Blu-ray Movie Reviews

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Despicable Me (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Dec 12, 2010  |  First Published: Dec 13, 2010  | 
Looking to gain the title of "World's Greatest Villain," Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) adopts three orphans in order to steal a shrinking machine from his nemesis, Vector (Jason Segel). What he didn't count on was the three girls changing his outlook on the world and he'll stop at nothing to protect them.

The marketing campaign for this film stunk and I had no desire to see it in the theaters (and neither did my kids) but was willing to give it a try on Blu-ray. Surprisingly there's a touching story behind the fantastic animation as the villain becomes the hero and discovers he does have a heart buried beneath his evil exterior.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Ocean's 11: 50th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Dec 10, 2010  | 
Eleven WWII veterans reunite for New Years Eve to rob five Las Vegas casinos. Everything goes as planned until one of the men dies of a heart attack and Duke Santos (Cesar Romero) figures out their scheme and wants a cut of the action.

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Angie Dickinson, and Cesar Romero—what a cast! Unfortunately the entertainment value pales in comparison to the 2001 Steven Soderbergh remake. Sure, it's fun to see the rat pack strut around and witnessing the state of the Las Vegas strip 50 years ago, but the pacing is a tad slow (like most 1960s films) and the acting is laughable from some of the stars.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Inception (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Dec 06, 2010  | 
Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief and coveted player when it comes to extraction: the stealing of valuable secrets from deep within the mind during a subject's dream state. His skill has turned him into an international fugitive and he is now being offered a chance at redemption. But only if he can pull off the impossible—inception—not stealing an idea but planting one.

It's very rare that I'm blown-away by a movie, but that's certainly the case here. Christopher Nolan has solidified himself as one of the best writers/directors in Hollywood with his work over the last 10 years includes Memento, Insomnia, The Prestige, and reshaping the Batman franchise, but this is his best work yet.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Devil—Universal (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Dec 03, 2010  | 
Video: 4/5
Audio: 4.5/5
Extras: 3/5
Trapped in an elevator high above Philadelphia, five people discover that the Devil is among them – and no one can escape their fate. This chilling, supernatural thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to a heart-stopping ending with a truly wicked twist.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Meet the Parents & Meet the Fockers (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Dec 03, 2010  | 
Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) is a male nurse who is ready to propose to his girlfriend Pam (Teri Palo) during a weekend visit to her parents' home, but her father (Robert De Niro) takes an immediate dislike to him. Despite his best efforts, Greg can't seem to make any headway with the old man, and disaster looms around every corner.

In the hilarious sequel, Greg is set the marry Pam, and the pair travel via motor home to meet Greg's parents, but there's a catch. Pam's parents decide to make the trip, and when the two families get together, they realize how different they are.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Shrek: The Whole Story—Dreamworks Animation (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Dec 03, 2010  | 
Video: 5/5
Audio: 5/5
Extras: 4/5
Relive every moment of Shrek's incredible journey from the hilarious beginning to the magical and heartwarming Final Chapter. All four discs feature hours of all-new extras and the brand new, limited-edition "Donkey's Christmas Shrektakular". A hilarious holiday program that is a perfect holiday treat for the whole family, "Donkey's Christmas Shrektakular" will be available for a limited time only and features all your favorite characters as they perform classic holiday songs with Shrek-ized lyrics, as well as "Shrek's Yule Log," featuring over 25 uproarious character appearances in front of a crackling virtual fireplace.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Inception—Warner Bros Pictures (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Dec 03, 2010  | 
Video: 5/5
Audio: 5/5
Extras: 4/5
Dom Cobb is the best there is at extraction: stealing valuable secrets inside the subconscious during the mind's vulnerable dream state. His skill has made him a coveted player in industrial espionage but also has made him a fugitive and cost him dearly. Now he may get a second chance if he can do the impossible: inception, planting an idea rather than stealing one. If they succeed, Cobb and his team could pull off the perfect crime. But no planning or expertise can prepare them for a dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy only Cobb could have seen coming.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Knight and Day—20th Century Fox (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Dec 03, 2010  | 
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4.5/5
Extras: 3.5/5
Tom Cruise is a covert agent sent on a mission he was never meant to complete, and Cameron Diaz is a woman caught between the agent and those he claims set him up. As their globetrotting adventure erupts into a maze of double-crosses, close escapes and false identities, they come to realize all they can count on is each other.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Nanny McPhee Returns—Universal (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Dec 03, 2010  | 
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4.5/5
Extras: 2/5
When Nanny McPhee appears at the farmhouse door of a busy young mother, Isabel Green, she discovers that Mrs. Green's children are in an all0out household war with their two spoiled city cousins. Relying on everything from a flying motorcycle and statue that comes to life, to tree-climbing piglet an and elephant that turns up in the oddest places, Nanny McPhee uses her magic to show the children five valuable lessons, the most important of which is learning how to get along.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Fantasia/Fantasia 2000 (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Dec 01, 2010  | 
Initially released by Walt Disney in 1940 as a "road show" release, Fantasia has gone on to become one of the most popular movies of all time. Featuring the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski, the film has eight musical pieces set to wonderful animation and is narrated by Deems Taylor. (Interestingly, while the music was recorded by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the on-screen musicians seen in silhouette between the musical selections were members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and UAV editor Scott Wilkinson's grandfather was one of them.)

Fulfilling Walt Disney's original vision of continuing to create unique fusions of animation and classical music, Fantasia 2000 picks up where the first one left off with seven completely new segments and the return of the popular "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." Roy E. Disney orchestrated a collaboration of more than 1200 artists and technicians to present this tour de force.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Nov 29, 2010  | 
Dave (Jay Baruchel) is not your average NYU student; he's the heir to Merlin's powerful magic. Recruited by the sorcerer Balthazar Blake (Nicholas Cage) to help him battle the forces of darkness in modern-day Manhattan, he's forced into a crash course in the art and science of magic. Can he fulfill his destiny?

Loosely based on Fantasia's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure) reunite to deliver an over-the-top thrill ride. Cage and Baruchel are awesome as master and apprentice who persevere through an overcomplicated script. The action scenes are extremely well shot and the CGI is quite good, especially when Dave coerces the mop into cleaning duty.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Avatar: Extended Collector’s Edition—20th Century Fox (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Nov 26, 2010  | 
Video: 5/5
Audio: 5/5
Extras: 4.5/5
The journey continues with all three movie versions, including the exclusive Extended Cut not shown in theaters, plus an in-depth, feature-length look at the film's groundbreaking production, additional deleted scenes and more. The greatest adventure of all time just got bigger... and better! "Avatar" takes us to a spectacular world beyond imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on an epic adventure, ultimately fighting to save the alien world he has learned to call home. We enter the alien world through the eyes of Jake Sully, a former Marine confined to a wheelchair. He is recruited to travel light years to the human outpost of Pandora, where corporations are mining a rare mineral that is the key to solving the Earth's energy crisis. Because the atmosphere of Pandora is toxic, they have created the Avatar Program, in which human "drivers" have their consciousness linked to an avatar, a remotely controlled biological body that can survive in the lethal air. Reborn in his avatar form, Jake can walk again. He is given a mission to infiltrate the Na'vi, who have become a major obstacle to mining the precious ore. Jake is taken in by a beautiful Na'vi female, Neytiri, after she saves his life. As Jake's relationship with his reluctant teacher deepens, he learns to respect the Na'vi way and finally takes a place among them. Soon he will face the ultimate test as he leads the Na'vi in an epic battle that will decide nothing less than the fate of an entire world.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Extra Man—Magnolia (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Nov 26, 2010  | 
Video: 4/5
Audio: 4/5
Extras: 3.5/5
Aspiring playwright Louis Ives moves to New York, taking an environmental job with a beautiful, enfatuating co-worker. Louis rents a room from an eccentric former playwright who moonlights as an "extra man," a social escort for the wealthy widows of Manhattan high society. The two men develop a volatile mentorship, which leads to a series of comic adventures.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Fantasia/Fantasia 2000—Walt Disney Pictures (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Nov 26, 2010  | 
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4.5/5
Extras: 4/5
Walt Disney's animated musical masterpiece is an extravaganza of sight and sound - now brilliantly restored for the first time ever in high definition! Blu-ray technology finally allows you to experience "Fantasia" - and "Fantasia 2000", the triumphant classic it inspired - the way Walt envisioned! Plus, for the first time ever on Blu-ray, experience the 2003 Academy Award nominated animated short "Destino" the extraordinary collaboration between Walt Disney and legendary artist Salvador Dali! Revealing new bonus features and commentary bring the "Fantasia" experience to life, allowing generations of moviegoers all over the world to enjoy this timeless classic like never before. See the music come to life, hear the pictures burst into song and experience the excitement that is "Fantasia" over and over again.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice—Walt Disney Pictures (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Nov 26, 2010  | 
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 5/5
Extras: 3.5/5
Balthazar Blake is a modern-day sorcerer with his hands full defending Manhattan against dark forces. When a seemingly average kid shows hidden potential, Balthazar takes his reluctant recruit on a crash course in the art and science of magic to become the ultimate sorcerer's apprentice. Experience more extraordinary thrills, heart-stopping action and spectacular special effects than you can imagine as these unlikely partners show us that the real world is far more magical than we ever knew.
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