INCREDIBLES 2 is Exactly That – Purely Incredible and Now on Bluray!

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray/DVD and Digital from writer/director Brad Bird, Pixar and Walt Disney Home Entertainment is the return of the family we love to love with INCREDIBLES 2.

After the Parr family has dealt with the Mole and his attack on the city, the Supers once again find themselves on the outs. Sitting in a motel room wondering what they are going to do next, Lucius aka Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) arrives with news.

It seems someone wants to help bring Supers back! A meeting with Winston (Bob Odenkirk) and Evelyn Deavor (Catherine Keener) brings Bob/Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and Helen/Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) a chance to prove that Supers should be brought back.

The idea is to make Elastigirl the face of the Supers which takes them by surprise, especially Bob’s ego. The Deavor’s provide the Parr family with a spacious and, well incredible new home and Helen an awesome two wheel ride. All of this means Bob is home to tend to teen-angst ridden Violet (Sarah Vowell), Dash (Huck Milner) and Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile).

Home life problems include Violet’s confusion about her date with Tony (Michael Bird), Dash’s rambunctiousness and Jack-Jack being Jack-Jack. As Helen leaves to resume ‘hero’ work, Bob is now Mr. Mom and learning the ropes. It doesn’t take long before he becomes over whelmed but can’t let Helen know so calls on Lucius who is equally confused about it all. His last hope is Edna Mode (Brad Bird)!

Helen on the other hand is busy saving Ambassador’s and meeting new Supers. Winston wants to create a summit where everyone comes together once again. The problem is a new villain is using technology to turn the Supers into not-so-nice Supers putting the possibility of bringing Supers back on the back burner! You follow?

Don’t worry, you will, and what an incredible ride it is!

Hunter as Helen/Elastigirl takes the lead in this film as a working Mom in the most Super of ways. I love Hunter’s character for so many reasons but mainly she is the glue that holds the Parr family together. Not taking anything away from Bob, it’s just a Mom thang!

Nelson as Bob/Mr. Incredible is a little distraught about being put aside but slowly begins to see that he can be equally incredible being a dialed-in Dad as well. When he is finally called to help save the world once again, a twists comes in and the loyalty of family suits up!

Vowell as Violet is having the double issue of teen and super confusion. The one thing she does know for sure is that family is everything. Milner as Dash continues his wise cracking sense of humor and ability to test his parent’s limits – which isn’t always a bad thing.

Jackson as Lucius/Frozone is thrilled at the possibility of being free to freeze, even if his wife might have other ideas. Odenkirk as Winston is a man who truly believes that the Supers need to come back. He has his own personal reasons for it which are endearing. Keener as Evelyn is laid back and the technical brains of the very rich duo.

Fucil as Jack-Jack steals the film from everyone and it must be said. This kid-character had me cracking up from start to finish – probably because that’s exactly how I see most toddlers. Fiery one minute and happy with a cookie the next, Jack-Jack is coming into his own and the family better learn to deal!

Other cast include Sophia Bush as Voyd, Phil LaMarr as Krushauer/Helectrix, Adam Gates as Chad Brentley, Jonathan Banks as Rick Dicker, Isabella Rossellini as the Ambassador.

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 include the Bonus Extras of Ten Deleted Scenes – Ideas from the Cutting Room Floor, Heroes & Villains – A Collection of Mini-Docs About the Incredible Characters of INCREDIBLES 2, Superbaby – Music Video About the Making of INCREDIBLES 2, Strong Coffee: A Lesson in Animation with Brad Bird – Explore Director Brad Bird’s Early Career and His Big Personality, Super Stuff – See What it Takes to Design and Build an Incredible World.

Also included is Making Bao, the Short Film BAO from Disney*Pixar and the All New Mini-Movie AUNTIE EDNA.

INCREDIBLES 2 has my whole family jumping in our very incredible Incredible pajamas. Yes, when we like something we go all in and this film is definitely family fun from start to finish. It is so great to have the gang back together dealing with the duality of trying to have a normal life while trying to save the world from itself.

I believe the reason for the films success in 2004 is because this family is so dang cute for one but totally relatable for another. They have work problems, family issues, sibling rivalry – basically everything we non-supers deal with every day. The fact that they are animated just makes all of those things sort of enjoyable.

What I enjoy as well is the fact that writer/director Bird doesn’t really deviate from that winning formula. In fact, once again the story deals with losing a home, being unemployed, Mom having to be the bread winner and Dad discovering what really goes on at home and, of course, turning to true friends in time of need.

Those are awesome things to take away from a film that also entertains at every turn. I sit in front of my big screen television and am giddy with excitement to see one of my favorite families (if you must know, The Adams Family is also in that list) come together once again and, well, be a family that just happens to have something extra to share with us all.

So gather up your own super family and prepare for adventure, laughs and a little learning with a family that shows us all how it’s possible to be incredible in our own special ways.

In the end – it’s back to work!

It’s Time to Revisit Our Friends as CHRISTOPHER ROBIN Comes to Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray/DVD and Digital from director Marc Forster and Walt Disney Home Entertainment is the return to the One Hundred Acre Woods and the boy once known as CHRISTOPHER ROBIN.

Christopher Robin was a young boy who spent all his time in the woods with his friends Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eyeore, Owl, Rabbit, Tigger, Kanga and Roo. Their days were filled with exploration and friendship until Christopher Robin is sent off to boarding school.

As the years pass, Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) meets and marries Evelyn (Hayley Atwell), becomes the father of Madeline (Bronte Carmichael), is a soldier fighting years of war and returns home to work at a company called Winslow that makes luggage. He is focused on work which leaves little time for family.

When he is told by Giles Winslow (Mark Gatiss) that the company needs to make cuts, Robin must give up a weekend with his family to work. Evelyn and Madeline are not happy but go off for the weekend on their own.

Back in the one hundred acre woods, Pooh wakes up to discover that all his friends are gone. As he starts to search, Pooh finds his way to London and Christopher Robin knowing he is the only person that can help. Imagine the surprise when they meet and Pooh explains that the rest of their friends are lost.

All Robin can think of is how to get this talking bear back to where he belongs without anyone, including his family, seeing him. Battling Heffalumps and the need to get back for an important meeting, Robin loses track of time and races back to London. The problem is that Tigger’s good intentions are about to change everything.

Madeline, Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore show Christopher Robin what it means to slow down, remember the people that mean the most and – to do absolutely nothing.

McGregor as the adult Christopher Robin has his nose the grindstone doing what he thinks he should be doing, providing for his family. Forgetting his friends in the forest, Robin feels the pressures of responsibility and is now forgetting his own family. McGregor as an actor still manages to have the ability to look child-like when the role calls for it and make it look effortless. His interactions with Pooh are filled with tension until he begins to embrace the simplicity he once knew.

Atwell as Evelyn sees the change in her husband and reminds him that who he is now is not the man she met all those years ago. She wants him to laugh, smile and be a father once again to their daughter who clearly misses him. Carmichael as Madeline would gladly accept moments, fractions of moments with her father but doesn’t know how to tell him. Feeling as if everything else means more than she does, it takes the friends in the woods to explain that her father wasn’t always this way. Carmichael is very sweet and even missing time with her father; she still wants to help him succeed!

Jim Cummings voices Winnie the Pooh (also Tigger) had me the moment he began to speak as Pooh. There is such innocence in Pooh and Cummings brings that so very clear through his voice. Brad Garrett as Eeyore has the perfect voice filled with sadness and humor at the same time. Nick Mohammed as Piglet is perfectly cute, Peter Capaldi as Rabbit is very funny, Sophie Okonedo as Kanga is the Mom who watches over everyone, Sara Sheen as Roo loves her woodland family and Toby Jones as Owl is sweet.

Other cast include Oliver Ford Davies as Old Man Winslow, Ronke Adekoluejo as Katherine Dane, Adrian Scarborough as Hal Gallsworthy, Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Ralph Butterworth, Ken Nwosu as Paul Hastings, John Dagleish as Matthew Leadbetter, Amanda Lawrence as Joan MacMillan, Katy Carmichael as Christopher’s Mother, Tristan Surrock as Christopher’s Father and Orton O’Brien as Young Christopher Robin.

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/DVD and Digital HD include In Which … A Movie Is Made for Pooh – Filmmakers and cast share their passion for this story in a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie, In Which … Pooh Finds His Voice – Discover what it’s like to voice Winnie the Pooh, from voice actors Sterling Holloway to Jim Cummings.

Also, In Which … Pooh and Walt Become Friends – How did Walt Disney and Pooh meet? Take a journey through time to explore the legacy of Walt’s first encounter with Pooh and In Which … Pooh and Friends Come to Life  - See how Winnie the Pooh and Friends were brought to life as walking and talking stuffed animals in this magical live-action world.

Finally, an Exclusive Digital Bonus Feature of In Which … We Were Very Young – Meet the actual, original teddy bear who, along with his best friends, has inspired so much love worldwide for almost a century.

Winnie-the-Pooh was created by A.A. Milne with the first collection of stories finding its way to the hands of children in 1926. Basing the character named after his own son Christopher Robin Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh was a teddy bear that belonged to his son. His son named the toy bear after a black bear he saw at the London Zoo. The rest is history and what a grand and iconic history it is.

It should be no surprise that Marc Forster directed the film since he also directed the 2004 film FINDING NEVERLAND. That is another story about the creation of the iconic story of Peter Pan. The feel created by Forster is compelling, tugs at the heart and is giggly delightful.

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN is a story about what happens once childhood fades into a place we chose to forget. In this case, Christopher Robin is sent to boarding school taking him away from his friends and then adulting through marriage, a war and a job which changes his focus on life.

What makes this film so relatable is that we are all the adult Christopher Robin’s in some shape or form. We are all so busy ‘working’ that sometimes the good childhood memories, our family and life suffers in the juggling. That is the truth of it and its right there in front of us daily wiping out all else sometimes.

This film brings the simplicity right there in front of us as well with phrases that will be repeated on the regular and all coming from a talking bear. Winnie-the-Pooh sees Christopher Robin exactly as he is – even if he is now an adult. Looking into his eyes, the lovely bear embraces the boy who has become a man, even if the man doesn’t like it.

The characters of Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga, Roo and Owl are reminders of friendship and the charm that they bring to ones life. These woodland creatures are loyal, supportive and want Christopher Robin to remember what is important because it is clear that they deeply love their friend.

McGregor’s portrayal of the iconic little boy who becomes a forgetful man is what I would expect and yet his performance still moved me. I will also admit that Pooh and his friends had my heart all tied up neatly in a bow and might have even brought a tear to my eye. Who wouldn’t want friends like that to lovingly remind me to embrace every moment, occasionally smile and remember to do nothing because it will become the best of something.

I absolutely love this film with it’s nostalgia that gives us a heartfelt look into an iconic boy becoming a man – leaving behind the best group of friends ANYONE could ever have. Pooh and the gang reminds us that doing nothing can turn into…like this film…something wonderful.

Now Pooh and the gang can be part of your home for years and years to come because this film belongs in everyone’s home entertainment library. It oozes love, cuteness and the importance of friends who are just like family – stuffed or not!

In the end – sooner or later the Pooh past will catch up to you!

Prepare for THE AMERICANS: The Complete Final Season on DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD is the highly acclaimed FX series and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment offering of THE AMERICANS: The Complete Final Season.

The Jennings have moved on with life and in 1987 it is about to remind them of who they are. Working at a travel agency, Philip (Matthew Rhys) is giving all his time to the job. The same can’t be said for Elizabeth (Keri Russell) who has been working for weeks with a proposed Reagan-Gorbachev summit in the works. Claudia (Margo Martindale) doesn’t give her a moments break when she orders Elizabeth to Mexico to learn of new plans called ‘Dead Hand’.

Henry (Keidrich Sellati) and Paige (Holly Taylor) are also living their own lives in boarding school and college with the latter preparing for her own training. It is quickly put to the test. Oleg Burov (Costa Ronin) contacts Philip and orders him to discover where Elizabeth went and why.

Elizabeth returns and must find a way into the State Department to see CIA McCleesh and gets more information than she bargained for regarding the President. She also uses the powers of information persuasion to get what she wants from McCleesh agreeing to meet up later. When it goes wrong, Elizabeth is relieved to have Paige on her side but also lets her know that she could have blown it by leaving her look out.

Now it starts to get a little dirty as Dennis (Brandon Dirden) and Stan (Noah Emmerich) discover Burov is in Washington and need to find out why he is so interested in transportation. They aren’t the only ones to have to deal with him as Philip learns through their meet-up that things with Gorbachev aren’t going well.

Claudia is keeping Elizabeth busy with a new contact for what they tried to get from McCleesh. Her gun isn’t even cold before she takes out security guards in the Altheon warehouse to get the radiation sensors they need. There has been a defection and it is big news.

Philip discovers that he might not have enough money to afford Henry’s school and works even harder at the travel agency and finally tells Elizabeth about it. Sex as a way to get information begins as Paige finds a Congressional intern and Philip is assigned Kimmy (Julia Garner) for a trip to Greece that will lead to a kidnapping.

After a double hit, Philip changes his mind and tells Elizabeth what he has done. Claudia has other plans sending Elizabeth and Marilyn (Amy Tribbey) to find ‘Harvest’, a Russian code name for someone else working on ‘Dead Hand’. When Philip asks her to stop what she is doing, Elizabeth turns him down leaving him no choice but to go and help her.

Working together, Philip and Elizabeth get their person but not without cost. Marilyn and ‘Harvest’ both leave the two looking for even more answers in France. Before they go, it is mess cleaning time. Even though Elizabeth had previously thought Paige might not ever be ready for the spy game, she encourages her into a State Department internship.

Philip finally discovers what Elizabeth has been up to and can not believe it but that has to wait as Gorbachev has landed in the United States. Using her intern conquest, Elizabeth manages to plant a bug and learns that Nesterenko (Alex Feldman) is interested in having no nuclear weapons and immediately the order is given for his assassination. Claudia finally comes clean about her movies and she turns to Philip for help.

When Father Andrei (Konstantin Lavysh) is discovered to be with the KGB and Philip narrowly escaped being arrested. Also in custody Oleg is suggesting that he was only placed in the United States to protect the Russian President. Claudia is furious that Elizabeth did not follow the plan and Paige asks again about her seducing interns for information and when she doesn’t get the answer she wants, Paige begins the name calling. No time for thinking, Philip gives Elizabeth a signal that begins a clearing out of their home.

Now, Philip, Elizabeth and Paige must make a decision about where they are to go but are sure that it’s better to leave Henry behind at boarding school. Stan has finally put the pieces together and has to make a decision of his own when it is confirmed that the two people he is looking for are right in front of him.

Russell as Elizabeth has come such a long way in playing this character. From the very beginning I was never quite sure what her motivation was or which way she would turn. That’s what made her character to intriguing and let me tell you, there isn’t anything she wouldn’t do to get an assignment done – some of it quite harrowing. Russell proved in this series why she got the role in the first place and there is no one else ever, in watching this series, could have done it better.

Rhys as Philip has the unique ability to show everything on his face while saying something totally opposite with his words. I have enjoyed watching his career blossom with so many amazing roles but I honestly believe it is the series THE AMERICANS that will be the standout for him. Along with Russell, the role of Philip was unpredictable, intense, stirring and even confusing but in a good way.

Taylor as Paige has certainly grown up in this series. I always suspected that she would attempt to join the ranks of the life her parents were living; of course I was hoping she wouldn’t but there it is. Taylor’s performance continues to be strong until the end leaving a moment of question that I just frustratingly love. Selatti as Henry is the one kept out of the loop throughout the series. There is something amazing when you have one character that lives in what he thinks is the real world without knowing that it isn’t.

Emmerich as Stan has been the suspicious eye throughout the series and he has the amazing and unique ability to do just that. There were times I thought he was so very close to figuring it out and then backed off again not wanting to accuse anyone of something so serious. Emmerich, like Rhys, has made a name for himself in playing amazing roles and in THE AMERICANS he deserves to be recognized for every moment he has been on screen.

Other cast include Lev Gorn as Arkady Zotov, Laurie Holden as Renee, Darya Ekamasova as Sofia Bystrova, Yuri Kolokolnikov as Gennadi Bystrov, and Kelly AuCoin as Pastor Tim.

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 DVD includes the Special Features of Deleted Scenes, Inside Looks and Gag Reel which helps to lighten up a very intense series! The 3-disc set is 526 minutes of drama that will leave you guessing up until the very end – and it’s an ending worthy of such an amazing series as THE AMERICANS.

Also included are the episodes Dead Hand, Tchaikovsky, Urban Transport Planning, Mr. and Mrs. Teacup, The Great Patriotic War, Rififi, Harvest, The Summit, Jennings Elizabeth and START.

What has made THE AMERICANS such a unique experience is the stellar cast that continued week after week and season after season bringing it all home to fans. Beginning in 2013, the Cold War series set in the 1980’s was actually a reminder to many of us who remember that time period. Another amazing thing that came from the series is loads of conversations about the characters and the season after season unknowns.

Created by former CIA officer and novelist Joseph Weisberg, he is also responsible for working on the series Falling Skies, Damages and Justified. He also won Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series from the Primetime Emmy Awards. Rhys also won for Outstanding Lead Actor and Russell was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The TCA Awards gave THE AMERICANS an award for Program of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in a Drama. Russell won Individual Achievement in Drama and Rhys received a nomination.

That proves one thing for sure – fans of THE AMERICANS are going to miss the series greatly but, when that feeling hits, 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment makes THE AMERICANS easy to get into your own home library.

In the end – their dedication is being watched and the clock is ticking!

BREAKING BROOKLYN Brings the Word Family to the Forefront on DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from writer/director Paul Becker and Lionsgate is a film about the meaning of family and music when you are BREAKING BROOKLYN.

Aaron (Colin Critchley) is a twelve-year-old boy with a penchant for dance. Unfortunately his father doesn’t see it the same way because he’s to busy breaking the law. Older brother Albee (Nathan Kress) also has dreams but a little different from his brother.

Teacher Miles Bryant (Louis Gossett Jr.) sees something in the young man inviting Aaron into his tap class. It doesn’t quite go as planned when Aaron and Albee’s father ends up arrested and the car they have been living in is towed away. Not knowing what to do, Miles steps in and offers the boys a home while things get straightened out.

Unsure at first, the boys know it is better than living on the streets. Aaron immediately sees the stage where they will be living and feels the urge to dance become even stronger. Albee just notices Miles daughter Faith (Madeleine Mantock) who is a no-nonsense girl who slowly begins to understand the young man.

Aaron, on the other hand, wants to be part of a showcase that has a huge prize. He also meets Miles brother Greg (Vondie Curtis-Hall) and comes to realize that theirs isn’t the only family with hurt in the past and a chip on the shoulders.

Yet, when the music plays and the feet move – they all find their center!

Critchley as Aaron is a talented young man! As a boy who just wants to dance, he also supports his family the best he can, even if that means living in a car with his dad and brother. It is his safe place and when it turns on him, he finds faith in the most unlikely place and people.

Gossett Jr. as Miles loves dance and loves teaching it. When he meets Aaron, he sees something special in the young boy who comes from a place that is unsure and uncertain. Helping Aaron’s family eventually helps him come to terms with his own.

Kress as Albee is keeping an eye on his brother while Dad is in jail but also feels there is something special about Mile’s daughter. It is probably the first time in his life he is not trying to make a move for all the wrong reasons. Mantock as Faith is a young woman who has been raised to be strong and know what she wants out of life. That rubs off on Albee as the two become closer.

Curtis-Hall as Greg is an angry man because of one past mistake. Instead of forgiveness and finding his place in life, he instead chooses to be closed off and unforgiving but also sees something in the young Aaron.

Other cast include Jack Noseworthy as Christian, Chris Petrovski as Corey, Gabriel Sloyer as Castro, Brian Tarantina as Randy, Liza Colon-Zayas as Ms. Cruz, Deidre Goodwin as Lisa, Lorrie Odom as Ms. Loretta, and Catherine Curtin as Principal Carver.

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.

BREAKING BROOKLYN is an amazing family film that teaches us that our circumstance doesn’t always dictate our outcome in life. The young Aaron is living in a situation that plagues our country today and that is homelessness. There are many families that live in their cars but in this boys case he is also dealing with a father who isn’t on the right side of the law.

When he is given the chance to show what he is capable of, the young Aaron stumbles but it is Miles who sees that one stumble isn’t the end of everything. That’s what this film has to offer families who are looking for films that are worthy of sharing with the entire family.

The cast is heartwarming in a simple story that dances its way into your soul and if you are going to dance, go all in.

In the end – on the streets of Brooklyn a star is born!

HUNTER KILLER is a Film That Brings Action and Suspense to the Big Screen

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from direction Donovan Marsh and Summit Entertainment is the military and political thriller of HUNTER KILLER.

When an American and Russian submarine vanish under the Arctic ice, Rear Admiral John Fisk (Common) and the President’s National Security Analyst Jane Norquist (Linda Cardellini) must discover what has happened. Reporting to Admiral Donnegan (Gary Oldman), Fisk tells him that he has a Hunter Killer available to go and look for the American submarine.

Commander Joe Glass (Gerard Butler) receives his orders to do just that, inform his crew of the mission and get under way. Admiral Donnegan wants boots on the ground as well so Fisk calls on Lt. Bill Bearman (Toby Stephens) and his group to get near the Russian base and keep them posted. Not there very long before Bearman discovers that the Russian President Zakarin (Alexander Diachenko) has been taken and the coup is led by Defense Minister Dmitri Durov (Mikhail Gorevoy) and he wants war!

Glass and the crew find the American sub and reports back to Washington, in the process they hear noises coming from the Russian submarine. Sending out a rescue they find the subs captain Sergei Andropov (Michael Nyqvist).

Now a new plan is in the works, for the sub and the Seals to free Zakarin and end the coup as quickly as possible. Durov isn’t about to let any of this happen without a fight but its one thing to fight in the Poliarny water base of Russia, it is another when that fight could start a war!

Butler as Commander Glass wastes no time in letting his crew know he understands where they are coming from but – that doesn’t change the fact that his word is law. He doesn’t ask of them anything he wouldn’t do (even though he’s pretty much done it) but sees the mission as one that needs them all to work together. Butler commands attention right away and doesn’t lose it the entire film. A believable commander to be sure.

Oldman as Admiral Donnegan is definitely a politician trying to make sure a war doesn’t start but knowing its going to take a little fight to make sure the American military isn’t taken for granted. Oldman looks good in a uniform and watches the drama unfold. Common as RA Fisk clearly knows the scenario they are playing out has a narrow margin in all phases of success but he also knows that the best have been sent in. The scene between Oldman and Common is complex and it works.

Stephens as Bearman is quite happy to take the next assignment to be dropped in Russia. With his crew, they get to Poliarny and take it all step by step which can be difficult when your dealing with a madman. Cardellini is Norquist is one smart cookie and she isn’t about to let anyone in the command room use their passive aggressive rank to stop her from doing not only her job, but what the president sent her to do.

Diachenko as Russian President Zakarin wants peace with the United States and is in shock that someone he trusts has turned on him and in the worst way.  Gorevoy as Defense Minister Dmitri Durov is underhanded and doesn’t have a problem using bullets or missiles to get what he wants.

Other cast include Mikey Collins as Brickowski, Will Attenborough as Kaplan, Kieron Bimpson as Nichols, Christopher Goh as Park, Zan Holtz as Seal Martinelli, Igor Jijkine as Lt. Tretiak, Michael Trucco as Devin Hall, Richard Hills Jr. as Medic Jones, Yuri Kolokolnikov as Oleg and Carter Macintyre as Executive Officer Brian Edwards.

HUNTER KILLER is a mixture of four different stories. First is Washington dealing with something that needs to be thought out carefully, second is sending Glass and the submarine of them into waters that clearly are dangerous, third is the boots-on-the-ground Seal team that keep Washington informed of what they see and finally, fourth, the treachery of the coup to the Russian President.

Director Marsh manages with ease to put these four stories together and add action both above and below the water to create a popcorn film that will keep you guessing. I had a really good time watching the film myself. A fan of HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER and U-571, it shouldn’t be surprising that I enjoyed HUNTER KILLER.

The script came about from the book by Ret. Commander George Wallace USN and author Don Keith. Watching their 700 page book come to the big screen, they are both pleased with what Marsh put together and how the actors played there roles with authenticity. That is what makes a film such as this so darn enjoyable.

Grab a huge tub of popcorn and a few friends for this one and just have a good time on the ride!

In the end – start a battle to stop a war!

Universal CLASSIC MONSTERS Brings a Complete 30 Film Collection to DVD

Jeri Jacquin

On DVD in time for the spooky holidays and anyone who movie marathons that day from Universal Home Entertainment is something no media library should be without Universal CLASSIC MONSTERS: Complete 30 Film Collection.

As a youngster, every Friday and Saturday night our family would look on the three or four channels we had to find ‘horror’ films to watch. That is when my mother introduced me to names like Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lagosi, Claude Rains and Boris Karloff. My first film in this genre was the Bela Lagosi’s DRACULA.

Beginning with the line ‘in all the annals of living horror, one name stands out at the epitome of evil!’ From that moment on I was glued to the very small television set. The close ups of his deep and intense stares brought DRACULA into our home and it was frightfully glorious.

The second film that stands out came out in that same year of 1931 with FRANKENSTEIN as Boris Karloff introduced me to empathy for a creature feared by villagers.

It was the 1941 THE WOLF MAN that I saw Lon Chaney Jr. in a foggy wood asking an old gypsy woman for the truth about what he was. Once again I felt so sorry for the character of Larry Talbot but loved the story it told and, of course, never looked at a full moon the same. Claude Rains also starred in the same film and he was as elegant as he wanted to be.

The 1943 PHANTOM OF THE OPERA as Rains once again had the opportunity to enrapture me as Claudin, a man who loves and loses and doesn’t handle it to well. I love the cinematography, story and cast that puts together a memorable film that has been made again and again but nothing beats the original.

In 1954, audiences were introduced to CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON and a trip through the Amazon jungle. Scientists discover something in the water but that something isn’t going to go quietly.

THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US brought people to the theatre in 1956 and made it to my television during a show called Creature Feature. The Gill-Man returns and a mad scientist decides to make the water creature an unhappy land creature.

This is only six films out of the 30 that have been put together in this collection!

The Universal Collection includes the films: Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Bride of Frankenstein, Werewolf of London, Dracula’s Daughter, Son of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man Returns, The Invisible Woman, The Mummy’s Hand, The Wolf Man, The Ghost of Frankenstein, The Mummy’s Ghost, The Mummy’s Tomb, Invisible Agent, Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, Son of Dracula, House of Frankenstein, The Mummy’s Curse, The Invisible Man’s Revenge, House of Dracula, She-Wolf of London, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy, Revenge of the Creature and The Creature Walks Among Us.

The Bonus Features include Behind-the-Scenes Documentaries, 3D Versions of CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON and REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, 1931 Spanish Version of DRACULA, Featurettes on Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., and Jack Pierce, 13 Expert Feature Commentaries, Archival Footage, Production Photographs and Theatrical Trailers.

This is a film collectors dream to have because these are films that feature a genre which in turn created those of us who love the classics. These films are iconic and they star actors that are the genre standard by which the actors play the role today. Who doesn’t want to have the stare of Bela Lagosi, who doesn’t want the anger-sadness of Frankenstein and who doesn’t want to portray the fear of being a wolf on a full moon?

UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTERS: Complete 30-Film Collection is a jewel on the home media library shelf. These are films that, for its time, were innovative, experimental and groundbreaking.

Lets be honest, nothing in the world is better than a rainy day, a warm blanket on the couch, a cup of hot chocolate with black and white monster movies playing on the big screen in our homes. That is nirvana for me and millions of others who appreciate what it took to bring these films to the theatre and now – our homes.

So, when thinking of what you want to be doing for Halloween, you should definitely get the UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTERS: Complete 30-Film Collection. Curl up and remember who is responsible for the genre that we love to this very day!

In the end – this is a landmark collection of legendary monsters!

VIKINGS Season Five Volume 1 Deserves Serious Revisiting

Jeri Jacquin

On Bluray from 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the epic and successful series that has brought a long forgotten culture to the forefront again with VIKINGS Season Five Volume 1.

Ubbe (Jordan Smith) and Hvitserk (Marco Llso) are now ruling over East Anglia and it hasn’t been that long since the death of Sigurd. Everyone begins to depart in different directions as King Harald (Peter Franzen) makes his way back to Kattegat with Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) and Halfdan (Jasper Paakkonen) setting out going back the Mediterranean. Ivar (Alex Hogh) is on another mission to get the brothers to take the city of York and while there gives them a big surprise.

Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard) has other ideas wanting to get as far away as he can to find something else in dealing with the loss of his wife. He lands on an island he believes belongs to the Gods and wants to bring others to share his vision of this new land.

Lagertha is holding Harald in prison but all he wants is to make an alliance through marriage. Of course the Queen of Kattegat isn’t about to share the throne after working so hard to get it back. What the Queen doesn’t see coming is a rescue and taking Astrid with an offer for her as well – become a queen herself.

Discovering the Vikings may be coming to York happens as Athelstan comes in a vision to Prince Alfred (Ferdia Peelo). The King knows it is time to bring his soldiers together to prepare for battle.

Bjorn arrives in the Mediterranean and Sindric (Frankie McCafferty) thinks it might be advantageous to hide who they truly are. It will allow them to travel with a caravan meeting Emir Ziyadat Allah who greets them as a friend. When one of his men vanishes, the Emir explains about what happens to people who are disloyal or untrustworthy. Bjorn, Halfdan and Sindric find themselves in a precarious position at best.

Ivan continues to break the brothers even further apart after winning the battle against King Aethelwulf (Moe Dunford). Ubbe and Hvitserk want peace but Ivar, well Ivar wants blood and to be the new and only leader of their army. Ubbe decides it is time to return to Kattegat but Hvitserk stays behind.

Floki returns to Kattegat trying to explain what he has found and Lagertha isn’t listening to any thought of him taking her people. Once several of them have made clear that they intend to leave, she allows it with misgivings. What is even worse is that everyone on the ship is disheartened by what they see once arriving to Floki’s island.

Ivar and Heahmund (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) make plans to once again attack Kattegat and Lagertha attempts to make ready. Margrethe (Ida Nielsen) also has a plan of attack and that is to make Ubbe betray her from the inside so that a war is avoided and he can become King. She clearly doesn’t know Ivar that well does she?

Ivar and Heahmund believe that their plan is flawless and they too have underestimated their opponent. Bjorn is back in Kattegat to help his mother but there is another army that has also sided with the Queen. First they try peace and it is rejected by both men and as the battle begins.

Heahmund finds Lagertha interesting and pledges loyalty to her but the battle is hardly over. Hvitserk turns to Rollo (Clive Standen) for help and Bjorn tries once again to find peace with Ivar and Harald but Ivar only sees blood.

Floki is discovering that being a leader of a new settlement is far more difficult than he could ever have imagined. When arson and murder are the first infractions on their new home island, Floki tries to find middle ground with a sacrifice to the gods.

Ivan and Harald once again strike Kattegat and this time it is friend against friend, brother against brother and loved one against loved one as they all come falling down. Bjorn and Lagertha retreat waiting for a miracle – and they don’t have to wait long. 

Winnick as Lagertha continues to be as much of a bad ass queen as she wants to be. She certainly looks lovely in gowns and a crown but man does she wear armor well. Continuing her refusal to surrender Kattegat, especially to the likes of the blood thirsty Ivar, Winnick gives her character so many depths and dimension. I absolutely love waiting to see what she will do next.

Ludwig as Bjorn is trying to avoid confrontation at all fronts but finds that being away from home only brings different ones. Wanting to be the explorer of the family, he does dare to push the limits of being in a foreign land – until this latest outing. Skarsgard as Floki can’t get over the loss of his wife and knows that perhaps its time to start over somewhere else where the memories aren’t so painful. I think he learns a painful lesson about what it takes to lead people and might even give him an insight to all those years with Ragnar and now Lagertha.

Smith as Ubbe isn’t weak strength wise but he certainly can be when it comes to women. Brothers aren’t easy either for him but he chooses to walk away from Ivar. Llso as Hvitserk on the other hand makes a last minute choice that might come back to cut him deeply.

Franzen as Harald isn’t happy that his suggestion to Lagertha isn’t accepted or appreciated. So if he can’t have one queen, he will certainly hurt her by creating another from someone she cares about.

The two characters that stand out this season are Hogh as Ivar the Boneless who proves that there is nothing to the name. Not afraid to fight or to take anyone out who tries to stop him, Hogh has made this role so deliciously evil and I can’t imagine anyone else who could pull it off. He does a credit to the role and makes Ragnar look pretty tame in some cases. Well done!

The other is Meyers as Bishop Heahmund who started out with the opposite side with his plots and plans – of course all in the name of the church. Seeing Lagertha might have changed things for him and, as we have seen with many Vikings, loyalty can change as swift as a sharp swinging blade! I have always loved Meyers in these types of era pieces, he is just a master with them and in VIKINGS its no exception.

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 3-disc set includes the episodes The Departed – Part 1, The Departed – Part II, Homeland, The Plan, The Prisoner, The Message, Full Moon, The Joke, A Simple Story and Moments of Vision.

There are also Special Features including Deleted Scenes and Extended Versions of All Episodes, The Creator’s Audio Commentary with Michael Hirst, I am Boneless, and Bringing the Invisible People to Life: The Sami.

What can be said about VIKINGS that hasn’t already been said? Words like epic, amazing, astounding, original, bloody, intrigue, twists, turns, character driven, treachery, back stabbing, family and so much more.

So how does the creator of VIKINGS Michael Hirst tell us it all started? “Many years ago I was writing a film script about Alfred the Great, who fought against the Vikings. I was fascinated to discover that a lot of what I thought I knew about the Vikings was wrong. I knew nothing about their attitude towards women, which was much more progressive than most other societies.”

This isn’t the first time I’ve fallen head over heels for something Hirst has written. He is behind the 1998 Oscar winning film ELIZABETH and another of my favorite television shows THE TUDORS. It should be no surprise then that with as much history as there was with those two films, I would expect Hirst to dive into Viking history with the same enthusiasm.

He found Ragnar Lothbrok in Norse history and discovered he was a warrior. What Hirst also discovered was a history about women, family and battle that have become the series VIKINGS that has made it into its fifth season (with a sixth not far behind).

So until that day arrives, 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment invites you to revisit the set up of a battle for the one thing they all want – revenge, the crown and Kattegat!

In the end – drawing blood has nothing to do with family!

SORRY TO BOTHER YOU is a Trip on Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

On Bluray this week from writer/director Boots Riley and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment is a telemarketers nightmare with SORRY TO BOTHER YOU.

Cassius ‘Cash’ Green (Lakeith Stanfield) is a man with life trouble. No job, no real place to live unless you consider Uncle Sergio’s garage living, and no prospects. He tries to schmooze his way into a job that hardly needed schmoozing! Telemarketing for a company in Oakland, California he starts right away.

Happy to be working he shares the news with girlfriend Detroit (Tessa Thompson) and friend Salvador (Jermaine Fowler). The company is RegalView and fellow telemarketer Langston (Danny Glover) sees that Cash is having problems selling. Offering advice, he suggests that Cash use his ‘white voice’ in his pitches. Almost immediately there is a turn around in his job and the manager sees him as a potential Power Caller.

Co-worker Squeeze (Steven Yeun) isn’t so happy with what’s happening at RegalView and wants to unionize. Just as they are getting started, Cash is promoted and moves up in the building discovering that Regal View sells something totally different. Not only that, they have joined with another company called WorryFree.

Cash is looking past all of what is right in front of him as the money starts rolling in along with a new car, a place to live and helping Uncle Sergio – and it feels pretty good. When everything else goes right, Cash’s relationship with Detroit starts to go wrong.

Determined not to look back, Cash is introduced to the CEO of WorryFree Steve Lift (Armie Hammer) who takes to the young man right away. That’s when Cash’s world is introduced to equisapiens and the potential for more power along with a $100 million dollar paycheck.

There are some things no matter how twisted that even Cash can’t get behind. That is until he realizes that being a leader has its revengeful perks!

Stanfield as Cash just wants a job, his girlfriend and family – simple right? Not exactly as Cash finds himself rising to fast and being used at every level along the way. Stanfield plays right into every bit of it and the freakier it gets the more he may question but continues to follow the money.

Thompson as Detroit is enjoying their relationship until she feels betrayed when Cash becomes successful and turns on the group at RegalView and what they are trying to do. Crews as Uncle Sergio is about to lose everything himself so breaks the news to Cash that is time for them all to move on. I just love Crews who can make any role his own.

Glover as Langston shares what he knows about how to succeed at telemarketing and introduces the theory of the ‘white voice’ to Cash. Yeun as Squeeze starts the protesting to unionize and is hurt when Cash jumps ship. Fowler as Sal just wants to understand how to get life right without all the mess.

Hammer as Lift is just a fast-talking psycho! It made me dizzy listening to him sell Cash on just about everything yet nothing. When he finally does tell the truth it’s only because Cash’s phone caught the plot behind WorryFree and what they truly want to do. Hammer just runs away with this role.

Other cast include: Kate Berlant as Diana DeBauchery, Michael Sommers as Johnny, Robert Longstreet as Anderson, David Cross as Cash’s White Voice, Lily James as Detroit’s White British Voice, Forest Whitaker as Demarius and Rosario Dawson as the Voice in the Elevator.

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 and DVD Special Features include Beautiful Clutter with Director Boots Riley, Commentary with Director Boots Riley, The Cast of SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, The Art of the White Voice and Gallery.

The film is a seriously twisted and totally outrageous look at the world of telemarketing that isn’t exactly as twisted and outrageous if you’ve ever worked in that industry. I won’t lie, this film jumps right in and there was no way I could ever have predicted how it would end up.

That’s what makes SORRY TO BOTHER YOU so unique. The concept is just so original and the cast unique in every way that by the time the film was over I spent the next few days trying to go over every bit of it again. Trust me when I say you will be doing the same thing too!

I’m keeping a few secrets to myself about the film because you wouldn’t believe me if I told you anyway.

In the end – be careful of the power and money you wish for!

Elmo Takes Us on THE MAGICAL WAND CHASE on DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from SHOUT! Factory Kids and Sesame Street is Elmo’s next batch of question when working on THE MAGICAL WAND CHASE.

Elmo thinks there is so much in the world to explore and since they can’t go by book, they are going to go where ever they want using their imaginations and Abby’s magic wand. Their first adventure is ballooning over their city but they are starting to feel a little lost. When the wind and a bird takes their magic wand, Elmo, Abby, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Grover begin to panic!

Back on the ground, the group begins looking for the wand and discover a place called Chinatown meeting Carl and Lindsay who help them look for the smaller bird that has Abby’s wand. Next they see a group performing the Mexican hat dance discovering their culture and a bag of churros. They are amazed at what is happening right around the corner of Sesame Street.

Still on the hunt for the bird that has used the magic to turn herself into an elephant, they discover families from West Africa. They are again surprised to discover another community within their own neighborhood and the ability to send messages by drum! The best news is that their new friends can get them back to Sesame Street.

After chasing after Wanda the Wand far and wide and with the help of new friends – the group plans to return home but not before thanking the everyone for their help!

Their next adventure takes them to another time as Elmo, Teddy and Abby belt out The Knights Song and learn about going on a quest. The letter Y also joins them as their quest is looking for things that begin with the letter Y.

The DVD includes A Bird Burglar, New Friends! And Hot-Air Balloon Mayhem! and the Bonus Features of Full-Length Elmo’s Alphabet Challenge, Full-Length Episode The Golden Triangle of Destiny and Downloadable Storybook: Elmo and the Lost Wand.

Hasbro Studios is an iconic brand with some of the best in animation and family programming with MY LITTLE PONY, and LITTLEST PET SHOP. Since its formation in 2009, Hasbro Studios has received seven Daytime Emmy’s!

Elmo is such a beloved character on Sesame Street and along with his friend Abby; they show us why their friendship is so very special. They listen to one another and not only enjoy each other’s company but reach out to the rest of the gang to join in on the fun.

There are so many values here that are important to children today and they are covered in this DVD. From friendship to cultural appreciation to kindness, these characters embrace everyone they meet and every situation worked out between them.

They also meet new friends in the neighborhoods surrounding Sesame Street and won’t soon forget everything they see, hear and experience.

Currently in its 48^th season, Sesame Street is the longest-running program in children’s television and has received more Emmy Awards than any other show in television history.

There is a reason for that. Simple put, Sesame Street has always reached out to children without ever once talking down to them. Instead, they embrace the way children feel, hear and think while teaching and expanding their little minds and transforming them into big, wondrous minds. 

That is what we want for all of our children, to embrace this every changing world with kindness and acceptance with ease and we have Sesame Street to thank for helping us do just that.

In the end – everything you need to find is right on Sesame Street!