends over and watch with the lights off. There are so many jumps and eye coverings going on that it should be shared with friends – just be in charge of holding the popcorn bowl!

In the end – they must fight to survive using only their courage!

VICTORIA & ABDUL is Perfection

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Stephen Frears and Focus Features is the story of an unlikely friendship between VICTORIA & ABDUL.

Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal) is a clerk in a prison in India and his life is about to change. Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) is to be given a tribute coin and Abdul is the tall man for the job. Along with a shorter Mohammed (Adeel Akhtar), they sale toward England and Abdul is very excited.

There is no time for looking around much as Abdul and Mohammed are given a crash course on how to present to the Queen. Sir Henry Ponsonby (Tim Pigott-Smith) lets the two men know that everything is to be precise and quickly.

During the dinner, Abdul and Mohammed make their way toward Queen Victoria and after a quick nap the presentation is made. Walking backwards, Abdul does the unthinkable and makes eye contact and gives a smile to the Queen and what turns into one moment becomes an unlikely friendship.

Much to the horror of Sir Ponsonby and Lord Salisbury (Michael Gambon) as well as her ladies Lady Churchill (Olivia Williams) and Miss Phipps (Fenella Woolgar), the Queen begins to prefer the company of Abdul. They inform the Queen’s son Bertie (Eddie Izzard) and a plan is formed.

Queen Victoria asks Abdul about his land, language and his story as they share walks and private times. It is clear that Abdul cares very much for the Queen and she for him, especially discovering he is married and demanding he get his family and return. That doesn’t stop the Queen’s staff, along with Dr. Reid (Paul Higgins), from looking into Abdul’s past. Believing they can stop him with what they know, it only manages to infuriate the Queen in Abdul’s favor.

Including a knighthood which sends the entire palace into a tizzy and a decision that will not only put their loyalty in question but show how Queen Victoria wasn’t napping any longer.

This is a friendship that is filled with understanding, forgiveness and even unspoken love.

Dench once again proves why she is a queen in her own right. She is smart, strong, delicate, wistful and a woman who sees so little to move forward for. Once the Queen’s inner light is ignited, Dench shines every moment of the film. I quite honestly could not take my eyes off her performance and the ending brought me to tears.

Karim as Fazal is a man who doesn’t see the world in such an aggressive way as those around him. A simple jail clerk who happens to know how to write is sent across the world to do one simple thing and it turns into a friendship. Fazal delivers his lines with the innocence I see in Abdul in that how one sees the world is clearly different than the Queen. There are moments where he is clearly confused, moments of profound joy and deep sadness and Fazal gets every drop of emotion out of the audience who is just as enraptured as the Queen.

Izzard as Bertie is just the worst that a son could possible be. Instead of being happy for the emotional reviving of his mother, he sees Abdul as an interloper and acts like a spoiled child instead of a future ruler. Izzard just pours it on and gets the reaction he wants!

Akhtar as Mohammed just wants to go home, and when he sees that the Prince and others want to use that against his friend Abdul – his response is epic! Pigott-Smith as Ponsonby is confused by the relationship between the Queen and Abdul but at the same time has a faithfulness to the way things ought to be done. Higgins as Dr. Reid is just another lackey who isn’t happy about Abdul’s presence and finds himself faced with the wrath of the Queen. Gambon as Salisbury wants one thing only – for Abdul to be gone and the crown to go back to normal.

Williams as Lady Churchill isn’t happy to have the Queen’s ear and convinces Miss Phipps to do the extortion deed. Woolgar as Phipps has a moment in front of the Queen that is nerve wracking to watch but awesome to experience.

Other cast include Julian Wadham as Alick Yorke, Robin Soans as Arthur Bigge, Ruth McCabe as Mrs. Tuck, Sukh Ojla as Mrs. Karim, Kemaal Deen-Ellis as Ahmed and Simon Callow as Puccini.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give VICTORIA & ABDUL five tubs of popcorn out of five. There is nothing about this film that goes wrong with me. The story between Queen Victoria and Abdul is delightful, funny, testing, sad, misunderstood and heartbreaking.

Mixed in with that is the ugliness of those around the Queen with their jabbing, back biting, underhanded, and horrible treatment of Abdul and Mohammed. Instead of embracing the cultural differences of these two men, they found ways to cut them to the quick – and right to their face in some cases.

The cinematography is amazing and it is a period piece which is going to grab me from the word go. I absolutely adore the costuming which is always an important part of a period piece because it adds such a richness to the storytelling.

I’m warning anyone who sees the film to keep a Kleenex handy because for the ending you are going to need it. The chemistry between Dench and Fazal is everything I wanted for this story to be told – thank you both for making me laugh, smile and shed a tear.

In the end – this is a friendship based on a true story…well, mostly.

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: Roanoke is Back to Chill with Season Six on Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Do you have the spine to be chilled once again? Good! Because 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment and co-creator Ryan Murphy has brought to Bluray the frights with AMERICAN HORROR STORY: Roanoke – The Complete Season 6.

Making a documentary about married couple Shelby (Lily Rabe & Sarah Paulson as Lana Tindall) and Matt Miller (Andre Holland & Cuba Gooding Jr. as Dominc Banks) tell their story about My Roanoke Nightmare. Venture from Los Angeles to North Carolina, the couple find a worn down farmhouse believing they can remake it into their dream home. Their dream turns into a freakish nightmare!

Matt asks his sister Lee (Adina Porter & Angela Bassett as Monet Tumusiime) to keep Shelby company but the two women do not like one another. That might not matter considering what is to happen next! Almost immediately a group of people come into the house and leave behind a video of what can only be considered a murder. Matt isn’t sure what is happening when he returns but Shelby isn’t having it and takes off in Matt’s car which leads to another witnessing of horror.

Both Matt and Shelby believe that everything they experienced was stages as a way to force them out of the house. Calling the police, the couple think they now have a handle on it all. Lee brings her daughter Flora to the house on a visit. Down in the cellar the couple find more recordings and realize they were made by the previous owner. Not happy about the new find, the couple knows they can’t just financially walk away.

It becomes clear that Flora is visiting her mother Lee against the child custody agreement with her ex-husband. Lee is willing to do that to spend more time with Flora but the young girl seems to have made friends with a little girl named Priscilla. Lee discovers that Priscilla isn’t exactly human and finds Flora’s hoodie in the highest tree tops but the girl is no where to be found.

To make matters worse, Shelby is beginning to suspect that Lee might have had something to do with her ex’s unexpected death. Lee is more interested in finding Flora and hires Cricket (Leslie Jordan) to use her psychic abilities to local the girl. That’s when they discover that Pricilla is a young girl from the 16^th Century who tells the story of ‘The Butcher’ Thomasin White (Kathy Bates and as Agnes Winstead) of the Roanoke Colony.

Leading her people, Thomasin is left behind as her husband and forces her to look for a way to survive. In doing so she gave herself to a force that relocated everyone to the farmhouse where Shelby and Matt now live. If that doesn’t cause those in the house worry, Matt is caught by Shelby in the forest and the police show up to arrest Lee.

Dr. Cunningham (Denis O’Hare) arrives at the house and actually saves Shelby from the attack the creature with the body of a man and the head of a pig. He explains the horrifying events in the house and the history of the house. He tells them  that all of what is happening is due to Thomasin. Leading them to Flora turns out to be a big mistake as Cricket comes to know who the true Roanoke leaders is and what happened to the colony. Thomasin doesn’t have time for stories and surrounds the house letting them know she has Flora.

But there is more than Thomasin’s story as Doris Kearns Goodwin reveals that the house was once owned by Edward Philippe Mott (Evan Peters). He used the house for affairs and art and also taken by Thomasin and put through her horrors during the Blood Moon. Trying to help him escape only leads to the Polk family kidnapping Lee and Shelby. At the fire in front of the Miller’s, Ambrose (West Bentley) does the one thing that could end the nightmare and Lee arrives to flee with the Shelby and Matt.

The story and documentary of My Roanoke Nightmare turns out to be a bigger success than anyone could have anticipated. So much so that a net idea Return to Roanoke: Three Days in Hell brings the actors back to stay during the Blood Moon. The shows producer really wants to expose Lee for murder and Shelby isn’t thrilled about returning with Matt. The actors and crew prepare for the next part of the filming and it doesn’t take long for things to begin happening.

Rory who played Edward Philippe Mott in the original series starts off the madness but Agnes who played Thomasin is further out of reach than the crew could have imagined. Shelby is shocked to learn that the only reason Matt has returned is for Scathach (Lady Gaga), the woman in the woods. That is the least of her worries as the Polk family has a score to settle and meat is on the menu.

Escaping the bloody nightmare at the farmhouse isn’t going to be easy, it isn’t going to be clean and no one is spared from the madness of horror. Even after everything that has taken place, something draws people back as television specials are created returning to the farmhouse to try and understand what happened.

But on the hilltop there is a face that knows exactly what happened!

Other cast include Cheynne Jackson as Sidney James, Frances Conroy & Robin Weigert as Mama Polk, Finn Wittrock as Jether Polk, Colby French as the Police Officer, Grady Richmond as Ishmael Polk, Orson Chaplin as Cain Polk and Estelle Hermansen as Priscilla.   

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

AHS: Roanoke Bluray includes the Special Features of The Paley Center for Media: Q & A with Cast and Creative Team from PaleyFest 2017, American Horror Story: Roanoke Promos. The 3-disc set includes all ten episodes! Revisiting AHS Roanoke is fantastic especially with the new season of AMERICAN HORROR STORY having recently begun on FX.

This is an amazing group of talented actors pulling off the crazy impossible! Having two people play two of the same characters in a reality style documentary with the same thing happening again only to come back and live the nightmare for real by both the real people and the actors that portrayed them is absolutely brilliant.

I adore Kathy Bates and this is one of the reasons why (as if there needs to be a reason). The characters of Thomasin and Agnes are full of emotion, rage, frightening calm and a couple of hundreds years of relenting anger to work through. There isn’t anything this actress can’t do and on her seasons of AMERICAN HORROR STORY she continues to prove it time and time again. I have to say, I kind of love her portrayal of Thomasin – does that make me scary?!

Paulson as Audrey, Lana and Shelby – she gets to really rack up the frequent horror miles! Once again her characters are put through the ringer and Paulson takes it all in stride. She has the amazing ability to show so much threw her eyes and when her character goes stone cold – so is Paulson’s ability to make that a shivering thing to watch. Rabe as ‘real’ Shelby is solid and just so lovely to watch – until it gets brutal!

Gooding Jr. gets to run through the crazy that is AHS and he seems to fit right in. He is an actor playing a real character by reenacting the real characters horror. Well, there you go! Simple right? Gooding Jr. takes his role and gives it such a smooth spin. Holland as the real Matt tells his story but comes back to a place for very selfish reasons and, as we all know, being selfish has its draw backs.

Peters as Rory and Mott gets a chance to go completely out there with these characters. Starting out in AHS as a youngster, he has repeatedly brought more and more excellence as an actor. I do love to watch him take his characters and go as far as I think he can and then surprise me going even further. Bentley as Dylan and Ambrose White has the unique ability to freeze me while he is performing. Of course it could be those eyes but his talent is equally frosty!

Bassett as Monet as Lee isn’t holding back either. Playing Lee she brings that disturbed character to a higher level and this is the perfect actress to do it. What is amazing is the switching between Adina Porter’s Lee character and Bassett – they are both just so frakken fantastic.

Lady Gaga gets her chance to be horrifying as Scathach and there isn’t anything wrong with her performance in the slightest. O’Hare as Dr. Cummingham/William van Henderson is always a joy to see and I love how different he is with each season of AHS.

This season is particularly full of twists, turns, stellar performances, shocks, jaw drops, fantastic locations, creative mythology and so much more. Go back to the story that threw audiences for a loops with AMERICAN HORROR STORY: Roanoke – The Complete Season 6.

In the end – life imitates grisly reality television!

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: Dead Men Tell No Tales Sails onto Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Jack is back coming to Bluray/DVD and Digital HD as directors Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg along with Walt Disney Pictures is PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites) is a young man who wants one thing – to see his father Will Turner permanently returned to dry land. What he needs is Poseidon’s Trident and the map that will lead him there to break the curse holding his father deep in the ocean.

Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario) is a young woman who holds a map to the where the trident is and only she can read it. Basically it’s because she can read the stars where as most pirates can’t, well, read.

Someone who can help them is Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) but he’s not having the best lucky with a crew lately. As if that’s not enough, Henry tells Jack that a ghost named Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) pretty much wants his head on a platter.

Unphased by the prospect of losing his head, Jack is more focused on what he’s always focused on – getting his hands on the Pearl! When Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) comes upon the hair flowing Captain Salazar, a deal is struck to find Jack together.

Jack, Henry and Carina try to stay one step ahead of Barbossa and Barbossa tries to stay two steps ahead of Salazar. As they all get closer to the prize, there are still scores to settle and a few surprises for them all.

This is the life of a pirate!

Depp as Jack Sparrow puts a period at the end of his time as a pirate. His usual throwing caution to the wind and not being upset by much, Depp throws out lines and facial reactions that continue to make us all laugh. Jack Sparrow is endearing and even to the very end he seems to be able to come out with what he truly wants.

Thwaites as Henry Turner is a young actor that is able to pull off the role of a kid who just wants his Dad back. Becoming somewhat of an expert on the legends of the sea, Thwaites is charming, caring and daring all rolled into one. Scodelario as Carina is a smart young woman who is misunderstood by, well, pirates. Looking for the trident is her mission to finding her own family.

Rush as Barbossa is his usual peg-legged self who wants to keep the money rolling in and going up against Jack is just topping on the cake. Bardem as Salazar is kind of creepy but then again he is a tad upset at Jack so we have to let him get out his frustration. The cgi around his character is more than a tad disturbing and cool at the same time.

Other cast include Kevin McNally as Gibbs, David Wenham as Scarfield, Stephen Graham as Scrum, Adam Brown as Cremble, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann. There is also a cameo appearance that had the audience cheering so look out for that!

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment began distributing under its own label in 1980 and continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To see what is currently available to add to your own family library please visit. www.movies.disney.com for their At Home titles!

The Bluray Bonus Extras include Dead Men Tell More Tales: The Making of a New Adventure – Join the filmmakers and cast for an up-close look at the film’s creation, encompassing eerie ghost sharks, astonishing undersea set pieces, Jack Sparrow’s extended family and much more, in this fascinating collection of stories: A Return to the Sea, Telling Tales: A Sit-Down with Brenton & Kaya, The Matador & The Bull: Secrets of Salazar & The Silent Mary, First Mate Confidential, Deconstructing the Ghost Sharks, Wings Over the Caribbean, An Enduring Legacy, Bloopers of the Caribbean, Deleted Scenes and More!  

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: Dead Men Tell No Tales is a fantastical journey’s we have all enjoyed with Captain Jack Sparrow. Although the film brings the story full circle and the special effects are pretty darn cool, it is almost addictive how we all keep coming back for more! Of course we would because it’s Disney film!

It has been an adventure from 2003 until now with characters that are memorable and have become iconic. Disney has done a good job in wrapping up this series of films in such a way that no will be disappointed.

Everyone jumps on board for another adventure and a few surprises as well. This is fun for the family filled with laughs, adventure, action and characters that once again have us cheer for our favorite pirate. Of course no one else will ever be Jack Sparrow so thanks for that Johnny Depp!

So prepare matey’s for a journey through the sea of adventure.

In the end – it is the final tale of a pirate’s life!

DEEP Takes Families on a Journey of Adventure at Home on DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from director Julio Soto Gurpide and Lionsgate is a journey below the sea in the future with an octopus called DEEP.

It is the year 2100 and a very rambunctious octopus called Deep (voiced by Justin Felbinger) and his family live in a colony in the depths of the ocean. The human race is gone and the sea creatures need to find their place again.

Along with the guardian of the abyss called The Kraken (Dwight Schultz), Deep enjoys his time hanging out with friends Evo (Stephen Hughes) the angler fish and shrimp Alice (Lindsey Alena).

When Deep’s colony becomes trapped below a cavern, he must locate a whale named Nathan (Lewis Macleod). The Kraken assures him that Nathan is the only one that can move the boulder trapping them all.

The problem is in finding Nathan and it isn’t going to be easy! Deep and his friends embark on a journey that will take them to the submerged subways in New York and other perilous places. Along the way they meet Maura (Elisabeth Gray), an eel who finds herself becoming part of the journey.

When the group of friends realizes what it is going to take to save their colony, nothing will stop them.

Deep is a young yellow octopus who doesn’t know any other world than this. Spending his time with friends and little adventures, he doesn’t stray to far away from home. That all changes when it comes to helping the survival of the colony. Getting help from friends Evo and Alice, they are his reminder to stay focused.

Evo and Alice also cracked me up with their antics. Angler fish aren’t the prettiest fish in the sea but Evo is endearing nonetheless. Alice is full of one-liners, side comments and calling Deep out when things get a little dangerous. When Maura joins the band of adventurers, it becomes a learning experience for them all.

The Kraken does his best to take care of those in his charge, even while an ocean of another kind comes dangerous close to them all. He believes in Deep and his friend Nathan to come to their rescue.

Other cast include Jess Harnell as Luigi, Phil LaMarr as Artie, Bob Bergen as Ralph, William Salyers as Darcy, Anna Vocino as Norma, and Joe Hernandez as Rico.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to it’s 16,000 motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

The DVD includes the Special Features of When Love Shakes You Out of Your Shell Karaoke Sing-Along that is so much fun my granddaughter is hooked!

DEEP is an animated tale of friendship, loyalty and doing the right thing at all costs. The animation uses every color of the spectrum to be sure. There is something about ocean characters that kids just love and DEEP cover a wide range of them.

That is what parents want when expanding the home entertainment library. They want a story that engages kids yet everyone has a good time as well. There is music, fun, quirkiness and all of it adds up to a fun night at home with a big bowl of popcorn and everyone piled on the couch for family night.

Its going to be difficult to choose one favorite character from them all but I think I’m going to have to go with Alice. She is small but size doesn’t keep her from standing up when others think she is an easy target. That’s one of the many life lessons DEEP brings.

In the end – a new hero will rise from the deep!

FIREFLY Land on Bluray with a Stellar 15th Anniversary Collectors Edition

Jeri Jacquin

Available on Bluray from 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment and writer/director Joss Whedon is the amazing series that keeps bringing fans back again and again is the series FIREFLY.

It is the year 2517 and mankind has found its way into a new star system in their Firefly-class ship. Aboard the ship is the crew of Serenity is Captain Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and first mate Zoe Washburne (Gina Torres). Veterans of the Unification War, they join other settlers and refugees who live away from the central government.

Now dealing in smugglings, two of their passengers River Tam (Summer Glau) and brother Dr. Simon Tam (Sean Maher) join the crew. Along with Zoe’s husband Wash (Alan Tudyk), Inara Serra (Morena Baccarin), Jayne Cobb (Adam Baldwin), ship’s mechanic Kaylee (Jewel Staite) and the Serenity’s moral compass Derrial (Ron Glass).

From the moment the series begins, Captain Mal looks for abandoned ships to salvage. After a confrontation with an Alliance federal agent, Mal brings Simon and River aboard the Serenity.

Finding an abandoned ship, the crew also find Reavers and are attacked and the Alliance docks with the Serenity. Knowing that Simon and River are at risk, the rest of the crew is interrogated while the two passengers hide. This won’t be the only time the brother and sister will be put to the test.

When the Serenity needs engine repair that causes the life support system to be inoperable, the crew has only one hope – to find a passing ship. Putting the crew in shuttles, Mal remembers how the crew of the Serenity came to be.

With the ship in working order, it is River who now needs help. Simon needs to find a hospital but it is Jayne that has other plans. The Alliance isn’t going to reward Jayne’s actions and neither is Mal who has the choice of life and death.

Mal’s unexpected wife has returned and wants his help to relieve a wealthy gent of his funds. Once they come in contact, Mal is given a shock that is either a good thing or bad depending on how he wants to handle Saffron’s antics.

Zoe and Mal are surprised to hear of the passing of their friend from the Battle of Serenity Valley, Tracey. They learn what their friend had been doing and how the Alliance was not only after Tracey but what he had been doing. Putting his crew in jeopardy, Mal is faced with the ultimate decision.

Inara needs Mal and the crews help when her friend Nandi is having trouble in her brothel. A man named Ranse Burgess is threatening one of the women who is pregnant. But what happens between Mal and Nandi could change everything.

River becomes disoriented and the crew isn’t sure whether there is a safety issue. It is Jubal Early they should be concerned with as the bounty hunter captures Simon. The safety issue isn’t an issue any longer when River does what she must to help her brother and the crew of Serenity.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

The Bluray includes the fantastic Bonus Features of the **New** Firefly Poster and Collectible Character Cards Inside Packaging as Gift With Purchase for a Limited Time Only, Disc One: Here’s How It Was: The Making of Firefly Featurette, Disc Two: Firefly Cast Roundtable: Lunch with Joss, Nathan, Alan and Ron, Disc Three: Serenity: The 10^th Character Featurette, Deleted Scenes, Alan Tudyk’s Audition, Joss Sings the Firefly Theme, Joss Tours the Set and Gag Reel.

FIREFLY aired on Fox in 2002 and cancelled by episode eleven. What is amazing about this is that FIREFLY won a Primetime Emmy in 2003 for Outstanding Special Visual Effects. Even TV Guide ranks it as one of the shows “Cancelled Too Soon” to which fans couldn’t agree more.

For those that attending San Diego Comic Con International, it is clear that FIREFLY isn’t about to be forgotten anytime soon. Every year there is a cry for the show to be started up once again and ears listening for Joss Whedon to say ‘yes, it will happen’.

I have met Nat Fillion and asked him if he would be on board and I heard him say it at several Con’s - “it was everything and how can everything not be enough?” In other words, those fourteen episodes are as perfect of a FIREFLY world as we are going to get close to and that’s okay actually.

That’s what continues to make the series special and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment knows that. Capturing it in an amazing box set, this 500 year into the future look at characters that walk about on Earth today shows no signs of stopping fans from keeping FIREFLY a part of their home entertainment library.

Watching FIREFLY once again is such a joy because of the fantastic mesh of actors that brought Serenity to life. It is a series that is full of action, storyline and even has sharp humor that I enjoy. Let this 665 minute 3-disc DVD Collectors Edition be a way to bring more fans into the fold and let them in on the adulation for our favorite Captain – Nathan Fillion!

In the end – hang on for the ride of your life!

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Commemorates 20 Years of Slaying in a DVD Box Set

Jeri Jacquin

It has been twenty years since Buffy introduced us to a series that still brings fans to their feet. If you are ready to revisit the gang, well, 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment has put together an amazing boxed set that is going to deserve a special space in your home entertainment library with BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER!

Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is a young girl going about her life as any other teenager would arriving in Sunnydale with her Mom Joyce (Kristine Sutherland). Except for one thing, Buffy isn’t exactly a normal teenager. In fact, she comes from a line of Vampire Slayers who battle the forces of evil. Getting her through it all is her Watcher Giles (Anthony Steward Head) and the Watchers’ Council.

Trying to start over, Buffy attends Sunnydale High and meets Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan). It doesn’t take long before The Master (Mark Metcalf) becomes a threat wanting to take over Sunnydale through the portal of Hellmouth.

Buffy and the Scooby Gang also deal with the vampires Spike (James Marsters) and Drusilla (Juliet Landau) (although I find the name Spike hilarious). The young Slayer also finds love with Angel (David Boreanaz), a vampire who has a curse that could put a stake right through their relationship. Devastated by the pain she thinks she has caused, Buffy leaves Sunnydale.

Not for long however as Angel needs her help but that isn’t the only thing that is about to change as Giles is replaced by the Watcher’s Council with Wesley (Alexis Denisof). Buffy isn’t happy with anything they are doing and decides to go it on her own. Of course all of this as Graduation Day approaches and the Mayor (Harry Groener) decides to become a total demon – literally – bringing about one big graduating sending off!

Buffy and Willow decide to attend college in Sunnydale but Xander decides to become a member of the working class. Buffy learns there is a military group called The Initiative below the campus and Spike’s return doesn’t last long. Giving him a little technology boost, Spike becomes one of the Scooby Gang. Buffy meets Riley Finn (Marc Blucas) and they begin dating but all the joy is put on hold when a creature named Adam (George Hertzberg) go after Buffy and The Initiative.

When a Hell God named Glory (Clare Kramer) is on the search for a special key, what comes next hits closer to home, especially when the key is Buffy’s sister Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg). Giles returns because of Buffy’s demands to The Watcher’s Council as Spike comes to terms with his own feelings by leaving. Buffy discovers that Glory has taken Dawn and the only way to get her back is by her own life sacrifice.

But her life isn’t about to be taken without the Scooby Gang coming in to help but Buffy isn’t exactly happy about the return. The crazy continues when Xander after proposing to Anya (Emma Caulfield) is left at the altar, Dawn is lashing out, Willow is addicted to the unusual and now The Trio is trying to kill an already worn out Buffy. When Giles tries to help set everything back to order, Spike loses control and seeks out a demon who will help make him evil again. He wants to hurt Buffy in the worst way and the demon obliges!

When the Turok-Han vampire army is raised, there is a shaking up everywhere. The Watchers’ Council is demolished and Slayers begin seeking refuge with Buffy. Led by Caleb (Nathan Fillion) who is an evil preacher, the Hellmouth bursts with demons. Willow must help to bring power to the Slayers and Angel returns to help as well.

In an epic finale, all the vampires and Hellmouth begin a battle with an ending no one could see coming!

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Bonus Features include **New** Official Buffy Dark Horse Comic Book Featuring Exclusive Cover and Coloring Sheet Inside Packaging as a Gift with Purchase for a Limited Time Only, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete series Season 1-7 along with Special Features Material from Previous Seasons.

Created by Joss Whedon, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER began it’s run in 1997 on The WB. The series would continue until 2003 (and that’s quite a run folks) signing off on UPN.

That didn’t stop the Buffy-ness train from rolling strong as fans continue to celebrate all things BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. The spin off ANGEL is another series created by Joss Whedon giving the dark character time in Los Angeles as a private detective. There would also be cross over appearances because, lets be honest, you can’t keep these two apart for long.

There is also the comics of BUFFY that was taken on by Dark Horse with Whedon writing an eight-issue storyline. There are also BUFFY novels published by Pocket Books with sixty stories in all. If video games are your thing then know that BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER has it’s place there as well.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER made lists that included TV Guide, Empire, The Hollywood Reporter, Time, AOL TV and Rolling Stones 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.

That means that you get to celebrate Buffy and the Scooby Squad again and again with this frakken cool as hell box set from 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment. There are 39 discs containing 144 episodes and Special Features that are going to blow your mind.

The Comic Book by Dark Horse and the Original Coloring Sheet are extras that are more fun than a vampire slayer admirer should be allowed to have.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER is a series that took risks and reached into the farthest parts of our imagination to thrill us each week. Gellar and the amazing cast of characters gave us action, thrills, suspense, mystery and made it all look so very seamless and easy.

Trying to be a normal teen is hard enough but when you are a slayer and evil is pretty much guaranteed to show up on your doorstep, Buffy and the gang gave us their all. This is a group of characters that fans line up to see again and again with no hesitation in their dedication to good storytelling and fantastic characters.

Now, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Commemorates 20 Years of Slaying with one of the best boxed sets I’ve ever seen. This is a marathon waiting to happen like no other and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment does it in style.

In the end – they brought slaying to a whole new level!

MODERN FAMILY Brings Laughs and Love in Season 8 on DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Now available on DVD is the Emmy Nominated zany family that has worked its way into America’s hearts as 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment delivers a MODERN FAMILY.

The Dunphy family is still living the life in New York and everybody wants to stay a little longer. The same might not be said for the hot sauce business when family is involved. Gloria (Sofia Vergara) is about to go ballistic when her sister takes things into her own hands.

Back home a new family moves into the neighborhood about the same time Jay (Ed O’Neill) is putting in security for the house. Worried that the new family might see his move as a bit racist, he takes his nervousness a bit too far. Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) have to rethink their open parenting a bit when Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) makes a comment towards a transgender boy.

Manny (Rico Rodriguez) is running for class president and Luke (Nolan Gould) is thinking about doing the same thing. Oh kids! Jay and Gloria are trying to help manner and make Claire (Julie Bowen) their manager and Haley (Sarah Hyland) is thinking now she wants her own company too.

Trying to help Manny get into Julliard, Jay works with him to produce a video application to get the attention of the selection committee. Cam has a house guest that isn’t making either Mitchell or Lily happy but it’s Lily who is going to do something about it.

Halloween is here and the Dunphy family comes together to help Luke with his party bringing unexpected guest Rod Skyhook into the mix. With all the family madness Jay heads off to his favorite place, the country club, to unwind and take a minute. Finding out that Phil (Ty Burrell) wants to be a member isn’t setting too well with Jay. Claire thinks she is helping Alex (Ariel Winter) but it might not turn out that way.

The next family holiday is here as Thanksgiving brings Cameron his chance to do it up right. The first sign of trouble is when Haley announces she would rather spend the day with her boyfriend. All Jay can do is watch the family do what they do best – make him crazy. If running for the same office wasn’t enough, the winter dance brings Manny and Luke working together. Of course the parents are deciding their futures on the side as well.

Hearts and flowers are the order of the day but Claire thinks maybe a little magic is needed for her and Phil’s special day. Cupid is making his rounds as well when it becomes clear that Ben may have a tiny little crush on Claire!

Phil is looking to invest in some property and Jay is his target partner. That’s the least of his worries when Jay discovers that Gloria has hired a new handyman who seems to be handier than Jay would like.

It’s getting closer to wedding and time for Frank’s bachelor party with Phil waiting to meet the new family member. If he isn’t busy enough he also volunteers to play basketball at a charity game with two NBA players who aren’t going to baby him.

Frank’s wedding may have a 1920’s theme but it seems Phil gets it wrong when asking Claire to era dress up for the occasion with crazy results. Added to that it seems the couple is going through empty nest syndrome.

All of that culminates to graduation day for Manny and Luke which means the entire family gets together to celebrate. Of course if you think everything goes beautifully then you obviously don’t know this particular MODERN FAMILY!

Ed O’Neill and Sofia Vergara are hilarious together and it is mainly because as different as they may be, they are also absolutely perfect for one another. That means if these two can pull off a relationship then so can Claire and Phil, along with Mitch and Cameron. All of their relationships have their ups and downs yet these three couples remind us that it’s just one foot of love in front of the other to make it believable.

The kids are hilarious but at the same time fall in line with what kids all around me are up to. Of course some of their antics are exaggerated and I think some of it wouldn’t fly with parents I know but it doesn’t make it any less enjoyable to watch. The relationships with the parents are at that point where the kids want to be older than they are and make grown up decisions. The parents seem to have other plans though.

Special appearances by Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Peyton Manning, Victor Garber, Charles Barkley, DeAndre Jordan

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

The MODERN FAMILY Season 8 DVD contains the Special Features of a hilarious and must-see Gag Reel and Deleted Scenes.

Also included are the episodes A Tale of Three Cities, A Stereotypical Day, Blindsided, Weathering Heights, Halloween IV: Revenge of Rod Skyhook, Grab It, Thanksgiving Jamboree, The Alliance, Snow Ball, Ringmaster Keith, Sarge & Pea, Do You Believe in Magic, Do It Yourself, Heavy is the Head, Finding Fizbo, Basketball, Pig Moon Rising, Five Minutes, Frank’s Wedding, All Things Being Equal, Time Alone and The Graduates. That’s 472 minutes of family time!

MODERN FAMILY is a television show that has embraced the diversity and differences of families without forgetting that we all have craziness in our ranks. I love that the characters have relatibility about them because, honestly, I know someone like each one of the Dunphy’s in my own family.

Perhaps that is what brings us together to embrace this series. We do know these characters and we get to laugh, share and love their journey because it parallels our own. No one said life was easy but having family can make the difference between not having a family at all or adding MODERN FAMILY to our own. I’m thinking we just add the Dunphy’s to our own – happily!

The show continues to be a television favorite with their 10^th season starting Wednesday this fall on ABC.

In the end – they may be modern but they are definitely a family!