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Review: Graham Nolan’s “Monster Island” 20th Anniversary Edition

I’ve recently spent some time in the Syracuse University Archives researching old comic strips. It turns out they have an incredible collection of original artwork by top tier comic artists – everyone from Hal Foster to Frank Robbins.  It’s quite a thrill and every time I view these originals I feel like a kid who’s successfully raided the cookie jar – and got away with it.

That’s how the new Monster Island book made me feel.  You might remember Graham Nolan’s independent comic from about 20 years ago.  It was a kick to follow along as two military folks fight their way across an island full of monsters.  And it’s not Frankenstein or the Wolfman – these are monsters in the classic Kirby-Atlas Comics or Godzilla-TOHO studios mold. Big and scary and nutty and goofy and fun. My kinda monsters.

You’ve seen this format before. Scott Dunbier and IDW have essentially created the category we all call Artist’s Editions. These books are shot from the original pages complete with production notes, blemishes, corrections and handwritten scrawls. Reading one of these is the closest most of us will ever come to holding the original art in our hands for one sitting.

Graham Nolan is a strong artist, and he’s also a strong storyteller. He’s got a vibrant visual sense (I’ve been a fan since the old Hawkword series) and here, as the writer, he’s able to introduce big concepts and keep the story moving, all the while helping readers get to know the cute couple at the center of the story.

This volume is even more fun as it includes extras. Some as you’d expect, like the character sketches, are wonderful and whimsical. Of note are the comic strip versions of Monster Island. Years ago, Graham Nolan had repackaged the strip to sell to a newspaper syndication. His efforts never went anywhere (it’s a shame, as this thriller lends itself to this format), but it did lead to him getting the gig penciling the Phantom for several years.

The story is fun, but beyond that, I find Nolan’s efforts inspirational. He comes across as the kind of guy who has a vision and puts in the hours to see if he can make it a reality.

Kudos to him -and I am sure he has inspired up and coming creatives over the years.

Farscape The Complete Series on Blu-ray Celebrates 20 Years

Farscape The Complete Series on Blu-ray Celebrates 20 Years

SYNOPSIS

Astronaut John Crichton assumes he’ll be home in time for dinner. But a freak accident during an experimental space mission catapults him across a thousand galaxies to an alien battlefield. Suddenly, he’s trapped among alien creatures wielding deadly technology – a battle that 20th century sci-fi pop culture never prepared him for. Hunted by a merciless military race, Crichton begins his unforgettable quest for home. Celebrate the 20th anniversary of this groundbreaking, epic sci-fi adventure that has become a fan favorite around the world.

 
BLU-RAY BONUS MATERIALS

  • Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars 2-part Finale Miniseries
  • Audio Commentaries
  • Archival Documentaries, Featurettes and Inside Looks
  • Behind-the-Scenes Interviews
  • Deleted & Director’s Cut Scenes
  • Alternate Version of the Season 2 Premiere
  • TV Promos
  • AND MORE!

CAST AND CREW

Creator: Rockne S. O’Bannon
Executive Producers: Rockne S. O’Bannon, Robert A. Halmi, David Kemper, Brian Henson, Richard Manning
Cast: Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Gigi Edgley, Anthony Simcoe, Virginia Hey, Lani John Tupu, Jonathan Hardy
 

SPECS

1080p 1.33:1 / 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
5.1 DTS-HD MA English Audio

Guillermo del Toro Talks Pan’s Labyrinth

Guillermo del Toro Talks Pan’s Labyrinth

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s Pan’s Labyrinth, the highly-acclaimed 2006 modern day dark fairy tale written and directed by Academy Award-winner Guillermo del Toro, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on October 1.

47 Meters Down: Uncaged Dives for Home

47 Meters Down: Uncaged Dives for Home

SANTA MONICA, CA (September 25, 2019) – The fear goes deeper in this thrilling, must-see underwater sequel when 47 Meters Down: Uncaged arrives on Digital 4K Ultra HD October 29 and on Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand November 12 from global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B). Starring Sophie Nélisse (The Great Gilly Hopkins), Corinne Foxx (Beat Shazam), Brianne Tju (Light as a Feather, iZombie), Sistine Rose Stallone (Entertainment Tonight), Khylin Rhambo (Teen Wolf, Ender’s Game), Nia Long (Empire, Are We There Yet?), Brec Bassinger (Bella and the Bulldogs), and John Corbett (The Silence), the terrifying, claustrophobic film has everything you could want from a killer shark movie.
 
Directed by Johannes Roberts and written by Roberts and Ernest Riera, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged follows the diving adventure of four teenage girls exploring a submerged Mayan city. Once inside, their rush of excitement turns into a jolt of terror as they discover the sunken ruins are a hunting ground for deadly great white sharks. With their air supply steadily dwindling, the friends must navigate the underwater labyrinth of claustrophobic caves and eerie tunnels in search of a way out of their watery hell.
 
Take home 47 Meters Down: Uncaged and immerse yourself in the underwater world with exclusive special features, including audio commentary with writer-director Johannes Roberts, producer James Harris, and writer Ernest Riera; as well as the “Diving Deeper: Uncaging 47 Meters Down” featurette. The Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.99 and $29.95, respectively.
 
BLU-RAY / DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Audio Commentary with Writer-Director Johannes Roberts, Producer James Harris, and Writer Ernest Riera 
  • Diving Deeper: Uncaging 47 Meters Down

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 2019
Title Copyright: © 2019 The Fyzz Facility Film 11 Ltd
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: PG-13 for creature related violence and terror, some bloody images and brief rude gestures.
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH
Feature Run Time: 90 Minutes
BD Format: 1080P 23.98 High Definition 16×9 (2.40:1) Widescreen Presentation
DVD Format: 16×9 (2.40:1) Widescreen Presentation
BD Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English Descriptive Audio
DVD Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio

The Handmaid’s Tale S3 Takes a Stand on Nov. 19

The Handmaid’s Tale S3 Takes a Stand on Nov. 19

LOS ANGELES (September 25, 2019) – The third season of the Emmy®, Golden Globe® and Peabody Award-winning series, The Handmaid’s Tale, is driven by titular handmaid June’s (Elisabeth Moss) resistance to the dystopian regime of Gilead, in which she finds herself once again after opting not to flee to Canada with her baby at the end of the second season. Now, she will struggle to strike back against the regime despite overwhelming odds. This season there are startling reunions, betrayals and a journey to the terrifying heart of Gilead that will force all of the characters to take a stand, guided by one defiant prayer: “Blessed be the fight.”
 
After two intense seasons, the women of Gilead are ready to strike back at the twisted fundamentalist regime that rules Gilead. They’re armed with a plan and will band together to pull off a bold and daring attack. With an exclusive bonus feature entitled “Power Play: Gilead’s Women Fight Back,” get a look at how these women have come into their power and what this means for the future of Gilead. Serena Joy is done trying to be the dutiful wife and goes against her husband (and Gilead) in order to get what she truly wants (her daughter Nicole) and June is done playing by Gilead’s rules. She has made alliances with her new Commander and the Martha network in order to save the children living in Gilead.
 
Season three includes Emmy® Award winners Cherry Jones and Bradley Whitford who won in the Guest Actress and Guest Actor categories for their performances in season two. The third season also welcomed Commander and Mrs. Winslow to the series, played by Christopher Meloni (Syfy’s Happy!, Law & Order: SVU) and Elizabeth Reaser (The Twilight Saga and Easy), joining series regulars Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Alexis Bledel, Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, Ann Dowd, O-T Fagbenle, Max Minghella and Samira Wiley.
 
The third season of The Handmaid’s Tale is executive produced by Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Elisabeth Moss, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, Eric Tuchman, Mike Barker, John Weber, Frank Siracusa, Sheila Hockin, Yahlin Chang and Kira Snyder. The Handmaid’s Tale is produced by MGM Television and internationally distributed by MGM.
 
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 3 Blu-rayTM & DVD Bonus Features

  • Power Play: Gilead’s Women Fight Back

The Handmaid’s Tale Season 3 Blu-rayTM Specifications
Street Date:                 November 19, 2019
Screen Format:           16×9, 2.00:1
Audio:                         English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French DTS 5.1
Subtitles:                     English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Spanish, French
Total Run Time:          Approx. 659 mins
 
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 3 DVD Specifications
Street Date:                 November 19, 2019        
Screen Format:           16×9, 2.00:1
Audio:                         English Dolby Digital 5.1              
Subtitles:                     English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Spanish, French
Total Run Time:          Approx. 659 mins

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark hits Homes in time for Halloween

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark hits Homes in time for Halloween

SANTA MONICA, CA (September 24, 2019) – Get ready to be absolutely terrified when Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark arrives on Digital October 22 and on 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand November 5 from global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B). The highly anticipated film adaptation of the iconic book series brings the thrills and chills of some of Alvin Schwartz’s scariest stories to life.
 
Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is produced by Academy Award® winner Guillermo del Toro (2017, The Shape of Water, Best Director), with screen story by Guillermo Del Toro and Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan, written for the screen by Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman, and directed by André Øvredal (The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Trollhunter). The film stars Zoe Margaret Colletti (Annie, Wildlife, Rubicon), Michael Garza (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, Wayward Pines, Timeless”, Dean Norris (Breaking Bad, Claws,” Scandal), Lorraine Toussaint (Selma, Into the Badlands, Orange is the New Black), Austin Zajur (Fist Fight, Wonder Pets!, Kidding), and Natalie Ganzhorn (The Stanley Dynamic, Make it Pop).
 
It’s 1968 in America. Change is blowing in the wind…but seemingly far removed from the unrest in the cities is the small town of Mill Valley, where for generations the shadow of the Bellows family has loomed large. It is in their mansion on the edge of town that Sarah, a young girl with horrible secrets, turned her tortured life into a series of scary stories, written in a book that has transcended time. For a group of teenagers who discover Sarah’s terrifying home, the stories become all too real in this spine-tingling film.
 
Take home Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and immerse yourself in the terrifying world with exclusive special features, including six featurettes on the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital releases and two featurettes on the DVD looking at the development of the creepiest creatures in the film, as well as the process of taking these classic tales from page to screen!  Experience four times the resolution of full HD with the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, which includes Dolby Vision, bringing entertainment to life through ultra-vivid picture quality. When compared to a standard picture, Dolby Vision can deliver spectacular colors never before seen on a screen, highlights that are up to 40 times brighter, and blacks that are 10 times darker.
 
 The Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $42.99, $39.99, and $29.95, respectively.

 
4K UHD / BLU-RAY / DIGITAL SPECIAL FEATURES

  •  “The Bellows Construct” Featurette
  • “Creature from the Shadows” Featurette
  • “Mood Reels” Featurette
  • “Behind-the-Scenes Trailers: Set Visits” Featurette
  • “Dark Tales” Featurette
  • “Retro Horror” Featurette

 
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • “Dark Tales” Featurette
  • “Retro Horror” Featurette
REVIEW: Anna

REVIEW: Anna

Luc Besson captured my attention with Léon the Professional in 1994 and since then, I’ve wanted to love everything he’s done, but the man is incredibly inconsistent so it’s as if every other film is worth a look. However, he hasn’t really scored since 2014’s Lucy. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets was a pretty misfire and now we have Anna.

The film, out now on disc from Lionsgate Home Entertainment, is another in a long line of admirable female empowerment tales. His French action-thriller has its moments, and a (literally) cheeky performance by Helen Mirren, but has a low-budget look and feel that never goes beyond the surface so every single character feels one-dimensional.

We are introduced to the latest find, Sasha Luss, a willowy blonde who can kick ass but pales in comparison to the far superior Atomic Blonde. At first, she is a down on her luck girlfriend to a drug dealing moron, but then gets recruited to work for Russian Intelligence, where she is trained to deadly perfection by Alex Tchenkov (Luke Evans), who then convinces KGB chief (or something, its unclear) Olga (Mirren) to take and use his new weapon.

Where the film succeeds best is its frequent time-bending storytelling so you only think you know what’s going on before they rewind and fill in some vital gaps. As a result, the story evolves and can intrigue you, but its utter vapidity and absurdness, staggers the imagination. Olga sends her into the field for a test with an unloaded gun and then we have the first of several high-octane set pieces that are too broad and comical to be taken seriously.

Along the way, she wearies of the life, and preferring to stay in at home with her model girlfriend Maud (Lera Abova) or find a way out of her career as a killer, undercover as a fashion model. She crosses paths with CIA officer Leonard Miller (Cillian Murphy) and he may offer her a ticket to paradise. Or not.

There’s a drabness to the photography, adding to a somber look with just flashes of color, usually Anna in various states of dress or undress. With the characters incredibly underwritten, a solid cast is given little to do except go through the paces and tick off the check marks. The action is either okay or over-the-top, unremarkable all around.

Such a weak state of affairs may explain is worldwide bomb at the box office, grossing under $30 million after a summer in theaters.

The film was released in an assortment of formats including Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD. Shot digitally, the native 2K high definition transfer is perfectly fine if as unexceptional as the film itself. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is up to the task for every punch and tire squeal.

There are a handful of average special features including Dressing a Doll: The Costumes of Anna (8:06); Anatomy of a Scene: The Restaurant Fight (6:41); Unnesting a Russian Doll: Making Anna (13:57); and Constructing the Car Chase (5:40).

Get your first look at SYFY’s “The Vagrant Queen”

Get your first look at SYFY’s “The Vagrant Queen”

The Vagrant Queen, written by Magdalene Visaggio, illustrated by Jason Smith, and published by Vault Comics, is coming to SYFY in 2020 in a new 10-episode, one-hour science fiction adventure series starring Adriyan Rae. What’s it about?

Former child queen Elida was driven from her throne at age ten and forced to wander the galaxy, evading the revolutionary forces that wanted her dead. When an old frenemy claims to know the whereabouts of Elida’s long-lost mother, she is forced to return to her former kingdom and stage a rescue.

So what do you think?

Oh, and if you want to see what the comic looks like, here’s a preview:

Young Justice Season 3 Disc Details Unveiled

Young Justice Season 3 Disc Details Unveiled

BURBANK, CA (September 18, 2019) – A new generation of heroes joins the Young Justice team just as they face their greatest challenge yet in Young Justice: Outsiders – The Complete Third Season. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC, the DC Universe Original Series’ enthralling third season arrives from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Digital starting September 24, 2019 and DVD ($24.98 SRP) on November 26, 2019. The DVD order due date is October 22, 2019.

Young Justice: Outsiders – The Complete Third Season will be available on Blu-rayTM courtesy of Warner Archive Collection. The Blu-rayTM release includes all 26 episodes on the DVD and is also arriving November 26, 2019. Warner Archive Blu-ray releases are found at wb.com/warnerarchive and your favorite online retailer.

In Young Justice: Outsiders – The Complete Third Season, our heroes have survived the schemes of the Light and saved the Earth from the Reach Invasion – but the worst has yet to come. Now someone is kidnapping teens and transforming them into super-powered weapons! Meta-Human trafficking is a terrifying threat to a society caught in the crossfire of a genetic arms race spanning the globe and the galaxy. Now Nightwing, Superboy, Miss Martian, Tigress, Aqualad and Black Lightning will need help from a new group of young heroes to save the world from the war games of Super-Villains controlling the system from the inside. What’s needed … is a team of Outsiders. 

Young Justice: Outsiders – The Complete Third Season boasts a stellar core cast that features Troy Baker, Danica McKellar, Crispin Freeman, Khary Payton, Nolan North, Stephanie Lemelin, Jesse McCartney, Jason Marsden, Bruce Greenwood, Mae Whitman, Grey Griffin, Vanessa Marshall, Maggie Q, Alyson Stoner, Zehra Fazal, Yuri Lowenthal, Jason Spisak, Josh Keaton, Kelly Hu and Greg Cipes,

The third season also includes such notable guest starring appearances as Alan Tudyk, Lacey Chabert, Bill Fagerbakke, Oded Fehr, Daniela Bobadilla, Chad Lowe, Jacqueline Obradors, Keone Young, Dwight Shultz, Mirina Sirtis, Deborah Strang, Gwendoline Yeo and Danny Trejo; and topnotch voice actors Scott Menville, Tara Strong, Hynden Walch, Diane Delano, Dee Bradley Baker, Jeff Bennett, Roger Craig Smith, Fred Tatasciore, David Sobolov, Kath Soucie, James Arnold Taylor, Kevin Michael Richardson and Steve Blum.

Young Justice: Outsiders – The Complete Third Season is produced by Greg Weisman (Gargoyles) and Brandon Vietti (Batman: Under The Red Hood). Leanne Moreau (DC Super Hero Girls) is producer. Sam Register is Executive Producer.

All 26 thrilling episodes of the epic third season will be available as a four-disc DVD set. Those episodes are:

  1. Princes All
  2. Royal We
  3. Eminent Threat
  4. Private Security
  5. Away Mission
  6. Rescue Op
  7. Evolution
  8. Triptych
  9. Home Fires
  10. Exceptional Human Beings
  11. Another Freak
  12. Nightmare Monkeys
  13. True Heroes
  14. Influence
  15. Leverage
  16. Illusion of Control
  17. First Impression
  18. Early Warning
  19. Elder Wisdom
  20. Quiet Conversations
  21. Unknown Factors
  22. Antisocial Pathologies
  23. Terminus
  24. Into the Breach
  25. Overwhelmed
  26. Nevermore

“The audience demand for Young Justice is obvious – the fans are the ultimate reason the series has returned after six years, and the viewership on the DC Universe streaming service has been significant,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Senior Vice President, Originals, Animation and Family Marketing. “We recognize that thirst for Young Justice and know those same fans will want to have the action-packed third season – with all of its new characters, voices and challenges – as a compilation package.”  

Fans can also own Young Justice: Outsiders – The Complete Third Season via purchase from digital retailers beginning September 24, 2019.

BASICS

Street Date: November 26, 2019

Running Time: 572 minutes

United States

Price: $24.98 SRP

4 DVD’s

Crawl Headed for Home Oct. 15

Crawl Headed for Home Oct. 15

Producer Sam Raimi (Evil Dead) and director Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes) deliver “a suspenseful thrill ride” (Jim Vejvoda, IGN) in CRAWL, coming to Digital September 24, 2019 and on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand October 15 from Paramount Home Entertainment. 

The Digital* and Blu-ray releases are loaded with over 45 minutes of thrilling special features, including an exclusive motion comic of the film’s alternate opening.  Plus, check out deleted and extended scenes, a behind-the-scenes look at the incredible visual effects, interviews with cast and crew, and an “Alligator Attacks” compilation that highlights the bone-crunching alligator sequences.

Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, CRAWL was hailed by critics as “one of the most unexpected and satisfying genre films of the year” (William Bibbiani, Bloody Disgusting). As a hurricane tears through Florida, Haley (Kaya Scodelario) rushes to find her father (Barry Pepper), who is injured and trapped in the crawl space of their home.  With the storm intensifying and water levels rising, the pair face an even bigger threat lurking below the surface.

BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY COMBO & DIGITAL*

·         Intro to Alternate Opening

·         Alternate Opening

·         Deleted and Extended Scenes

·         Beneath Crawl

·         Category 5 Gators: The VFX of Crawl

·         Alligator Attacks

The CRAWL DVD includes the feature film in standard definition.

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