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H2′s America’s Book Of Secrets Prize Pack Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:24:52 +0000

There's an interesting show headed your way on H2, and I have a giveaway for you to help celebrate. America's Book of Secrets aims to dig deep into our nation's secrets, and reveal a host of mysteries. Check out more info below, including a preview video, and enter to win some cool H2 items here, and check out another giveaway H2 is running through Facebook.

America’s Book of Secrets uncovers the controversial truths behind some of the most confidential secrets in American history. The new series takes a look at historical landmarks throughout the country and reveals mysteries through captivating footage and live interviews.

To celebrate the launch of this show H2 is running a daily contest on Facebook designed to challenge your knowledge of American history. Do you know America’s secrets? Take the quiz https://www.facebook.com/dishnetwork?sk=app_162800283829076 and earn a chance to win prizes like an iPad, Beats by Dre headphones and other great swag.

Tune in to the premiere of America’s Book of Secrets this Saturday, January 21st at 10pm on H2!

Behind the façade of some of America’s most public institutions and landmarks, there is another world that is hidden from view. Shrouded in secrecy, only a handful of people will ever have access to these forbidden corridors of intelligence. But their inside knowledge can actually mean the difference between national security…and national disaster.

Now, insiders and experts have pierced the shroud that conceals the covert world of seemingly familiar places. A gripping new 10-part series, AMERICA’S BOOK OF SECRETS, takes viewers behind the locked doors, security clearances and "Do Not Enter" signs into worlds they are not supposed to see. The series premieres Sunday, January 15 at 9pm ET on H2 and then airs Saturday’s at 10pm ET thereafter.

Through exclusive channels of access and deep research, AMERICA’S BOOK OF SECRETS reveals inside information about such icons as the White House, the Pentagon, Fort Knox, the FBI, Area 51, the Freemasons, and more. The series launches with the two-hour special, " AMERICA’S BOOK OF SECRETS: The Monuments."

The Hangover Part 2 Blu-Ray Review And Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:52:57 +0000

The Wolf Pack is back, and this time they're terrorizing Thailand. The Hangover Part 2 is on Blu-Ray, and I've got your copy waiting for you.

This time around, suspect of everything at this point, Stu (Ed Helms) doesn't even want a bachelor party, and it's only by way of a guilt trip that Alan (Zach Galifianakis) is allowed to come to the wedding at all. In fact, Stu is so paranoid that he doesn't want to leave his finacee's side, and is only willing to have one beer with the guys, because he opens it himself.

Of course, it would be an awfully short movie if they didn't wake up in outrageous circumstances, and now we find ourselves in Bangkok, and we better piece things together quickly, because the bride-to-be's little brother is gone... but we've got his finger.

It's ultimately more of the same, and it's a wild trip through the streets of Bangkok, trying to piece together bars, tattoos, monks, and strip clubs, and figure out what exactly happened, and how that might lead them to their missing friend.

While filled with more zany episodes, and sure to inspire at least a few laughs, there's something about running this course that doesn't quite work the second time around. The first one was not only filled with humor, but the uniqueness of the idea was the best element, and raised the comedy on its own. Now we've been down the road, and as much as there are undeniably funny moments, the overall product is somewhat stale, and just doesn't pull you in the way it did the first time around. Worse, though rather unavoidable, a good deal of the movie is covered simply by the characters' repeating that they can't believe this is happening again.

There's something to be said for popping some serious craziness into the Blu-Ray once in a while, and for the proper mood and setting, this one won't disappoint... much, but it won't hold up to the original for most, and those looking for more of this is a limited enough demographic.

That said, the stars (including Bradley Cooper and Ken Jeong) have a certain charm that is inescapable, and can make the most out of a mediocre situation.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

The Blu-Ray quality is certainly good enough, and it's hard to imagine an overabundance of interest in the video quality on this one. The special features aren't bad, though one might expect a few more of them.

There's a gag reel, a featurette on the monkey, and oddly enough, a fake documentary that purports to be of someone trying to expose that real-life craziness that went on during filming. The general idea behind it is that making the film is just an excuse to have a wild vacation in Thailand (which is obviously true), and a certain documentary filmmaking hopeful accosts the stars and director at press junkets and so on, trying to get to the truth. It's not a bad piece actually.

Win Yours Here!

I'm going to make this one a Facebook Liker giveaway. If you already like us on Facebook, you don't have to do anything. If not, see the box below, and click that thing. Winner will be randomly selected on January 20th.

RU?

Fright Night Blu-Ray Review And Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:54:51 +0000

An update on Fright Night, even if only loosely connected, might seem odd, but I suppose with the popularity of vampires, werewolves, and so forth on the upswing, nothing in the general realm is really a surprise. But, while every manner of vampire story is making its way to a screen of some sort, and largely with less than impressive results, Fright Night is an update in a truer sense than most, and that ultimately means much more than simply putting out yet another tale of the undead.

Like the mid-80s version, Fright Night is not only about trying to put "creepy" back in the horror genre (as opposed to massive gore and slaughter), but its also a certain kind of throwback to a more distant time, when scary movies were a very particular sort of awesomely bad at their main effort. Perhaps a few scary moments, sure, but overall simply about something scary, rather than truly frightening in themselves. Moreover, infused with a certain craziness that makes for a fun factor which is much more on par with the fun/scary quality of a rollercoaster than a haunted house.

In this go around, Charley (Anton Yelchin) suspects that his new neighbor is a vampire. It takes a lot of convincing, but in the end, he can't escape the idea that Jerry (Colin Farrell) is indeed sucking the blood out of his tiny neighborhood.

Of course, Charley has other problems, largely stemming apparently from the fact that he's sort of nerdy and has a hot girlfriend, but High School woes soon fall by the wayside. Unfortunately, as soon as it starts to look like Jerry might actually be, at least very odd, it also seems that Jerry is taking an equal interest in Charley.

With nowhere else to turn, Charley seeks out Peter Vincent (brilliantly portrayed by David Tennant), who is a Vegas magician with an act that centers around the occult. Apparently some kind of expert, at least according to certain stories, Charley is quickly turned away by the ever-intoxicated conjurer who looks quite a bit different off-stage.

Also like the original, what happens isn't of much consequence. All that matters is that there is a certain amount of tension, and it is of a variety that fits well with the world of a not-quite-twenty. The steps of discovery, pursuit, and further discovery are not only creepy, but charming, just as is Farrell's spin on vampirism. The mix of reality and necessary goofiness is almost a perfect blend, especially in the case of Christopher Mintz-Plasse's character (Charley's too geeky to hang out with anymore friend) who is "horror" enough to run upstairs in a house when chased by a vampire, yet real enough to deliver a fantastic reaction to the loss of an arm.

It's bizarrely fun, and that either works for you, or it doesn't. If there's a chance it does, you don't want to miss this. No one is going to really get scared by this one, but it's a definite good time.

Rating: ★★★½☆

The bonus features (see full list below) are about what you might expect from something that is ultimately just a quick romp of a film. Decent enough date night fare isn't the sort of thing that is going to lend itself to depth in the bonuses. A gag reel and a few deleted scenes are about all you can expect, and those show up to provide a few laughs.

Best is the featurette Peter Vincent: Swim Inside My Mind, which is a kind of mockumentary exploring the magician persona. It's the sort of thing Vincent would sell after his shows for $19.99, leaving everyone feeling rather ripped off. It's a fun effort, even if it doesn't quite amount to much.

You get a few other bits and pieces, like an extended version of the Squid Man video seen in the film, and the uber-silly The Official - How to Make a Funny Vampire Movie Guide, which, if nothing else, clues you in to the atmosphere the film is after.

Overall, the release is a pretty solid effort, especially considering the film. The Blu-Ray video is above-average, which is a surprise in itself, and delivers the darks and shadows well. On the other hand, apart from giving a solid representation of mood, there isn't that much for the video to do in such a feature. The bonuses are better than you'd expect, but only because you wouldn't expect a ton. Fair enough though, because adding some fun is all you ought to be looking for, and they are at least well worth a look.

If the fun factor moves you, this is one to pick up.

Check out several clips below, and be sure to enter to win a copy!

Fright Night - Film Clip: "Don't Expect Me to Join Your Scooby Gang"

Fright Night - Film Clip: "Your Son is Harassing Me"

Fright Night - Bonus Clip: "Kid Comeback"

Bonus Features:

Gag Reel (unrated)
Kid Cudi Music Video (uncensored version) ―No One Believes Me‖
Squid Man – Extended & Uncut
Peter Vincent: Swim Inside My Mind
The Official ―How to Make a Funny Vampire Movie‖ Guide
Frightful Facts & Terrifying Trivia
5 Deleted Scenes with intros by Director Craig Gillepsie (Ride to School; Neighborly; Once A Freak, Always A Freak; Midori & Kerosene; and Back at the Penthouse)

Win It Here!

To enter for your chance to win a copy of the Blu-Ray release, just leave a comment below. Remember, I have to be able to contact you somehow. Winner will be randomly selected on January 20th. U.S. only.

RU?

Kick Off Dance Moms Season Two With A Work Out Prize Pack!

Marc Eastman — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:40:35 +0000

In the realm of reality shows with questionable audience interest, Dance Moms lives in a special place that makes its popularity especially difficult to understand. Generally, the arena of reality television I like to refer to as the "negative viewership" branch is split into two groups - the screaming, and the odd.

I say negative viewership, because by and large (one hopes) people aren't coming to the show with a positive outlook. For example, in the one category, people are not watching other people scream at each other because they like them, but because it's fun to watch crazy people yell at each other.

Screaming is simple enough, and any show that has as its main draw the fact that people lose it qualifies to be in that category. Everything else is in the odd category, and whether it's Hoarders, Toddlers & Tiaras, or any number of spins on addiction and disorders, these are shows that find their market by way of some new spin on schadenfreude, which is not so much pleasure at another person's misfortune, but a fascination with another person's lack of sanity.

Dance Moms, kicking off its second season tonight at 9pm/8c, somehow manages to fall into both categories, featuring not only a group of people who are whacktastically interested in the "dance careers" of their daughters, ala Toddlers & Tiaras, but also a dance instructor of, frankly, questionable girth given her career choice and alleged ability to instruct in this particular field, who is most famous (by now) not as a dance instructor, but as perhaps America's foremost screamer. Hardly a minute goes by in the show without some shouting at someone, whether it is dance mom vs. dance mom, or dance mom vs. dance instructor, or some varying combination of participants.

At any rate, the show is back, and you know you'll be watching. Tune in tonight on Lifetime, and I have a prize pack available for you as well. Due to certain timing mechanics, this giveaway is going to be a Twitter follower giveaway. If you're following Are You Screening? on Twitter, you're already done. If not, jump on board.

The winner will be randomly selected from all Twitter followers on January 15th, and you will be notified via Twitter.

Dance Moms Work Out Prize Pack Includes:

One Lifetime Gym Bag
Dance Moms Gym Towel
Lifetime Water Bottle
Dance Moms Gym Shorts
Dance Moms Leg Warmers
Dance Moms Sweatshirt

Set in Pittsburgh’s renowned Abby Lee Dance Company, owned and operated by notoriously demanding and passionate instructor Abby Lee Miller, “Dance Moms” follows children’s early steps on the road to stardom, and their doting mothers who are there for every rehearsal, performance and bow … all under the discerning eye of Miller. Season 2 premieres Tuesday, January 10th at 9pm/8c!

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Horrible Bosses Blu-Ray Review And Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:57:48 +0000

Horrible Bosses is one of those ever-increasing number of films that works best simply as the pitch. One of the clearest proofs of this is that the funniest moments in the film are those that are given the least attention. The small asides (largely delivered by Bateman) that could easily go unnoticed, are the moments stuck in by brighter minds, who know the overall arc doesn't carry, and likely aren't responsible for much of the filler.

It's one of those stories that causes much laughter when you're out drinking, throwing out ideas, but when you're back at work on Monday, you realize you've got to try to make it funny for at least 90 minutes, and that ain't gonna happen.

It's a spin on the old switcheroo murder game, wherein (usually) I'll kill your wife, if you kill mine, thus throwing off motives, and allowing for alibis, etc. This time around, three friends find that they all hate their bosses, and worse, can't really leave their jobs. One is being held back by an ass who is never going to promote him, and can destroy his chances at finding another position in the same field. Another is a dental assistant working for a psychotic dentist, but he's a registered sex offender (he peed in public unaware that he was on the grounds of a school), and he was lucky to get anyone to hire him. The last has worked for a small family company so long that he is practically a son, but when the patriarch dies suddenly, it's the real son who takes over, and he's a drug-abusing loser who is going to destroy the company.

After sufficient time setting the stage, largely by way of ludicrous antics, the trio decides they have to do something, and there really isn't anything they can do other than play round robin boss death match. Things progress more or less as expected, with little in the way of higher humor, imagination, or even a relatively decent commitment to the spin. It's average in, average out, though, as I said, there are a few moments that provide laughs, but if you blink, you'll miss them. The overt efforts are entertaining-ish, in the kill a night with a non-horrible movie sort of way, but they're funnier when you explain them the next day than they actually are.

Bateman is the star, and carries the weight of the world on his shoulders here, as is usually the case when he's involved in such efforts, and most everyone else phones it in, content with a few days of moderate work and a paycheck. Fair enough actually, because a great deal of effort wouldn't amount to much difference.

On the other hand, if nothing else is calling your name, this one is at least serviceable in its ability to get a few laughs somewhere. It hearkens back to certain films of days gone by, when movies would come out with some frequency that hardly covered their "excuse," and the plot only served as the jumping off point to filming stars audiences like to watch as they screwed around for a while. It may not make for any part of an interesting, or especially humorous film, but who doesn't want to see Jennifer Aniston acting like a sex-crazed nutjob? And, if there's anything we can all get behind, it's watching a pack of schlubs as they set out to murder their bosses.

Rating: ★★½☆☆

The standard DVD offers virtually nothing in the way of bonuses, and the Blu-Ray doesn't exactly raise the bar a great deal. What the Blu-Ray does do rather wonderfully though, is offer special features that provide the best sort of extra value. What I mean by that is that they are brilliantly only loosely connected to the film at all.

3 Featurettes have the stars talking about their least favorite jobs, horrible bosses, and how much fun it is to play a mean character, all of which might just as well have been connected to any other film, or no film at all. The result as that these are pretty interesting, even if they are just as short as you expect them to be. A small bit of fluff to say that there are bonus features added on to a film that makes it tricky to come up with what else you could relevantly add.

Management candidate Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman) has been logging 12-hour days and eating everything his twisted supervisor Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey) dishes out, toward the promise of a well-earned promotion. But now he knows that's never going to happen. Meanwhile, dental assistant Dale Arbus (Charlie Day) has been struggling to maintain his self-respect against the relentless X-rated advances of Dr. Julia Harris, D.D.S. (Jennifer Aniston), when she suddenly turns up the heat. And accountant Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis) has just learned that his company's corrupt new owner, Bobby Pellit (Colin Farrell), is not only bent on ruining his career but plans to funnel toxic waste into an unsuspecting population.

What can you do when your boss is a psycho, a man-eater or a total tool? Quitting is not an option. These monsters must be stopped. So, on the strength of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con whose street cred is priced on a sliding scale (Jamie Foxx), the guys devise a convoluted but foolproof plan to rid the world of their respective employers... permanently.

But even the best-laid plans are only as good as the brains behind them.

BLU-RAY / DVD ELEMENTS

· My Least Favorite Career - Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx, Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, Julie Bowen and director Seth Gordon recall jobs and difficult bosses from their past in this humorous “Before They Were Famous” piece.

· Surviving a Horrible Boss - Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, and Charlie Day discuss what makes a “Horrible Boss,” how to deal with their unpredictable and outrageous behavior, as well as elaborate on their on-set camaraderie as they play out the fantasies of oppressed workers everywhere.

· Being Mean Is So Much Fun - Delve into the mind of the Horrible Bosses - Colin Farrell (Pellit), Jennifer Aniston (Dr. Julia), and Kevin Spacey (Harken) reflect on what it was like to get mean, down and dirty.

· Additional Scenes

· Making of the “Horrible Bosses” soundtrack

The “Horrible Bosses” Standard Definition DVD contains the following special features:

· Additional Scenes

Win it Here!

Leave a comment below, and you are automatically entered to win your very own copy of the Blu-Ray. Winner will be randomly selected on January 15th. U.S. only.

RU?

Horrible Bosses [Blu-Ray] (cinemablend.com)

The Office Collection Special Edition Review And Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:39:03 +0000

Though the American version of The Office is one of the increasingly rare success stories when it comes to "translating" British shows, it still can't hold a candle to the mad genius of the original. Talking up the show at this point is likely useless, but the entire collection has a new DVD release, and it's something well worth putting on your radar for potential gifts.

The only real question here is whether or not a new version of the full series release is actually necessary, and/or whether or not there is enough new content to qualify as sufficiently dissimilar from the one that already exists.

The answer is probably no, if I'm being honest, but I'm a sucker for the show, and liable to encourage purchasing anything that might come along. What works for this particular release is simply the timing, and the fact that there are people who still haven't made the leap from new Office to old Office. You know it's awesome, and as the New York Times said, "pretty much the funniest show ever," but some of your friends are still holdouts, and you are much more likely to buy them something that was just released, as opposed to something that came out a few years ago.

That said, there are some very cool additions to the bonus features, and all the originals, which were a nice assortment to begin with. It's just that, for most people, it may not seem like there is an entire world of new value added to the release. Rare indeed is the person who is going to upgrade their complete series to the special edition.

On the other hand, if you haven't taken the leap already, or know someone who has put off owning the entire series, then we are simply at a point where we have upgraded the already no-brainer status of the purchase.

Each episode on the first series now comes with an introduction, and you get an assortment of very cool interviews with Gervais, Merchant, and some special guests (see full details below). You also get the full original pilot, and a new featurette Comedy Connections: The Office, which is a retrospective of sorts, revisiting the show, its creation, and the effects of its popularity.

The introductions and interviews are worth more than you might expect, and what you have to keep in mind is that these are put together by the people who created The Office. The same, more or less, is true of the retrospective, which is thoroughly entertaining, and something fans will love.

Like I said, it doesn't seem like much additional content, but it's a show that can't be revisited too many times. Gervais' effort to actually focus a series on an obnoxious tool, in a situation built around dreary tedium and the antics of those who do and do not find any interest in their relative position on the laughably meaningless job totem pole, changed comedy television worldwide, and the influence of the show can be seen in virtually everything that has come along since.

The release itself probably isn't the gold standard of necessary ventures, but there are enough people who still need to pick this up to make it worthwhile. Someone on your holiday list will love you. Probably you.

Pick it up at the BBC America Shop now!

Win Your Copy Here!

To enter, just leave a comment below and tell me your favorite scene from the show. Remember, I have to be able to contact you.

Winner will be randomly selected on December 14th. U.S. and Canada only.

BBC AMERICA first introduced U.S. audiences to the comedy genius of Ricky and Stephen when it premiered the show in 2003. At its launch The New York Times called it “pretty much the funniest show ever” while Newsweek declared it the “best comedy on television”. It went on to win two Golden Globes, inspire the U.S. version on NBC and continues to influence the tone and look of everything from television comedy and movies to commercials and pop culture at large.

The Special Edition DVD has all 12 episodes and the 2-part Holiday Special with bonus features including:

All New Bonus Features
• Episode Introductions to Series One and Extended Interviews with Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Special Guests Matthew Perry, Ben Stiller, Richard Curtis, Hugh Jackman and more!
• Full Original Pilot
• "Comedy Connections: The Office" Retrospective Documentary
Original Bonus Features
• Exclusive Documentary: How I Made The Office
• Outtakes & Deleted Scenes
• Video Diary
• Director's Commentary (The Office Special)
• Golden Globes Featurette
• Making of "Freelove Freeway"
• Music Video

RU?

5 Days Of War DVD Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:06:53 +0000

Another giveaway for you, this time for a film that looks pretty impressive, and stars one of my personal favorites, Richard Coyle.

5 Days of War is a thriller about a journalist caught behind enemy lines during the war between Russia and the Georgian Republic. Inspired by real events, it's an intense look at not only surviving in such a situation, but also a devastating war that was over so fast most people hardly had a chance to notice it.

I have two copies of the DVD available, and all you have to do is leave a comment to be entered. Winners will be randomly selected on December 10th. U.S. only.

Check out the info below, don't miss the trailer, and then enter for your chance to win.

ANCHOR BAY FILMS PROUDLY PRESENTS 5 DAYS OF WAR A FILM BY RENNY HARLIN STARRING RUPERT FRIEND, EMMANUELLE CHRIQUI, RICHARD COYLE, ANDY GARCIA and VAL KILMER

Available on Blu-ray™ and DVD November 29, 2011

Anchor Bay Films is proud to announce the release of 5 DAYS OF WAR on Blu-ray™ and DVD. This action-packed international thriller from acclaimed director Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger) is based on the true events of a renegade American journalist, his cameraman and a local woman caught behind enemy lines during the devastating five day war between Russian and the Georgian Republic. 5 DAYS OF WAR arrives on Blu-ray™ and DVD with bonus features including a commentary track by Producer/Director Renny Harlin and deleted scenes.

5 Days of War is an intensely human portrayal of courage under fire, combining heart-pounding action with real human drama. Inspired by the real events of the swift—but devastating—five-day war between Russia and Georgia in 2008, this action-packed international thriller centers around an American journalist (Rupert Friend) and his cameraman (Richard Coyle) caught in the combat zone during the first Russian airstrikes against Georgia. Rescuing Tatia (Emmanuelle Chriqui), a young Georgian schoolteacher from the attack, the two reporters agree to help reunite her with her family when she loses them in the chaos in exchange for serving as their interpreter. As the three attempt to escape to safety, they witness—and document—the devastation from the full-scale crossfire and cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians.

They desperately attempt to broadcast the footage they’ve captured while under attack from the Russian soldiers and local mercenaries, but are met with resistance from American and international networks either shorthanded from covering the Beijing Olympics or simply fatigued by war news. The trio realizes their survival is paramount, so they can live to broadcast the truth.

From writers Mikko Alanne and David Battle, 5 DAYS OF WAR features an all-star cast including Rupert Friend (Young Victoria, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas), Emmanuelle Chriqui (HBO’s “Entourage,” You Don’t Mess With The Zohan), Richard Coyle (Prince of Persia), Andy Garcia (City Island, Oceans 12), Val Kilmer (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Batman Forever), and proves director Harlin to still be the master of the high-octane action genre.

RU?

Another Earth Blu-Ray Combo Pack Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:45:38 +0000

I have a special giveaway that I really want you to take a look at today, because this is a movie that is destined to become one of the unsung heroes of 2011. It's received a lot of critical acclaim and done well at festivals, and you don't want to let this one slip past you.

Check out some more info below, and don't miss the videos embedded below. Then just leave a comment with your answer to the question below, and you are entered to win one of 3 copies of the Blu-Ray combo pack.

Winners will be randomly selected on December 8th. U.S. only.

Win a copy of ANOTHER EARTH, out on Blu-ray Combo Pack November 29

Winner of the Special Jury Prize & Alfred P. Sloan Film Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, ANOTHER EARTH is the story of Rhoda (Marling) and John (Mapother), two people whose worlds collide after a tragic accident. Their intimate drama plays out against the astounding discovery of Earth 2, a parallel world that poses provocative and fascinating possibilities. Does a new Earth mean a chance at another life? Another destiny? Another self?

In his directorial debut, Mike Cahill brings this provocative indie sci-fi film to life with outstanding performances from newcomer Brit Marling (Sound of My Voice) and William Mapother (TV’s “Lost,” World Trade Center).

For your chance to win a copy of ANOTHER EARTH, simply answer the following question:

Who directed ANOTHER EARTH?

• Mike Cahill

• Brit Marling

• Gavin Wiesen

Follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on: Twitter @FoxHomeEnt

On the night a mirror Earth emerges in the sky, two lives are intertwined in a dramatic incident that will change them both forever. In his directorial debut, Mike Cahill brings this provocative indie sci-fi film to life with outstanding performances from newcomer Brit Marling (Sound of My Voice) and William Mapother (TV’s “Lost,” World Trade Center). Winner of the Special Jury Prize & Alfred P. Sloan Film Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, experience all the heartache and passion when ANOTHER EARTH comes to Blu-ray Combo Pack November 29th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. As an added bonus, consumers will receive two tracks from the band Fall On Your Sword, who provided the soundtrack to the film.

This "deeply emotional...extraordinarily profound" (USA Today) film became a must-see sensation at the Sundance Film Festival. "Beautiful, bright and fearless" (Associated Press) newcomer Brit Marling and fan favorite William Mapother (TV's “Lost”) star as Rhoda and John, two people whose worlds collide after a tragic accident. Their intimate drama plays out against the astounding discovery of Earth 2, a parallel world that poses provocative and fascinating possibilities. Does a new Earth mean a chance at another life? Another destiny? Another self? “ANOTHER EARTH is science-fiction at its best" (The Hollywood Reporter) -- with a mind-bending surprise ending that you will never forget.

ANOTHER EARTH Blu-ray Features:

Deleted Scenes
Music Video: “The First Time I Saw Jupiter” by Fall On
Your Sword
The Science Behind Another Earth
Creating Another Earth
Fox Movie Channel presents “Direct Effect with Mike Cahill,” “In Character with Brit Marling,” and “In Character with William Mapother”

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Neverwhere 15th Anniversary DVD Review And Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:16:01 +0000

15 years later, Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere has become a cult classic TV series to rival all comers. With a budget and production values that are hard to describe without using the word "laughable," the wild adventure and creative genius shine through to create a wonderful video experience that would otherwise be unwatchable. Even by the standards of the time, the obvious limitations here are mind-boggling.

For the uninitiated, the BBC production follows Richard Mayhew and the adventures that ensue when he happens upon a bleeding girl in the street. The girl, Door, turns out to be from the quasi-magical world of London Below, and Richard finds himself sucked into quite a fine mess that he didn't actually sign up for. Worse, he has no way out of it, because his normal life apparently disappears right from under him, being that his exposure to Door has somehow "London Belowed" him, and "London Abovers" can't even really see him.

Now Richard is going to have to help Door, whether she wants him to or not, and before he's done, he's going to face down the dreaded Beast of London, a pair of bizarre, otherworldly assassins, and an Angel.

As I said, the show is put together using the most modest of budgets, and it shows in every way. Locations are put together as though rented for an hour, and the mighty Beast of London is given to us by way of trying to talk up the fearsomeness and then just not showing the thing. But, here is one of those extremely rare cases where you won't find yourself caring a bit. The mind of Neil Gaiman is at its best here, delivering a uniquely wild tale of Door and her family's murder, and the feints within feints that are revealed as Richard peels more and more layers off this mystery.

You've got to have the right level of ability to disregard such things as the fact that a Flip and a couple of hundred dollars could get you a better look now, but if you can manage it, you're in for a treat.

Fans don't have all that much offered up to them with these release, but there is another commentary track, which means you can now catch the series with the original commentary by Neil Gaiman, or the new one with Gaiman, Lenny Henry, and Clive Brill. Along with a new Intro and Interview, this does add a bit of splash to the new release, but it probably only appeals to serious fans.

The new commentary and interview give you just about everything you could want, as Gaiman and crew revisit the creation of the show, talk endlessly about the humorous events tied to the lack of budget, and even reveal that the film rights have been reacquired. Fans will also love the map of Neverwhere that comes with the DVD, but overall it's tough to call this one a must own. You'll probably want to find a way to check out the commentary, because if there was anyone you ever wanted to listen to as they deconstruct their own work, it's Gaiman, but those who will get the most out of it probably already own Neverwhere.

Below check out a bit more info, some clips, and make sure you enter to win.

In Neverwhere, Richard Mayhew (Gary Bakewell, Chef!) leads an ordinary life in London when one day a girl named Door (Laura Fraser, He Knew He Was Right) falls and injures herself across his path. Door belongs to a different world – London Below – and has come to London Above determined to learn why her parents have been killed. The next thing he knows, Mayhew’s life as he knew it is gone and he's underground, pursued by the murderous messengers. The two attempt to find the Angel Islington, who knows the secret behind the murder of Door's family, and possibly a way for Richard to go home.

BONUS FEATURES:

15th Anniversary Intro with Neil Gaiman, Lenny Henry and producer Clive Brill
15th Anniversary Audio Commentary with Gaiman, Henry and Brill
Original Interview with Gaiman
Original Audio Commentary with Gaiman
Photo Gallery
Character Descriptions
Neverwhere Map Insert

Win Your Copy Here!

Leave a comment below, and you are automatically entered to win your very own copy of the DVD release.

Winner will be randomly selected on December 10th. U.S. only.

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Conan The Adventurer: Season Two Part 1 DVD Review And Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:31:49 +0000

Shout Factory continues the adventure with the release of Conan the Adventurer Season Two Part One. 13 more episodes of the greatest warrior ever come your way filled with snake men, wizards, and muscles bulging every which way.

In much the style and world construction of such favorites as He-Man and Thundarr the Barbarian, Conan fights alongside a varied group of companions, including a magical, kooky phoenix who lives in his shield. His quest is always aimed at triumphing over the evil sorcerer Wrath-Amon, who is after all the star metal in the world.

It's a fun and action-packed ride for those of the appropriate age, wacky enough to keep things suitable for said age, despite the ever-present swordfights, and with storylines that keep things moving along nicely. Conan's cohorts offer up a nice diversity, keeping things from becoming too repetitive, as one battle after another obviously gets nowhere in the grand scheme of things.

Any fan of Thundarr is sure to love the show, and if you've already got the first season, the second picks things up a bit actually, offering more complex situations and a bit better crafted character focus. That is, as far as such things go given the particular realm we're in.

For those familiar with the show, or those looking for something "new" to entertain pre-teen boys, this is one worth picking up.

Unfortunately, there are no special features, and fair enough really, and the video quality won't really hold up if you've got a big screen. Neither of these are really powerful negatives for what we have, because this is the sort of release that you're lucky enough to have at all.

With the recent release of Conan in theaters, there is a certain timeliness that may be capitalized on here, but this one shouldn't be dismissed too quickly as simply an effort to try and catch where one can. Though not quite as old as some things of the same genre that have recently made their way to DVD releases (this one first aired in '92 I believe), it is still a nice revisit to a time when Saturday morning had some sort of meaning. This one never made it to the upper echelons of the hive mind, but it is nevertheless a great installment of the gooftastic adventures that kept little eyes glued to the set.

The trailer below is for the Season One release, but it gives you the general idea of the show.

Win Yours Here!

Leave a comment below, and you are automatically entered. Remember, I have to have some way to contact you.

Winner will be randomly selected on December 5th. U.S. only.

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Love Begins DVD Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:02:56 +0000

Win a copy of LOVE BEGINS, out on DVD November 22

Based on the novel, Love Finds a Home, discover how Janette Oke’s touching “Love Comes Softly” series began in LOVE BEGINS, arriving on DVD November 22 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

After their father passes away, Ellen Barlow (Julie Mond) and her sister Cassie (Abigail Mavity) struggle to maintain their family’s farm. When Clark Davis (Wes Brown) finds trouble in their town on his way to California, Ellen agrees to hire him at the farm to work off his debts. Before long, Clark and Ellen unexpectedly develop feelings for each other. Ultimately, the pair begins a legacy of love and faith together in this heartwarming family drama.

For your chance to win a copy of LOVE BEGINS on DVD, simply answer the following question:

What is the name of the character who has to work off his debts in LOVE BEGINS?

Wes Brown

Clark Davis

Ellen Barlow

Just leave a comment below with your answer, and you are automatically entered to win one of 3 copies I have available. Remember, I need a way to contact you.

Winners will be randomly selected on December 4th. U.S. only.

Follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on: Twitter @FoxHomeEnt

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Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 Blu-Ray Review And Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:14:10 +0000

Available now, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is an impressive Blu-Ray release, and for a lot of reasons. Not only is the film an improvement over Part 1 (original review below), but the bonus features are impressive, and you have to keep in mind that fans are very aware that the Ultimate Edition is on its way down the line.

Of course, besides that, the video is supremely impressive and is sure to run everywhere Blu-Ray players are sold throughout the holiday season. The colors and panoramic views showoff best perhaps, but more interesting to Blu-Ray fans is the unmatched perfection of the darks and shadows in a film that is full of opportunities. You'll impress people with your Blu-Ray either way here, but if you want to convince someone, just put the darker scenes of this one on next to a standard DVD.

As for the special features, there are several here that make this a must-own for fans of the franchise, possibly even for those who are already committed to the idea that they are getting the Ultimate Edition when it comes out. That's probably something you'll never hear me say again, but I wouldn't be surprised to find quite a number of fans who don't want to wait, and are willing to upgrade when the time comes.

Depending on the particular bent of your own fandom, possibly the most interesting offering here is A Conversation with J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe. Running somewhere around an hour, it's finally time to relive the entire spectacle with the two names that are most synonymous with the boy who lived. I wouldn't call the conversation really Hallows Part 2 specific in any way, but it is rather The End specific, and they discuss everything about bringing the character to life, and moving from page to screen.

While not actually the world's biggest Potter fan myself, this is worth watching for anyone who is remotely interested in the phenomenon, and a special treat for those who are fans. After so many movies, and different editions of home releases, including countless special features, this is probably the best one that has ever come out of the franchise. It isn't movie magic, or showing off the bells and whistles, but it gets at the heart of what makes people such devoted fans, and as I said, it is a great addition even for those who aren't really fans.

The release also includes the increasingly common Maximum Movie Mode. I'm generally not a fan of such modes, though a few have won me over in the past. This one is a little tricky, because I don't love the final product on the whole, but the featurettes you explore via this mode are good efforts, showcasing a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff that fans will really enjoy. It's hosted by Neville Longbottom, and runs through such things as the costumes, sets, and how some of the magic is made to look fantastically magical. Fans will love running through the movie in this mode, but the featurettes on their own are worth rather more than bothering with putting this mode together just because we can.

You've also got some other featurettes available, and some additional scenes, but the meat of the release is the interview and the featurettes contained in the MMM. The die-hards are going to enjoy the inclusion of some deleted scenes, but they aren't necessarily world-altering cuts here. The Goblins of Gringotts is a nice, if more or less average, behind-the-scenes look at what is involved in getting the goblins gobliny. On the other hand, it has Warwick Davis quite a bit, and that's a sell in itself.

Finally, you've got The Women of Harry Potter, which features Rowling discussing the creation of the female characters in the books, and to a certain extent how she wanted to make sure they were portrayed in the films. She goes to great lengths to explain her theories of these characters, their motivations, and how she intended for them to be brought to life. While certainly something worthwhile for fans, this is a nice inclusion simply for the focus on the female characters and their contribution to the overall abilities of the books and films. It's the kind of thing no one would miss if it weren't there, and that makes it all the more interesting to find it here. Honestly, throughout the entire Potter craze, the one thing that has always left me scratching my head is the fact that the women in the books are so underrepresented (in the general public psyche sense) as the key elements in delivering the thematic statements.

Overall, you have to balance this release against a lot of things for the ultimate judgment. That is, for those who need any judgment at all. It's not only a world of strange home video releases, re-releases, and special editions, but it is also within a massive franchise. I can't imagine another film which would find me recommending a purchase when I know another release (which is actually even this release inclusive) is coming, and I know I'm going to recommending buying that also, but I find I have to here. Fans will not be disappointed, and the simple fact that this release is fully loaded is a testament to the commitment to the fans of all concerned.

As I said, I'm not a big Potter fan, and you'll shortly see that the film only managed 3.5 out of 5 stars from me, but the Blu-Ray is five stars.

Below check out some cool clips, including bits from the bonuses, and don't miss the review of the film, and your chance to win the Blu-Ray release.

Movie Review

It's all come to a close now, and the only thing left is the final port in the list of increasingly purposeless reviews. As fans the world over reflect on the end of an era, and the amazing, ten-year journey they've been a part of, I can't help but focus on the collective word count that has been dedicated to the franchise, none of which made a lick of difference to anyone.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 manages a strange counterpoint to Part 1, being something of a headlong race through action scenes and general intensity, whereas Part 1 was largely a test of your ability to stay awake. The most interesting note there is simply the fallacy that smashing together extremes somehow balances out in the end.

Part 1 needed something to happen, whether anything happened in the book or not, and Part 2 needed less to happen, and to move more slowly through most of what it had.

We jump in where only true-believers and the recently refreshed will remember leaving off (sort of), and that's in a small shanty by the sea. A small band of good guys are now with the dynamic trio, and they've got a goblin. The first point on the agenda is breaking into Gringott's to find out if Bellatrix Lestrange's vault contains one of the Horcruxes.

Here comes a wild ride on the vault carts we've seen before, a run-in with a dragon, and several other elements that are bound to make many absent-mindedly fidget with the video game controllers they aren't actually holding. On the other hand, kudos to Helena Bonham Carter's short stint as Hermoine Polyjuiced as Bellatrix.

As events unfold, Harry's connection to Voldemort becomes stronger, and harder for him to control, which works out well, because there doesn't seem any other way that we were going to find out where the other Horcruxes were, and Harry discovers that one of them is at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, Voldemort learns that Harry has returned, and his dark army surrounds the place. Fabulous battles ensue, tides turn, Voldemort can't quite work out why his fantastically all-powerful wand is somewhat on the blink, and Harry is forced to revisit that pesky prophecy that suggests that for Voldemort to die, Harry must as well.

If there is any ultimate point (or redeeming quality) for the franchise, beyond a bit of fluffy fun for those of the appropriate age, it is by way of the "Snape revelation," and Harry's reaction to it. That, and the massive, multi-book lead-in to the single line - "Of course, it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on Earth should that mean that it's not real?"

The second of these is delivered rather brilliantly in the film, though in a way that perhaps does not have Dumbledore pausing long enough, or cocking his head and raising his eyebrow at Harry enough, but the second is all but lost in the sea of film translation. Though our trip through Snape's memories is given upwards of two minutes on screen, there is no power behind it, and you're hard-pressed to get anything out of the adventure, beyond the dull addition of checks to Harry's to-do list.

If you got anything of the richness and complexity of character and story that come about as a result of deconstructing Snape, and reworking him in your mind as what he has done, and who he is, comes to light, you really brought it with you. That's not an entirely unforgivable direction, but something has gone wrong when the action of the film leaves Harry no chance to actually give anything to the audience. Sure, we stare at him as he sits on a step for a few seconds, but if not for him calling Snape brave at the very end of the film, we might have thought he had no better ability to make out the point than we did.

Deathly Hallows 2 gives a decent effort in a lot of ways, and it soars far beyond Part 1 for entertainment value, but the end of such a massive adventure is where you want some of that slowness from Part 1 to creep in. Our wizards wander into their couples, Ron with Hermione, Harry with Ginny, but the audience only gets the occasional awkward kiss and the sudden appearance of children. Longbottom wins through to massive heroism, but the scene of his speech is bizarre, and serves mostly to showcase the curious fact that Voldemort is tremendously stupid (insofar as people are giving speeches and/or lolling about listening to them, as opposed to say... bleeding profusely, running for their lives, etc.).

Ultimately, Part 1 drags on for miles, only to be followed by something that feels like a Cliff's Notes version wrap-up. It is an enjoyable effort, but it is the kind of effort that spends several minutes staring at dragons and various magical gobbledygook, just to get the chance to whip out a bunch of things that have to be included. They kiss. He's dead. Pow. Bang. Zoom.

The trouble with the franchise, books and film, is that it thinks it can grow up with its readers, and now that Harry is "adult," we have, by way of some special magic, created something that is "for adults." That leaves us with a story and a telling that is fighting against itself, and is fun, but rather hollow. The first few movies were really pretty good, almost despite themselves (except Prisoner of Azkaban, which was brilliant), because they knew what they were, and were content to revel in it. These last two films know what they are as well, they're just wrong.

Rating: ★★★½☆

Win it Here!

Leave a comment below, and you are automatically entered to win your very own copy of the Blu-Ray release.

U.S. only. Winner will be randomly selected on November 24th.

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Immortals Super Prize Pack Giveaway!

Marc Eastman — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:02:49 +0000

Immortals, the high-concept action vehicle directed by Tarsem Singh, is number one at the box office right now, and if you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it.

Whether you've already become a fan or not, I have an awesome Immortals Prize Pack available, and I want you to have it!

Not only will you receive some great Immortals gear, but also a pair of 3D Rogue glasses. If you haven't seen these yet, you want to check them out.

To Enter -

You have two ways to enter, and thus, two chances to win.

1. Leave a comment below and include the word "win" in that comment. Remember, I have to be able to contact you.

2. Tweet this exact message on Twitter - @areyouscreening is giving away an #Immortals Prize Pack! RT to enter!

That's it. Check out the great stuff, and be sure you catch this one in theaters while you have a chance. You don't want to miss it.

U.S. only. Winner will be randomly selected on November 24th.

Immortals 'Gods and Heroes' Graphic Novel
Immortals Branded Temporary Tattoo Scars
Immortals Branded T-Shirt
Immortals Branded Water Bottle
Immortals Branded Bracelet
Immortals Branded Foam Helmet
Immortals Branded Beanie
Immortals Branded Tank Top
Immortals Poster
Immortals Soundtrack
3D Rogue Glasses

Visionary director Tarsem Singh (The Cell, The Fall) and producers Gianni Nunnari (300), Mark Canton (300) and Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter) unleash an epic tale of treachery, vengeance and destiny in Immortals, a stylish and spectacular 3-D adventure. As a power-mad king razes ancient Greece in search of a legendary weapon, a heroic young villager rises up against him in a thrilling quest as timeless as it is powerful.

The brutal and bloodthirsty King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) and his murderous Heraklion army are rampaging across Greece in search of the long lost Bow of Epirus. With the invincible Bow, the king will be able to overthrow the Gods of Olympus and become the undisputed master of his world. With ruthless efficiency, Hyperion and his legions destroy everything in their wake, and it seems nothing will stop the evil king’s mission.

As village after village is obliterated, a stonemason named Theseus (Henry Cavill) vows to avenge the death of his mother in one of Hyperion’s raids. When Theseus meets the Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra (Freida Pinto), her disturbing visions of the young man’s future convince her that he is the key to stopping the destruction. With her help, Theseus assembles a small band of followers and embraces his destiny in a final desperate battle for the future of humanity.

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Water For Elephants DVD Review

Marc Eastman — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:50:53 +0000

There is a certain mystical quality to Water for Elephants which is decidedly difficult to attribute to Director Francis Lawrence (of Constantine, I Am Legend, and music videos), but becomes easier to understand when you consider the Director of Cinematography is Rodrigo Prieto (Biutiful, Babel, Brokeback Mountain, Frida, Amores Perros, and many more).

It's the kind of thing that showcases the magic of film, because something, and I very specifically mean some very hard to describe or put your finger on thing, about what you're watching makes it nearly impossible to doubt that you're watching 1931, despite the vast and various failings of all the things that are meant to suggest 1931. That's magic.

It's a story about a young man who loses his parents tragically on the eve of his graduation from Cornell as a Veterinarian. He learns that his father mortgaged the family home to send him to school, and in the blink of an eye, he truly has nothing. With no ideas, he hopes to head for the big city, and in the black of night he hops a train that turns out to be the home of the travelling Benzini Bros. circus.

Said young man, Jacob (Robert Pattinson), learns that the circus might be able to use him, and he's game. Of course, he kicks off by shoveling horse stalls, but once we learn his background, we find better uses for his talents. This mainly comes by way of the fact that the show's star attraction involves the owner's wife, Marlena Rosenbluth (Reese Witherspoon), and her horses. A true jewel in the circus crown, Marlena is a star as much for her looks as her control of animals.

Speaking of animals Marlena has to control, the owner of the circus, August (Christoph Waltz), has run Benzini Bros. since he was nineteen and the previous owner did a runner with the last of the cash when things were at a low point. August is a pretty obvious victim of Napoleon syndrome, and his act and attitude are rather straight-forward. He rules with an iron hand, and whenever someone displeases him, or he simply needs to cull the ranks due to poor receipts, he simply has them chucked from the moving train.

Naturally, Jacob and Marlena don't take long in becoming drawn to each other, and insofar as the overall plot, there aren't a lot of surprises. That is, apart from just how cuckoo August really is.

The novel has taken off, and won over many fans, but at the end of the day the film has little to recommend beyond the thoroughly engrossing creation of not only 1931, but the life of circuses themselves during the depression-era economy. The story itself is straight-forward and stale, and hopelessly telegraphed into the bargain, but watching the setting come to life is worth the trouble on its own.

This brings us back around to the magical way in which this is managed. It isn't that Pattinson, or Waltz are particularly believable as characters existing in 1931 (they aren't), and Witherspoon has rarely been believable as anything beyond a flighty airhead. It isn't that the dialog and events overly seem to characterize the time we're after (I'm not convinced they do). It isn't even that the set design and so on really perfects the effort to display the period (a scene at a small grocer in town only looks of 1931 insofar as it appears for the all the world to be a backlot set from 1931).

No, this one goes down to pure movie magic, because somehow it feels like 1931, despite the fact that it's difficult to point to anything that's doing a great job of representing 1931. For those not overly impressed with maudlin drama that ultimately leads to very little, that may be the only sell to the film. The plot comes together decently, but turning out average here is a waste of Waltz, and a book that I'm led to understand has far more to say (anything would be more actually). It's a lazy turn that is more interested in looking pretty than getting somewhere with its story, and that makes it hard to get anywhere with the characters.

Still, there is something to be said for kicking back with anything that knows how to work its visuals, and the circus train itself is not only a character in its own right, it's the best one the thing's got.

Rating: ★★½☆☆

The standard DVD release doesn't have a lot to offer in the way of bonus material, and fans of the film are definitely going to want to go for the Blu-Ray edition.

The DVD includes spotlight featurettes for both Pattinson and Witherspoon, and both are probably worthwhile only to their biggest fans, who will take any excuse to gawk at more footage of them. The Traveling Show: From Page to Screen is a decent featurette covering, obviously, the transition from the book to the screenplay, and then the effort to get things to look just so. This is a bonus that would go a lot farther if you were convinced that a decent job was actually managed in the process, but I haven't read the book, so perhaps you were. Either way, it's an above-average look for such a featurette.

You also get an audio commentary with Director Francis Lawrence and Writer Richard LaGravenese. This is a tricky one as far as commentary tracks go, because it's actually pretty interesting, but I don't know how much it will mean to the average fan of the film. It's often technical in focus, and whether or not anyone is interested in Lawrence's views on the film's construction is anyone's guess.

The Blu-Ray offers a much wider assortment of special features (see full list below), including several featurettes that are likely of much more interest than those reserved for the standard format release.

Win Your Copy Here!

To enter, just leave a comment below (I have to have some way to contact you). Winner will be randomly selected on November 15th. U.S. only.

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Blu-ray + Digital Copy

Robert Pattinson Spotlight
Feature Performer Reese Witherspoon
The Traveling Show: From Page to Screen
Working Without A Net – The Visual Effects of Water for Elephants
The Star Attraction
Raising the Tent
Secrets of the Big Top
Audio Commentary with Director Francis Lawrence and Writer Richard LaGravenese
Theatrical Trailer
Live Extras
Exclusive: Stars of the Circus
Blu-ray Highlight: The Traveling Show: From Page to Screen
Theatrical Trailer
Live Lookup
Digital Copy

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS DVD

Robert Pattinson Spotlight
Feature Performer Reese Witherspoon
The Traveling Show: From Page to Screen
Audio Commentary with Director Francis Lawrence and Writer Richard LaGravenese
Theatrical Trailer

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Burn Notice Returns November 3rd Giveaway!

Marc Eastman — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:05:47 +0000

BURN NOTICE -- "Damned If You Do" Episode 513 -- Pictured: -- Photos by: Quantrell D. Colbert/USA Network

Burn Notice returns to USA this Thursday, and I have an awesome prize pack giveaway to celebrate.

You've probably noticed that I try to capitalize on every opportunity to promote Burn Notice, and this time, I really have a cool package. The series is returning with some incredible action, and the next few episodes look to really shake things up. To kick things off, we're headed off to Puerto Rico to track down a hacker.

Check out some clips from the episode below.

“Damned If You Do”

Michael and Fiona head to Puerto Rico to abduct a financial hacker whose software they need for Anson, but the hacker has some dangerous enemies waiting for him in Miami. Meanwhile, Sam and Jesse train Madeline to retrieve sensitive information from the police.

Guest Stars: Lauren Stamile, Jere Burns, Ptolemy Slocum, Ian Anthony Dale

Before we jump into the clips, let's take a look at the giveaway.

Your Mission is Clear: Win the Burn Notice Super-Fan Pack! (Valued at $200)

Custom Tote Bag
Season 4 DVD
Bar Set
Mojitos 101 Book
Branded T-Shirt
Branded Hat

To enter-

I want to mix this one up a bit, so I'm going to make this one a Twitter giveaway. So, you've got to tweet to enter, and here's how it's going to work.

Your tweet has to start with @areyouscreening and it has to end with #BurnNotice. Between those two extremes, tell me what you want to see happen this season if you could write the show. It can be anything you want. Love to see a certain guest star? Want to see something specific happen with the characters? Or, do you just want the crew to go to a certain location... Alaska maybe? Whatever.

That's it. Once you've tweeted, you've entered.

Winner will be randomly selected on November 10th.

Prizes provided by USA.

Remember, there are several seasons of Burn Notice also available in our Instant DVD Collection Giveaway.

Damned If You Do Clip #1 – Michael’s Dilemma

Damned If You Do Clip #2 - Michael and Fiona in Action

Damned If You Do Clip #3 - The Mission from Anson

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Covert Affairs Returns November 1st With Wake Up Bomb – Giveaway!

Marc Eastman — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:09:08 +0000

USA's hot property Covert Affairs is returning on November 1st, and I have a very special "Jet Setter Pack" giveaway to celebrate. The series left off in pretty tricky circumstances at the end of the summer, and we kick things of with "Wake Up Bomb," an episode that changes things up a bit for Annie.

As I'm sure you know, Annie's hopes of having a normal life (and speaking to her sister) went out the window when last we saw her, at least for the immediate future, and Annie has to move on to a degree. It's tricky situations all around now, as Annie's latest assignment doesn't seem to go too well.

Make sure you tune in, because not only is this a great episode, but there are interesting things in store right around the corner... including more focus on Auggie.

Check out more info below, including some clips, and be sure to enter!

“The Wake-Up Bomb”
After failing a mission in Rio, Annie finds herself with no active operations, and begins to experience just how lonely being a CIA operative can be. But she’s quickly provided with a new assignment when she meets a chef with ties to the Basque separatist movement, ETA.

Guest Stars: Santiago Cabrera, Matias Varela

USA Network’s hit original series COVERT AFFAIRS returns for the second half of its sophmore season on Tuesday, November 1 at 10/9c. Recently renewed for a third season of 16 episodes, the series stars Golden Globe-nominated Piper Perabo (“Coyote Ugly,” “Beverly Hills Chihuahua”), Christopher Gorham (“Ugly Betty,” “Jake 2.0”), Kari Matchett (“Invasion”), Anne Dudek (“House,” “Mad Men”), Sendhil Ramamurthy (“Heroes,” “It’s a Wonderful Afterlife”) and Peter Gallagher (“The O.C.,” “American Beauty”). The critically-acclaimed international spy drama, COVERT AFFAIRS, stars Piper Perabo as Annie Walker, a young CIA operative whose exceptional linguistic skills make her invaluable to the Agency.

This summer’s mid-season finale was left with Annie finally forced to confess the truth of her job to her sister, Danielle (Anne Dudek), forever changing the balance of their relationship and threatening Annie’s hope of living a "pseudo-normal" personal life outside the agency. With Jai's (Sendhil Ramamurthy) position in the DPD in flux, we're left to question where his true loyalties lie. Annie continues to transform into a seasoned operative with more high-octane adventures spanning the globe.

Guest appearances for the second season continuation include Oded Fehr, Gregory Itzin, Devin Kelly and Santiago Cabrera. From Universal Cable Productions, COVERT AFFAIRS is executive produced by Doug Liman and David Bartis through Hypnotic and written and executive produced by Matt Corman and Chris Ord.

Enter to Win!

Live Like an International Spy with the Covert Affairs Jet Setter Pack! (Valued at $215)

Travel Tote
Passport Holder
Luggage Tag
World Travel Clock
Season 1 DVD
T-Shirt

For your chance to win, just leave a comment below and tell me your favorite part of the show. Are you an Auggie fan? Do the storylines suck you in? Whatever.

Winner will be randomly selected on November 5th.

*Prizing provided by USA Network. Contest open to US residents only.

Be sure to check out the show on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/CovertAffairs

Wake Up Bomb Clip #1 – Annie and Auggie Magic

Wake Up Bomb Clip #2 – Trouble for Jai

Wake Up Bomb Clip #3 - Adventures in Flirtation

COVERT AFFAIRS was the top series on cable Tuesdays this summer among P25-54, total viewers and households. Summer to summer, COVERT AFFAIRS grew +7% in P25-54, +3% in P18-49, +2% in P18-34 and +5% in total viewers.

Heading into the fall, COVERT AFFAIRS returns with new digital engagement, highlighted by star Christopher Gorham's behind the scenes Travelogue. As the show production travels to international locations, Christopher will document every step of the way with photos, videos, and production insights. To get even closer to the stars, fans can chat live with cast and writers on Character Chatter, now available on Facebook where you can chat with everyone or just your friends. This season fans can join Covert Operatives to play games and win amazing prizes including collectable key art signed by the cast, DVDs and t-shirts.

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Green Lantern Blu-Ray Review And Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 19:30:59 +0000

Green Lantern is available on Blu-Ray (and Blu-Ray 3D), and for all that many critics didn't cheer for the film, the home release is a pretty nice offering. There are actually a few holes in the list of special features that might have been filled, but what you do get is solid, though the video transfer of the film is surprisingly not the best I've seen.

Complete list of special features and reprint of full film review below.

The Blu-Ray boasts an extended cut, but there isn't much to it. You get some eight or nine minutes of extra material, but it's early stuff, and doesn't exactly put a whole new spin on things.

The best feature by far is the Maximum Movie Mode with Picture in Picture Pods, and you aren't likely to hear me singing the praises of these "modes" very often, unless the norm of such offerings changes quite a bit. The majority of the time you run into these viewing modes, they are mostly flash that exist as something done just because it's possible, and they're ultimately just another way to view special features that might as well have been there own separate entity.

The one you get here still might have had some improvement, but overall it's a true addition to the viewing experience, giving you the routine behind-the-scenes bites, but also offering up some variety, and connecting far better than most to what you're watching. There's a great spectrum of notes on display here, and anyone who enjoyed the film is going to be impressed here. Like I said, I don't often find that the case with these modes.

You also get a couple of well done featurettes, one that explores the Green Lantern universe, and one that provides an in-depth account of the various technologies at work making Ryan Reynolds into Green Lantern. The first is far more interesting for most, and gives a good rundown on things, which is especially useful to those who came to the film without a lot of Lantern experience. The second is pretty cool, but is still sort of standard fare, and I'm not sure the majority of purchasers really get a whole lot of benefit from special effects demonstrations. Judge for yourself there.

In the somewhat cooler spectrum of bonuses, and moving beyond the "ordinary," you also get Justice League #1 digital comic, and if you haven't seen these on other releases, you'll want to check this out, if you're a fan of comics at all. This is a medium that is progressing all the time, and this one is a treat.

You also get a preview of the Green Lantern: The Animated Series, and some additional scenes.

Overall, the Blu-Ray quality is not quite up to what the most stringent Blu-Ray fans may be expecting. The color spectrum is a bit hit or miss, and the shadowy range occasionally leaves something to be desired. Still, it's a solid effort, and you have to get pretty nit-picky to worry about any of the minor flaws.

The list of bonuses might not seem extensive, but you actually get quite a lot here, and more that is of actual value than a lot of releases. This is actually one of those cases where the bonuses rise above the actual film you're after, because the movie is just barely above average (but a lot of fun), but the release is pretty impressive.

Own it Today on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack with UltraViolet Digital Copy or Download to Own http://bit.ly/qw00KD

Win Yours Here!

Leave a comment below, and you are automatically entered to win your very own copy of the Blu-Ray release. Winner will be randomly selected on October 30th. U.S. only.

Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack:

Theatrical Film (3D & 2D)
Extended Cut (2D only)
Maximum Movie Mode with Picture in Picture Pods
The Universe According to Green Lantern
Ryan Reynolds Becomes Green Lantern
Justice League #1 Digital Comic
Additional Scenes
Preview of Green Lantern: The Animated Series
BD-Live

Blu-ray Combo Pack:

Extended Cut*
Theatrical Film
Maximum Movie Mode with Picture in Picture Pods
The Universe According to Green Lantern
Ryan Reynolds Becomes Green Lantern
Justice League #1 Digital Comic
Additional Scenes
Preview of Green Lantern: The Animated Series
BD-Live

DVD:

Preview of the Justice League #1 Digital Comic
Preview of Green Lantern: The Animated Series

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS

“Green Lantern” will be available digitally in High Definition (HD) VOD and Standard Definition (SD) VOD from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.

ULTRAVIOLET

Warner Bros. is taking Digital Copy to a whole new level. UltraViolet Digital Copy includes a Standard Definition Digital Copy of the theatrical version of the film. Restrictions apply. See packaging for details.

Film Review

As the movie industry is forcing us all to realize more and more, translating comic books to film is a tricky beast. It didn't quite seem like such a chore in 1978 when Superman hit theaters, but it now seems pretty obvious that this was because, let's face it, Superman is easy. Everyone knows Superman.

We didn't make too much of a jump with Batman either. Even among those least interested in knowing anything remotely related to comics could tell you the general backstory, and the overall lay of the land of any film we were likely to see. It's more or less the same deal with Spider-Man.

Putting together a film on any of these three is to start with half your work done for you. But, over the last decade, comics have swarmed to theaters, and most of these have a much different game to play. Whether it's Iron Man, Daredevil, Punisher, or The X-Men, the comic book efforts that leave the comfort and safety of the big three have a lot more work to do, and the results have run from the horrible, to the fairly brilliant. But, what they all have in common is that they - A) have to figure out how to play the story, and B) don't have the benefit of what I'm going to call "cultural armor."

The easiest way to explain what I mean by cultural armor (though I think it is pretty self-explanatory) is simply by way of the fact that when people went to see the first Superman film, if they didn't like it, what they were not going to say about not liking it is that the story and/or character were stupid. Nor did they roll their eyes, and mutter something about weird comic book geeks. (Well, some people might have, but some people will say anything.)

Playing around with how the story is going to be presented for film, and getting past the initial eye roll are things that other comic films have to plan, whether it's Daredevil, or The X-Men, and we've seen that isn't always easy. These are problems that Green Lantern has in spades, despite the certain Geek Chic popularity it currently has in its arsenal.

Even though Green Lantern was a Golden Age comic, first appearing in 1940, and reinvented into a form we recognize today during the Silver Age, he has flown largely under the radar. He didn't even make it into the Superfriends until the last part of the second season of The All-New Superfriends, and even then he was often referred to as "that guy standing next to Apache Chief,"... like anyone knows who Apache Chief is.

Worse, Green Lantern is a really weird story, even by comic book standards, filled with all sorts of aliens, and a superpower that is made to look rather goofy whenever we've seen him before (and when he see him now actually). Armed with the ability to create absolutely anything his imagination can dream up, he is generally seen to fight off bad guys by making a giant, green fist appear, or to catch people from falling by... catching them in a giant hand. This can make for a difficult sell to audiences, who can imagine... well, hopefully more interesting things.

I bother with all of this introduction, because, despite what you may hear, there isn't that much wrong with it. What's wrong with it might well be enough to mostly ruin the potential, but as quickfire comic films go, it's average at worst. It feels about as rushed and slapped together as a movie can feel, and the ending is an oddly anti-climatic "well, that was easy" affair, but I'm not sure it completely destroys what is, after all, a comic book movie.

It's the kind of film which renders any plot summary both too short, and too long, but it basically revolves around cocky fighter pilot Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds), who finds himself chosen by the semi-sentient Green Lantern ring to take the place of a dying member of the Green Lantern Corps. The Green Lanterns are the guardians of the universe, empowered by their rings (and lanterns) with the harnessed energy of will, and each is entrusted with protecting a certain quadrant of the cosmos. There are 2600 of them, and they are now facing their greatest threat, Parallax, a being that can destroy entire planets, and Earth is unfortunately in its path.

Hal, irresponsible goof that he is, doesn't think he has what it takes, especially considering that Green Lanterns are expected to have no fear. Fear, naturally, being the opposite of will (and the enemy of action... and the mind-killer, depending on who you ask). Bouncing between Earth and the Green Lantern home world of Oa, the movie takes us largely through the plot development we expect, as Parallax gains power, becomes more of a threat to the Lanterns, and Hal finds himself filled with much inner turmoil. None of this is particularly helped by the fact that Hal is trying to win over Carol Ferris (an out of her element Blake Lively), and the idea that he wants to quit, yet again, and this time on the coolest thing ever, isn't going over so well.

It's not really a new game we're playing here, it's just wearing a green suit made from mental energy.

It's a movie playing with several competing efforts vying for attention, and it does ultimately become rather bogged down, and oddly light on action. I blame that on the fact that three of the four credited writers are the trio of Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, and Marc Guggenheim, whose credits look very similar, and largely include - Brothers & Sisters, Everwood, Eli Stone, and No Ordinary Family - all really fabulous suggestions for one's obvious ability to pull off a superhero film.

Still, the final result is a pretty fun film that unfortunately requires an audience willing to let Green Lantern happen at them, because the franchise is not only without much cultural armor, it takes off what it does have. It is, in some ways, almost an effort at going back to the original Superman film, by abandoning the intensity and uber-seriousness of the recent Batman films, and other, similar efforts, and instead opting for a point of view that says, "Look. It's a comic book movie. It's kind of goofy."

Rating: ★★★☆☆

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Submarine DVD Review And Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:47:44 +0000

American audiences probably don't get much out of knowing that Submarine is written and directed by Richard Ayoade, and that's a shame in itself. The best chance is via BBC America and/or Netflix streams of The Mighty Boosh, or the brilliant The IT Crowd, but odds are that you haven't heard of him. The real shame of this is that you have no chance of being truly astounded by the depth and pointed genius you'll find here, and there's really nothing like a dumbfounded, "Moss directed this!"

Submarine is a sort of coming-of-age story, but it focuses on Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts), a young man who came of age long ago and is rather trying to find his way back at this point. His parents are an odd mix of liberal thinking and catatonia, and Oliver has run through a wide spectrum of "trying to figure out who he is," at least in part because his parents are giving him little to work with. Worse, his mother's old flame, a self-help, spiritualist... something, has moved in next door, and Oliver fears the worst, apparently with good reason.

Of course, Oliver's real problem (apart from being in High School while simultaneously being decidedly odd) is a girl. Jordana (Yasmin Paige) is his current crush/fixation, and Oliver isn't the sort of lad to go in any direction with a crush other than full-scale, calculated obsession. Jordana is a bit odd herself, impressed apparently with acts of bullying, fire, and minor flights of wanton destruction. Oliver approaches the Jordana problem as we might expect given his state of near-terminal "wise beyond his years-ness," and not only plots various undertakings calculated to appeal to her sensibilities, which he isn't necessarily fond of (like his efforts at a kind of awkward, pseudo-bullying of the fat girl at school), but he also plots plots themselves, as another level of effort to woo her. Not only, as it were, are these the sorts of things I do, but these are the sort of plots I plot.

Wandering what seems a turbulently random sea of life, Oliver schemes toward his dual goals of winning over Jordana (and, well... bedding her, naturally), and keeping his mother from straying. Armed with clear goals, bags of intelligence, and a surprisingly sharp intuition, but none of the wherewithal that comes from life experience, Oliver shoots for his goals with the reckless cluelessness of any other teenager, and finds himself facing similar results. Unfortunately, it seems to turn out that being really clever, and having an adult outlook on life only manages to give you a staggering appreciation of your societal impotence, and a soul-crushing cognizance of just how much you've screwed things up.

This quirky, somber adventure pulls the child out of you, and captures youth, love, and raw emotion in a way few films have ever managed. Better still, it does it all in such a fresh, vibrant way that it spins a kind polar viewing experience that is utterly mesmerizing in its effectiveness. The slowest, most passive scenes, including several involving Oliver's uber-depressed father (worked brilliantly by Noah Taylor), become riveting, and the few fast-paced jaunts of "action," turn into the equivalent of the reflective moments which we're accustomed to being the "slow down" scenes.

The only rub to come from this fun and exceedingly incisive jaunt through youth is that it is hard to imagine that Richard Ayoade is on the verge of the opportunities he to be as a result. The fullest measure of writing talent can't quite be given over to him, because it's based Joe Dunthorne's winning novel, but in terms of the ability of translation and direction, the brilliant, instant-classic efforts we aren't in store for in the near future is nothing short of tragic.

Submarine takes you on a wild ride that so well embodies the furious effort toward nothing that is youth, and more importantly youth today, that it is hard to imagine that virtually everyone will not see themselves in Oliver, despite the utterly outlandish portrayal of his particular highs, lows, and windmill tilting. For all that he brings forward the most logical-seeming (if only to him) plans, and even given his philosophic insights and psychiatric acumen, Oliver somehow cannot find a way around meeting the harsh realization that no one is flying this bloody plane.

Well..., that's something like how he sees it anyway.

Rating: ★★★★★

Win it here!

To enter, just leave a comment below, and you are automatically entered to win your very own copy of the DVD release.

Winner will be randomly selected on October 28th. U.S. only.

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Submerged in a Sea of Hormones: 'Submarine' (Review) (popmatters.com)
Submarine, DVD review (telegraph.co.uk)

Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time Season Two Is Underway Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:31:37 +0000

photo credit: Frank Micelotta

Nick Swardson's Pretend Time has already kicked off its second season, and I wanted to make sure you're all tuning in, and offer up some incentive. The completely wild sketch show which also features cuts of Swardson performing stand-up premiered the second season at the beginning of the month, and you can catch it Wednesdays at 10:30/9:30c. If you've missed out so far, Comedy Central is very good about giving you the chance to catch up online, and you can check past episodes here.

You can also catch a clip below.

To celebrate the return of the show, I have a giveaway for you, and have three copies of his DVD available.

DVD - Nick Swardson: Seriously, Who Farted?

Nick started stand up at the age of 18. In his first year of stand up he was chosen to perform at the U.S. Comedy Arts festival. In 2000, he hit a milestone in his career when he taped his Comedy Central half-hour special at the age of 22 (the youngest to do so). More recently, Nick wrote and starred in the Happy Madison-produced films Grandma's Boy and Benchwarmers.

DVD Features:

- Opening Act: Beardo & Dirt Nasty

- 28 Drinks Later Trailer

- Nick Swardson: Timeless Comedian

- A Very Terry Christmas

To enter-

Just leave a comment below, and tell me your favorite sketch, character... or something from Nick's show Pretend Time. Winners will be randomly selected on October 25th. U.S. only.

Now, in case you're out of the loop, check out the show.

He’s back! Nick Swardson's twisted world of trust fund kitties, cereal character Mr. Creepy and the infamous "Garry Gaga" will return as COMEDY CENTRAL presents the second season of "Nick Swardson's Pretend Time." The hit sketch series will premiere on Wednesday, October 5 at 10:30 p.m. following the fall season premiere of "South Park."

"Nick Swardson's Pretend Time" is a sketch show in which each sketch is filtered through the absurd point-of-view of stand-up comedian Nick Swardson. Swardson takes the viewer into his world through a series of sketches including the adventures of a wheelchair–bound cat, space alien paternity tests and pregnant babies. Swardson's world of make-believe incorporates every reach of the imagination - from monster doctors to a man’s unique face transplant. In between sketches, Swardson performs stand-up in front of an audience and is joined by back up guitarist, Beardo.

Nick Swardson's Pretend Time
Get More: Lady Gaga's Brother: Garry Gaga,Wheelchair Cat,Nick Swardson on Jokes.com

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A&E Halloween Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:57:52 +0000

It's already time to start getting very serious about Halloween, and before we get too close, I have a very cool giveaway for you. A&E Home Entertainment has put together a package for me of spookables and other goodies, and you don't want to miss out on your chance to take them home.

It's not the usual routine, but I'm going to start this one out with how you enter.

I'm going to make this one a Twitter giveaway, so naturally you're going to have to be following us - @areyouscreening - in order to ultimately win.

To enter - Tweet this message - @areyouscreening has a Halloween giveaway you should check out. Enter here! http://wp.me/p1J4MW-5lg

Now, once you Tweet that, leave a comment below with your Twitter handle. That's it.

Winner will be randomly selected on October 28th, and will be notified via Twitter. U.S. only.

Said winner will receive all of the following titles. Be sure to check them out, tell your friends, and have a great Halloween!

The Haunting of Sorority Row

Samantha Willows (Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester), a college freshman, is looking to fit in, so she's thrilled at the prospect of pledging at the most prestigious sorority on campus. Things take a dark turn, however, as she comes into contact with some supernatural stuff during the hazing rituals. Searching for answers, Sam learns of the disappearance of a previous pledge. Will Sam be the next victim?

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The Haunting of Sorority Row (DVD)

Director: Bert Kish
Starring: Leighton Meester
Rating: Unrated

List Price:	$14.95 USD
New From:	$4.34 In Stock
Used from:	$3.08 In Stock
Release date August 24, 2010.

America's Most Haunted Places

Tour some of America’s most haunted destinations, from the remote, beautiful, and enchanting hot spot of Hawaii to the windy city of Chicago, Illinois, where ghosts are said to prowl the shores of Lake Michigan, in this frightening 5-DVD set.

Featuring in-depth profiles of the world’s scariest stories, HISTORY CLASSICS: AMERICA’S MOST HAUNTED PLACES also travels to Savannah, Georgia, an elegant Southern city where spirits have been known to lurk in the bucolic façade; the sun-baked desert of Tombstone, Arizona; and the famous landmarks of Washington, D.C.

Hear from people who claim to have been attacked by the warrior spirits of long-departed Hawaiians. Learn how the spirit of Abraham Lincoln; the presence of Ulysses S. Grant; and the ghosts of first ladies, military heroes, and famous politicians are still seen and felt in our nation’s capital, once called “the greatest town for ghosts in the country.” And take a memorable tour of one of the Old West’s most infamous towns, where history is soaked in blood, and the past lingers on in paranormal ways.

DISC 1: Haunted Tombstone
DISC 2: Haunted History: Washington, D.C.
DISC 3: Haunted Savannah
DISC 4: Haunted Hawaii
DISC 5: Haunted Chicago

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HISTORY Classics: Americas Most Haunted Places (DVD)

Director: The History Channel
Starring: Various
Rating: NR (Not Rated)

List Price:	$19.95 USD
New From:	$9.98 In Stock
Used from:	$14.97 In Stock
Release date September 6, 2011.

The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes To Town

For five groundbreaking seasons, Canadian-bred comic prodigies THE KIDS IN THE HALL stretched sketch comedy to its ultimate limits with hilariously off-the-wall results. Now they’ve returned with: THE KIDS IN THE HALL: DEATH COMES TO TOWN an 8-episode comedy series featuring the Kids playing all characters.

When Death gets off the Greyhound bus in small town Shuckton, Ontario, everyone in town is implicated when one of its most distinguished citizens is found murdered. As a suspect is arrested and the trial plays out, the entire town is affected and its dark secrets are unraveled and exposed.

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The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes To Town (DVD)

Starring: Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson
Rating: NR (Not Rated)

List Price:	$24.95 USD
New From:	$12.00 In Stock
Used from:	$11.99 In Stock
Release date May 24, 2011.

Devil's Diary

In the hands of high school kids, even an innocent diary can cause trouble. But when a group of small-town teenagers finds the “Devil's Diary,” a book that embodies the evil of Satan by physically manifesting any evil thought that is written in it, all hell breaks loose. Unearthed after centuries of concealment, the Devil's Diary wreaks havoc and destruction on the high school students who found it, and their entire community. Can their town be saved from complete ruin?

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Devil's Diary (DVD)

Director: Lifetime
Starring: Alexz Johnson, Miriam McDonald
Rating: Unrated

List Price:	$14.95 USD
New From:	$4.65 In Stock
Used from:	$4.14 In Stock
Release date August 24, 2010.

The Nostradamus Files Collection

Examine the eerie predictions of history’s greatest prophet in this doomsday-themed collection from HISTORY™. Nostradamus’ apocalyptic visions and other ancient prophecies that promise a major – and perhaps catastrophic – change to life as we know it are explored in two exciting and insightful documentaries.

Many people have believed that we are approaching a year of unprecedented, and even deadly, upheaval. Are there real, verifiable connections between the prophecies of the past and what is happening in the world today? Are the signs of the apocalypse happening before our eyes? More importantly, could the ancient prophecies of a coming apocalypse be realized today?

THE NOSTRADAMUS FILES COLLECTION includes: The Lost Book of Nostradamus; and Nostradamus 2012.

BONUS FEATURES:

Feature length documentary: Nostradamus: 500 Years Later
Additional Footage: The Sun
The Egyptians
End of Time
The Hopi
The Masons

DISC 1: The Lost Book of Nostradamus / Bonus Nostradamus: 500 Years Later

DISC 2: Nostradamus 2012 / Bonus additional footage

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The Nostradamus Files (DVD)

Director: Kreg Lauterbach, Andy Pickard
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)

List Price:	$19.95 USD
New From:	$1.78 In Stock
Used from:	$3.94 In Stock
Release date October 27, 2009.

Zorro - The Complete Series

“Out of the night a hero must rise with courage that even a mask can’t disguise!” So begins the adventures of ZORRO — swordsman, scientist and relentless defender of the oppressed. In early 19th century Spanish California, a corrupt Alcalde (mayor) grows rich by terrorizing the good people of Los Angeles. Young and dashing Don Diego de la Vega (Duncan Regehr), pretending to care only for science and study, secretly creates a bold alter-ego: Zorro — the Fox.

Aided by his mute servant Felipe, inspired by the faith of the beautiful tavern-keeper Victoria, and carried into battle by the mighty steed Toronado, Zorro thwarts the Alcalde’s plots at every turn.

Filmed entirely in Madrid, Spain, ZORRO aired on The Family Channel for four seasons, from 1990-1993. Still a tremendous fan favorite, ZORRO is renowned for its swashbuckling family-friendly adventure as well as its top-notch cast of featured characters and guests, including Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Don Alejandro de la Vega, Daniel Craig, Andre the Giant, Philip Michael Thomas, Jesse Ventura and Adam West.

For the first time ever, all 88 episodes have been collected in one DVD set, including a bonus disk with classic Zorro films, an alternate series pilot and much more.

BONUS FEATURES:

THE ZORRO ARCHIVES - An exclusive bonus disc presenting some of the masked defender’s most influential appearances as well as rare behind-the-scenes material from the 1990 series:
The Mark of Zorro starring Douglas Fairbanks —the Original Full-Length Silent Film That Defined the “Swashbuckler” Genre
Chapter 1 of the 1939 Theatrical Serial Zorro’s Fighting Legion
Trailers for the Serials Zorro’s Fighting Legion, Zorro’s Black Whip and Zorro Rides Again
The Original, Never-Before-Released Pilot for the New World Zorro
A Photo Gallery from the New World Zorro

BONUS DISC: The legend of Zorro truly begins in 1919, with the publication of Johnston McCulley’s story, The Curse of Capistrano. A year later, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford produced The Mark of Zorro — with Fairbanks as the title character — as the inaugural film for their new studio, United Artists. Since then, the character has inspired more than 40 films and nearly a dozen TV series. The Zorro Archives includes some of the masked defender’s most influential appearances as well as rare behind-the-scenes material from the 1990 series.

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Zorro: The Complete Series (DVD)

Starring: Duncan Regehr, James Victor, Juan Diego Botto, Patrice Martinez
Rating: NR (Not Rated)

List Price:	$99.95 USD
New From:	$49.98 In Stock
Used from:	$43.98 In Stock
Release date January 25, 2011.

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Wrong Turn 4 DVD Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:11:26 +0000

Win a DVD copy of WRONG TURN 4: BLOODY BEGINNINGS, out on October 25

Before their victims ever hit a “Dead End,” one family took terror to a gruesome new level. In 1974, Glenville Sanatorium was the site of a brutal and horrific crime, as three hideously deformed cannibals went on a merciless killing spree.

Now, years later, a group of college kids having the time of their life make a fateful wrong turn, giving this family of blood-thirsty cannibals new prey to stalk. The abandoned medical wards within the sanatorium soon become killing fields as the panicked victims come face to face with a chilling choice: fight back or die.

With bonus footage too graphic for theaters, including behind-the-scenes featurettes and commentary from director Declan O’Brien (Wrong Turn 3, Sharktopus), WRONG TURN 4: Bloody Beginnings takes audiences back to the most terrifying place of all… the beginning.

For your chance to win one of three available copies of Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings on DVD, simply answer the following question:

Who directed Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings?

• Rob Schmidt

• Declan O’Brien

• Joe Lynch

Leave a comment below with your answer to be automatically entered. Winners will be randomly selected on October 25th! U.S. only.

WRONG TURN 4: Bloody Beginnings Special Features

Feature Commentary from Director Declan O’Brien
Director’s Die-aries
Making Another Wrong Turn
Lifestyles of the Sick and Infamous
Music Video Featuring The Black Out City Kids

Follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on: Twitter @FoxHomeEnt

Also, be sure to check out the Cannibal Cookbook here - https://apps.facebook.com/249019378478168/

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The Heart Specialist DVD Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:14:38 +0000

Win a DVD copy of the Heartwarming Romantic Comedy Featuring an All-Star Ensemble Cast Headlined by Zoe Saldana, Wood Harris and Brian J. White

In the world of modern romance, there are players and there are experts. But when you want to trade your swagger for a sweetheart… you need a specialist. Get ready for some heart-stopping, jaw-dropping comedy when the hilarious romantic indie film THE HEART SPECIALIST drops onto Blu-ray and DVD on October 4 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Making its debut at the Boston Film Festival (“Audience Award” winner) and the Urban World Film Festival (“Best Film” winner), THE HEART SPECIALIST tickles the funny bone as it resuscitates the love lives of a sassy cast of characters.

Smooth-talking lothario Ray Howard (Brian J. White, “Men of a Certain Age”), a young Harvard Medical School graduate, arrives for his internship at a hospital in South Florida to pursue his ex-girlfriend Valerie (Grammy Award®-winner Mya, Chicago) who can’t forgive his womanizing ways. When his supervisor, Dr. Sidney Zachary (NAACP Image Award®-nominee Wood Harris, “The Wire”), discovers that Ray has put the moves on his own girlfriend, nurse Donna (BET Award®-winner Zoe Saldana, Avatar, Star Trek), the two conspire with the rest of the hospital staff, patients, and friends to teach Ray a lesson—not just about medicine, but also about true love.

THE HEART SPECIALIST features stellar supporting performances from Marla Gibbs (“The Jeffersons”), Leon Robinson (Cool Runnings), Method Man (How High), Thomas ‘Nephew Tommy’Miles (“The Mo’Nique Show”), Jasmine Guy (“Another World”), Scott Paulin (“Castle”), Kenneth Choi (Captain America: The First Avenger), Terrence J (“106 & Park”), and comic legend Ed Asner (Up).

I have three copies of this available for you to win, so jump in.

To win a copy of this DVD, simply answer the following question:

What does Ray get a lesson in?

• Manners

• True love

• Hygiene

Winners will be randomly selected on October 14th! (I have to be able to contact you somehow)

Follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Twitter @FoxHomeEnt

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The Hour Blu-Ray Review And Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:14:58 +0000

BBC's The Hour, also seen on BBC America, is one of the most gripping series to come along in recent memory. Set in 1956, the story is about a team working at the BBC to put together a new news program, The Hour. Freddie Lyon (Ben Whishaw) has worked at the BBC for some time, and has mostly made a name for himself as a renegade few people are particularly interested in working with. When the new show begins to form, his best friend, the gorgeous Bel Rowley (Romola Garai) gets the producing nod.

You'd think it was the perfect fit, but Freddie and Bel have a sort of love/hate relationship, and his penchant for wild antics isn't outrageously helpful to Bel, who has to prove herself capable in a job not often offered to women. Not only is Freddie apt to push the boundaries, but having Bel as his boss is liable to lead him to take even more liberties.

On the agenda for the six-episode story are: the Suez canal situation and the British government's involvement in The Hour not saying anything negative about it, the death of two of Freddie's friends by extremely strange circumstances, possibly involving the fact that they may or may not have been spies, and the love triangle between Freddie, Bel, and the face of The Hour, Hector Madden (Dominic West), who is married, but nevertheless hell bent on seducing Bel.

While certain elements come off a bit stagy (a certain chase-ish scene resulting a death, as one example), the overall production is remarkable, and delivers more honest drama than you're likely to find on television without the most exhaustive of searches. With virtually nothing to go on, and no particular skills, Freddie digs for the truth about what happened to his lifelong friend simply by poking incessantly until something has to give.

What stands out most about the show is that it is not simply dedicated to the tension and suspense of a show filled with spies and government conspiracy, but houses all this within the greater construct of the people working to put out a news program during the fairly early days of television. There are strange clues, mysterious events, and shadowy characters, but it's still an office, most people know nothing of what's happening, and life goes on.

Too much cannot be said for the writing, which is sharper and put together better than the vast majority of programming, fitting all the fun, drama, and intrigue of most 20+ episode series into six episodes. But, the actors sell it all so well that it couldn't have had the same punch without them. Ben Whishaw creates the perfect combination of everyman and determined, intelligent, obnoxious newshound. The ability level is the same throughout the cast, something that is rare in this day and age, and that includes the furthest reaches of the supporting cast. Burn Gorman (who some may remember from Torchwood) is especially good as the "man with no facial expressions," who delivers an incredible chill whenever he shows his face.

Put together obviously with a different take on entertaining, the show clearly takes notes from some of the classic shows from the time period it portrays, teasing and pulling the audience in a way that is all but abandoned now. You'll be lucky to avoid watching all six episodes back-to-back, and you might want to bear that in mind before you begin.

The final nail is perhaps just a bit anti-climactic, but the ride getting there is of instant classic status. It's the most fun I've had watching television in several years.

Rating: ★★★★★

The Blu-Ray offers up superb video quality, though this is perhaps not something that really showcases the possibilities of Blu-Ray. It makes for an interesting meld actually, as we have a show that is trying to put out the look and feel of early television and a bygone era, and we can watch it in stunning HD. There are several key points where you will appreciate the ability, especially when it comes to a few shadowy scenes, but overall the massive detail is not quite the thing here.

A couple of bonus featurettes are included: Creating The Hour, a look at the set design, which is actually far more interesting than one might expect, and a pretty standard Behind-the-Scene effort. Though not absolutely anything that necessarily appeals to fans of the show, the set design featurette is well worth watching, because getting the mid-50s to come through is a trickier affair than you think.

Own it on Blu-Ray and DVD - See Amazon Link Below

Win Your Copy Here!

I'm making this one a Facebook giveaway. If you're a Fan (Liker) already, you're done! If not, find the little box on the right, and Like us.

Winner will be randomly selected on October 23rd, and contacted via Facebook.

Available on Blu-Ray and DVD, The Hour, is an intriguing, sexy and original, edge-of-your-seat spy thriller set in the world of television journalism in 1956. The two-disc DVD and Blu-ray sets include two featurettes: a behind-the-scenes look at the miniseries, a making of special and much more.

Official Site: http://bit.ly/noJs2Z

Synopsis:

Set behind the scenes of the BBC newsroom, just as an investigative news program is launched, the drama plots the personal lives, professional interplay and jealous ambition between aspiring but renegade journalist Freddie Lyon (Whishaw), the beautiful ambitious young producer Bel Rowley (Garai) with whom he is in love, and his handsome rival Hector Madden (West), the face and lead anchorman of this rising television news team. The Hour plays out as a riveting thriller set against the backdrop of the Cold War.

Viewers witness the decade on the threshold of change – from the ruthless sexual politics behind the polite social façade of the ‘50s to the revelations that redefined the world for a new generation. Over the six episodes, the interplay and intense ambitions between the rising news team plays out against the backdrop of a mysterious murder and Freddie's controversial and dangerous investigation.

RU?

Prime Suspect The Complete Collection (UK) DVD Review And Giveaway

Marc Eastman — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:38:13 +0000

Few shows need less endorsement or introduction than the original Prime Suspect with Helen Mirren. First airing at the beginning of the '90s, and running through to 2006, the span of time will be immediately misleading to American audiences. The show ran as "series," which went from two to four hours, with great gaps between the airing of one series and the next. Playing more like installments of a movie series than anything American television will prepare one for, the show spans the majority of the career of its star, despite only involving less than a dozen cases in seven "series."

The show focuses on Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison (Mirren), and her effort to make her way through the male-dominated world that is the police force. Not only did the show take on the most serious of cases, but it gave us a character who was herself thoroughly flawed, and ultimately changed the landscape of police dramas, and influenced every worthwhile effort to come along since the mid-'90s.

Constantly battling cigarettes, sexism, and bad guys who are often too horrible to contemplate, Jane can't give up a case until she has everything tied up as neat as possible, and her own personality is often what most stands in her way.

The early series largely deal with the difficulties of being a cop in general, and the nearly impossible task of earning the respect of your fellow detectives, but the cases are also well-written, and lend their own drama to Jane's life. Few shows have so aptly demonstrated the fact that being a police detective is not a job you actually get to go home from.

As the "episodes" move on, Jane deals with politics, switches locations, and deals with her position in the force as much as with the case at hand. But, the show never bogs down in these details. Instead, it pushes 'with' them, and delivers the case-specific drama all the more effectually for having made Jane a real and complex character, and showcasing her actions, reactions, and attitudes as the result of her entire life.

Far from the police procedurals many may be used to, with largely bland, archetype and/or caricature detectives, who are at best a "kind of cop," as opposed to any truly specific person, Prime Suspect was far more about Jane herself than the cases she worked. Though a great many shows still work from an opposite perspective, whereby the cast is ultimately replaceable, however we may love them, Prime Suspect paved the way for steering away from that trend, and it is a trend that has continued to gain steam all the way to the new, American version of the very show itself.

Dark, gritty, and far more focused on how life for a detective actually plays out (at home, and on the often tedious job), the show still managed to put out some gripping cases, and gave them to you better than any show before or since.

Running through the series with the complete collection is actually a wonderfully unique viewing experience, and odd as it may sound, there's something about it that feels a bit like cheating. It's a very interesting overall ordeal to go through the full adventure as it was presented. It is perhaps in much the way that sitting down to watch all the Bond films one after the other might feel a bit strange. It's not exactly something that takes away from the show, but to go in a few days from the first crack at a case to moving toward retirement just isn't the same. Much as having this DVD collection is a treasure, those who watched the series during their original airings watched something slightly different than what you will be watching, and its a shame there is now way to share the watching of that thing.

At any rate, this amazing and historically relevant show is now available on DVD, and the collection should not be missed. It isn't especially loaded with bonuses (and it ought to be), but you do get a few good treats with it. A behind-the-scenes special runs for about an hour, and gives a nice portrayal of the many actors involved with the production over the years. A behind-the-scenes featurette for Series Six is a bit more interesting, even if it only plays half as long, largely as a result of the fact that the entire show is too much ground to adequately cover. There are also cast bios, and a photo gallery.

I'd easily give the show itself five stars, and the DVD release is pretty much worth that rating just because of the show as well. On the other hand, there might have been a little more zing involved, and I have to knock off a bit for the lack of flair that this show deserves.

Rating: ★★★★½

Oscar® winner Helen Mirren is Detective Jane Tennison, "one of the great character creations of our time" (Washington Post), in a series that won more than 20 major international awards and raised the bar for police dramas. Tenacious, driven, and deeply flawed, Tennison rises through the ranks of Britain’s Metropolitan Police, solving horrific crimes while battling office sexism and her own demons. Set includes all 7 series of the Emmy®-winning crime drama seen on PBS. "A masterpiece"—USA Today. Approx. 25 hours on 9 DVDs. SDH subtitles (series 1–6), CC (series 7). For mature audiences.

Win Yours Here!

I'm going to make this one a Facebook Fan (Liker) giveaway. For your chance to win this and many other great prizes in the future, all you need to do is be a Liker (find the box to the right). It's that simple.

Winner will be randomly selected on October 14th, and contacted via Facebook.

Please Share and Tweet and whatever else you can think of. It helps keep such giveaways coming.

RU?

Top Shot Season 3 Prize Pack Giveaway And Facebook App – The Gauntlet

Marc Eastman — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:46:37 +0000

I hope you've been watching Top Shot, and I hope you've enjoyed some of the truly amazing competitions this time around, even if you had to sit through various installments of "Jake is a tool," along the way. Seriously though, there were cannons!

I've got a cool prize pack giveaway for three lucky winners, and I wanted to make sure that everyone knows about the Facebook App as well. It's a fantasy game called The Gauntlet, and it works by choosing your competitors, and making predictions. It's pretty cool, and there are a lot of prizes available.

Top Shot Fantasy Game: The Gauntlet https://apps.facebook.com/topshotthegauntlet/ where Top Shot fans can make predictions of who they think will walk away with the Season 3 title and the $100,000 grand prize. Each week, fans will be allowed to arrange the players in the order in which they think they will be eliminated to earn points. The final Top 10 players will receive a Top Shot Prize Pack that includes a $100 Bass Pro Shops gift card, Top Shot Season 1 and Season 2 DVD sets, t-shirt, shot glass, and an iPhone case.

The giveaway I have for you is for a Top Shot T-Shirt, Season 2 DVD, and a Top Shot iPhone case. (Season One is in the picture below, but it's Season Two you'll be getting.

To enter -

Leave a comment below, and let me know who your pick is to win the whole thing this season. That's it.

3 winners will be randomly selected on October 4th.

RU?

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Own it on Blu-Ray and DVD - See Amazon Link Below

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