READY OR NOT Because it's Back on Bluray!

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray and Digital from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment comes the usual lethal family drama in READY OR NOT.

It is the happiest day of Grace's (Samara Weaving) life as she is marrying Alex Le Domas (Mark O'Brien). Even as he uses humor to warn about the Le Domas family, Grace is just happy to finally be part of one.

After the wedding, Grace and Alex take a few moments for each other but are interrupted by the eerie Aunt Helene (Nicky Guadagni). She announces that the family is gathering wanting Grace and Alex to join them.

Surrounding the Le Domas table are Alex's brother Daniel (Adam Brody), his wife Charity (Elyse Levesque), mother Becky (Andi MacDowell), father Tony (Henry Czerny), sister Emilie (Melanie Scrofano), and husband Fitch (Kristian Bruun).

Tony announces that every time a new person comes into the family, they spend the first evening playing a game as a welcome. All Grace has to do is pick a card from a box which seems simple enough to her. The card 'hide and seek' is drawn and the entire family becomes silent and Alex gets pale.

Going along to get along Grace is given a head start and once gone the rest of the family start getting ready – by arming up. You see, the Le Domas family believes that if they don't seek Grace, something horrible will happen to the family.

Alex sneaks away to find Grace and finally fesses up as to what is happening. Grace is about to taken on a whole family proving she can take whatever nonsense they dish out, including crazy butler Stevens (John Ralston). The in-laws are on the hunt and they aren't about to stop!

Just another family get-together that goes crazy till dawn!

Weaving as Grace is absolutely fantastic and I loved every minute she was on screen. To go from a happy bride to Rambo-ette was very, very cool. I found myself sharing my feelings about her playing this role with lots of shouting and 'you go girl!' and cheering. Weaving says, "We had an amazing cast to pull this off and everything just fell into place". She made a grand entrance in white and she made an even grander exit leaving us all wanting more so that's exactly falling into place!

O'Brien as Alex marries Grace knowing full well what is about to happen. I'm was not sure how I felt about him throughout the film. I mean your fiancé knows his family is crazy but waits till after the 'I do' to say something? Every bride's worst fear right? Brody as brother Daniel has his own issues with the family but he'd rather go numb with alcohol than deal with any of it.

Czerny as Tony is just plain nutty but made me laugh a LOT. He wants to keep the family together and doesn't mind doing it with a shotgun. Bruun as Fitch just goes along to get along because being married to Emilie means happy crazy life-happy crazy wife! mother Becky (Andi MacDowell),

Scrofano as Emilie is just a little to tender to do what her family thinks must be done and Levesque as Charity doesn't have a problem with it what so ever. Guadagni as Aunt Helene is absolutely priceless and she cracked me up repeatedly even though I'm sure she was meant to scare me instead. Now Ralston as Stevens scared me more – well done sir!

MacDowell as mom Becky just stuns in this role. She is happy to have her son back home and thanks Grace for doing it. Hard to believe when she has a weapon in her hand right? Talking about the making of the film she says, "It's scary to think how everyone was perfectly cast in the film, especially with the role I play. I had a lot of fun being cast in this type of role because I've played so many sweet characters and I'm not sweet". She about sums it up perfectly!

Other cast include Liam MacDonald as Georgie, Ethan Tavares as Gabe, Hanneke Talbot as Clara, Celine Tsai as Tina and Daniela Barbosa as Dora.

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 Special Features include Let the Games Begin: The Making of READY OR NOT, Gag Reel, Audio Commentary by Radio Silence and Samara Weaving and Gallery.

READY OR NOT is a fabulous film filled with terror and laughs which, if you think about it, is an odd combination. That's what makes the film a must-see for me because of the combination of terror and laughs. I mean yes it has violence but it's by a bunch of people who are just completely out of their minds.

I love the cinematography, costuming and the interesting choices of weapons (like Clue with Fitch-in-the-library-with-a-crossbow feel to it). The story behind the family gathering is pretty interesting as well because it is never let on whether it is true or not – until it is.

Prepare to have a good time because you might take a good look around at your own clan and not complain so much about your own family ever again.

In the end – let the game begin!

MAYANS M.C.: The Complete First Season Prepares us for What is to Come

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from creators Elgin James, Kurt Sutter, FX and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment comes the high anticipated MAYANS M.C.: The Complete First Season.

In the small California border town of Santo Padre, Ezekiel ‘EZ’ Reyes (JD Pardo) has served time in prison for killing a cop and is now a prospect with the Mayan motorcycle club. The club’s president Bishop (Michael Irby) is working on drugs that are being transported to Las Vegas and making the trip with EZ is brother Angel (Clayton Cardenas).

Before they go, EZ stops by the local high school and remembers being enrolled at Stanford and coming home to visit then-girlfriend Emily (Sarah Bolger). Visiting father Felipe (Edward James Olmos), EZ assures him that he is being careful and before leaving gives him something wrapped up and gets a poetry book. Brother Angel is outside dealing with his own issues about Felipe.

Making a delivery, the Mayans are jumped and EZ comes to the rescue. The problem is that now they have to tell Miguel Galindo (Danny Pino), a cartel boss, what has happened to his drugs. Angel and EZ go through tunnels to get into Mexico looking for help for one of its members.

At the Mayans clubhouse, El Padrino (Emilio Rivera) comes to talk about the cartel issues but tells EZ to stop outside. Knowing the Samoans made the hit, it is agreed to reach out for help with the problem. After getting their hands on the leader of the Samoan group, Galindo takes over and shows them what happens when you take something that doesn’t belong to you. Besides a big mess, Galindo believes there is someone in their ranks giving out details and he wants whoever it is.

EZ is personally still dealing with the fact that Emily, his high school and college love, is now married to cartel boss Galindo. Angel has his own secrets as well when EZ learns that he is helping a woman named Adelita (Carla Baratta) who leads a group called the Olvidados. She makes it clear that she wants to help the families affected by what is happening by Galindo.

After an evening out, Galindo and Emily, along with their baby, go their separate ways. Emily’s car is attacked and the baby is kidnapped quickly. This is just the beginning of the deception, lies, secrets, twists and terror and that’s just the first episode!

Pardo as EZ has a story to tell and most of it is sad and full of misunderstandings. There is a part of this character that has the same feel as Jax Teller in that he knows what he wants but getting there might be tricky. I think Pardo is doing an amazing job and with the cast surrounding him it is only going to get more epic to watch EZ’s story unfold.

Cardenas as brother Angel has a serious magazine rack full of outdated issues. Not speaking to his own father and keep secrets from his brother EZ is going to cost him. Always trying to keep his brother out of trouble, sometimes it’s Angel who actually gets him IN trouble.

I’m so thrilled to see Rivera return as El Padrino Marcus Alvarez because it is a thread to SONS OF ANARCHY that I can grab onto while watching this new web be woven by the Mayans. Irby as Bishop is the club’s president who is moving at a glacial pace trying to understand what works best for the club while keeping an eye totally on everything. Baratta as Adelita is a woman who is just plain nuts in my book. She knows what she wants from Galindo and doesn’t care who gets in the way of making that happen. Of course there is a history she needs to settle and it’s close to EZ’s front door.

Bolger as Emily is the one time love of EZ who got away. He’s not over it and neither is she although you wouldn’t know it. Currently married to cartel boss Miguel Galindo isn’t helping her cause any. Trying to navigate her way through the family history and where they are going, she might be a force for them all. Pino as husband and cartel boss Miguel Galindo is a vicious leader who isn’t afraid to get his hands bloody, and the first episode proves that! Pino is sharp, fast and effective and even when you think he’s cornered, remember what happens to trapped tigers!

Olmos as EZ and Angel’s father Felipe is a daunting role. He has a history that neither son knows about but, like all secrets, will make its way out slowly and painfully for Felipe. I am thrilled to see Olmos once again on the screen because this man is an icon who has blazed the way in some man arenas that I know his character will be memorable. Personally I’ll be cheering for him what ever happens.

Other wonderful cast includes Richard Cabral as Coco, Maurice Compte as Jiminez, Frankie Loyal as Tranq, Vincent Vargas as Gilly, Gino Vento as Nestor, Tony Plana as Devante Cano, Michael Ornstein as Chucky Marstein, Joseph Lucero as Creeper, Ada Maris as Dita Galindo, Salvador Chacon as Pablo, Melany Ochoa as Mini, Curtiss Cook as Bowen, Emily Tosta as Leticia Cruz, Alexander Bedria as Heimler, Joe Ordaz as Paco and Ray McKinnon as Lincoln Potter.

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.

Special Features of MAYANS M.C. are The Creation of MAYANS M.C., Hit the Ground Roaring, Customizing the Mayans’ Signature Bikes and Promotional Featurettes.

The DVD includes the episodes Perro/Oc, Escorpion/Dzec, Buho/Muwan, Murcielago/Zotz, Uch/Opossum, Gato/Mis, Cucaracha/K’uruch, Rata/Ch’o, Serpiente/Chikchan and Cuervo/Tzikb/uul.

MAYANS M.C.: The Complete First Season is a must have to add to the SOA/MAYAN library. There isn’t an episode that doesn’t just cause the jaw to drop or a few cheers. The cast is extensive and I wish I had the space to cover them all but here and now I say the show wouldn’t be the SHOW without each and every one of them.

There are familiar faces and an Easter Egg I won’t talk about because I want the viewer to find it too. Of course there is always one face that is bad news and trust me you will know him when you see him because honestly I threw something at the television myself. I think it’s fantastic that Sutter and James kind of gave SOA fans a few kisses here and there to remind us that SAMCRO isn’t forgotten but also asks us to embrace MAYANS M.C. – and I fully intend to.

I can’t wait for season two to begin because my jaw hit the floor at the finale moments at the end of season one. Without giving anything away let me just say I was shocked, horrified and all I could say was ‘no, no, NO, NO!’

In the end – Mayans have their own story to tell.

THE AFTERMATH

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray/DVD and Digital from director James Kent and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment is war and THE AFTERMATH.

It is 1946 and the war with Germany is over. Colonel Lewis Morgan (Jason Clarke) of the British Forces has been assigned to Hamburg and brings wife Rachael (Keira Knightley) as well. Col. Morgan has been assigned with helping to rebuild the city while also handling the problem of German insurgents who aren’t happy about their presence.

The home of architect Stephen Lubert (Alexander Skarsgård) has been requisitioned for the Morgan’s. Trying to keep the peace, Lubert moves himself and teen daughter Heike (Anna Schimrigk) into the attic of the house after Col. Morgan allows them to stay.

Rachael is furious about the Lubert’s continuing to stay as she believes her reasons are sound. Having lived through the Blitz bombings in London, not everyone in her family was as lucky.

Heike is also angry feeling that no one has a right to be in their home. Her anger causes a few missteps that are based on the same anger as Rachael’s. Little does each family realize, but their pains are not so dissimilar. Col. Morgan is sent all over to deal with city problems and while gone, Rachael and Stefan start a dangerous relationship.

Every bit of what is happening is because Rachael can not find her way, can not get through the pain and can not understand why her husband doesn’t see it.

Knightley as Rachael is a woman who isn’t happy about being in Hamburg, isn’t happy about the Lubert’s stay and isn’t happy about the state of her marriage. Continuing to put on a brave face, it becomes more and more difficult as Col. Morgan refuses to see what is in front of him. Knightley gives a performance that is strong but slowly melts into another kind of strength. This is a character she is known for, keeping it all together until a moment of self discovery.

Clarke as Col. Morgan has managed to hide everything from his wife. Making decisions in Hamburg that go against her wishes, he shows compassion for the German people and wants Rachael to do the same. What she doesn’t know is that his work is dangerous which he needs to hide his own pain. Clarke portrays his character with a steel grace that begins to crack.

Skarsgård as Lubert is a man who doesn’t want to make waves and is willing to surrender his home to Col Morgan. Dealing with his own losses and a daughter who feels betrayed, Skarsgård keeps his character centered and doesn’t give much away. Personally I wouldn’t be thrilled if someone took my home all the while forgetting that not all Germans were Nazi’s.

Schimrigk as Heike is a young girl who doesn’t want to be comforted about her home and the life that was once hers. Not understanding why her father takes everything in stride, she finds herself tempted to go against the grain of everything post war. 

Other cast include: Jack Laskey as Wilkins, Kate Phillips as Susan, Martin Compston as Burnham, Rosa Enskat as Greta, Frederick Preston as Michael, Flora Thiermann as Freda Lubert and Fionn O’Shea as Barker.

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.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

The Bluray and DVD Special Features include Deleted Scenes, VFX Progressions, First Look, Audio Commentary by Director James Kent and Gallery.

Rhidian Brook wrote the book The Aftermath as well as The Testimony of Taliesin Jones, Jesus and the Adman and The Killing of Butterfly Joe. He has also dabbled in television with the 2005 broadcast of Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle, the series Silent Witness and the drama Atlantis.

THE AFTERMATH is the story of people after tragedy. If you scrape away the war from the surface of the story, what you see is the lives of people on a deeper level. Personal pain is universal and the four people in the Lubert’s home are all dealing with that with the added strain of post war in a torn up Hamburg.

The paths that are taken by each character are based on the confusion of their lives. Everything has been shattered and it is difficult to remember what life was like before war and what to do with life after.

In the end – the city isn’t the only thing shattered!

ARCHER Danger Island: The Complete Season Nine is Here!

Jeri Jacquin

Now on DVD from 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment comes the hilarious and cutting edge comedy from a few animated friends from FX with ARCHER Danger Island.

Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) doesn’t waste any time getting into trouble as a married woman is found in his room and Mother (Jessica Walter) isn’t happy with gun fire erupting in her hotel. The hotel in French territory with illegal gambling on the island of Mitimotu in 1939.

When Princess Lanaluakalani (Aisha Tyler) and her man Fuchs (Chris Parnell) want a ride off the island, one-eyed Archer gets the plane Lucy in the air. Pam (Amber Nash) is his co-pilot and the parrot Crackers (Lucky Yates) has a lot to say between drinks and crackers. As they all jump out of the plane, Archer is left to either land or make something magical happen.

Parachuting down it seems only Crackers makes that maneuver look easy but it’s Pam who shows that she’s no slouch when it comes to snakes and a good firearm. Saving Fuchs isn’t something she wants to do but it’s the only way to keep the Princess from doing something nutty.

Back at the hotel, Mallory is dealing with a crazy Charlotte (Judy Greer) and a box of chocolates. Capitaine Ray (Adam Reed) has been convinced to let her out and put her in the custody of Mallory to work off what she owes to the hotel. Archer is still up in the air, literally, and his sweet talk to Lucy isn’t getting him anywhere. All of this is followed by an airplane-big-lizard-poo-poo-storm!

Now that the seaplane is a pile of non-winged metal, Mallory isn’t thrilled and making her usual threats. The Princess has a plan of her own to find a hidden idol and get rid of the French and the German Fuchs is all in. The thing is – Archer, Pam and Crackers also think they need to go idol hunting so they can get a new plane.

They need Charlotte to make that happen and since she’s working for Mallory now it should be an easy get right? Yea, maybe not. Archer breaks into Fuchs room and discovers pretty much everything needed to find the idol. Pam has also been busy getting ready to surprise Archer with a put together Lucy but instead of being happy it sets off some serious memories of Spanish war enemy Ziggler.

Fuchs has brought in backup to keep everyone away from the idol hunt and Charlotte might have something to say about that. Capitaine Ray isn’t happy with the influx of Germans either but threats from him don’t seem to cut it with the group either. Archer drowns his memory sorrows with sarcasm and bad beer deciding there is only one way to fix this – a fight in air.

Mallory is asking a lot of questions about what Archer is up to but there are ears all around who want to know the answer. The Princess isn’t happy, especially when Fuchs isn’t keeping his men in line. Pam and Archer have already taken off with a copy of the map that doesn’t exactly show all the traps. This leads to Archer having a huge meltdown, Pam crying and monkeys pitching coconuts!

While once again getting out of chaos, Archer and Pam discover that monkey’s aren’t the only thing in the jungle to be worried about. Tied naked to a stake, Pam has another one of her story’s to share with Archer but anthropologist Noah (David Cross) stops everything. He gets a chance to explain what is going to happen to them next.

The Princess is in trouble with her own parents when they discover that the map leading to the idol is missing from their home. The Tapua has powers and she now realizes that perhaps Fuchs has been using her. Meeting up with Mallory, Charlotte and Capitaine Ray, they are trying to find Archer and Pam before they get their hands on the idol first!

Escaping from a dinner where they are the guests, Pam and Archer try to make a getaway that turns them into official members of the tribe. As members, Archer works to train the tribe as they prepare to face Fuchs, Ziggler and…. Mallory!

As screwed up as the group is, they rally to fight against Fuchs and the Nazi storm troopers. Making their way out of the jungle, the Princess plots with Archer but they don’t realize they still have one nemesis eyeballing them.

Finding the skull entrance below the volcano, the group is close to finding the idol. There are several problems like an angry volcano, lava, uranium, laughing cannibals, weird hieroglyphics and an ending that will leave us all scratching our heads!

The DVD Special Features include Inside Look: Making ARCHER and Crackers’ Costumed Playings.

The episodes include Strange Pilot, Disheartening Situation, Different Modes of Preparing the Fruit, A Warrior in Costume, Strange Doings in the Taboo Groves, Some Remarks on Cannibalism, Comparative Wickedness of Civilized and Unenlightened Peoples and A Discovery.

There are so many words to describe Sterling Archer and I’m sure in the last nine seasons I’ve pretty much used all of them. Hilarious, disturbing, entertaining, disturbing, jaw dropping and disturbing are just a few (yes I realize three of them are the same and truth be told ‘hilarious’ and ‘disturbing’ could go together and still work!).

The cast of ARCHER delivers every single season and I have not ever been disappointed. This is a series absolutely meant for adults and it should be. Animation isn’t just for kids just because our age numbers go pretty high into – shall we say – the 50+ range. I’m in it every season and proud to repeat many of the lines on a daily basis.

That’s what makes this show so very special. We love to love to hate loving each character for what they say, who they are and how grossed out we can possibly get. I think at this point Pam is winning if we are being honest here (she types with an evil grin).

I believe Season Ten is going to bring another aspect to the show that is going to be even more fun, more exciting, more disturbing and more entertaining. If you don’t believe me make sure you sit out the very last episode.

So grab your copy of ARCHER Danger Island: The Complete Season Nine and marathon all nine seasons because I did and my sides still hurt.

In the end – his mysterious and deadly worlds continue!

FOX Brings the Intensity of the Job with 9-1-1: The Complete Season One

Jeri Jacquin

Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuck and Tim Minear have created a series for FOX that follows Los Angeles first responders and its time to catch up before the new season with 9-1-1: The Complete Season One.

The series begins with an introduction to Abby (Connie Britton), a 9-1-1 operator who has been caring for her mother. Patricia (Mariette Hartley) suffers from dementia which puts Abby’s life on hold being a working caretaker. Athena Grant (Angela Bassett) is a police officer whose home life is another kind of stress. When her husband breaks unexpected news, Athena must find a way to make it work with her two children.

Buck (Oliver Stark) is a firefighter who witnesses a tragic event and isn’t sure how to deal with it. During a call with Abby, the two seem to find solace in speaking to one another. Athena and partner Hen (Aisha Hinds) are called to a home where a dog has kept the homeowner at bay but it’s at home where Athena almost loses her daughter.

LAFD Captain Nash (Peter Krause) is not a personally outgoing person but as a captain he knows what needs to be done. When Chimney (Kenneth Choi) is on his way to work, he is involved in an accident and relies on his Captain to keep him calm. Athena is dealing with the consequences of her daughter’s serious actions trying to figure out how to make the family heal itself.

Not even a plane crash can slow down what is going on in the lives of these first responders as it becomes clear that Bobby has a drinking problem and it’s not the first time. Abby realizes that she might not be able to care for her mother without serious help when a situation arises. As much as the rest of the family wants to place Patricia in a facility, Abby can not bring herself to do that. Athena believes that the only way she can help her daughter is, reluctantly, to confine herself to desk duty.

Hen is devastated when her Eve, an ex-girlfriend, makes a request in helping her get out of prison. The problem is that Hen is married now to Karen (Tracie Thoms) and hides the information about Eve until she can figure out how to make it all work. Buck and Abby grow closer when they work together about Patricia. It finally becomes clear why Bobby remains aloof from his team when coming clean about what happened to his family and how he is involved.

Buck and Abby want to celebrate Valentine’s Day together so Bobby and Chimney take over duty. It doesn’t exactly go as planned and Abby ends up performing a tracheotomy! Athena isn’t doing much better when she meets a woman who is having a difficult time with Valentines Day. Trying to help, she discovers that there is more lurking on this day than she could have imagined.

As if Abby didn’t have enough to deal with, a 9-1-1 call she took has her believing that there is something missing. She isn’t about to give up until she has a chance to go back to the calls and listen carefully for clues. Hen is about to put her marriage in jeopardy as Eve becomes a problem.

The team tries to stay one step ahead of a flood of calls when Bobby discovers that he has blood that can save lives. He must decide if he wants to be a part of something that could bring a change in his life. Athena’s husband Grant (Rockmond Dunbar) must finally come clean with his children about the reason for their divorce.

Buck begins to question his relationship with Abby after they’ve already taken it one step further than just talking on the phone. All of Eve’s intentions become clear when Hen must now take on a custody battle hoping that Karen is going to be a part of it.

If the life of the first responders isn’t difficult enough, a death at the local psychiatric hospital brings a raising from the grave, per se. Abby is about to make a major life change as she finally does something for both her mother and herself. Karen isn’t happy when she discovers what Hen has been doing feeling that she sacrificed their family for someone who only plays games.

In the biggest twist of all – Bobby and Athena go on a date and discover they not only enjoy each other’s company but understand the struggles of each one’s job.

Britton as Abby takes on the role of a 9-1-1 operator who has the calmness it takes to handle situations from people who are struggling for help. At the same time she is also struggling herself taking care of a mother with Alzheimer’s and realizing that she has cut herself off from a personal life. Britton is so very good in this role and I am hoping she returns soon.

Krause as Nash is the Captain of his firefighting team and leads them with a manner that is a little off putting to some of the crew. He has a story to tell that explains his demeanor and it is one of sadness and guilt. Trying to find a way to live with his past, it is the team he works with that show compassion and care that can change everything. Krause is a strong character with human frailties and I am betting season two will be when he grows past his demons.

Bassett as Athena is a police officer that can claim to almost seeing it all in human nature. She is quick and doesn’t let much get past her – professional that it. At home there are changes happening that she avoids until it can’t be avoided any longer. She sees the family as falling apart instead of seeing that it is just changing. Bassett has always been a strong actress and having a television role gives us a chance to see more of her chops.

Stark as Buck is the cocky firefighter that believes his charm will get him everywhere. That is until he learns that being cute doesn’t do a darn thing for the job that he has to perform. Wanting to make different choices, he finds himself drawn to Abby wanting to help make things easier for her. Sometimes people change to fast and in Buck’s case it means questioning everything. Stark has the good looks and attitude to get my attention but when the story line moves forward, we should see Buck go through it the hard way.

Hinds as Henrietta ‘Hen’ also takes her police job serious and is happy at home with wife Karen and family. In one instant she puts that all in jeopardy and knows that getting it all back is going to take every emotion she has to set things right. Thoms as Karen is a strong woman who deals with the long nights away from Hen but once a line is crossed, she must decide what she will and will not tolerate in her life.

Choi as Chimney is a bit of comic relief in a strange way. He enjoys his job and those he works with but one accident puts things in perspective.  Hartley as Patricia is a Mother who is being looked after by her daughter. That’s difficult enough but when things start getting tougher, Hartley’s character is heart wrenching to watch. Amazing performance.

Other cast include Connie Massiah as May Grant, Marcanthonnee Reis as Harry Grant, Cocoa Brown as Carla Price, JC Gonzalez as Kyle, Todd Williams as Aaron Brooks, Rachel Breitag as Tatiana and Brielle Barbusca as Cooper and Josephine Lawrence as Georgina.

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 three-disc DVD includes the episodes Pilot, Let Go, Next of Kin, Worst Day Ever, Point of Origin, Heartbreaker, Full Moon (Creepy AF), Karma’s a Bitch, Trapped and A Whole New You.

9-1-1 explores the intensity of being a firefighter, police officer, paramedic and operator. On any given day these jobs call on people to go in where other people run out. From helping injured and sick people to accident victims to rescues, each of these jobs is one that calls for dedication and stamina – both emotional and physical.

The first season of 9-1-1 introduces us to these characters that are dedicated to what they do even in the midst of their own personal problems. There are stories that unfold in this first season that are going to be continued on 9-1-1’s Second Season which begins next week.

9-1-1’s first season didn’t mince storylines and kept each episode moving and I enjoyed that most of all. First seasons are for getting to know the players and in the cast of this series there is a duality of professional life and home life which brings an intensity and a lot of emotion that works perfectly.

In the end – they are on the line every day!

THE GIFTED: The Complete First Season Has Mutants on the Run on DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from creator Matt Nix and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the new series that is ready to take us on the run with THE GIFTED: The Complete First Season.

Reed Strucker (Stephen Moyer) is a Sentinel Service Agent in Atlanta, Georgia who has a family including wife Caitlin (Amy Acker), daughter Lauren (Natalie Lind) and son Andy (Percy Hynes). Reed’s job is to prosecute mutants for different offenses and he takes his job serious. That’s all about to change when he discovers that Lauren and Andy are mutants themselves!

Now the Sentinel Services is after the family who is on the run and find a mutant underground that tries to protect mutants. Trying to get away proves to be difficult as Reed is captured by police along with Lorna Dane aka Polaris (Emma Dumont). Polaris is put in a cell and Reed is being questioned by SS officer Coby Bell (Jace Turner).

The other mutants are dealing with problems of their own when Clarice aka Blink (Jamie Chung) loses consciousness and her abilities put the others in danger. Lauren tries to help with her powers while Caitlin tries to find medication that will help. The police are surrounding them when John aka Thunderbird (Blair Redford), Sage (Hayley Lovitt), Ed (Joe Nemmers), Fade (Jeff Phillips), and Shatter (Jermaine Rivers) try to stop an attack by the police.

Turner tries to use all the interrogation methods that Reed used in his work as well but it isn’t working. Doing anything to get what he wants, Turner uses Reed’s mother Ellen (Sharon Gless) as a scare tactic and then puts Polaris and Reed together in a cell. Caitlin decides to find her brother for help in getting Reed released.

Marcos aka Eclipse (Sean Teale) finds himself back in his old neighborhood as Carmen Guerra (Michelle Veintimilla) demands that he work for her anytime she calls. A bit of information that Marcos keeps from John when he returns to the group. Roderick Campbell (Garret Dillahunt) is a scientist who is showing a keep interest in Lauren and Andy Strucker. He asks for help from Turner who seems to have no interest.

Reed and Polaris are being moved to a military instillation called the SS Relocation Center but the mutants have other plans. Marcos received information about the route the convoy is taking as Lauren and Andy finally use their powers to rescue their father. That doesn’t last as a surprise mutant, Pulse (Zach Roerig) is found to be working with the SS by disrupting their powers.

After the rescue, a new mutant, Esme (Skyler Samuels) joins the group. She knows that other mutants have been taken to Trask Industries and given a drug called Kick. Reed knows that his father Otto (Raymond J. Barry) worked for Trask years before but is disturbed to learn that being a mutant is in the family. Otto worked to suppress the mutant gene and used his son to stop abilities. The SS aren’t far behind and Reed, along with Thunderbird, see his father in action.

Reed tells Caitlin what he learned about his family and test what happens when Andy and Lauren are put together power-wise. Esme needs the group to rescue her own family and uses her powers to get Clarice, Dreamer (Elena Satine) and the Strucker’s to help to get into Trask. Polaris, Eclipse, Thunderbird and Esme attack Trask and Turner get their before the mutants. Now, Reed sees his own children in Turner’s hands.

Polaris is angry and wants to go after Sentinel Services. Esme believes the parents should go to Turner and talk before acting out with the mutants but she really has other plans for her sister Phoebe and Sophie Frost. Telling the group what the Strucker’s plan to do, the others want to attack once again. Turner decides to ask Trask to return all the mutants to the SS.

Reed and Caitlin want to go to Mexico but something is keeping them constantly at bay from that. First, Esme and her sisters want to top the Hound program but in doing so it means bringing back the Hellfire Club. Polaris knows a little something about that as well but she is more concerned with Marcos and her own family. Turner isn’t about to stop tracking the group and the Frost sisters are playing both ends against the middle.

Going to a safe house, Polaris, Eclipse, Thunderbird and Clarice learn that the truth about the X-Men and the Hellfire Club. Campbell meets with Senator Montez (David Norona) who is more than happy to expand the Hound program. Reed goes to his mother and tells her that she must go into hiding or the SS would continue to come after her. Ellen tells them of Madeline Risman who can help them more with Otto’s research.

Going to Washington, Campbell and Montez are in danger as the Frost sisters are once again using the other mutants to do what they want. The Strucker’s are tracked down by Turner and it’s only the combined powers of Lauren and Andy that help them escape. In Tennessee, they are introduced to the Hellfire Club.

Moyer as Reed is a man who believed that doing his job with the SS was the right thing. Wanting to make the world safe from mutants who were causing trouble, his tune changed quickly when he learns his own children have been keeping a secret. Moyer slides into this role with ease and picks up every nuance of his character quickly.

Acker as Caitlin finds herself doing triple duty as wife, mother and doctor to the mutants who are injured during the chases and attacks. Not having much time to understand that she didn’t know about her kid’s powers, she isn’t given much more time to embrace it thrown into the world of chaos. Acker is the emotional stabilizer between the mutants and her family when their loyalty comes into question.

Lind as Lauren is a strong teen who knows that once her secret is out, she must do everything possible to be of help to those like her rather than a burden. Hynes as Andy is a young man who is still learning about his powers and what damage they can do. Both of these characters are also on the right side of the mutant fight and have to grow up quicker than they ever thought possible.

Bell as Turner is running his SS duties mostly out of loss and anger. He will come to understand that his superiors don’t care about either of those things. Dillahunt as Roderick also has his own agenda that is going to be tested again and again.

Redford as John Proudstar is one of the strong mutants who knows that they must stop what is happening to mutants. He is a fierce leader and wants his friends to stay safe but it isn’t easy. Teale as Marcos is keeping his own secret but will do anything to keep his love Polaris away from the SS. Dumont as Polaris is a girl who isn’t afraid to state her opinion and show that her abilities aren’t to be trifled with.

Chung as Clarice has a problem, although Dream had good intentions, she is seeing something with John that isn’t real and didn’t happen. Satine as Dreamer will have to deal with her good intentions when confronted by Clarice. Trying to fix this friendship may take a bit of time and forgiveness.

Other cast include Dinarte de Freitas as Pedro, Angela Oh as Sarah, Josh Henry as Ben, Gino Vento as Juan, Ray Campbell as William, Jessica Goei as Naya, Danny Ramirez as Wes and Frances Turner as Paula Turner.

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 DVD includes the 11 episodes eXposed, rX, eXodus, eXit strategy, boxed in, got your siX, eXtreme measures, threat of eXtinction, outfoX, eXploited, 3 X 1, eXtraction, and X-roads.

One of the very cool things about THE GIFTED is that you don’t have to be knee deep in mutant history to jump on this bandwagon. The story starts out strong enough that it is easy to not only catch on quickly but fall under THE GIFTED’s mutant spell.

The cast comes together and brings us the story of mutants and those who want them gone. From the unexpected places come friends but from the same unexpected places comes those with their own agenda. That is what this cast does, tries to put all the pieces to the puzzle together and do it so well.

Through the years I have come to know some of the stories about the X-men and mutants and THE GIFTED is another chapter to that story. There is drama, action, twists and turns as well as an underlying story of being different and trying to survive in a world that clearly doesn’t want them in it.

Taking care of one another through hurt and struggle as they go through while trying to find their place in the world. Learning from one another about their strengths and weaknesses is what helps them bond together to stop anyone else from hurting them and finding their own loved ones.

In the end – family is the ultimate power!

DIE HARD is Back on Bluray and Digital This Week!

Jeri Jacquin

Celebrating its 30 Year Anniversary this week on Bluray and Digital from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and director John McTiernan is the iconic and absolutely beloved classic action hero who is just one big DIE HARD.

John McClane (Bruce Willis) is visiting his family who have moved to the California Coast. Estranged wife Holly Gennaro (Bonnie Bedelia) is working for the Nakatomi Corporation and Mr. Takagi (James Shigeta) this sets John's ever loving badge on edge. Yes, he is a New York City cop and darn proud of it too. It is the Christmas season so he's being as gracious as he can at his wife's party.

What he doesn’t yet know is that a group of terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) are about to make John's visit a whole lot more interesting. Along with Hans is Karl (Alexander Godunov), Marco (Lorenzo Caccialanza) Franco (Bruno Doyon), and computer wizard Theo (Clarence Gilyard Jr.) all of who are not going to let anyone get in their way.

Their will might be strong but John McClane's is much stronger! He realizes that the party has been raided and hides from the gang hoping limo driver Argyle (De'voreaux White) might have heard the commotion. John comes face to face with one of Hans' gang and when he can't get any help from the outside - he creates it getting the attention of off-duty cop Sgt. Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson).Now it's a party!

The LAPD is on full alert with Al keeping communication open with John, who he now refers to as 'Roy', but it doesn't stop DP Chief Dwayne T. Robinson (Paul Gleason) from trying to muck up the works. All of the action gets the attention of hungry journalist Richard Thornburg (William Atherton) who immediately takes a crew to Nakatomi Plaza and begins recording everything that happens.

What's happening is that John McClane isn't sitting idly by while waiting for the LAPD to figure out its next move. Instead, he goes floor by floor drawing out who these guys are and taking them down one by one if he has to. This isn't all sitting to well with Hans, especially when he realizes that John has a bag of goods he needs.

While all of this is happening, Holly is keeping the hostages calm - and a secret! A final showdown means John and Hans are going to finish what was started!

Willis as McClane is smart, funny, witty and in 1988 brought a brand of action hero that turned this role iconic in every way. Of course many of us were already in love with Willis but man did this character seal the deal. I think what made everyone falls for McClane was the average-Joe persona that was relatable. Here is a cop having martial problems with a bit of an ego who just happens to still love his wife and know how to do his job. Both of those things were necessary to draw us all into a building of chaos. Now, what makes this even cooler is that John McClane, whether intentional or not, became a Christmas staple in many households (including mine). There was no turkey without McClane in Nakatomi Plaza and here it is all these years later and still happening.

Rickman as Hans is absolutely breathtaking to watch. He is the ultimate criminal but damn is he cool as a cucumber (even when he's not) and looks good in a suit. The scene between Hans and McClane on the rooftop is perfection for both of these actors but I give Rickman one up for whipping out his 'American' accent with no struggle at all. This was probably my first introduction to Rickman and I enjoyed his performance so much that I went looking for other things he had done and followed him ever since. Rickman went toe to toe with Willis and wasn't going to fall without a fight.

Bedelia as Holly knows her husband can be difficult but when she needed him to be 'himself' the most McClane comes through with flying colors. Her amusement on her face when realizing that John was upsetting the terrorists is classic! VelJohnson as Sgt. Powell is McClane's link to the outside world and that isn't always a good thing. VelJohnson adds his humor, honesty and concern on his sleeve for a man he doesn't know yet feels a connection too. It's the beginning of an awesome buddy situation that will come to play again later.

The a-hole group is as follows beginning with Atherton as Thornburg. I mean lets just say it out right now - this guy is becomes the poster dude for the reason people don't like reporters. We all get satisfaction at the hands of Bedelia so there's that! Gleason as Robinson is just a douche, let's get that right! There is always one and Gleason's character is absolutely it. Bochner as Ellis is another douche but his pearly whites and narcissism doesn't help him in the slightest.

Terrorist shout out to Godunov as Karl the tall psycho who clearly has anger issues. Then again it doesn't help with your pulling a heist and your brother gets capped in the first 10 minutes. He has a grudge and revenge is his new mission and Goduov gives it everything. On a side note - this role shows a crazy side and only two years earlier shows his comedic side in the 1986 film THE MONEY PIT which is one of my all time favorites. Leong as Uli makes a heist and a candy bar worthy of a giggle.

Davi as Special Agent Johnson is a psycho of another kind looking for any reason to go rogue and Bush as the other Special Agent Johnson loves saying 'no relation' when introducing himself and his partner. White as Argyle has his own little show going on in the basement and reminds us all from time to time that he's there!

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 Special Features include Commentary by Director John McTiernan and Production Designer Jackson DeGovia, Scene-Specific Commentary by SpecialEffects Supervisor Richard Edlund, Subtitle Commentary by Various Cast and Crew, The News Casts Featurette, Interactive Still Gallery, Interactive Articles from Cinefex and American Cinematographer, Full-Length Screenplay, Trailers and Television Spots.

Other cast include Andreas Wisniewski as Tony, Joey Plewa as Alexander, Hans Buhringer as Fritz, Matt Landers as Capt. Mitchell, Carmine Zozzora as Rivers, Dustyn Taylor as Ginny, David Ursin as Harvey Johnson, and Mary Ellen Trainor as Gail Wallens.

DIE HARD is just a fantastic piece of filmmaking that has brought us all iconic lines "Yipee-ki-yay mf", "oh, these are very bad for you", "come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs" and I will admit to using them all from time to time. The film doesn't waste any time or any frame which makes every minute of this film just loads of excitement, laughs and cheers for the good guys!

Here is some trivia about the nominations and awards won by DIE HARD. Nominated for Best Effects, Visual Effects, Best Sound, Best Editing by the Academy Awards, also nominated for awards from the DVD Exclusive Awards, and Edgar Allan Poe Awards. There were many awards won from the Awards of the Japanese Academy, Blue Ribbon Awards, BMI Film & TV Awards, Hochi Film Awards, Kinema Junpo Awards, National Film Preservation Board and Motion Picture Sound Editors Award.

It has been 30 years since John McClane came into our lives and he hasn't been out of our hearts. In 1990 John and Holly are back with another encounter in tight spaces with DIE HARD 2, in 1995 Die Hard with a Vengeance hit theatres, in 2007 we were told to LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD and in 2013 it all came together with A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD. In each of these films there is a bad guy but one thing doesn't change - John McClane. We all have Bruce Willis to thank for bringing us all in for the ride of our lives.

Now, DIE HARD is on Bluray which means that the action is brighter, the chaos is crisper and its just frakken fabulous all the way around. Make sure to get your Bluray of DIE HARD and celebrate other holidays with it as well.

In the end - the thrill is back and his name is McClane!

Get Ready to Bolt with MAZE RUNNER: The Death Cure Coming to Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

On Bluray and DVD, as well as 4K Ultra HD, this week from director Wes Ball and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the race for life with MAZE RUNNER: The Death Cure.

Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) is already back in the game becoming stronger as a leader to save their friends from WCKD. When they learn that Minho (Ki Hong Lee) is among the kids that have been taken by Janson (Aidan Gillen) to WCKD, Thomas doesn’t hesitate to want to jump in.

Vince (Larry Pepper) refuses to put more people on the line to save Minho even when Jorge (Giancarlo Esposito) knows where he is. Even worse, they group knows that the enemy is getting closer and have to abandon their base.

Thomas decides he can’t go with the group and attempts to leave camp, but not without Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) and Frypan (Dexter Darden). Not about to let them go alone, they are joined by Jorge and Brenda (Rosa Salazar) who are equally wanting to get their friend back.

Minho is shocked when he wakes up to find himself back inside the maze with the help of Ava Paige (Patricia Clarkson) – but it is a new maze. Her creation has created a potential antibody to the virus that has taken so many but she must convince the leaders to continue the trials. Help comes in the words of Teresa (Kaya Scodelario) who is working with Ava.

Trying to get into the city to find Minho, Thomas and the group are taken by a group and a familiar face. Gally (Will Poulter) sets them all on edge until he explains how it is that he survived. Explaining that he wants to help Thomas get inside the city, Gally takes them to see Lawrence (Walton Goggins) who might be able to help.

Making their way to WCKD one step at a time, Thomas and Newt have their first look at the big city. In the lab Ava and Teresa test more subjects but not before Janson is told that he needs to find Thomas while keeping another secret from Teresa. The virus is now inside the city and Teresa has been taken. Ava and Janson now realize that time is not on their side.

The fight is now inside the lab as Thomas and Newt get closer to Minho and Teresa has something that could be a game changer. Now, those on the outside that have been running are turning to fight strong.

Now, they have a chance!

O’Brien as Thomas returns to the role of a young man clearly on a mission that will save some and not others. Loyal to the people he met in the maze, he is not about to let Minho and the others stay inside the city of WCKD. O’Brien plays out his role in the trilogy as he began, intense and strong.

Scodelario as Teresa is the character everyone loves to hate. With the upset from the second film it is easy to want to give her character redemption but it might be to late. Poulter as Gally is the surprise as he also ends his time in the maze with a twist.

Clarkson as Ava tries to find a way to create an antibody to the virus that is now inside the city. What hope she has depends on Minho and Clarkson always stands out in every performance she gives. Gillen as Janson is clearly irritated with the fact that he can’t seem to always get what he wants out of life in WCKD. He has the amazing ability to be the perfect bad guy without getting to much flack on him.

Goggins as Lawrence is one jacked up human being yet he still attempts to help the gang get inside the city. Lee as Minho gets the worst end of the deal as the labs want more and more from him. Sangster as Newt truly believes in the friendships that have kept him alive. We have literally watched Sangster grow up in this series of films.

Salazar as Brenda continues to be a strong presence even if she is in the middle of wanting to be on her own and not helping others to being an amazing leader in her own right. Along with Esposito as Jorge, these two characters are trying to be better people while maintaining a rough exterior.

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 includes Audio Commentary by Director Wes Ball, Screenwriter T.S. Nowlin and Producer Joe Hartwick, Jr., Unlocking the Cure: The Final Run, Dystopia: The Completed World; Allies Reunited, A Look Back: The Director’s Journey, Deleted & Extended Scenes with Optimal Commentary, Going Out on Top, Gag Reel, Visual Effects Breakdowns and Visual Effects Reel with Optional Commentary and Gallery.

Also included is Movies Anywhere which is just that, the ability to watch anywhere with the App as well as a Digital Movie included.

There is an epic and exclusive 24-page prequel origins comic book written by screenwriter T.S. Nowlin. The trilogy box set is also available that includes an exclusive MAZE RUNNER bandana chosen by fans.

MAZE RUNNER: The Death Cure brings about the finishing touches to a story that has been filled with twists, turns, intensity, trust issues, friendships, world colliding and a virus that can turn friends into foes and vice versa.

Wrapping everything up means preparing to take on the emotions of characters saying goodbye and smiling knowing that there future is deserved. Grab the popcorn and prepare for a marathon run of the MAZE RUNNER trilogy!

In the end – the time for lies is over!