Kris Deering

Video: 4/5
Audio: 4/5
Extras: 4/5
Just in time for the second installments launch in theaters, Disney brings their big budget The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe to Blu-ray as a 2-disc special edition. I have to admit I wasn't the biggest fan of this film when I saw it originally in theaters. I usually go for this kind of film but this one just didn't strike a chord with me at all. On this second viewing my feelings are pretty much the same. I just have trouble connecting with the characters and I don't like the toned down nature of the film. Obviously Disney wanted something that would be family friendly but I think this hurts the scope and emotional impact. Warner has managed to balance these issues with their popular Harry Potter series, but Disney missed that mark in my opinion. Nevertheless audiences seemed to love this one given its box office haul so I'm sure there are plenty of fans eager to see it on Blu-ray. One word of note though, this is the theatrical cut of the film. An extended edition was released on DVD sometime ago and I was honestly surprised it was not included for this release.

Video: 4.25/5
Audio: 4.25/5
Extras: 4/5
When their ship crash-lands on a remote planet, the marooned passengers soon learn that escaped convict Riddick isn't the only thing they have to fear. Deadly creatures lurk in the shadows, waiting to attack in the dark, and the planet is rapidly plunging into the utter blackness of a total eclipse. With the body count rising, the doomed survivors are forced to turn to Riddick with his eerie eyes to guide them through the darkness to safety. With time running out, there's only one rule: Stay in the light.

Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4.25/5
Extras: 2/5
While pulling a down-and-dirty jewelry heist on a subway train, Jack encounters Ripley, a legendary thief who was casing the same job. In spite of Jack's initial reluctance, Ripley manages to rope him into helping pull off an impossible job: the theft of two previously undiscovered Faberge Imperial Eggs from the heavily guarded vault of a New York diamond wholesaler. The vault, unfortunately, is controlled by former KGB operatives who are secretly looting the Russian National Treasury. To add more stress to the situation, Ripley's beautiful goddaughter Alex has a romantic liaison with Jack, which causes additional strain to their fragile partnership. Staying one step ahead of the NYPD, the FBI, the diamond merchants and a vicious Russian crime boss determined to have the priceless eggs for himself, Jack and Ripley must figure out how to pull the heist and make it out alive without betraying one another, or themselves.

Video: 4/5
Audio: 4.25/5
Extras: 3.25/5
While on a hiking trip to reconnect with his son after the death of his wife, Ray Keene stumbles into a nightmare scenario of paid assassins and ex-military guns-for-hire. Frank Cardin is attempting to fulfill a contract to assassinate a high profile businessman when things go awry and he ends up in the custody of the U.S. Marshalls. After an ill-fated attempt by his compatriots to free him Frank finds himself in the custody of ex-lawman Ray and his son. As the trio tries to make their way back to civilization they are relentlessly pursued by Frank's friends who are intent on freeing their leader in order to collect on the contract. But one pursuer may be more foe than friend.