CONJOINED

Be on the lookout for another feature film being shot here in H-town. Conjoined is the latest collaboration between noted Houston director Joe Grisaffi (Dead of Knight) and the comedic team of Chuck and Tim Norfolk (Haunted Trailer & Penny on a Tape fame). The film focuses on a lonely man who looks to the internet in order to interact with women. When he becomes infatuated with a beautiful woman and falls in love online, he invites her to come live with him. Only that is where the problem begins. Turns out, she has a sister. A twin sister. A conjoined twin sister. And the conjoined twin has a liking for murder. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll kiss internet dating goodbye after this unusually dramatic comedy. Conjoined is directed by Joe Grisaffi with a screenplay penned by the team of Chuck and Tim Norfolk. The film stars Tom Long (The Lioness Club), Michelle Ellen Jones (Pick Axe Murders III), Keefer Barlow, Jake Byrd (Lars the Emo Kid), Sara Gaston (Dead of Knight) and Deidre Stephens.

SPECIAL PARTY EVENT — THE PICK-AXE MURDERS III: The Final Chapter

(l to r) Director of Photography John Hale, Location Sound Mixer Clayton Moorhead, Assistant Director Debra Gutjahr-Hale, Writer/Director Jeremy Sumrall all prepare for a take.

Ever dreamed of dying a gruesome bloody death in a horror film? Well,you now have a chance! On Thursday, May 23rd, 2013, First Week ofWinter Films and Deviant Union Events will be hosting a huge 80’sstyle party at Numbers Night Club in Houston, Texas to raise funds forthe 80’s slasher style film The Pick-Axe Murders III: The FinalChapter. VIP ticket holders receive a goodie bag and one lucky VIP bagwill include a certificate to be a “feature kill” in the film and gettheir chance to die a bloody, gruesome death on screen!

Jenna Green, contestant on season 4 of the Syfy channel’s hit tv showFace Off will be our special guest and will be doing a live specialeffects make up demonstration. We have an evening packed with fun andentertainment for you. Grab your 80’s costume and enter our costumecontest! If you think you have what it takes, you can scream yourlungs out in our Scream Queen Contest hosted by none other than IndieScream Queen herself, Roxy Vandiver. We will be rocking in true 80’sstyle with Thunder Pants, an amazing 80’s glam rock cover band playingall of those 80’s hits you know and love.

Jenna Green, star of Season Four of SyFy’s hit series FaceOff will be making an appearance and doing a special make-up demo!

Performances of the evening include a shadow cast performance groupcalled After Midnight performing Repo! The Genetic Opera and Indieactress and model Roxy Vandiver performing a fetish art piece. Be sureto stop by our silent auction and get a chance to pick up some reallygreat items and memorabilia! Advanced tickets are available online forthis totally awesome event. VIP tickets are limited so get them whileyou can!

So, what is all of this fuss about? The Pick-Axe Murders III: TheFinal Chapter pays homage to the classic 80’s style slasher filmstaking place in the summer of 1982. A group of campers was horriblyslaughtered at Camp Arapaho in the sleepy little town of WoodlandHills. The 10 gruesome murders were blamed on Alex Black, a mysteriousman believed to have been the son of Satan himself, whom thetownspeople had hunted down and lynched nearly 20 years prior. A youngwoman named Adrienne was able to defeat Alex and put a stop to thekilling spree.

One year later, a series of mysterious killings at the Meadow FallsSanitarium (where Adrienne had spent the last year as a patient) wasonce again linked to the mysterious Alex Black. Twenty patients andstaff members were horribly slaughtered in increasingly graphic andbrutal ways. In the end, a young man named George Miner, along withAdrienne, was able to defeat Alex Black, sending him back to the foulhell from whence he came.

Poster for film.

For five years, Alex Black has been silent, and the town of WoodlandHills has been peaceful. However, tonight is the night of the deathmoon, and someone has found a way to bring Alex Black back tolife…and Alex will not stop until he paints the town blood red.

All proceeds from this event go to funding the production of ThePick-Axe Murders III: The Final Chapter with the principal photographytaking place in August and September of this year. The Pick-AxeMurders III is an independent film being shot locally in Houston, TXby local film production company First Week of Winter Films. They arededicated to supporting the independent arts, culture and communitydelivering high-quality, exciting genre-centric movies that willENTERTAIN audiences. First Week of Winter Films filmmaker JeremySumrall’s (writer/director/producer) accolades include winning BESTCOSTUMES and MOST AWKWARD MOMENT for short film STAY WITH ME – atSplatterfest 2012. All of Jeremy’s work can be found on his IMDBprofile.

For more information, visit us at www.firstweekofwinterfilms.com, facebook.com/firstweekofwinterfilms, contactDanielle at deviantunion@gmail.com or Jeremy Sumrall atjeremy@firstweekofwinterfilms.com

THE LEGEND OF DARK HORSE COUNTY

Writer/Director Shawn Welling is no stranger to the film scene inHouston.  The award-winning director has previously made two filmsthat have both been met with critical acclaim.  Welling is anythingbut a creature of habit.  Although his first film, House of Dreams,was a documentary and his second was a feature that focused more onparanormal activity, his most recent film (The Legend of Dark HorseCounty) provides a glimpse into a families past, present and futurewith the precision of a perfect character drama.   Want to know thedetails?

Lee Majors as Sheriff McElroy on set (courtesy, Michelle Simmons)

Director Shawn Welling on set (courtesy, Katrina Hansen)

The film begins as Jon (Shawn Welling) and Joy Ford (Tory Tompkins)move into the small town of Dark Horse, where mysterious andsupernatural occurrences threaten to tear the town apart. Teenage girlabductions and a chain of serial killings force good-ol’-boy SheriffMcElroy (Lee Majors / Larry Wade Carrell), the town’s rugged symbol ofjustice, to use any means necessary to keep his beloved town fromtumbling into chaos, and when Joy’s nieces (Olivia ‘ChaChi’ Gonzalesand Presley Bishop) are kidnapped, they must race to find the abductorand in turn come face to face with a monster.Legend stars Tory Tompkins, Larry Wade Carrell, Nick W. Nicholson,Shawn Welling and the enigmatic Lee Majors.  Be on the lookout as youdrive around Buffalo Bayou as you just might see the brigade of actorsand crew that are working to put this latest cinematic effort togetherfor the enjoyment of all!

NOUVELLE VIE

Drew Waters and his teams’ brilliantly written story is gearing up tobe shot in the Southern Texas area and you are going to want to putthis one on your radar.  Nouvelle Vie is a film about hope.  BenjaminMorton found the love of a lifetime at age seven standing in hisdriveway.  Ava was and always would be the girl of his dreams.  Fromthe innocence of a childhood friendship, through adolescentattraction, their love strengthens and grows.  When an unexpectedillness strikes, Ben’s entire future is called into question.  Afterall, what is life without love?

Nouvelle Vie stars Erin Bethea (Fireproof, The Heart of Christmas, TheRedemption of Henry Meyers), Bill Cobbs (The Ultimate Gift, Go On, TheMuppets), and Tiffany Hofstetter (Soul Surfer).   The film will bedirected by Drew Watters and the man behind the camera will be Reynaldo Villalobos (Risky Business).  The team of writers responsiblefor story are Drew Waters, Erin Bethea, Candice Irion and Josh Spake.

DVD REVIEWS

FREE DVD GIVEAWAY

We are doing a Free DVD Giveaway! If you are interested in a chance at winning a free copy of Stripped, Back to 1942, Power Rangers Samurai: The 6th Ranger Volume 4, Cloud Atlas, Dr Who: The Visitation, Top Gear 19, The Revisionairies, Stuck to Your Pillow, On Approval, Visible Scars, Texas Chainsaw or Assassins Run, it is really easy! All you have to do is send me an email at HoustonMovieGuy@gmail.com. The subject line of the email should read DVD GIVEAWAY. In the body of the email, be sure to put your name, full mailing address and which DVD or Blu-ray you would like. Winners will be selected by random drawing. Best of luck!

STRIPPED – Inception

Four friends head to Vegas for a 21st birthday in hopes of finding adventure, debauchery and memories that will last them a lifetime. Cameron, the scandalous one of the group decides to record the whole trip, determined to not forget the fiasco. A girlfriend of theirs begs for a ride, convincing them she will disappear as soon as they arrive. When they get to Vegas the guys devise an amazing plan for the night, but things take a turn for the worst when they call strippers that have them travel to a remote location. Little do they know, the strippers work for an organ trafficker. The guys fight for their lives, but eventually get Stripped.

BACK TO 1942 – Well Go USA

The Henan province disaster was one of the darkest moments in 20th-century Chinese history a humanitarian crisis first sparked by drought, then compounded by a combination of windstorms, government corruption, and a war with Japan. In the midst of the devastation, an American journalist (Adrian Brody) searches for answers, and slowly comes to understand that there may be a greater connection between these tragedies and his political theories than he once thought. Starring Brody, Zhang Guoli, and Tim Robbins, this tragic retelling of events is based on Liu Zhengyun’s bestselling novel Remembering 1942. Director Feng Xiaogang follows up his blockbuster real-life disaster movie Aftershock with this unflinching portrayal of one of the darkest times in China’s WWII history, resulting in a loss of at least three million people.

POWER RANGERS SAMURAI: The 6th Ranger Volume 4 – Lionsgate

When a mysterious fisherman arrives, the Power Rangers Samurai meet their newest ally – Antonio, the Gold Ranger! But before he can join the team, Antonio must prove he possesses the true spirit of the samurai. Jayden, Kevin, Emily, Mia and Mike are challenged by the Nighlok monsters more so than ever when Master Xandred sends Steeleto to attack the Power Rangers, Antberry and Octoroo attempt to open a portal, and Splitface traps human spirits. Their new golden friend Antonio shows the Power Rangers he too can be a samurai with his lightning-fast Barracuda Blade, the ink-spraying OctoZord, and the ClawZord’s megamodes! The Power Rangers will never be the same after these four epic episodes!

CLOUD ATLAS – Warner

Future. Present. Past. Everything is connected. An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution.The story is a time-shifting weave of six interlinking narratives, with diverse settings from the savagery of a Pacific Island in the 1850s to a dystopian Korea of the near future. Based on the New York Times best-selling novel “Cloud Atlas” written by David Mitchell.

DOCTOR WHO: The Visitation – BBC

Digitally remastered Doctor Who classic The Visitation Special Edition! It’s 1666, and medieval England is in the grip of the Great Plague. But when the Doctor and his companions arrive, they discover an even greater threat: the entire planet is in danger. As the Grim Reaper stalks the countryside, the Doctor uncovers an alien menace intent on wiping out humanity and claiming our planet for themselves. The Terileptils have arrived – and only the Doctor can stop them.

TOP GEAR: Season 19 – BBC

Top Gear the world’s most popular car show returns to DVD with 5 new episodes plus the 2-part Africa special! Top Gear returns for another season of incredible cars legendary journeys and a few gasket-blowing laughs! Hosts Jeremy Clarkson Richard Hammond and James May (with their mysterious assistant The Stig of course) undertake an American roadtrip where they take iconic supercars for a spin through Las Vegas and Los Angeles race against fighter planes and end with a hair-raising run to the Mexican border. The hosts embark on another epic trip to find the source of the Nile River in three station wagons with a not-so-stellar knowledge of African geography. Along the way they encounter crocodile infested rivers suspension snapping terrain and the world’s worst traffic jam.

THE REVISIONARES – Kino Lorber

The Revisionares is an urgent expose of the power struggle inside the Texas State Board of Education, the governing body that determines what students learn in Texas public schools and, due to the buying power of their system, often the entire country. The Revisionares showcases how public education has become the latest battleground in a new wave of cultural, religious and ideological clashes, with local Texas education board members advancing agendas of Creationism and other religious issues in public schools. This award-winning documentary highlights how their tactics have had the effect of rewriting key tenets of U.S. democracy and are affecting educational policies at the national level – for generations to come.

STUCK TO YOUR PILLOW – Breaking Glass

After a diving accident ends his life, Miguel continues to live his life on earth as a ghost and begins an affair with a married woman named Patricia in the only place they can meet: her dreams.

ON APPROVAL – Inception

Clive Brook adapted and stars as George, the 10th Duke of Bristol, in this hilarious adaptation of Frederick Lonsdale’s play. George and his equally impoverished friend Richard (Roland Culver) are invited to spend a month at a Scottish mansion by two wealthy women (played by Beatrice Lillie and Googie Withers) to test their compatibility as potential marriage partners. What follows is a delightfully witty romance described by Lindsay Anderson as the funniest British light comedy ever made.

VISIBLE SCARS – Echo Bridge

Backwoods scum Mike Gillis once had twin daughters. Stolen from their murdered mother, they spent most of their lives locked in his basement, until a fire set them free. Years later, Stacy Walker heads for the same remote mountains to escape her abusive boyfriend. Despite temporary relief from her tormentor, Stacy is overcome with the sound of little girls’ voices…and soon the hallucinations become a violent reality.

ASSASSINS RUN – Lionsgate

Maya a ballerina becomes the target of the Russian mafia after her husband a successful American businessman is killed. Refusing to disclose the location of her husband’s financial documents Maya is framed by corrupt cops and thrown into prison. As she escapes from prison with her world turned upside down by the news of her daughter’s kidnapping Maya takes her ballerina skills and uses them to get her back. Trusting no one a mother’s love will turn deadly as she kills anyone who stands in the way of getting her daughter back.

TEXAS CHAINSAW – Lionsgate

In 1974, enraged townspeople hunt down and kill every member of the Sawyer family for committing a series of grisly murders. Decades later and hundreds of miles away, a young woman learns that she has inherited a Texas estate from a grandmother she never knew she had. After embarking on a road trip with friends to uncover her roots, she finds she is the sole owner of a lavish, isolated Victorian mansion. But her newfound wealth comes at a price as she stumbles upon a horror that awaits her in the mansion’s dank cellars.

BRITISH ROYAL CHILDREN OF THE 20th CENTURY – MVD

Relive the formative years of the British Royal Children of the Twentieth Century with this newsreel celebration of England’s most famous young Princes and Princesses. Throughout the Twentieth Century, the arrival of a new Royal child would unify the nation and strengthen the affinity of the British people with their much-loved monarchy.

ESCAPE – E1 Entertainment

Ten years after the Black Death has ravaged the lands, a poor family is ambushed by a pack of merciless killers on a desolate mountain pass. Nineteen-year-old Signe is the lone survivor. Held hostage and facing a fate worse than death, Signe manages to flee her captors, but her escape does not go unnoticed. Now the chase is on.

LIZ & DICK – E1 Entertainment

For nearly a quarter of a century, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were Hollywood royalty and their fiery romance often called the marriage of the century was the most notorious, publicized and celebrated love affair of its day. Swarmed by paparazzi worldwide, their love affair was played out entirely in front of the media from the time they met on the set of the major motion picture Cleopatra, left their respective spouses, married and divorced, only to remarry and divorce once again. Despite their roller coaster romance for the public eye to see, Liz and Dick shared an undeniable love greater than most people could ever dream of.

FACE 2 FACE – Wolfe Video

Face 2 Face is a feature length documentary that follows the 11,000 mile cross country adventure of Emmy Award winning filmmaker, Katherine Brooks (Loving Annabelle, Waking Madison). After major surgery, Katherine found herself feeling isolated and alone. Spending her days on Facebook, Katherine noticed she had 5,000 virtual friends, but had not had a hug in over a month. Struck with the idea that it takes more than a friend request to be a friend, she posted the status update: the first 50 people who say YES…I’m coming to your city to meet you face to face. Within 9 minutes, Katherine had her 50. Funded solely by 846 backers on Kickstarter, in the summer of 2011, Katherine set out on a journey that would change her life and those around her.

DEXTER: Season 7 – CBS Paramount

Dexter returns to DVD and Blu-ray in explosive fashion with Season 7, as Dexter is finally forced to confront his greatest fear, as Debra witnesses his insatiable, ritualistic slaying of a killer. Now Deb knows the secret of his Dark Passenger, his undeniable thirst for blood, and the Code that their father Harry instilled in him as a young boy. But as Deb tries to reconcile the unfathomable idea that her beloved, mild-mannered brother is Miami’s most notorious serial killer, Dexter is still pulled by his natural impulses to seek out the guilty and exact his brand of vigilante justice.

TEAM UMIZOOMI: Animal Heroes – Nickelodeon

Team up with Team Umizoomi on four fantastic animal missions! Help Milli, Geo, and Bot get Purple Monkey to his new Monkey Jungle home at the zoo, rescue Buster the dog at a construction site, fix the Cuckoo Bears’ clock, and find all of Farmer Dan’s missing animals!

FRANKIE GO BOOM – Universal

An insane comedy about two brothers, a girl with a broken heart, a sex tape, an angel. And a pig… For his whole life Frank (Charlie Hunnam) has been tortured, embarrassed and humiliated on film by his horrible brother, Bruce (Chris O’Dowd). When Bruce makes and uploads a video of a disastrous one-night stand of Frank’s, the sex tape immediately becomes a viral hit and things really hit the fan. Will Jack (Chris Noth), Bruce’s violent drug-fiend rehab buddy, find out it’s his daughter (Lizzy Caplan) in the video? Can Phyllis (Ron Perlman), Bruce’s transsexual computer hacker prison buddy, get them out of trouble? Frankie Go Boom is an outrageous comedy about brotherly hate, amateur porn and the dangers of online fame.

MARLEY AFRICA ROAD TRIP – Arc Entertainment

Bob Marley is one of the greatest icons of our time. His remarkable body of work remains timeless and universal, continuing to inspire millions around the world. In 1980 he traveled to Africa with his family to perform a landmark concert to celebrate the independence of Zimbabwe. 30 years later, his sons Ziggy, Rohan and Robbie return to Africa to continue their father’s legacy and embark upon their own journey. Marley Africa Road Trip captures the highs and lows of this freewheeling, fully-charged expedition as they travel on motorcycles to reconnect with their father s legacy and discuss returning to the land that Bob Marley loved.

CITIZEN HEARST – Lionsgate

Citizen Hearst, directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks and narrated by Academy Award nominee William H. Macy, traces the 125-year history of the Hearst media empire, from William Randolph Hearst’s pioneering and controversial days of headline-grabbing yellow journalism to the global impact of the company’s many successful media brands. Iwerks provides a rare glimpse behind the glass walls of the Hearst Tower, interviewing top magazine editors of Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and Esquire, among others, and gaining unprecedented access to the Hearst Castle and family members in San Simeon, California.

HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL: Season 6 – CBS Paramount

He’s the man in black, six-gun on his hip, willing to face any kind of rouble…for a price. Saddle up for Have Gun Will Travel. Paladin (Richard Boone), knows countless languages, is a master of the fighting arts, and one of the fastest guns in the West. He appreciates fine food, beautiful women, and the refined lifestyle of San Francisco’s Carlton Hotel. But, at a moment’s notice, this legendary gunslinger will hit the trail, daring to do what few men would…or could. From the sun-baked corners of the desolate desert to the hardscrabble homesteads of desperate squatters, Paladin always gets the job done.

TEXAS – CBS Paramount

Based on the best-selling novel, the classic James A. Michener mini-series is finally on DVD. In a land of beauty and riches that draws those with big dreams and big hearts, Texas tells the epic tale of the extraordinary men and women of the southwestern frontier. Stacy Keach, Patrick Duffy, Chelsea Field, and Benjamin Bratt lead a stellar cast in this tale of the tumultuous years leading up to the Texas Revolution and the famous battle of the Alamo. To claim the land will take bravery. To hold the land will take sacrifice. To create a new way of life… will take passion. An epic this big could only happen in one place…Texas.

GUNSMOKE: Season 8 – CBS Paramount

Matt Dillon (James Arness) is in charge of Dodge City, a town in the Wild West where people often have no respect for the law. He deals on a daily basis with the problems associated with frontier life: cattle rustling, gunfights, brawls, standover tactics, and land fraud. Such situations call for sound judgment and brave actions: of which Marshal Dillon has plenty.

MAIGRET: Set 7 & 8 – MHZ

International film star Bruno Cremer brings the beloved Parisian Inspector Maigret to life in this definitive series of filmed adaptations of legendary writer Georges Simenon’s bestselling crime novels. Sporting his pipe that seems a nod to Sherlock Holmes, the pragmatic, reserved and refined Maigret investigates murders in his singular unhurried manner and inevitably discovers the truth. To crack his cases he peels back the veneer of seemingly idyllic villages and neighborhoods, exposing the criminals who lurk in all levels of society. Against a backdrop of 1950s Paris and the surrounding French countryside, these original feature-length films pay homage to one of the most brilliant detective minds of the twentieth century.

ONE HOUR PHOTO – Fox

Robin Williams delivers a brilliant performance in one of the most absorbing, effective thrillers in years. Sy ‘the photo guy’ Parrish (Williams) has lovingly developed photos for the Yorkin family since their son was a baby. But as the Yorkins’ lives become fuller, Sy’s only seems lonelier, until he eventually believes he’s part of their family. When ‘Uncle’ Sy’s picture-perfect fantasy collides with an ugly dose of reality, what happens next has the spine-tingling elements of the best psychological thrillers!

NIGHT OF THE HUNTED – Kino Lorber

Stylish, futuristically surreal and a departure from director Jean Rollin’s familiar vampire territory, The Night of the Hunted is Rollin’s contribution the excess of the 1980′s horror genre, complete with plenty of sex and gore. In the not-so-distant future, the residents of a skyscraper asylum are suffering with insanity and collective amnesia. As blank-eyed inmates wander the halls and empty rooms of the “Black Tower,” the tension rises. as does the body count!

STARLET – Music Box

Starlet explores the unlikely friendship between 21 year-old aspiring actress Jane (Dree Hemingway) and elderly widow Sadie after their worlds collide in California’s San Fernando Valley. Jane spends her time getting high with her dysfunctional roommates and taking care of her hihuahua Starlet, while Sadie passes her days alone, tending to her garden. After a confrontation at a yard sale, Jane finds something unexpected in a relic from Sadie’s past. Her curiosity piqued, she tries to befriend the caustic older woman. Secrets emerge as their relationship grows, revealing that nothing is ever as it seems.

BUNOHAN RETURN TO MURDER – Oscilloscope

After a deathmatch in Thailand Adil, a kickboxer, is on the run from Ilham, a hitman (and his half-brother). The chase brings them to their hometown of Bunohan, where each man’s struggle leads to betrayal, corruption and murder.

THE BEST OF IN YOUR HOUSE – WWE

In the mid-90′s, no pay-per-view series produced more epic matches, historic moments or championship showdowns than WWE In Your House. Debuting in 1995, In Your House pay-per-views were the preeminent setting for the top Superstars in WWE to settle their scores in the months between the big 4 events. In 28 total events over five years, In Your House and its unmistakable insignia solidified a permanent place in WWE through the iconic Superstars it hosted and the litany of innovations that stemmed from it. True WWE fans will reminisce about the first ever Hell in a Cell, Inferno and Buried Alive Matches, the debuts of Kane and Big Show, and the genesis of several yearly stables such as WWE Backlash, Judgment Day, Unforgiven and No Way Out all originating at In Your House. This 3-disc, eight hour collection features championship level matches from all the top WWE stars of the 90′s, such as Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Triple H, The Rock, Kane, Diesel and many more!

OF TWO MINDS – Docurama

Of Two Minds is an award-winning feature documentary from the creative team behind Wordplay, The Invisible War, Superheroes and These Amazing Shadows that explores the extraordinary lives, struggles and successes of a few of the over five million Americans living with bipolar disorder. Personal stories of harrowing events, medical mazes, discrimination and the effects of social stigma blend together to create a compelling look at a generation coming out of the bipolar closet Of Two Minds puts an authentic human face on bipolar disorder, providing an intimate, sometimes painful, sometimes painfully funny look at those who live in its shadows: our parents and children, our friends and lovers…and ourselves.

FREE DVD GIVEAWAY

We are doing a Free DVD Giveaway! If you are interested in a chance at winning a free copy of Silver Linings Playbook, Jackie Robinson: My Story, Jackie Chan Double Feature: Police Story 1 & 2, Howdy Kids: Saturday Afternoon Western Roundup, The Columbian Connection, Angels Around Me or Spirit of the Church, it is really easy! All you have to do is send me an email at HoustonMovieGuy@gmail.com. The subject line of the email should read DVD GIVEAWAY. In the body of the email, be sure to put your name, full mailing address and which DVD or Blu-ray you would like. Winners will be selected by random drawing. Best of luck!

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK – Anchor Bay

Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) has lost everything — his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother (Jacki Weaver) and father (Robert DeNiro) after spending eight months is a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat’s parents want is for him to get back on his feet-and to share their family’s obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he’ll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both of their lives.

JACKIE ROBINSON: My Story – Shout Factory

A thrilling entertainment that traces the extraordinary life and career of one of our greatest heroes, Jackie Robinson: My Story is a cinematic home run. Chronicling tragedy, triumph, dignity and great courage, this is the story of a man who changed the course of American history. This award-winning film tells his story like it’s never been told before: The setting is the Dodger clubhouse at historic and legendary Ebbets Field. Jackie (Stephen Hill), in his early thirties and the prime of his baseball career, appears in the clubhouse. He recounts his remarkable story with classic footage and rare photos of the people and events that helped define his groundbreaking career and inspiring life. Featuring guest appearances by Jackie’s Dodger teammates Don Newcombe, Clem Labine and Carl Erskine in the film’s prologue, Jackie Robinson: A Life Story won the Best Picture Award at both the Long Island International Film Expo and the Garden State Film Festival.

JACKIE CHAN DOUBLE FEATURE: Police Story 1 & 2 – Shout Factory

Considered, and rightly so, a Hong Kong action cinema classic, Police Story marks Jackie Chan’s initial foray into the stunt-filled action movie that became his trademark. Chan plays an honest cop Chan Ka-Kui assigned to protect a witness whose key testimony could bring down the drug baron, Chu. However, when the witness gets away from Chan, there’s no evidence to put Chu away, and he is set free. Chu goes on a vendetta to frame Chan for a murder. Chan goes on the run. He must quickly find the witness to protect her and prove his own innocence. Picking up where the first film ended, Police Story II returns Jackie Chan to the role of detective Chan Ka-Kui. Due to his unorthodox police work on the last case, Chan has been demoted to traffic duty…and the vengeful mobsters still have their sights on taking him down. But when terrorists threaten Hong Kong, Chan must track down the suspects. And when his girlfriend May is kidnapped by the terrorists, Chan must confront them, save his girlfriend and save the day as only Jackie Chan can.

HOWDY KIDS: Western Roundup – Shout Factory

In the 1950s, television was new and exciting and full of imaginative shows for children. One of the most popular and enduring formats was the Western. Great shows like The Lone Ranger, The Roy Rogers Show, Fury, Sky King and many more flooded the airwaves and thrilled a generation of viewers as, without exception, the good guys would triumph over the bad. Howdy Kids! A Saturday Afternoon Western Roundup is a collection of some of the best and most loved shows from television’s infancy, a time when the Western was king and it was hard to choose just who you liked best, The Lone Ranger, The Range Rider or Red Ryder. Now you can relive ,or experience for the very first time, the magic of being a child in the 1950s with Howdy Kids! A Saturday Afternoon Western Roundup, an exclusive 3-DVD boxed set including 24 complete episodes of your favorite shows from this enchanting decade of children s television.

VITO – First Run Features

On June 27, 1969, a police raid on a Greenwich Village gay bar called the Stonewall took a surprising turn when patrons decided it was time to fight back. As a riot erupted on Christopher Street, a new era in the Gay Rights Movement was born. Vito Russo, a 23-year-old film student, was among the crowd. Over the next twenty years until his death from AIDS in 1990, Vito would go on to become one of the most outspoken and inspiring activists in the LGBT community’s fight for equal rights. He was a pivotal part of three well-known organizations during their formative years: GAA (Gay Activists Alliance), which staged subversive works of protest performance art to secure rights and dignity for all gay people; GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), formed to ensure that media representation of gays and lesbians was accurate; and ACT UP (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power), a guerilla activist group that turned the fury over President Reagan’s refusal to do anything about AIDS into a series of highly telegenic acts of civil disobedience. In the midst of his commitment to activism, Vito was also a prolific writer. His seminal book “The Celluloid Closet” explored the ways in which gays and lesbians were portrayed on film, what lessons those characters taught gay and straight audiences, and how those negative images were at the root of society’s homophobia. Even before the book was published, Vito was taking “The Celluloid Closet” on the road, traveling to gay film festivals and college campuses for an entertaining and informative lecture-slash-clip show that intertwined Vito’s love of show business and radical gay politics. He continued writing, lecturing, speaking out and acting up until just months before his death.

WAGNER & ME – First Run Features

Can we (and should we) salvage Richard Wagner’s spectacular music from its embrace by Adolf Hitler? In Wagner & Me, English actor and raconteur Stephen Fry attempts to answer this question while exploring his own passion for history’s most controversial composer. With the witty and charming Fry as our guide, this surprising film is a provocative yet enjoyable look at Wagner’s life – and his ‘stained’ legacy.

ONCE UPON A RHYME – Nickelodeon

Starring some of the most popular characters in nursery rhyme history – including Dora the Explorer, Blue’s Room, The Fresh Beat Band and more, Once Upon a Rhyme hits the shelves this week for the enjoyment of every child in the universe! Telling the tales as only the characters can, Nickelodeon has put together an excellent package full of fun and provides excellent life lessons for the little ones! Get your copy today!

STAR TREK: The Next Generation – Season Three – CBS Paramount

Season Three of Star Trek: The Next Generationr took televised science fiction storytelling to new heights. Now, on high definition Blu-rayT, the seminal season of this beloved series is more spectacular and compelling to watch than ever. Experience such thought provoking episodes as “The Survivors,” “Sins of the Father,” “The Offspring” and one of the great cliffhangers in television history; Part One of “The Best of Both Worlds”. like never before in glorious 1080p with 7.1 sound.

CHINA BEACH: The Complete Series – Time Life & WB Star Vista

Back to the Beach… From the moment China Beach debuted in 1988, with its iconic opening credits set to the Supremes’ “Reflections” as its theme song, it was hailed as groundbreaking television. In an era of testosterone-driven war movies, China Beach delivered a unique perspective: the Vietnam War through the eyes of women! Never before released on DVD or VHS! You can now own the entire TV series with this deluxe collector’s edition housed in a beautiful display box. Includes 268 classic hit songs as they were played in the original broadcast. This long-awaited set features over 10 hours of new bonus features, including a reunion with the China Beach cast, including Dana Delany (First Lieutenant Colleen McMurphy), Marg Helgenberger (K.C. Kolowski), Michael Boatman (PVT Sam Beckett), Robert Picardo (Captain Dr. Dick Richard) and many more. And, you’ll enjoy an exclusive booklet, “Tales from the Five & Dime,” with character bios, interview transcripts, letters from vets and much more.

FREE DVD GIVEAWAY

We are doing a Free DVD Giveaway! If you are interested in a chance at winning a free copy of Gangster Squad, Stone of Destiny, Ricky, Predator Collection, Sins, The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg or Thomas and Friends: Railway Mischief, it is really easy!  All you have to do is send me an email at HoustonMovieGuy@gmail.com.  The subject line of the email should read DVD GIVEAWAY. In the body of the email, be sure to put your name, full mailing address and which DVD or Blu-ray you would like. Winners will be selected by random drawing. Best of luck!

GANGSTER SQUAD – Warner

Los Angeles 1949. Ruthless Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) runs the show in this town reaping the ill-gotten gains from the drugs the guns the prostitutes and-if he has his way-every wire bet placed west of Chicago. And he does it all with the protection of not only his own paid goons but also the police and the politicians who are under his control. It’s enough to intimidate even the bravest street-hardened cop…except perhaps for the small secret crew of LAPD outsiders led by Sgt. John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling) who come together to try to tear Cohen’s world.

STONE OF DESTINY – Green Apple

College student Ian Hamilton was a dedicated nationalist who deeply resented “England’s subjugation of Scotland.” Garnering the support of three fellow students in 1950 – and despite their bungling maneuvers – Hamilton managed to reignite Scottish national pride with a daring raid on the very heart of England.  The idealistic band breached Britain’s venerable Westminster Abbey to secure the Stone of Scone, a national treasure, upon which Scottish kings had been coronated for centuries. The fabled and revered stone had been carted off more than 700 years earlier by the army of England’s King Edward I, becoming a prized possession of the United Kingdom.  Eventually turning the mythical relic over to Scottish authorities, Hamilton and his band were never prosecuted … instead celebrated as folk heroes.

RICKY – Green Apple

Likeable loser Ricky McDown is a struggling actor with a light wallet, a big heart and an even bigger “Rocky” fixation. When his gorgeous, new girlfriend, Tracy, dumps him, he’s crushed – Until his pals convince him that – in order to win back the heart of his self-centered “soulmate” – he just needs to transform himself into the man of her dreams. With the help of Janie, a cute girl from his boxing gym, Ricky channels the “eye of the tiger” and whips himself into shape – both body and soul – for his big move on Tracy – and an even bigger confrontation with Brad, the arrogant, smooth-talking playboy who’s already taken his place. But the road to true love is this charming (and disarming) romantic comedy is a rocky path indeed – in more ways than one!

PREDATOR COLLECTION – Inception

They rule the grassy battlefields of the Serengeti and reign supreme over the perilous rivers of Botswana. They are the world s deadliest predators: the big cats and big crocs of the African wild. Pack hunters or lone assassins, each possesses its own lethal skill set, which it needs in order to stay alive in one of the most unpredictable environments on Earth.The Predator Collection takes you from the top of the savannah food chain to the depths of the Okavango Delta, where every day is a battle for supremacy and survival, even for the fiercest, fastest, most ferocious killers in existence.Meet the Big Cats of the Savannah, the only place in the world where lions, leopards, and cheetahs coexist, not always peacefully. Then follow a mother cheetah running for her life…and the lives of her three cubs in Cheetah: Price of Speed. Witness Lions in Battle, where the harshest season in decades forces a desperate pride to attack a much larger from of prey. And finally, Diving with Crocodiles drops you into the lair of Africa s number one killer of humans: the Nile Crocodile.

SINS – Green Apple

David begins experiencing cloudy memories of a long-lost life amidst the violent Cortello family in Sicily a family he ultimately betrayed. And the wages of sin are deadly.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HANK GREENBERG – Fox

As baseball’s first Jewish star, Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg’s career contains all the makings of a true American sucess story. An extraordinary ball player notorious for his hours of daily practice, Greenberg’s career was an inspiration to all and captured the headlines and the admiration of sportswriters and fans alike. This is the story of how he became an American hero.

THOMAS & FRIENDS: Railway Mischief – Lionsgate

Cinders and Ashes! There’s trouble on the tracks for Thomas and his friends. Gordon and Cranky don’t want to listen to really useful advice from Paxton and Kevin. Scruff, Winston, and Stafford lose track of themselves, causing confusion and delay! Sometimes engines need a little help from their friends to chuff and puff full steam ahead! Featuring the episodes: Gordon Runs Dry, Kevin’s Cranky Friend, Scruff’s Makeover, Wayward Winston and Steamie Stafford.

ELECTRIC BUTTON – MVD

Mayama, the star of her erotica writing club, has a bad case of writer’s block. When Tadokoro joins the group, Mayama learns that he’s a virgin. Mayama decides that introducing him to a variety of sexual indulgences might just be the inspiration she needs. As “”research”" for her book, she documents Tadokoro’s sexual awakening. Mayama doesn’t realize that sometimes the teacher becomes the student.

THE IMPOSSIBLE – Summitt

Based on a true story, The Impossible is the unforgettable account of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time. But the true-life terror is tempered by the unexpected displays of compassion, courage and simple kindness that Maria and her family encounter during the darkest hours of their lives. Both epic and intimate, devastating and uplifting, The Impossible is a journey to the core of the human heart.

ASSASSINS RUN – Lionsgate

Maya a ballerina becomes the target of the Russian mafia after her husband a successful American businessman is killed. Refusing to disclose the location of her husband’s financial documents Maya is framed by corrupt cops and thrown into prison. As she escapes from prison with her world turned upside down by the news of her daughter’s kidnapping Maya takes her ballerina skills and uses them to get her back. Trusting no one a mother’s love will turn deadly as she kills anyone who stands in the way of getting her daughter back.

INHUMANS – Shout Factory

The Inhumans have always been one of Marvel’s most enduring oddities. A race of genetic freaks, they live secluded in their island kingdom of Attilan, preferring not to mix with the outside world. Even stranger, their genetic mutations are self-endowed; each Inhuman, as a coming-of-age ritual, endures exposure to the Terrigan Mists, a strange substance that imparts unearthly powers, some extraordinary, some monstrous. But now the kingdom of Attilan is under attack from without and within. Can the Royal Family, led by Black Bolt (who cannot speak for his voice carries the destructive power of an atom bomb) repel the foreign invaders who blast at their outer defense, as well as the internal threat of Black Bolt’s brother, Maximus the Mad? This popular series takes a classic Marvel stable of characters, and infuses it with a modern sensibility that includes international politics and an awareness of class systems. Dark and grimly compelling, The Inhumans is one story that won’t be forgotten any time soon.

MAGIC JOURNEY TO AFRICA – Image

A ten-year-old girl from Barcelona encounters a young bushman who inspires her to learn more about Africa in this educational – and visually dazzling – fantasy adventure. With a young Himba boy named Mel as her guide and a winged horse to carry her across the land, young Jana discovers the beauty of the Namib Desert while learning about the remarkable creatures that inhabit it.

A HAUNTED HOUSE – Universal

Marlon Wayans and Cedric the Entertainer star in this outrageously funny supernatural scary movie. When young couple Malcolm (Wayans) and Kisha (Essence Atkins) move in to their dream place, they soon discover they’re not alone. But it’s not the home that’s possessed, it’s Kisha. Now, Malcolm will go to hilarious extremes – including hiring a priest, a psychic, and a team of modern-day ghostbusters to get his place and his sex life back to normal. Co-starring Nick Swardson and David Koechner, it’s the no-holds-barred, raunchy comedy that will have you laughing from start to finish.

G-DOG – Docurama

From Oscar-winning filmmaker Freida Lee Mock. Father Greg Boyle, a white Jesuit priest, has spent some 25 years in the toughest part of East LA, offering jobs not jail to tough, street-smart, and amazingly sweet young people all former gang members. Father Boyle is a charismatic visionary, but he’s made the dream real: his Homeboy Industries has become the largest, most successful gang intervention and rehab program in the U.S. and an inspiration for helping kids at risk.

THALE – Xlrator

Two crime-scene cleaners discover a mythical, tailed female creature in a concealed cellar. She never utters a word, unable to tell her story, but the pieces of the puzzle soon come together: she’s been held captive for decades for reasons soon to surface… Fun fact: Thale is based on a mythical character in Nordic folklore called the “huldra”. According to the myth, a huldra is a beautiful creature with female attributes living deep in the woods. It is said that it seduces men that works in the woods by humming a beautiful song, and they never return to their village. You can recognize a huldra by its cow tail.

TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL: Season Seven – CBS Paramount

A trio of angels Monica (Roma Downey), Tess (Della Reese), and Andrew (John Dye) are dispatched from heaven with a special mission: to inspire people facing sometimes unseen crossroads in their lives. Monica, an angel who at times still needs some guidance with her earthly assignments, reports to Tess, her tough, wise and always loving supervisor. Also on hand is Andrew, who, in addition to his duties as the Angel of Death, now helps out as a caseworker on various assignments. Gloria, an angel for the 21st century, continues to seek guidance from Monica performing her angelic duties. While the angels may not bring solutions to every problem, they always deliver a message of hope.

PAWN – Anchor Bay

Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker and Golden Globe-winner Michael Chiklis reunite for the first time since “The Shield” for the most gripping crime thriller of the year: An all-night diner. A cop walks in on a robbery in progress. But what happens next – and what happened just before – will change everything you think you know. Now the building is surrounded. There are fingers on every trigger. And one very intense hostage situation is about to take some extremely shocking twists. Common, Stephen Lang, Nikki Reed, Jessica Szohr and Ray Liotta co-star in this shotgun blast of a drama about last chances, double-crosses and a deadly game of dirty deals where anyone can be a Pawn.

FAMILY WEEKEND – Arc Entertainment

In this wild and wacky comedy, you ll find out how far the bonds of a family can be stretched before they break. Teen jump-roping star Emily (Olesya Rulin) is fed up with her parents (Kristin Chenoweth, Matthew Modine), who seem to have forgotten she exists. In a fit of desperation, she decides to kidnap them and hold them hostage until they shape up. She enlists help from her quirky siblings and straight talking grandma (Shirley Jones) but things quickly go south and soon the whole debacle ends up on the Internet. When the cops get involved, the plan spins completely out of control, and Emily soon finds out how difficult it can be to change the family structure. Can the bonds between a family be stretched so far without being broken?

WUTHERING HEIGHTS – Oscilloscope

One of the most compelling tragic romances ever captured on film, Wuthering Heights is an exquisite tale of doomed love and miscalculated intentions. Though only half of Emily Bronte’s classic tale of Heathcliff and Catherine was filmed by director William Wyler, it lacks for nothing.  The acclaimed masterpiece based on Emily Bronte’s novel. Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon star as Heathcliff and Cathy whose tortured love affair is doomed to a tragic end. Academy Award-winning cinematography and moving performances make it.

MAVERICK: Season Two – Warner

For fans of classic TV Westerns such as Cheyenne, Bonanza and Gunsmoke, Maverick: The Complete Second Season comes to DVD! James Garner stars as a card shark travelling the Old West with a sense of humor and a knack for getting into trouble. Wisecracking ladies’ man Bret Maverick (Garner) and his more serious brother Bart (Jack Kelly) – two handsome bachelors on the loose in the Wild West – have more success at the game of poker than the game of love. Yet they keep trying their luck in one frontier outpost after another. Though cardsharps Bret and Bart would just as soon slip out of town quietly as face a gunman, when it’s time for a showdown, don’t bet against a Maverick!

LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE: Vintage 1998 – BBC

Join everyone’s favorite trio for another season of hilarious adventures! Hoping to keep his comrades as young and spritely as ever Foggy sets up a training course to get Compo and Clegg in shape but as usual safety isn’t his first concern. When the trio gets a grill from Auntie Wainwrights they have a barbecue like never before. Foggy ever the inspired inventor comes up with the idea to create bicycle safety underwear and later in the season a three man windsurfing sailboard. Finally in the Christmas special the trio plan to host a visitor from outer space or maybe just a neighboring town.

2013 WorldFest International Film Festival

Five features from Asian filmmakers, several compelling documentaries, suspense stories, romances and a good number of comedies are on the slate at the 46th edition of WorldFest, the annual Houston 10-day festival that showcases independent films from the U.S., with local filmmakers highlighted. This year’s dates are April 12-21, and film

lovers should expect to take in some 50-plus features and 108 short films, all screening at the AMC Studio 30 Theatres. WorldFest executive director Hunter Todd revealed the line-up during a reception at La Colombe d’Or that was attended by film critics, programmers, actors, directors, festival devotees, and representatives of various Houston consulates, including Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Jamaica. Besides screenings, there’s the usual group of additional activities: six master classes in film/video production and distribution, an opening night champagne gala, the Remi Awards gala dinner, and a Regatta & Texas BBQ complete with Longhorn steers and a sailboat race at the Houston Yacht Club. Shawn Welling’s internationally acclaimed urban dance troupe, Planet Funk, will provide the entertainment during the WorldFest Awards dinner. If you have never had the opportunity to see Planet Funk perform, they alone are worth the price of admission! Festival headquarters have moved to the Marriott Westchase (2900 Briarpark Drive), so look for the master classes, seminars, and the Awards gala, all open to the public, at the new location. More information, ticketing, trailers and updates at www.worldfest.org.

WorldFest, founded in 1961, is the third oldest independent film festival in the United States. This annual event has evolved into a competitive independent international film festival showcasing the rising stars of tomorrow! WorldFest is managed by Hunter Todd and Kathleen Haney. WorldFest is produced by a core staff of key individuals, dedicated volunteers, and industry professionals who make the detailed work of running a world-class international film festival possible. WorldFest Houston is a non-profit educational and cultural organization with a 501 (c)(3) status.

The following is a breakdown of the not to be missed world premiere feature films and documentaries that you must put on your calendar. As always, please consult the WorldFest program guide and/or website for the most accurate and up to date show times, as those below are subject to change.

PREMIERE FILMS & DOCUMENTARIES:

DIFFERENT DRUMMERS – directed by Lyle Hatcher & Don Coron

Different Drummers is a true story from 1965 which follows a hyperactive fireball named Lyle and his best friend David, who’s in a wheelchair with muscular dystrophy, as they test their grade school principal, the laws of gravity and even the existence of God. When David accurately predicts the death of their fourth grade teacher and attributes it to a Devine Message, Lyle feels compelled to challenge David’s clain.

HER CRY: LA LLORONA INVESTIGATION – directed by Damir Catic

The father of a missing teen contacted creators of a reality show called “Paranormal Legends” and inquired about one of their episodes from the past season, claiming that show had something to do with his daughter, Tina’s disappearance. In order to help the father, the creator of the series, James Robertson and his producer Brian along with newcomer to the series Andrea, took the trip to the place where some say La Llorona (the Weeping woman) was seen.

IN SEARCH OF THE AMERICAN DREAM – directed by Baldemar Rodriguez

This is a riveting story of five children and their adult brother as they desperately race across Texas for survival after their parents, who were undocumented for 30 years, were caught, arrest­ed, and thrown in jail. Now, deportation is only a matter of time. When Child Protective Services (CPS) threatens to separate them, the children are forced to abandon the only home they’ve ever known.

LAD: A YORKSHIRE STORY – directed by Dan Hartley

When Tom Proctor’s Dad dies, his world falls apart; his brother joins the army. His mum is threatened with eviction and he faces a criminal prosecution after spreading manure over the lo­cal bank. All this changes however, when Tom meets park ranger, Al Thorpe, in this inspiring story of two individuals overcoming adversity and finding true friendship.

LOST FOR WORDS – directed by Stanley J. Orzel

Amid sweeping cityscape of cosmopolitan Hong Kong, Anna and Michael’s paths cross and a platonic friendship turns into an unresistable love. Will love survive?

PLAY LIKE A LION – directed by Joshua Dylan Mellars

American born Alam Khan is traveling to India on his first concert tour without his ailing father, legendary Indian sarodist, Maestro Ali Akbar Khan. Alam’s father, a mulitiple Grammy nominee, introduced Indian Classical music to the West and was, according to renowned master violinist Yehudi Menuhim, as “possibly the greatest musician in the world.” When Alam feels the weight of living up to his family’s North Indian Classical music tradition, he remembers his father’s advise: Don’t worry, Play Like a Lion.”

PLEASE KILL MR KNOW IT ALL – directed by Sandra Feldman

Cynical Sally ghostwrites an advice column un­der the pseudonym “Mr. Know It All.” When a celebrity endorsement turns her column into an overnight success, Sally submits a sketch of Albert, a handsome stranger she spots in a movie theatre, as the face of Mr. Know It All. Unfortunately, Albert happens to be a contract killer and cannot walk down the street without being recognized. For the sake of his livelihood, he decides he must kill Mr. Know It All.

SEADRIFT vs THE BIG GUY – directed by Randall P. Dark

The Texas Water Safari has earned its reputation as the world’s toughest canoe race. The race is 250 miles long and its participants have 100 hours to get from San Marcos to Seadrift. Jeff McAdams, a big brash Texan who is known to ‘smoke a bit, drink a bit and is told he might be overweight’ decided to do the safari because his friends told him he couldn’t. Seadrift vs. the Big Guy is a battle of nature versus man that offers a look into this famous race and folllows the Big Guy on what may be the dumbest dare he’s ever made.

SUICIDE NOTES – directed by Travis Ammons

Suicide Notes is a modestly produced independent film which tells the story of down and out Julian Parker who has written a play in which the lead character commits suicide. Enter the team of money hungry producer, Marla French and nudist director Don Paulson (audaciously played by Sopranos vet Lou Martini, Jr.) who decide to mount his offbeat play — with just one small catch. They are going to cast legitimately suicidal actors who will actually kill themselves on stage. Flat broke, Parker has no choice but to sign the contract.

SURKHAAB – directed by Sanjay Talreja

An illegal immigrant and a carrier who is on the run in a world alien from her own are at the center of the story. An exposure to the parallel world that exists in developed coun­tries. A week in the life of a human being traf­ficked.

THE HOUSE IN THE WIND OF DEAD – directed by Francesco Campanini

Attilio is a former movie star Fascist disgraced. In desperation, he joins a band of robbers to make a heat. After the robbery Attilio and his friends run to the hills being hunted by police. They take refuge in a house that will prove to be a death trap.

TUTTI GIU – directed by Niccolo Castelli

Jullo, Edo, and Chiara are three teenagers whose lives are sports. Jullo “is” his skateboard; Chiarra conquers the world on skis; and Edo is a sprayer. One day Jullo, Chiara and Edo sudden­ly discover their own lives, each in their own way. Fears, dreams, surprises, loneliness, uncertainty, expectations, impermanence, imbalance. Then one moment, one second, one “click.” A click, after which they rediscover themselves, which leads to either adulthood – or unsparingly carries them away.

UNCLE HANK – directed by Elbert van Strien

Law student, Koen, rescues himself from a threatening situation with street scum by claim­ing that top criminal Hank de Koning is his uncle. He gets deeper into trouble as Uncle Hank a few days later rings at his door. Koen may return the favor for him, that for Koen of course is impossi­ble to refuse. No, you don’t easily get rid of Uncle Hank.

WAVES – directed by Corrado Sassi

It is a noir on the sea: the story of three men who do not know each other and are sailing south. Only two are aware of the true reason for their journey (to commit a crime), while the third man shares with the public the anguish of a jour­ney towards an unknown destination.

DVD REVIEWS

FREE DVD GIVEAWAY

We are doing a Free DVD Giveaway! If you are interested in a chance at winning a free copy of Double Feature: The Doctor/Stella, Double Feature: The Good Mother/Angie, Double Feature: Mafia/The Crew, Salmon: Running the Guantlet, America in Primetime, Bears of the Last Frontier, How Smart Can We Get, Breakfast Special 2, Shakespeare Uncovered or Education Under Arrest, it is really easy! All you have to do is send me an email at HoustonMovieGuy@gmail.com. The subject line of the email should read DVD GIVEAWAY. In the body of the email, be sure to put your name, full mailing address and which DVD or Blu-ray you would like. Winners will be selected by random drawing. Best of luck!

DEAD BALL – Well Go USA

Baseball prodigy Jubeh Yakyu (Tak Sakaguchi) is the most feared and dangerous juvenile delinquent in all of Japan. After accidentally causing the death of his father with a super-powered fireball pitch, Jubeh swore off baseball, but his life of crime leaves him in the Pterodactyl Juvenile Reformatory, at the mercy of Headmistress Ishihara, the granddaughter of a World War II Nazi collaborator, and her sadistic assistant, Ilsa. Despite having sworn never to play baseball again, Jubeh is presented with an ultimatum: join the reformatory team, The Gauntlets, in the national tournament, or witness the death of his innocent cellmate. Jubeh is now in a fight for his life against the sexy but deadly psycho butcher girls of the St. Black Dahlia High School. These teams are literally playing for blood!

ONE LIFE – BBC

Over the course of five billion years, life on Earth has evolved into the incredible richness and variety we see today. One Life is a celebration of the most brilliant and imaginative stories of survival from the natural world. Cutting-edge cinematic techniques capture unprecedented and astonishingly beautiful chronicles of animal ingenuity. One Life takes us from birth through to the creation of the next generation – then takes us one step further – revealing that, whether we have wings or flippers, eight legs or two, the triumph of life connects us all.

GREAT BARRIER REEF – BBC

Stretching a full 2000 kilometers in length and made up of 3000 individual reef systems and hundreds of islands, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is breathtakingly beautiful. Selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981, it is one of the wonders of the natural world. These programs offer a definitive guide to the secrets of the reef — how it was created, how it works, the intricate relationships between its inhabitants and how climate change and other factors might shape its future. Using the latest specialist filming and visual techniques, the series captures the magic of the reef as it has never been seen before.

MERLIN: Season Five – BBC

After three years of peace and harmony, the future of the Camelot couldn’t be brighter. But as King Arthur and his new Queen look to bring the kingdom into a bright future, the seeds of Camelot’s destruction are drawing together. The evil Morgana is hiding in the darkness. As an old face returns to the castle and gains a position amongst Arthur’s inner circle, Merlin must protect the king more than ever… For the new arrival is Mordred, the druid boy whose destiny is to end the king’s life and bring chaos down on Camelot. But as the death song of King Uther haunts the castle and Guinevere crosses over to the dark side, both Merlin and Arthur find that their destiny is approaching… the battle of Camelot is about to reach a deadly conclusion… and nothing will ever be the same again.

THE BLUE PLANET: Seas of Life – BBC

This groundbreaking series from the BBC and Discovery winner of two Emmy awards is now available on Blu-ray! The Emmy-winning The Blue Planet: Seas of Life is the definitive natural history of the world’s oceans exploring everything from the popular shores and teeming shallows to the mysterious ocean depths. Sea birds and crustaceans inhabit the no-man’s-land between earth and sea; sharks bask in the shallows waiting for prey; strange flower-like anemones bloom in the coral reefs; while in the deep canyons of the oceans weird creatures with huge jaws wait for something to sink down from the sunlit world. It’s a journey that gets stranger and more awe-inspiring as it goes along. You will be in awe as you relive this truly historic series from the BBC and Discovery on Blu-ray.

NATIVITY – Freestyle

This Christmas, elementary school teacher Paul Maddens is charged with producing the school’s nativity play. Competing against his archrival at the local private school for the honor of best reviewed show in town, the stakes are raised when Paul idly boasts that his ex-girlfriend Jennifer, a Hollywood Producer, is coming to see his show with a view to turning it into a film. The only trouble is – they haven’t spoken in years. With eccentric assistant Mr. Poppy fuelling his “little white lie,” Maddens suddenly finds himself a local celebrity and at the center of quarreling parents and over-excited children desperate in their bid for fame and fortune. Maddens’ only hope is to get back in touch with Jennifer and lure Hollywood to town so that everybody’s Christmas wishes come true.

GEORGE WASHINGTON: The Man Who Wouldn’t Be King – PBS

George Washington: The Man Who Wouldn’t Be King is the story of a man who grew into greatness by accepting the challenge of leading a fractious, rag-tag army against the might of the British government. As a young man, Washington was a social climber, a land-hungry Virginia surveyor and self-conscious military officer, often blaming others for his own mistakes. However, he gradually built a reputation as a gentleman by educating himself in the classics and sciences, entering politics, and marrying one of the wealthiest women in Virginia. It was at the battle of Trenton where everything changed. Brilliantly timing his attack on Christmas night, Trenton was a psychological victory both for America and for Washington himself. His growing skill and unwavering bravery transformed Washington into the very symbol of the Revolutionary War. After leading his army to the final victory at Yorktown, his officers–unpaid and distrustful of Congress–wanted him to assume even greater power. Using impressionistic photography and rare paintings, etchings and prints from museums, libraries, and private collections, George Washington: The Man Who Wouldn’t Be King goes beyond the standard textbook portrait to reveal the real George Washington.

SHARK REEF & THE SACRED ISLAND – PBS

Two thirds of the globe is ocean. And while most people are just starting to hear about problems with overfishing, pollution, coral reef troubles, and the like, marine biologists, fisheries scientists, and conservationists worldwide are already hard at work inventing, devising, and implementing solutions. By focusing on those solutions, we ll help our viewers understand both what the problems are and the vision forward.

SPEND WELL, LIFE RICH – PBS

Learn to live well – and wisely – on the money you already have! Michelle Singletary knows that every penny counts. She knows that it’s not how much you make that matters, but how you make do with what you have. She learned her values from the best financial planner she ever met: her grandmother, Big Mama, who raised Michelle and her four siblings, owned her own home and car, and lived comfortably in retirement, all on a salary that never exceeded $13,000 a year. In this straightforward and accessible program, Michelle brings both hope and humor as she presents her Seven Money Mantras – a refreshingly honest combination of her own financial expertise sprinkled with lessons learned from Big Mama.

POST MORTEM: The Death Investigation Crisis in America – PBS

Pablo Larrain’s follow-up to Tony Manero is another unnerving look at one man’s psychosis set against a country’s political and moral turmoil — here, a lonely morgue clerk whose infatuation with the burlesque dancer next door plays out against the violent chaos of Chile’s 1973 military coup.

HISTORY DETECTIVES: Season Ten – PBS

America’s top gumshoes prove that an object found in an attic or backyard might be anything but ordinary. They leave no stone unturned as they travel around the country to explore the stories behind local folklore prominent figures and family legends.

DOOMSDAY VOLCANOES – PBS

In April 2010, the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallaj”kull volcano turned much of the northern hemisphere into an ash-strewn no-fly zone, stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers. But Eyjafjallaj”kull was just the start. Now, an Icelandic volcano ten times bigger, Katla, has begun to swell and grumble. Two more giants, Hekla and Laki, could erupt without warning. Iceland is a ticking time bomb: When it blows, the consequences will be global. As CGI takes us inside these geological monsters, meet atmospheric scientists who are working to understand just how devastating an eruption could be – not just for air travel but for the global food supply and for Earth’s climate. Could we be plunged into years of cold and famine? What can we do to prepare for the disaster to come?

VEEP: Season One – HBO

Former senator Selina Meyer was a rising star in her party, a charismatic leader with White House potential. Then she became Vice President. Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars in Veep, a new HBO comedy series created by Armando Iannucci that follows the whirlwind day-to-day existence of the Vice President as she puts out political fires, juggles a busy public schedule and demanding private life, and defends the president’s interests, even as she tries to improve her dysfunctional relationship with the chief executive. In eight Season 1 episodes, Veep hilariously skewers and satirizes both the nuances of everyday office politics and the political world in an environment where even the most banal decision – from a yogurt flavor to choice of the VP pet – can have unexpected and far-reaching consequences.

HEMINGWAY & GELHORN – HBO

Starring two of today’s most acclaimed actors, and directed by Oscar nominee Philip Kaufman (in his first film for television), Hemingway & Gellhorn tells the story of the passionate love affair and tumultuous marriage between Martha Gellhorn (Kidman) and Ernest Hemingway (Owen), following the adventurous writers through all the great conflicts of their time – from the Spanish Civil War and beyond. Considered by many to be the greatest of all war correspondents – man or woman – Gellhorn’s drive and success catapulted her beyond the confines of her marriage into a revered and respected career independent of Hemingway’s. Epic in scale, with masterfully woven archival footage, Hemingway & Gellhorn offers a unique glimpse at a powerful relationship born and torn by war.

INSIDE OBAMA’S PRESIDENCY – PBS

As Barack Obama is sworn in for his second term, Frontline takes a probing look at the first four years of his presidency. With inside accounts from his battles with his Republican opponents over health care and the economy to his dramatic expansion of targeted killings of enemies, Frontline examines the president’s key decisions and the experiences that will inform his second term.

RISE OF THE DRONES – PBS

NOVA reveals the amazing technologies that make drones so powerful. From cameras that can capture every detail of an entire city at a glance, to swarming robots that can make decisions on their own, to giant air frames that can stay aloft for days on end, drones are changing our relationship to war, surveillance and each other. Discover the cutting-edge technologies that are propelling us toward a new chapter in aviation history.

FREE DVD GIVEAWAY

We are doing a Free DVD Giveaway! If you are interested in a chance at winning a free copy of Double Feature: The Doctor/Stella, Double Feature: The Good Mother/Angie, Double Feature: Mafia/The Crew, Salmon: Running the Guantlet, America in Primetime, Bears of the Last Frontier, How Smart Can We Get, Breakfast Special 2, Shakespeare Uncovered or Education Under Arrest, it is really easy! All you have to do is send me an email at HoustonMovieGuy@gmail.com. The subject line of the email should read DVD GIVEAWAY. In the body of the email, be sure to put your name, full mailing address and which DVD or Blu-ray you would like. Winners will be selected by random drawing. Best of luck!

DOUBLE FEATURE: The Doctor/Stella – Mill Creek

The Doctor – Reunited for the first time since Children Of A Lesser God, Academy Award winner William Hurt and acclaimed director Randa Haines team up again in the heartwarming and captivating hit film, The Doctor. Hurt plays Jack McKee, a gifted but insensitive heart surgeon who gets a taste of his own medicine when he experiences firsthand what it’s like to be an ordinary patient. Through it all, Jack learns that compassion and caring are a physician’s most important skills, and he ultimately becomes an extraordinary doctor. Hailed by critics as one of the must-see films of the year, The Doctor promises to entertain and move you from beginning to end. Stella – Superstar Bette Midler delivers a most engaging performance in the hit film, Stella! Tough and fiercely independent, Stella discovers that she is pregnant after a brief relationship with Dr. Stephen Dallas, but is too proud to accept a marriage of convenience from him or her well-meaning best friend, John Goodman The Artist. Ready to face life without regrets, Stella single-handedly raises her loving daughter Jenny Trini Alvarado. Through the years, the two share a very special relationship, until Stella faces the truth – that she cannot provide her daughter with a life of advantages her wealthy father can give her.

DOUBLE FEATURE: The Good Mother/Angie – Mill Creek

The Good Mother – Every passion has its price. For Anna Dunlap Academy Award-winner Diane Keaton, a recent divorcee and mother of a young daughter, Molly, the price may be devastating. Discovering true passion for the first time in her life after meeting artist Leo Cutter Liam Neeson, Anna’s life couldn’t be more perfect. But shocking charges against the young woman place her newfound lifestyle under scrutiny, shattering her sizzling relationship and forcing her to prove that she is a good mother. Angie – Academy Award-winner Geena Davis shines as Angie, a young Brooklyn-born woman who’s witty, irreverent, and irresistible! With her wild ambitions and stubborn independence, Angie won’t let anyone — or anything — stand in the way of her dreams. When Angie finds out she’s pregnant by her longtime boyfriend, she has no plans to get married and settle down. Instead, she decides it’s a good time to set out and find her way in the world. As you can imagine, her unpredictable behavior drives her bewildered family and friends crazy! You’re sure to fall head over heels for Angie — a heartwarming story brimming with irrepressible fun!

DOUBLE FEATURE: Mafia/The Crew – Mill Creek

Mafia! – Here’s a comedy you can’t refuse, as director Jim Abrahams takes aim at The Godfather, Casino and other crime movies. Jay Mohr stars as the war vet who returns home and must take over his family’s business when an attempt is made on the life of patriarch Lloyd Bridges. With Christina Applegate, Olympia Dukakis and Billy Burke. The Crew – Featuring Academy Award-winner Richard Dreyfuss (Red) and Burt Reynolds, this sidesplitting story centers around a set of golden-year goodfellas fighting to protect their last piece of turf! Back in the days when mobsters were larger than life, none lived bigger than Bobby (Dreyfuss), Bats (Reynolds), The Brick(Dan Hedaya), and Mouth (Seymour Cassel). But now well into retirement, the old crew find themselves suddenly facing eviction from their run-down Miami Beach hotel – The Raj Mahal. That’s when they decide there’s only one thing left to do – turn back the clock and pull one last hit in order to save their home! As their wacky plot unfolds, you’ll happily laugh along when these grandfatherly gangsters set off a hilarious chain of events that quickly spins outrageously out of control!

SALMON: Running the Guantlet – PBS

This film will investigate the parallel stories of collapsing Pacific salmon populations and how biologists and engineers have become instruments in audacious experiments to replicate every stage of the fish s life cycle. Each of our desperate efforts to save salmon has involved replacing their natural cycle of reproduction and death with a radically manipulated life history. Our once great runs of salmon are now conceived in laboratories, raised in tanks, driven in trucks, and farmed in pens. Here we go beyond the ongoing debate over how to save an endangered species. In its exposure of a wildly creative, hopelessly complex, and stunningly expensive approach to managing salmon, the film reveals one of the most ambitious plans ever conceived for taking the reins of the planet.

AMERICA IN PRIMETIME – PBS

Since its inception, television has served as a lens on American society, and in the expansive world of modern TV, today s heroes and villains have come a long way from their predecessors. America in Primetime showcases this iconic American art form, which has both reflected and shaped our national character.

BEARS OF THE LAST FRONTIER – PBS

Bears are an ultimate icon of the wild, regarded as among the most successful wild animals on the planet. Three of the eight bear species in the world brown bears, black bears, and polar bears can be found in Alaska, one of North America s last truly wild frontiers. Nature joins adventurer and bear biologist Chris Morgan on a year-long motorcycle odyssey deep into Alaska s bear country to explore the amazing resiliency and adaptability of these majestic animals as they struggle to make a living in five dramatically diverse Alaskan ecosystems: coastal, urban, mountain, tundra, and pack ice.

HOW SMART CAN WE GET – PBS

How Smart Can We Get? How do you get a genius brain? Is it all in the genes? Or is it hard work? Episodes include: Einstein’s Brain; Mystery of the Savant Brain; What is Intelligence?; and Profile: Sian Beilock.

BREAKFAST SPECIAL 2 – PBS

Mmm, smell the bacon! Order the grits with red-eye gravy! Get the lobster hash! Try the veggie omelet! Part food show and part travelogue, Breakfast Special 2: Revenge of the Omelets is another celebration of getting up and going out for a memorable morning meal. Visit a diner in Connecticut, admire homemade biscuits in North Carolina, and savor some big pancakes in Pittsburgh. Along the way we find seaside specialties in New Hampshire, duck breast in Philadelphia, and salmon cakes in Detroit. On the Big Island of Hawaii, we sample loco moco, Portuguese donuts and scrumptious variations on all of the above! Cooks, servers, and regulars all across America share their love and loyalty for our most important meal of the day.

SHAKESPEARE UNCOVERED – PBS

Six episodes combine history, biography, iconic performances, new analysis and the personal passion of its celebrated hosts Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Irons, Derek Jacobi, Trevor Nunn, Joely Richardson and David Tennant to tell the story behind the stories of Shakespeare’s greatest plays.

EDUCATION UNDER ARREST – PBS

Many public schools are still operating under the 1999 “Zero Tolerance” initiative, which tied federal funding to this mandate. “Zero Tolerance,” which came about after the horrifying Columbine tragedy, demands that kids be removed from schools the first time they transgress—even for minor offenses. This puts them into the juvenile justice system—a system that those who work within its confines admit too often does a better job of punishment than rehabilitation and re-integration into schools.

TORMENTED – Well Go USA

Daigo doesn’t speak anymore. Not since he killed that rabbit on the playground at school. His sister, Kiriko, is worried. He’s bullied. He sleepwalks. And their father is no help, trapped in his own grief and illustrating fantasy worlds where families are happily reunited and no one dies. They never should have gone to that 3D movie. The one with the stuffed rabbit that floated out of the screen. Now Daigo is missing. He’s in danger, and Kiriko will have to follow him into a world of nightmares to discover the truth. And the truth is worse than any dream. From the legendary director of The Grudge, Takashi Shimizu takes an unflinching look into childhood fears, the ties that hold a family together, and bloody secrets that won’t stay dead.

KNUCKLEBALL – Film Buff

The definitive documentary about the impossible-to-hit pitch, the knuckleball! From acclaimed filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg this heartfelt, funny and deeply engaging film delves into the legendary subculture of the knuckleball and the brotherhood of men who share the drive, imagination and humility to throw baseball s slowest, most disrespected pitch. Filmed throughout the 2011 season, Knuckleball follows 37 year-old R.A. Dickey (New York Mets and 2012 All-Star) and 18-year veteran Tim Wakefield, formerly the oldest player in the major leagues and an icon of the Boston Red Sox, detailing their personal and professional triumphs of the season while exploring the bond between them and their only allies, the five living retired knuckleballers – Charlie Hough, Wilbur Wood, Jim Bouton, Tom Candiotti, and Hall of Famer Phil Niekro. Knuckleball! is the story of these extraordinary men, and the sacrifices they made to a pitch that would come to define their lives.

THE KICK – Lionsgate

After the son of a family of tae kwon do experts foils an attempt to steal a priceless Thai artifact, the family becomes national heroes – and targets of revenge by the criminal gang whose robbery the son stopped. In order to protect the boy’s family, they are sent into hiding but are soon discovered. When they’re taken hostage, one son will stop at nothing to save his kin, and together they’ll take back what belongs to them.

STITCHES – MPI

Ten years after a prank on his birthday left hired clown Stitches dead on his kitchen floor, Tommy’s childhood friends gather to plan one last birthday party to end all parties. But they didn’t count on the degenerate jester returning from the grave to seek vengeance on the children who caused his untimely end. Now Tommy and his friends are on the run from an undead jokester who’s ready to use every trick in the book to exact his revenge. Dead Meat director Conor McMahon delivers a delirious slasher with Stitches, the hilariously twisted and blood soaked tale of one very bad clown.

CHARLIE: A Toy Story – E1 Entertainment

10 year-old Caden and his best friend Charlie a golden retriever visit Caden’s father Jack at his Wonder Toy Store where they discover his newest and greatest invention Wondermation a little science mixed with a little imagination that’s the most amazing toy in the world. Unfortunately Caden’s rivals want to steal Wondermation and keep it for themselves.

THE SANDLOT – Fox

10 year-old Caden and his best friend Charlie a golden retriever visit Caden’s father Jack at his Wonder Toy Store where they discover his newest and greatest invention Wondermation a little science mixed with a little imagination that’s the most amazing toy in the world. Unfortunately Caden’s rivals want to steal Wondermation and keep it for themselves.

TIME OF MY LIFE – Strand Releasing

Based on the true story of Mario Verstraete, comes a touching and inspirational film about a vigorous campaign to legalize euthanasia in Belgium. Just when Mario’s political career is about to get under stream he is diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis. Told through the eyes of his doctor friend, Thomas, Time of My Life focuses on how Mario and his friends deal with the crisis and come to terms with both the philosophical and profoundly human sides of the issue leaving us with nothing but a renewed vigor for life itself.

STRAIGHT A’s – Millenium

Seeking redemption, family outcast Scott returns to his home town only to throw everyone’s lives into disarray. This is particularly troubling for his sister-in-law who was once his high school sweetheart. Straight A’s stars Ryan Phillippe, Anna Paquin and Luke Wilson in a love triangle that ultimately unites them all.

LEGO STAR WARS: The Empire Strikes Out – Fox

Your favorite characters are back to save the galaxy in Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out. The heroes of the Rebel Alliance including heroic Luke Skywalker, swaggering Han Solo and steadfast Princess Leia have no time to celebrate their victory over the Empire as a new Imperial threat arises. But as Jedi-in-training Luke embarks on this next mission, he discovers that his celebrity status as a “Death-Star-Blower-Upper” can be a double-edged lightsaber when he’s constantly mobbed by crazed fans. So much for secret missions! Meanwhile, Darth Vader and Darth Maul are locked in a hilarious “Sith-ling” rivalry as they compete for the Emperor’s approval. It’s an action-packed comic adventure that’s out of this world!

BORGEN – MHz Networks

Cited by Stephen King as his favorite television series of the year, Denmark’s blockbuster political drama, Borgen explores the insular world of high-stakes Danish politics and the press corps that covers it in instantaneous, relentless news cycles. Birgitte Nyborg becomes Prime Minister of Denmark through a political fluke and has to learn the ways of power, quickly. She’s an altruistic public servant in an old boys club and must master the art of the deal overnight, manage her image and understand that she has advisors but no real friends. She also must perform the impossible juggling act of maintaining a family life while serving as Denmark’s first female Prime Minister. The rigors of public life and the press may attract some of Denmark’s finest, but it also exacts a high price from them all for participating in an open democracy.

OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN

When the White House (Secret Service Code: “Olympus”) is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped within the building. As our national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning’s inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President and avert an even bigger crisis. Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) directs an all-star cast featuring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo, Ashley Judd and Rick Yune.

Frankly, this film is what it is. There are insanely ludicrous scenes and the film is as cookie cutter as they come, but Olympus Has Fallen is still a solid popcorn flick. Director Antoine Fuqua has served up a picture that has plenty of explosions, punches and is a thrill ride from beginning to end that never forgets its primary purpose is to entertain the theatergoers. It does a fine job at that.

Olympus Has Fallen
Starring: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart & Morgan Freeman
Directed by Antoine Fuqua
Company: Film District
Now Showing: in Local Theaters
MPAA Rating: R
Grade: C+

DVD REVIEWS

FREE DVD GIVEAWAY

We are doing a Free DVD Giveaway! If you are interested in a chance at winning a free copy of Music of the Heart, Marvin’s Room, Bangkok Revenge, The Collection, To the Arctic, Triple Feature: Life with Mikey – Swing Vote – Fatherhood or Triple Feature: Mr Wrong – Born Yesterday – Too Much, it is really easy! All you have to do is send me an email at HoustonMovieGuy@gmail.com. The subject line of the email should read DVD GIVEAWAY. In the body of the email, be sure to put your name, full mailing address and which DVD or Blu-ray you would like. Winners will be selected by random drawing. Best of luck!

MUSIC OF THE HEART – Echo Bridge

Two-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep stars with Angela Bassett in a heartwarming, acclaimed true story of how one woman’s musical gift affected those who least expected it. Roberta Guaspari (Streep) overcame the skepticism of everyone who didn’t think she should be teaching violin to students in a tough inner-city neighborhood. But even after a decade of ever-growing popularity and countless success stories, Roberta and her kids must rise to meet an even greater challenge—budget cuts aimed at shutting down her valuable program for good. Also starring Aidan Quinn (Flipped) and Grammy winner Gloria Estefan in a stellar cast, this extraordinary story will inspire anyone who’s ever thought their dreams were to far out of reach.

MARVIN’S ROOM – Echo Bridge

Hollywood’s hottest star, Leonardo DiCaprio, gives an electrifying performance as the criminally rebellious son in this funny and stirring tale of one family’s humor and heartache. Seventeen years ago, fiercely independent Lee (Meryl Streep) left home…and left behind her kindhearted sister Bessie (Diane Keaton) to care for their father, Marvin. But now Lee is returning with her teenage son (DiCaprio) for a homecoming that’s sure to turn the entire household upside down. Also starring Robert De Niro, this entertaining motion picture proves that people you know the least may be the ones you need the most.

BANGKOK REVENGE – Well Go USA

Manit (Jon Foo) was only ten years old when they killed his parents. A brutal, thoughtless murder, which included putting a bullet in his own brain. They should have finished the job. Rescued from death by a master of Muay Thai boxing, and afflicted with ataraxia – a brain injury that removes all human emotion – Manit has spent his life training to be a killing machine. It’s 20 years later, and he’s coming for them all. With fists, feet, and bloody vengeance, he’s going to make them wish they were dead already.

THE COLLECTION – Lionsgate

When Elena is talked into attending an underground warehouse party with her friends, she finds herself caught in a nightmarish trap where the revelers are mowed, sliced and crushed to death by a macabre series of contraptions operated by a masked psychopath. When the grisly massacre is over, Elena is the only survivor. But before she can escape, she is locked in a trunk and transported to an unknown location. Fortunately for Elena, one man – Arkin – knows exactly where she’s headed, having just escaped from there with his life and sanity barely intact. Elena’s wealthy father hires a crack team of mercenaries to force Arkin to lead them to the killer’s lair. But even these hardened warriors are not prepared for what they encounter: an abandoned hotel-turned-torture-chamber, rigged with deadly traps and filled with mangled corpses. Can Arkin and the team get to Elena before she too becomes part of his gruesome ‘collection?’

TO THE ARCTIC – Warner

In the Arctic, 25 percent less land is covered by ice in a typical summer today than it was in 1980. If current trends continue, the summer ice will be completely gone by the year 2050. To the Arctic is a strikingly gorgeous 40-minute film by director Greg MacGillivray, producer Shaun MacGillivray, and writer-editor Stephen Judson shot on location in the Arctic Circle in the IMAX 3-D format. The film focuses in on the special relationship between a mother polar bear and her two young cubs and offers a first-hand look at how climate change and the shrinking ice is threatening the polar bears’ continued survival. The cinematography is absolutely breathtaking, allowing viewers not only a unique look at the icy glaciers and waterfalls of the Arctic, but a rare close-up look at a family of polar bears as they grow, swim, hunt seals, protect one another from predators and aggressive males, and struggle to survive in a world of melting ice. The underwater scenes of the polar bears swimming are especially stunning, and there’s also some great footage of walruses, migrating caribou, and Arctic birds. Meryl Streep sets just the right tone with her compelling narration, inviting viewers to experience the love between the polar bears and the desperation of their struggle to survive. The Inuit people comment on how weather patterns have changed over the years, and a fellow filmmaker and biologist offer a few words about tracking caribou migration.

TRIPLE FEATURE: Mr Wrong, Born Yesterday, Too Much – Mill Creek

Mr. Wrong – Mr. Wrong is an outrageous comedy that pairs handsome star Bill Pullman with hilarious comic Ellen DeGeneres. Together, they deliver a riotously funny look at the agonizing dating games of the ’90s. He seems like Ellen’s perfect dream date – until he unexpectedly turns her hopeful search for Mr. Right into the nightmare of winding up with Mr. Wrong! With a first-rate cast and a hot hit soundtrack adding to the hilarity – critics and audiences everywhere couldn’t stop laughing along with this sidesplitting comedy hit!

Born Yesterday – Academy Award winning nominee Melanie Griffith stars as Billie Dawn, a Las Vegas showgirl whose lack of sophistication makes for some hilariously embarrassing moments in the Washington, D.C., social scene. That’s when her overbearing boyfriend (John Goodman) hires a well-educated and handsome journalist (Don Johnson) to smarten her up. The improbable romance that blossoms between Billie and her tutor turns all of their lives – and Washington, D.C. – upside down!

Two Much – Handsome Antonio Banderas joins seductive stars Melanie Griffith and Daryl Hannah in this sexy screwball comedy! Art Dodge (Banderas) would like to break off his engagement with his fiancee Betty (Griffith) – only her mob boss ex-husband makes it impossible for him to say no to the wedding! It’s then that Art unexpectedly falls in love with Betty’s beautiful sister (Hannah) and becomes entangled in an outrageous charade – he invents his own twin brother so he can date both women at once! The laughs come fast and furious as Art’s delirious double life spins hilariously out of control!

TRIPLE FEATURE: Life with Mikey, Swing Vote, Fatherhood – Mill Creek

Life With Mikey – Hollywood favorite Michael J. Fox is at his best in this hilarious comedy about showbiz after the curtain falls. Fox stars as Mikey, a former child star having a little trouble with his new role as a kids’ talent agent. He’s desperate to find a way to keep his third-rate talent agency from going under, when he meets Angie, a young con artist. With her street-wise smarts and irresistible charm, she’s a natural for TV commercials and could be their ticket to the big time – if they don’t drive each other crazy first! Count on big laughs with Life with Mikey, a fun-filled comedy treat that’s sure to entertain everyone!

Swing Vote – Kevin Costner stars in Swing Vote, as Bud Johnson as an ordinary dad drifting through life, caring about nothing except his overachieving daughter Molly. Trying to encourage him to get involved, Molly accidentally sets off a chain of events on Election Day that ends with the presidential race coming down to one vote-Bud’s. Comedic chaos ensues as Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci and George Lopez give all-star support in witty and uplifting film that’s charming, funny, smart, touching and profound!

Father Hood – Screen superstar Patrick Swayze plays Jack Charles, a small-time hood whose life is forever changed when he’s reunited with the children he abandoned. Reluctant at first, Jack is unavoidably drawn back to the role of being a father and all its rewards. But when the authorities try to return the kids to the abusive foster care institution where they were held, Jack is forced to take them on the run in a harrowing cross-country chase! Filled with action, adventure and heartwarming moments, Father Hood is Patrick Swayze at his best.

THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW: This Time Together – Star Vista

The Carol Burnett Show is one of the most popular and beloved shows in the history of television and it is now available on DVD to all audiences for the very first time. Starting in 1967 and continuing for 11 straight years, The Carol Burnett Show was the ultimate variety show with music, acting, larger-than-life guest stars, and, of course, comedy..sketches, jokes and parodies that are as funny now as they were 40 years ago.

TOM GREEN LIVE – Anchor Bay

MTV’s The Tom Green Show broke new ground with its insane video pranks and skits. Now the star of Road Trip and Freddy Got Fingered brings his outrageous energy and irreverent wit to the stage in his first stand-up comedy special. The trailblazing host of the long-running Internet talk show Tom Green’s House Tonight hilariously rants and raves about how truly weird life can be. Nothing is off limits: Testicular cancer? Yup! What’s it like to hang with Donald Trump? Yup! If you’ve got a medical condition that warns against laughing, call for an ambulance.

A TURTLE’S TALE 2 – Vivendi

When Sammy and Ray find themselves trapped in The Tank, an underwater aquarium, they must hatch a plan to escape and reunite with their grandkids, Ricky and Ella, and protect them from the dangers of the ocean. But they’ll have to get past Big D and his dopey thugs first. With the help of some unlikely friends, Sammy and Ray find that when you work together, anything is possible!

HOUSE ARREST – Lionsgate

Chanel is living the high life until one day while out shopping with her boyfriend DeAndre they’re both arrested. As Chanel finds herself behind bars for a crime she didn’t commit a judge places her under House Arrest. With nowhere to go she is forced to move back in with her mother and daughter who live on the ghetto side of town. While Chanel adjusts to her new lifestyle DeAndre makes her a proposition from jail that will have her torn between her two lifestyles: take the blame or prove her innocence.

THE BORGIAS: Season Two – CBS Paramount

The Borgias is a one-hour drama series based on the infamous Italian Renaissance family The Borgias. Jeremy Irons stars as Rodrigo Borgia, the cunning, manipulative patriarch of The Borgia family who ascends to the highest circles of power within Renaissance-era Italy. The series begins as the family’s patriarch Rodrigo becomes Pope, propelling him, his two Machiavellian sons Cesare and Juan, and his scandalously beautiful daughter, Lucrezia, to become the most powerful and influential family of the Italian Renaissance. And all the power and influence eventually leads to their demise.

MAX’S CHOCOLATE CHICKEN – Scholastic

When Max and Ruby go on a chocolate egg hunt in the backyard they both find more than they bargained for. Includes 6 episodes: -Max’s Chocolate Chicken -Max’s Picnic -Max’s Dragon Shirt -Max’s Prize -Grandma’s Attic -Bunny Cakes.

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: XXVI – Shout Factory

For this 26th volume of MST3K, an introduction could well be pared down to ’one cult TV series with two guys, two robots, four movies and 10,000 jokes. This new collection of previously unreleased episodes picks up where the last 25 left off: seating you next to the funniest peanut gallery in television history. It’s a deep dive into the human instinct for survival, where our warped warriors aboard the Satellite of Love find the funny in the tragic…or at least the cheesy. In fact, it’s not too hyperbolic to insist that what Joel, Mike, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot do, as they defend us against the slings and arrows of outrageously unfortunate movies, is nothing less than keep us sane. If you don’t agree, you re obviously crazy.

STAR TREK ENTERPRISE: Season One – CBS Paramount

Now, for the first time on Blu-ray, follow Starfleet’s earliest forays into deep space with breathtaking 1080p high definition picture and remastered 7.1 sound. Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) commands the Enterprise NX-01, the first Earth-built vessel capable of breaking the Warp 5 barrier. With his trusted Chief Engineer, Charles “Trip” Tucker III (Connor Trinneer), Science Officer T’Pol (Jolene Blalock), and security expert Lt. Malcolm Reed (Dominic Keating), Capt. Archer is tasked with exploring new, unknown star systems. Propel your imagination farther and faster than before with an ever-expanding universe of captivating characters, interstellar intrigue, and adventures that will come to define the very essence of Starfleet.

THAT 70′s SHOW: Season Seven – Mill Creek

Flashback to the 70s with your favorite groovy gang! After years of chillin out in Point Place, Wisconsin it s time for the Forman family and their friends to do some sincere thinking about their futures. This season boogies on while Eric and Donna attempt to find friendship after their broken engagement, Hyde meets his funky father, Jackie gets her own TV show, while Kelso finds a new appreciation for women after the birth of his baby girl and Fez finds his true Casanova calling at the local beauty salon. Get ready to get down with outta sight laughs and slammin surprises in this unforgettable season!

THE COMEDY – New Video

On the cusp of inheriting his father’s estate, Swanson (Tim Heidecker) is a man with unlimited options. An aging hipster in Brooklyn, he spends his days in aimless recreation with like-minded friends (Eric Wareheim, James Murphy and comedian Gregg Turkington a.k.a.”Neil Hamburger”) in games of comic irreverence and mock sincerity. As Swanson grows restless of the safety a sheltered life offers him, he tests the limits of acceptable behavior, pushing the envelope in every way he can. Played brilliantly by Heidecker, his deadpan delivery cleverly masks a deep desire for connection and sense in the modern world. The Comedy wears its name on its sleeve, but director Rick Alverson’s powerful and provocative character study touches a darkness behind the humor that resonates with viewers long after the story ends.

MY BROTHER JONATHAN – BBC

Daniel Day-Lewis plays Jonathan, the ungainly, neglected eldest son of a family living in the Black Country. His younger brother Harold is everything he is not – athletic, handsome and clever. Despite the favoritism shown to Harold, the two boys build a close friendship that lasts a lifetime and ends in tragedy. Based on the novel by Francis Brett Young.

TATSUMI – Zeitgeist

Tatsumi celebrates the life and work of Yoshihiro Tatsumi-a manga pioneer who transformed the genre with cinematic inspiration and psychological depth. His youthful passion for comics blossomed into a means to support his family in postwar Osaka-but he became tired of producing whimsical children’s tales. In 1957 Tatsumi redefined the manga landscape with an adult-oriented genre that grappled with the darker aspects of Japanese life, which he called gekiga (dramatic pictures). In Tatsumi, Singaporean filmmaker and former comic artist Eric Khoo (Be With Me) brings Tatsumi’s 2010 graphic memoir A Drifting Life and five of his classic stories to vivid, stunning life. An inventive animated tribute to a groundbreaking artist, the film is as gorgeous, shocking and darkly funny as the works themselves.

MONSIEUR VERDOUX – Criterion

Released in 1947, Charlie Chaplin plays shockingly against type in his most controversial film, a brilliant and bleak black comedy about money, marriage, and murder. Chaplin is a twentieth-century Bluebeard, an enigmatic family man who goes to extreme lengths to support his wife and child, attempting to bump off a series of wealthy widows (including one played by the indefatigable Martha Raye, in a hilarious performance). This deeply philosophical and wildly entertaining film is a work of true sophistication, both for the moral questions it dares to ask and the way it deconstructs its megastar’s loveable on-screen persona.

FOLLOW ME: The Yoni Netanyahu Story – Crystal City Entertainment

27 June 1976: Air France flight 139, containing more than 100 Israeli and Jewish passengers was hijacked and flown to Entebbe Airport, near Kampala, Uganda.  The daring commander of this rescue mission was Jonathan (Yoni) Netanyahu. Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story is a compelling docudrama based on his own words and letters. Sharing emotions and feelings seldom portrayed in Hollywood scripts, this movie opens the mind of Yoni the poet and intimate, loving man, as well as Yoni the warrior and international hero. A member of a high-profile family (father Benzion was a highly respected political and educational leader, who had hands-on contribution to Israel’s independence, and brother Benjamin Netanyahu is in his second stint as Israel’s Prime Minister), Yoni’s heritage, patriotism and tragic death accomplished his utmost desire: not one other Israeli was killed in this heroic rescue.

THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE

Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt’s growing ego. But lately the duo’s greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they’ve grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt, even their show looks stale. But there’s still a chance Burt and Anton can save the act-both onstage and off-if Burt can get back in touch with what made him love magic in the first place.

A poor script and discombobulated directing are the primary reasons this film is a dissapointment. It seems Steve Carell has his mind elsewhere throughout the entire film and the only performance worthy of positive comments was that of Jim Carrey. The slight of hand tricks are one thing, but the laughs in this film are painfully slow. So much so that you can’t help wondering if the film playing next door would have been a better choice.

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Starring: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi & Jim Carrey
Director: Don Scardino
Company: Warner
Now Showing: in Local Theaters
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Grade: D

CAESAR & OTTO’S DEADLY XMAS

With the holiday season approaching, Caesar and Otto (Dave Campfield and Paul Chomicki) find themselves employed at Xmas Enterprises Inc. where, a disgruntled employee in a Santa suit has begun a killing spree. Now it looks like he’s found himself the perfect patsies. Poking fun at the 1980s wave of Christmas slasher films, Caesar and Otto’s Deadly XMas, is a horror parody in the vein of the Abbott & Costello horror/comedy crossovers. Ain’t It Cool News says that “Like Abbott & Costello before them, Caesar and Otto bring genuine humor to the horror genre.”

Caesar and Otto’s Deadly XMas features a ensemble cast of some of the all time great B movie stars including former CKY and current World Under Blood frontman Deron Miller, “Sleepaway Camp” star Felissa Rose, Brinke Stevens, Joe Estevez, Troma CEO Lloyd Kaufman, Debbie Rochon, and Linnea Quigley in a role that lampoons her death scene in “Silent Night, Deadly Night.” These legends join a cast of up and coming talent such as Paul Chomicki, Ken MacFarlane, Samantha Barrios, Avi K. Garg, Summer Ferguson, and youtube sensations Lauren Francesca, and Shawn “Coolduder” Phillips, most recently seen in The Asylum’s “The Haunting of Whaley House.”

Horrorhound writer Jason Hignite adds “Dave Campfield (Caesar) and Paul Chomicki (Otto) have perfect comedic timing. The budget is obviously low but, the film making is brilliant. If you are a fan of horror comedy, see this film!”   Shot in eleven days on a far from whopping four figure budget, Caesar & Otto’s Deadly is the follow-up to the comedy-horror “Caesar & Otto’s Summer Camp Massacre” which itself lampooned the summer camp slasher subgenre. If the current films proved to be successful, Campfield promises many more adventures from the duo.

DVD REVIEWS

FREE DVD GIVEAWAY

We are doing a Free DVD Giveaway! If you are interested in a chance at winning a free copy of The Hunt for Bin Laden, The Other Son, Dark Feed, The Hobbit, Curandero, Ripper Street, Prehistoric Park, Somewhere Between, Alice through the Looking Glass, WWE Elimination Chamber, The Bay, Duck Dynasty: Season 2 Volume 1, Care Bears: Totally Sweet Adventure, 17 Girls, Special Forces, Thomas & Friends: Go Thomas Go, Barney: Play With Barney, Predator Dinosaurs, Extreme Dinosaurs, You’ve Been Trumped, Royal Rumble 2013, The Invisible War or Curious George: Swings into Spring, it is really easy! All you have to do is send me an email at HoustonMovieGuy@gmail.com. The subject line of the email should read DVD GIVEAWAY. In the body of the email, be sure to put your name, full mailing address and which DVD or Blu-ray you would like. Winners will be selected by random drawing. Best of luck!

THE HUNT FOR BIN LADEN – Inception Media

On May 2, 2011 Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 bombings, was killed by American special forces, marking an end to the longest, most expensive manhunt in American history. Witness the 20-year search for the most wanted man on Earth, as counter-terrorism experts in the White House, the CIA, and the FBI divulge their firsthand accounts. This inside story reveals the presidential frustrations, missed opportunities, and vicious turf wars that tainted the operation right up until the night Navy SEALs ended Bin Laden s reign of terror.

THE OTHER SON – Cohen Media

A provocative tale filmed in Israel and the West Bank of two young men – one Israeli the other Palestinian who discover they were accidentally switched at birth and the complex repercussions on themselves and their respective families.

DARK FEED – Lionsgate

When a film crew moves into an abandoned psychiatric hospital with a shadowy past to shoot a low budget horror film they get more than they bargained for. The late nights and lack of sleep begin to take a toll and the longer this crew works the more the leaky wet building seems to be coming back to life feeding off its new inhabitants. As the shoot wears on members of the crew exhibit increasingly strange behavior leaving those still sane realizing they need to get out of this place before they too succumb to the building’s infectious hold the only problem the old hospital is not ready to let them go.

THE HOBBIT – Warner

The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of ingenuity and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

CURANDERO – Miramax Lionsgate

Robert Rodriguez presents Curandero: Dawn of the Demon, an action-packed horror flick that takes a couple on a horrifying journey through the deepest bowels of the Mexican underworld. When beautiful federal agent Magdalena calls upon curandero Don Carlos (Carlos Gallardo) for his services to purify a police station, the two of them suddenly find themselves immersed in a satanic cult s blood-thirsty battleground.

RIPPER STREET – BBC

Haunted by the failure to catch London’s most evil killer Jack the Ripper Inspector Edmund Reid now heads up the notorious H Division – the toughest police district in the East End. Charged with keeping order in the blood-stained streets of Whitechapel Reid and his men find themselves fighting to uphold justice and the rule of law; but always in the background lurks the fear of the Ripper is he back for another reign of terror? Rich episodic storylines meld with the intrigue of a criminal underworld festering on the hard streets of Victorian London following the battle of the men whose job it is to bring the law to the lawless.

PREHISTORIC PARK – BBC

At Prehistoric Park, the very knowledgeable veterinarian Suzanne is similarly adept at adapting current medical knowledge and practice to help the prehistoric animals under her care and park caretaker Bob is a master improviser, building containment pens and modifying environments, and sometimes animal behavior, to ensure a healthy and safe captivity. An adventure series in the truest sense, each 47-minute episode juxtaposes the modern with the prehistoric and the scientific with the imagined, is full of suspense and drama, and features an amazing combination of very skilled computer animation and realistic animatronics that leave audiences believing that they’ve just seen genuine footage of prehistoric creatures. Scenic locations are stunning and conjure up localities ranging from the subtropical prehistoric park to the icy tundra, rock formations of Scotland, and ash-strewn volcanic lands of prehistoric China.

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN – Docurama

In profiling Chinese adoptees in contemporary America, this deeply moving documentary from Linda Goldstein Knowlton (The World According to Sesame Street) illustrates that even the most specific of experiences can be universally relatable. Of the roughly 80,000 girls who have been adopted from China since 1989 a decade after China implemented its One Child Policy the film intimately follows four teenagers: Haley, Jenna, Ann and Fang. These four wise-beyond-their-years yet typical American teens reveal a heartbreaking sense of self-awareness as they attempt to answer the uniquely human question, “Who am I?” They meet and bond with other adoptees, some journey back to China to reconnect with the culture, and some reach out to the orphaned girls left behind. In their own ways, all attempt to make sense of their complex identities. Issues of belonging, race and gender are brought to life through these articulate subjects, who approach life with honesty and open hearts.

ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – BBC

Join Alice on her journey through the mirror in BBC’s fanciful adaptation of Lewis Caroll’s classic novel! In an alternate world, just on the other side of the mirror’s reflection, Alice finds herself in the middle of a life-sized chess game, where she encounters a variety of surreal scenarios and fantastical characters, including Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Humpty Dumpty, the Red Queen and others. To be crowned queen and return home, Alice must traverse all the ranks to the end of this massive chessboard-but will she make it?

ELIMINATION CHAMBER – WWE

With WrestleMania 29 on the horizon the last stop on the road to the biggest show of the year is the callous coliseum known as the Elimination Chamber. With the WrestleMania line up taking shape the WWE and World Heavyweight Champions face the most daunting challenge in any championship reign – outlasting five other competitors in a barbaric steel chamber for the right to carry the title into the show of shows for a chance at immortality. In one of the most unpredictable matches of the year two Superstars start in the middle of the ring and four pods open at random during the course of the match adding another Superstar to the fray. Who will have the iron will to emerge victorious? Plus several other rivalries begin to reach a boiling point as the entire Raw and SmackDown rosters aim to prove themselves worthy of the grandest stage.

THE BAY – Lionsgate

Two million fish washed ashore. One thousand blackbirds dropped from the sky. On July 4, 2009 a deadly menace swept through the quaint seaside town of Claridge, Maryland, but the harrowing story of what happened that Independence Day has never been told – until now. From Oscarr-winning director Barry Levinson and the producers of Paranormal Activity and Insidious comes this nerve- shredding tale of a small town plunged into absolute terror. The authorities believed they had buried the truth about the tragedy that claimed over 700 human lives. Now, three years later, a reporter has emerged with footage revealing both the cover-up and an unimaginable killer: a mysterious parasitic outbreak. Told from the perspective of those who were there and saw what happened, The Bay unfolds over 24 hours though people’s iPhones, Androids, 911 calls, webcams, and whatever else could be used to document the nightmare in Claridge.

DUCK DYNASTY: Season 2 Volume 1 – A&E

In Season 2, Volume 1, of the hit series Duck Dynasty on A&E, Louisiana’s bearded, camouflage-clad millionaires continue to live out the American dream while staying true to their rugged outdoorsman lifestyle and Southern roots. Ask anyone in Louisiana and they’ll tell you that the bayou state’s favorite first family doesn’t live in the governor’s mansion but in the backwoods, where the Robertsons’ rags -to-riches story is still unfolding. A homegrown mom-and-pop operation, Duck Commander has become a sporting empire by fabricating top-of-the- line duck calls and decoys out of salvaged swamp wood. This newly-minted multimillionaire family is kept in line by business-savvy Willie, who runs Duck Commander with the help of his brother Jase, their respective wives Korie and Missy, patriarch and founder of the company, Phil, and uncle Si. Together they run a booming business that employs half their neighborhood, but at the end of the day you can find the whole family around matriarch Miss Kay’s dinner table. Each episode brings a new set of challenges, met with a special brand of Southern know-how and a down-home sense of humor.

CARE BEARS: Totally Sweet Adventure – Lionsgate

Ride the rainbow to Care-a-Lot and join Share Cheer and all their buddies in four exciting new adventures! Whether it’s teaching a new friend how to find her courage against the sneaky Beastly bringing sweetness back to Sweet Dreams Bear’s bad dreams or helping Grumpy get unstuck from”Stick-’Til-You’re-Stuck” sand the Bears are always there for each other! And when Share gets jealous of Grumpy’s delicious cookies at her potluck get ready for a bear bake-off bonanza in these delightfully sweet tales for a new generation!

17 GIRLS – Strand Releasing

This French film, based on real events that took place in Gloucester, Mass., in 2008, has been relocated to Lorient, a shabby port city on the Brittany coast and the hometown of the filmmakers, who are sisters. The movie takes you inside the dreamy collective mentality of bored, mildly rebellious girls who look with horror at the lives of their mostly working-class parents. A core group makes a pact to have babies simultaneously and bring up their children together. The inner circle widens, and in short order 17 girls are pregnant.

SPECIAL FORCES – E1 Entertainment

Chris Mankowski’s gets suspended from the Detroit Police Department for investigating the rich, powerful and completely drunk Woody Ricks, so he decides to takes matters into his own hands. with hilarious results.

THOMAS & FRIENDS: Go Go Thomas – Lionsgate

Thomas and his friends are charged up and ready to Go, Go! Thomas shows Gordon that being quick is as useful as being strong, while Flynn the fire engine learns to put his pride aside and race to the rescue. Thomas causes some trouble on the tracks trying to be a model engine for a new photographer, while Spencer’s on the move, ignoring warnings about electric engine Stafford’s battery. Thomas pumps his pistons to Misty Island to help fix Ol’ Wheezy. Will the number one blue engine be on track and on time? Ready, Set. Go, Go Thomas!

BARNEY: Play with Barney – Lionsgate

Join Barney and his friends as they play games and learn valuable lessons about being a team player. From taking the lead to taking turns facing challenges to just having fun Barney and his team show why Play with Barney is one of the best ways to build character!

PREDATOR DINOSAURS – BBC

The most terrifying dinosaur ever discovered comes to DVD from the BBC In the fight for the title of ultimate predator of the Jurassic period, there are a number of contenders. However, all could be eclipsed by a startling discovery deep in the Polar Arctic: Predator X. Deep in the permafrost at the top of the world, the fossil of a giant sea-monster has been uncovered. Weighing five times as much as Tyrannosaurus Rex, its body was more than 50 feet long. Four huge flippers enabled it to accelerate quickly through the waves, while its bite power – estimated at over 33,000 pounds (four times the strength of T-Rex) – made it the most formidable predator in the Jurassic oceans.

EXTREME DINOSAURS – BBC

If you thought T-Rex was the scariest dinosaur – think again. In “Extreme Dinosaurs,” Paleontologist Dr. Phillip Currie believes he has found a six-ton flesh-eating dinosaur that hunted its prey in packs. Until recently there was little evidence to support Currie’s ideas. But that’s all changed with his discoveries in two mass dinosaur graves. One site lay untouched for decades until Currie himself tracked it down and the other contains the bones of a giant new species of dinosaur. In “T-Rex: Warrior or Wimp?” T-Rex’s place as the scariest dinosaur comes into question. T-Rex has been known as the meanest, most bewitching dinosaur of them all. But could our picture of this monster be completely wrong? Was the T-Rex in fact a slow, lumbering creature with hideously bad breath? Was T-Rex, in fact, a wimp?

YOU’VE BEEN TRUMPED – Docurama

In this David and Goliath tale, a group of proud Scottish homeowners take on Donald Trump as he gets set to destroy the crown jewels of Scotland s national heritage in order to build a luxury golf resort. The local residents make their last stand in the face of police harassment, constant legal threats and interruption of their water and electricity. Director Anthony Baxter himself becomes international news after being thrown in jail. The film captures the cultural chasm between the glamorous, jet-setting and media savvy Donald Trump and a deeply rooted Scottish community. For the tycoon, the golf course is just another deal, with a possible billion-dollar payoff. For the residents, it represents the destruction of a globally unique landscape that has been the backdrop of their lives. At turns funny, inspiring and heartbreaking, You’ve Been Trumped is both an entertaining, can t-believe-it s-true tale and an environmental parable for our celebrity-driven times.

ROYAL RUMBLE 2013 – WWE

WWE kicks off The Road to WrestleMania with the 2013 Royal Rumble and this year The Rock is back to electrify the WWE Universe once again! Will the Peoples Champ finally bring the WWE Championship home to Team Bring It for the first time in over ten years? Plus 30 or more Superstars compete in WWE’s historic over-the-top rope main event where one resilient Superstar earns a chance to main event WrestleMania! Sheamus emerged from the pack in 2012 and went on to claim the World Heavyweight Championship on the grandest stage. Who will add their name to the illustrious list of Royal Rumble winners this year and will they have a date to go one-on-one with the great one The Rock at WrestleMania 29? This is truly a monumental edition of one of the WWE’s most long-standing events and a must-have for all WWE fans.

THE INVISIBLE WAR – Docurama

From Oscar and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Kirby Dick comes The Invisible War, a groundbreaking investigative documentary about one of America’s most shameful and best-kept secrets: the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military. The film paints a startling picture of the extent of the problem – today, a female soldier in combat zones is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire. Twenty percent of all active-duty female servicewomen are sexually assaulted. Profoundly moving, the film follows the stories of several idealistic young servicewomen who were raped and then betrayed by their own officers when they courageously came forward to report. Both a rallying cry for the hundreds of thousands of men and women who’ve been assaulted and a hopeful road map for change, The Invisible War is one of those rare films so powerful it has already helped change military policy.

CURIOUS GEORGE: Swings into Spring – Universal

You know it must be springtime if a curious monkey named George is dancing on the balcony at sunrise! George is so excited about Spring that he wants Hundley to have Spring Fever too. But even blooming flowers, baby animals and canoe rides cannot make Hundley love Spring. Even worse, Hundley gets lost in the country. Searching for his lost friend, George accidentally launches the hot air balloon rally and sails over the countryside. Luckily he manages to grab Hundley from a hilltop along the way. Together they return triumphantly to the city. The Man with the Yellow Hat, the Doorman and Lydia stage a daring rooftop balloon rescue. Not only are George and Hundley saved, but they manage to win the coveted Spring Building Prize! Finally, to George’s delight, now Hundley has Spring Fever too!

ANGUS BUCHAN’S ORDINARY PEOPLE – Sony

A desperate criminal narrowly evades death at gunpoint. A hardened auto mechanic finds himself caught between grief and debt. A struggling young alcoholic yearns to escape from his misery. Three very different men seek hope in an unlikely place: the Mighty Men Conference held by Angus Buchan, the real-life farmer whose spiritual transformation inspired the celebrated film Faith Like Potatoes. The tale of Angus’s own journey intertwines with the stories of three men among the many thousands who travel to hear his words. Paths will cross and lives will be forever transformed in a powerful new motion picture based on true events.

STRANGE FRAME – Wolfe

This gorgeous animated sci-fi story explores the theme of the transformative power of love between two women. As our story begins it is the 28th century, 200 years after the Great Earth Exodus. We re on Ganymede, one of Jupiter’s moons. Our hero Naia is a feisty, young singer-songwriter who falls in love with the beautiful saxophonist Parker. The two embark on their new relationship and also form a band and now they have to not only make it as musicians but also to fight for their freedom. Dramatically rendered in rich, hand drawn animation, Strange Frame brings us into a world of space pirates, indentured slaves and genetic mutations infused with music throughout, to create a dreamlike tale unlike anything you ve ever seen.

DORA’S EASTER COLLECTION – Nickelodeon

Get ready for an Egg-Citing Easter Adventure as you help Dora and Boots save the Hip-Hop-Bunny’s basket of eggs! Plus, go on an Egg Hunt with Dora. The perfect DVD for the little princess in your home, not to mention the educational aspect for Easter. Live it up with Dora’s Easter Collection today!

HEMEL – Art Sploitation

Sacha Polak s debut feature is a frank and explicit look at carnal desire that is told from a distinctly female perspective. She paints an erotically charged portrait of a woman whose casual sexual encounters mask a loneliness and a craving for intimacy. Hemel (Hannah Hoekstra) is a young woman who drifts through a series of anonymous one-night stands and seems only close to her father. When he finds himself a girlfriend, Hemel s jealousy puts her on the emotional edge. An emotionally and physically raw study of sexuality that is nothing less than mesmerizing.

CYBERSTALKER – Lionsgate

Thirteen years ago Aiden’s world was torn apart after an online stalker followed her into the real world and broke into her home to claim the object of his desire. The resulting night of terror ended with the murders of both Aiden’s mother and father. The stalker escaped the scene without Aiden seeing his face; he is gone without a trace an unknown man a murderer now watching Aiden’s every move. To escape this danger Aiden spends the next 13 years offline in therapy and secluded anonymity. Who should Aiden trust in a web of deception where no one may be who they seem? There is nowhere for Aiden to hide when someone wants to love her to death.

SHADOW PEOPLE – Anchor Bay

Back in the 1970s several patients in an experimental sleep study reported seeing shadowy intruders. These patients – and hundreds of others – died in their sleep soon after. Doctors called the phenomenon ‘Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome’. They refused to discuss the shadows. Now a struggling late-night radio host (Dallas Roberts) and a skeptical CDC investigator (Alison Eastwood) have begun researching a disturbing new outbreak of shadow sightings and sleep fatalities. Could this be a case of paranoid hallucination or are these victims literally being scared to death by actual nightmare creatures?

RUST AND BONE – Sony

From the director of the multi-award-winning A Prophet comes a gripping tale of two souls finding strength in each other after tragedy reunites them. Marion Cotillard gives a tour-de force performance as Stephanie, an orca trainer whose life is transformed when tragedy strikes during a show. Faced with unbearable circumstances she turns to Ali (Matthias Schoenaerts), a street boxer fighting his own battle with life-changing events. As their stories intersect, they navigate a gritty relationship in a world where love and courage appear in many forms.

THE FIRST TIME – Sony

Dave (Dylan O’Brien) is an incurable romantic in love with the hottest girl in school, Jane (Victoria Justice). Unfortunately, she only thinks of him as a friend – without benefits. Through a chance encounter, Dave meets Aubrey (Britt Robertson), an alluring girl from a nearby school, which sparks a flame that soon becomes a red-hot romance filled with all the angst, missteps & awkwardness of a first time love! Hilarious & heartwarming, The First Time is an unforgettable coming of age comedy featuring a sizzling ensemble cast.

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE – Anchor Bay

A bored retired rock star (Sean Penn) learns that his father is close to death and travels to New York to reconcile with him, only to arrive too late. He embarks on a quest to find his father’s nemesis and persecutor — an ex-Nazi war criminal taking refuge in the U.S.

THE LIFE & DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP – Criterion

Arguably the best British film ever made, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is a picture that broke the mold. Created by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, this Criterion release follows General Clive Candy and his view of the changing world from 1902 to 1942. Roger Livesey’s performance is absolutely brilliant and ANton Walbrook and Deborah Kerr star as Candy’s German enemies turned lifelong friends. Moving and stylish in every way, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp provides a look into love, war, growing old and obsolescence.

PHANTASM 2 – Shout Factory

The Tall Man is back with a vengeance in Phantasm II, the second chapter in the cult classic Phantasm series! Released after seven years in a mental hospital, Mike convinces his old pal Reggie to join forces with him to hunt down and destroy The Tall Man once and for all. Mike’s visions lead the two to a quiet little town where a horde of flying killer balls aim to slice and dice their gruesome way through everyone. Exploding with special effects, unparalleled thrills, horror and suspense, Phantasm II climaxes with a blood-curdling conclusion that you have to see to believe.

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: XXVI – Shout Factory

For this 26th volume of MST3K, an introduction could well be pared down to ’one cult TV series with two guys, two robots, four movies and 10,000 jokes. This new collection of previously unreleased episodes picks up where the last 25 left off: seating you next to the funniest peanut gallery in television history. It’s a deep dive into the human instinct for survival, where our warped warriors aboard the Satellite of Love find the funny in the tragic…or at least the cheesy. In fact, it’s not too hyperbolic to insist that what Joel, Mike, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot do, as they defend us against the slings and arrows of outrageously unfortunate movies, is nothing less than keep us sane. If you don’t agree, you re obviously crazy.

STAR TREK ENTERPRISE: Season One – CBS Paramount

Now, for the first time on Blu-ray, follow Starfleet’s earliest forays into deep space with breathtaking 1080p high definition picture and remastered 7.1 sound. Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) commands the Enterprise NX-01, the first Earth-built vessel capable of breaking the Warp 5 barrier. With his trusted Chief Engineer, Charles “Trip” Tucker III (Connor Trinneer), Science Officer T’Pol (Jolene Blalock), and security expert Lt. Malcolm Reed (Dominic Keating), Capt. Archer is tasked with exploring new, unknown star systems. Propel your imagination farther and faster than before with an ever-expanding universe of captivating characters, interstellar intrigue, and adventures that will come to define the very essence of Starfleet.

Oz the Great and Powerful (63%)

Starring: James Franco
and Michelle Williams
Directed by Sam Raimi
Rated: PG
Studio: Disney

When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for the taking-that is until he meets three witches who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late.

This Oz doesn’t have much heart or wonder, but with appealing characters, terrific actors and colorful action, it’s an entertaining fantasy for the moment. The wizard may not be wonderful enough to warrant a film of his own but the sidekicks and special effects make Disney’s much-anticipated prequel a solidly entertaining, if not quite magical, family adventure.

DVD REVIEWS

FREE DVD GIVEAWAY

We are doing a Free DVD Giveaway! If you are interested in a chance at winning a free copy of Black Eagle, Doctor Who: The Ark in Space, Doctor Who: The Aztecs, Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead, My Worst Nightmare, Female Teacher: In Front of the Students, Fairy in a Cage, The Wages of Sin are Deadly, The Life & Legend of Wyatt Earp: Season Two or Pressed: There is No Such Thing as Easy Money, it is really easy! All you have to do is send me an email at HoustonMovieGuy@gmail.com. The subject line of the email should read DVD GIVEAWAY. In the body of the email, be sure to put your name, full mailing address and which DVD or Blu-ray you would like. Winners will be selected by random drawing. Best of luck!

BLACK EAGLE – CJ Entertainment

After pulling a dangerous, daredevil stunt at an air show, hotshot elite Air Force pilot Tae-hun (Jung Ji-hoon, aka Rain, Ninja Assassin, Speed Racer) is kicked off the military s top-notch Black Eagle air team and demoted into combat. Arriving at his new unit, the talented but reckless fighter is quickly popular with the majority of the squad, even sparking a heated romance with the lovely Se-yeong, the wing s best technician, whose faulty hearing is the only thing keeping her out of the air. But Tae-hun s brash ways soon cause tension with the unit s own ace top gun, the strait-laced Cheol-hui (Yu Jun-sang, In Another Country, The Day He Arrives). When a North Korean MIG fighter enters their air space, a reconnaissance mission erupts into a fierce dogfight, leaving one team member dead and another missing. Now, with just minutes to pull off the biggest airborne mission in history, they must set aside their differences and lead the way to rescue their comrade and prevent war.

DOCTOR WHO: The Arc in Space – BBC

The TARDIS lands on a space station orbiting the earth in the distant future. It’s seemingly deserted, but the Doctor, Sarah and Harry soon discover that they are not alone. Thousands of humans – the only survivors of the human race – are in cryogenic sleep, and while they’ve slept their Ark has been invaded. A parasitic insect race – the Wirrn – have taken control and threaten the very future of mankind.

DOCTOR WHO: The Aztecs – BBC

The Aztecs is the first Doctor Who DVD devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series’ initial season (1963-64), so it should be a valuable addition to any fan’s collection. It’s also a very enjoyable historical drama that pits the Doctor against flesh-and-blood antagonists rather than aliens or robots. In the four-part serial, the Doctor (William Hartnell), his granddaughter Susan, and her teachers Barbara and Ian find themselves in Mexico during the height of the Aztec civilization. There, Barbara is mistaken for the reincarnation of a dead priestess, and she decides to use the ruse to put an end to the Aztecs’ human sacrifices.

MIMESIS: NIght of the Living Dead – Anchor Bay

A group of horror fans find themselves unwilling participants in a nightmarish role playing game that pays homage to a classic horror film. Seven complete strangers whose only common link is a love for classic era horror films are invited to attend an exclusive ‘horror fan’ party at a remote farm. But as the sun sets, these strangers soon find themselves living a real life version of the cult horror classic, Night of the Living Dead. The strangers all bare a striking resemblance to the cast members from the Romero classic and waiting just outside the boarded up farmhouses, a group of demented sociopaths eager to ‘mimic’ the flesh eating zombies. Why watch a horror film when you can live one?

MY WORST NIGHTMARE – Strand Releasing

Agathe (Isabelle Huppert) is an uptight, impatient art dealer who lives in an expensive Parisian apartment with her wealthy publisher husband (Andre Dussollier). Patrick (Benoit Poelvoorde) is a skirt-chasing, unemployed single father who lives in his van with his son. Their lives would never intersect except that their two sons are best of friends and her husband has hired Patrick to remodel their apartment. Hilarity ensues as this odd couple relationship turns into Agathe s worst nightmare. Huppert shines in an absolutely brilliant performance!

THE WAGES OF SIN ARE DEADLY – Green Apple

David begins experiencing cloudy memories of a long-lost life, a murderous existence before he moved to America, where an accident took his memory and his sight. Under the wing of Don Michele, he was a chosen son of the violent, Sicilian Cortello family – a family he ultimately betrayed. Now fleeing his ruthless New York City mafiosa existence as part of the family overseen by the irrational and explosive Don Federico, his half-brother who is unbeknownst to him, David embarks on a journey back to his Italian origins. Enroute on a train, he encounters a mysterious woman, as well as Father Leonard (Danny Glover), who senses that they all have a connection and that David has a past that weighs heavily on his mind. But the priest has secrets of his own, having long-ago murdered the notorious Williams (Steven Bauer). As Don Federico also sets out for Sicily, each of their paths are destined to cross in bloody confrontation, an atonement of long-ago sins.

THE LIFE & LEGEND OF WYATT EARP: Season Two – Inception

The most celebrated lawman of the Old West rides again in season two of one of TV s most popular and iconic series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955-1961). Hugh O Brian stars as the famed marshal whose exploits with Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson and the Clanton Gang are boldly brought to life in episodes based on actual historical events. With his signature Buntline Special in hand, Wyatt Earp ruled a series of increasingly lawless towns, battling dangerous men in an effort to keep the peace. Through Ellsworth, Wichita, Dodge City and Tombstone, Earp s reputation grows as a just and formidable marshal, culminating in a gunfight that seals his legend.

PRESSED – Inception

Brian is desperately trying to seek a “quick fix” business deal that will put him back on top financially after being let go from his executive position at one of the top investment firms. Brian decides to go “all in”, investing the rest of his savings into a short-term drug deal that would allow him to preserve his high-end life style. When two recluse teenagers unknowingly intercept the illicit drug money hidden in the back seat of a car, Brian s deal is botched. He soon finds himself in a desperate situation as he owes a merciless drug lord the missing money. At the same time the teenagers learn that they’ve stolen from the wrong people. What follows is a twisted tale of greed, deceit, murder and wealth. In this Crime-thriller, three relationships collide in a fantastic saga where only one will get out alive.

CURIOUS GEORGE SWINGS INTO SPRING – Universal

You know it must be springtime if a curious monkey named George is dancing on the balcony at sunrise! George is so excited about Spring that he wants Hundley to have Spring Fever too. But even blooming flowers, baby animals and canoe rides cannot make Hundley love Spring. Even worse, Hundley gets lost in the country. Searching for his lost friend, George accidentally launches the hot air balloon rally and sails over the countryside. Luckily he manages to grab Hundley from a hilltop along the way. Together they return triumphantly to the city. The Man with the Yellow Hat, the Doorman and Lydia stage a daring rooftop balloon rescue. Not only are George and Hundley saved, but they manage to win the coveted Spring Building Prize! Finally, to George’s delight, now Hundley has Spring Fever too!

SHAMAN HEALER SAGE – True Mind

Shaman Healer Sage tells the story of Alberto Villoldo Ph.D. an extraordinary man who transitioned from a career in modern medical science to one that uses a deep knowledge and understanding of the ancient energy medicine of the legendary Inka and Q’ero shamans of South America. The film is an exploration into the mysteries of life culminating with the deepest mystery of all – death – in which Villoldo shows us how to deal with our own mortality and that of our loved ones.

MAX & RUBY: A Bunny for Every Season – Nickelodeon

Follow these bunny siblings and their take on popular fairy tales in Max & Ruby: A Bunny for Every Season. Join Max, Ruby and their buddies as they welcome the Spring in four spirited episodes that are perfect for the entire family!

ZOMBIE UNDEAD – MVD

A terrorist detonates a dirty bomb in the heart of a densely-populated city, unleashing a gruesome zombie plague that spreads like wildfire. Sarah’s father was bleeding out, and she knew he would die if she didn’t get him to a hospital fast. The scene that greets them on arrival is one of chaos. The floor, awash with blood, is covered with the bodies of the dying and injured, doctors dart back and forth, clearly overwhelmed. Sarah stumbles back and her world fades to black. Upon regaining consciousness she is greeted by the uneasy silence of a seemingly deserted building. THE CARETAKER – MVD As a wave of vampirism sweeps across the world, a small but discordant group hole up in a rural house. There, they discover a vampire has also taken refuge. He offers them a deal: if they protect him during the day, he”ll protect them from other vampires at night. So begins an uneasy alliance which soon threatens to tear apart.

GREAT LEADERS OF THE BIBLE – VCI

From the book of Judges come the inspiring stories of two heroes, Gideon and Samson, banded together to bridge the centuries of Biblical history. Beginning with the story of Gideon, a man is instructed by God to go forth and save Israel from the hands of the Midianites. The Lord instructs Gideon to pull down the altar of the idol god Baal. But in order to know the prefect will of God, Gideon places a fleece of wool before the Lord. Full of faith, he takes 300 men and rises against the Midianites, bringing peace and rest to the land of Israel for forty years. Samson, from birth, was a Nazarite of God. Gifting him with the strength of an army, strength derived from his hair, God uses both the strength and weaknesses of Samson to deliver Israel from the Philistines. Temptation to the fruits of the beautiful Philistine girls results in Samson’s destruction of the Philistines crops, and the slaughter of one thousand Philistine soldiers. Terrorized by the strength of Samson, the Philistines hire a girl, Delilah, to seduce him and discover the source of his strength. She finally succeeds and Samson’s hair is sheared. He is turned over to the Philistines. In time his hair begins to grow and the strength of the Lord returns to him.

JACOB THE MAN WHO FOUGHT WITH GOD – VCI

This moving film shows Jacob’s struggle to receive his father’s blessing. Esau and Jacob were born to Isaac and Rebekah. As firstborn son, Esau was destined to become head of the family and inherit a double share of the estate. Before his death, Isaac was to place his blessings upon each son, when Rebekah heard that Isaac was going to bless Esau, she took matters into her own hands and devised a plan to trick Isaac, who was blind, into blessing Jacob instead. Jacob obeys his mother and receives the blessings but is forced to flee for his life when an enraged Esau vows to kill him. Jacob seeks refuge in the homeland of his mother’s brother Leban. He marries Leban’s daughters, rears a family and works for his father-in-law tending sheep. Soon, Jacob loses favor with his father-in-law and God tells him to return to the land of his father. Fearing a confrontation with his brother Esau, he nervously prepares for the reunion with his brother.

BESTIAIRE – Zeitgeist

Fascinating and beguiling, Bestiaire is filmmaker Denis Cote’s mesmerizing meditation on the relationships between animals and people through the seasons at a Quebec safari park. This strikingly gorgeous work about the act of looking slyly blurs the line between observer and observed (the film opens with art students sketching taxidermied creatures). And despite lack of a traditional narrative, there is dramatic tension in each exquisitely framed shot: a cage door under attack from a growling lion; the scurrying striped legs of zebras in a pen; the long stare of a bull, straight into camera. Contemplative and enthralling, Bestiaire is cinema at its purest.

RISE OF THE GUARDIANS – Dreamworks

Rise of the Guardians is a gorgeously animated film about Boogeyman Pitch Black’s attempts to spread darkness and fear throughout the world and the guardians’ attempts to foil him. Charged with the duty of watching over the children of the world, guardians Sandman, North, Tooth, and E. Aster Bunnymund are loved by children everywhere. When the Man in the Moon appoints Jack Frost to be the newest guardian, the other guardians doubt that Jack can be of much help against Pitch, especially considering that the children don’t even believe in Jack Frost’s existence. But when Pitch prevents Tooth from collecting the children’s teeth, keeps E. Aster Bunnymund from hiding eggs on Easter, and turns the children’s happy dreams into nightmares, the guardians realize that they’re going to need all the help they can get.

RED DAWN – Fox

Chris Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, and Isabel Lucas deliver a full arsenal of pulse-pounding excitement in this explosive action-adventure! The unsuspecting citizens of Spokane, Washington, wake up one morning to the shocking sight of foreign paratroopers dropping from the sky in a surprise attack on the United States. Soon the entire city is under enemy control, but a group of courageous teenagers has decided to fight back, by waging an all-out war against the invaders, to take back their town – and their freedom!

NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET COLLECTION – Warner

In the trinity of modern horror films, there’s the father (Michael Myers of Halloween), the son (Jason of Friday the13th fame, a knockoff), and the unholy spirit, Freddy Krueger of the Nightmare on Elm Street films. The spectral man who haunted the nightmares of unsuspecting teenagers with deadly consequences, Freddy (as played by Robert Englund) was a truly frightening bogeyman and icon for the ’80s. Unlike the hockey-masked Jason, who dispatched horny teenagers with mechanical and monotonous ease (he never talked, never took off his mask), Freddy was a truly creative and diabolical villain, with a sadistic and blackly funny personality. The hallmarks of the Nightmare on Elm Street series were imaginatively gruesome suspense pieces, set in the overactive imaginations of the teen victims. The first film of the series, Wes Craven’s truly intelligent and scary film, was so hugely successful it begat not one, not two, but six more sequels, each pretty much diluting the originality and horror of its predecesor.

BEYOND THE CLOUDS – Olive Films

Legendary directors Michelangelo Antonioni (L’avventura) and Wim Wenders teamed up to create this modern masterpiece. “Beyond the Clouds” Told from the dreamlike perspective of a wandering film director, the movie weaves four stories of love and lust, inspired by Antonioni’s book about enigmatic, unrequited or unresolved relationships. Set in several beautiful European locales such as Portofino and Paris, the film uses striking compositions, sensuous shots of lovely nudes and a moving musical score to create a radiant meditation on love and desire. The film features music from Van Morrison, U2, and Brian Eno and boasts an eclectic international cast including John Malkovich, Sophie Marceau, Irene Jacob, Jean Reno, Peter Weller, Vincent Perez, Fanny Ardant and special appearances by screen legends Marcello Mastroianni and Jeanne Moreau.

HIPSTERS – Kino Lorber

While the Cold War heats up on the world stage, rebellious youth in 1955 Moscow wage a cultural battle against dismal Soviet conformity, donning brightly colored black-market clothing, adopting American nicknames and reveling in forbidden jazz. Straight-laced 20-year-old Communist Mels finds these brazen ‘hipsters’ shocking until he falls under the spell of one, namely Polly, and joins the new revolution. Soon he’s become one of them, cavorting in the latest flashy fashions, sporting an enormous pompadour and wailing on the saxophone.

REDEMPTION: Oasis of the Zombies – Kino Lorber

Robert, a student at an English university, receives word of his father’s unexpected death and returns home to Africa. While reading his father’s dairies, Robert learns of the obsession that led to his death: $6,000,000 in Nazi gold that remains buried at an oasis in the Sahara desert, protected by the restless, rotting souls who died protecting it. Using his inheritance, Robert bands together with three fellow students to wrest the unclaimed fortune from the dunes of the dead!

REDEMPTION: Zombie Lake – Kino Lorber

In a small lakeside town, young women are disappearing without a trace. The superstitious locals blame ”The Lake of Ghosts”, because of the lake’s haunting past, but the town’s mayor (Howard Vernon) seems reluctant, or powerless to take any action. When another woman is found dead near the lake, with her throat ripped out, a reporter comes to town and soon discovers that the lake harbors a terrible secret dating back to World War II. It is then a group of local Resistance fighters take action against a troop of Nazi zombie soldiers invading their town, as they have come back from the dead. And now, whenever the waters at Zombie Lake are disturbed, the dead will rise!

LADY FOR A NIGHT – Olive Films

The unlikely combination of John Wayne and Joan Blondell adds a bit of vinegar and spice to this wonderful costume comedy-drama. Jenny Blake (Blondell) is the beautiful owner of a riverboat casino, but she aspires to a life in high society. Jack Morgan (Wayne) is her business partner and influential political boss – the two are in love, but Jenny decides to leave him and the business so she could marry socialite Alan Alderson (Ray Middleton) for prestige and in return she forgives Alan’s gambling debts and pays off the back taxes of his family’s once-grand mansion and plantation. Her new in-laws are infuriated by this marriage of convenience, and do everything in their power to ruin Jenny in the eyes of society.

THE RED MENACE – Olive Films

Taken seriously by only a few, The Red Menace still caused a sensation with its anti-Communist propaganda. When a disgruntled ex-soldier (Robert Rockwell) gets no help from the Veteran’s Bureau, he is ripe for the influences of Communists who lead him down the party line. But he soon meets up with disillusioned party members who attempt to break out. “Are you now, or have you ever been?” Fear of Communism, ultimately brought to a peak by the McCarthy Hearings, swept post-war America. A divided Hollywood scurried to pledge their allegiance – and cash in on the furor.

YOU’VE BEEN TRUMPED – Docurama

In this David and Goliath tale, a group of proud Scottish homeowners take on Donald Trump as he gets set to destroy the crown jewels of Scotland s national heritage in order to build a luxury golf resort. The local residents make their last stand in the face of police harassment, constant legal threats and interruption of their water and electricity. Director Anthony Baxter himself becomes international news after being thrown in jail.

The film captures the cultural chasm between the glamorous, jet-setting and media savvy Donald Trump and a deeply rooted Scottish community. For the tycoon, the golf course is just another deal, with a possible billion-dollar payoff. For the residents, it represents the destruction of a globally unique landscape that has been the backdrop of their lives. At turns funny, inspiring and heartbreaking, You’ve Been Trumped is both an entertaining, can’t believe it’s true tale and an environmental parable for our celebrity-driven times.

STOKER

When India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) loses her beloved father and best friend Richard (Dermot Mulroney) in a tragic auto accident on her 18th birthday, her quiet life on the family’s secluded estate is suddenly shattered. Exquisitely sensitive, India’s exhibits an impassive demeanor which masks the deep feelings and heightened senses that only her father understood. Thus acclaimed Korean filmmaker Park Chan-Wook’s first English language psychological thriller Stoker comes to life. (Chan-Wook’s prior works include Oldboy and Lady Vengeance.) India finds herself drawn to her father’s long-lost brother, Charlie (Matthew Goode), who unexpectedly arrives for the funeral and decides to stay on with her and her emotionally unstable mother, Evie (Nicole Kidman). While India initially mistrusts her charming but mysterious uncle, he fascinates her as well, and she begins to realize how much they have in common. As Charlie reveals himself to her little by little, India becomes increasingly infatuated with her charismatic relative and comes to realize that his arrival is no coincidence. With her uncle to guide her, she is about to fulfill her unusual destiny.

Beginning with the script’s opening image of a young girl playing a piano as a spider creeps up her leg, the audience will be riveted, shocked and enthralled by the story as it unfoldeds to its inexorable conclusion. The audience will find themselves lost in the eerie, improbable and self-contained world of the Stoker family. The family is completely pure to the core. They can’t experience any emotion without fully following it through to fruition. The interesting spin on this concerns the families complete lack of understanding regarding the ramifications of their actions. Each family member, brilliant in their own ways, are incredibly perceptive and often see things that others cannot. Complete obsessed with their own self-preservation, they take their emotions in their own hands as they take whatever course necessary to protect themselves, their needs and their family values.

Eerie and creepy at the same time, Stoker provides enough twists and turns to keep you engaged. Mia Wasikowska provides a performance for the ages in her portrayal as India. The emotion she emotes is palpable, as is the chemistry between she and the rest of her family. What Chan-Wook has done is put together the brilliant actors with an incredibly strong script and given them all the ability to simply be…the evolution of this story and the characters has the wow factor on every level. Although not for younger kids, Stoker is most definitely going to keep you in suspense and provide tension all the way to the bitter end.

Stoker
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Dermot Mulroney & Nicole Kidman
Director: Park Chan-Wook
Company: Fox Searchlight
Now Showing: in Local Theaters
MPAA Rating: R
Grade: A

Houston Happenings

Another feature film is about to shoot in the great city of Houston! Be on the lookout for Urban Shakedown! This is the story of Cliff and Lyle, two clueless dimwits from Houston, who start off on the ultimate road trip to L.A. Those plans are quickly thwarted by disaster when their car bottoms out and their U-haul goes up in flames. This starts the ball rolling on a non-stop, wild ride of laughter when they are picked up by Rosa, the daughter of a former mafia don, who preys on their lack of smarts in order to frame them for the murder of warring mafia family members.

Urban Shakedown is from Warped Bros. and Executive Producer Nick Nicholson, is a comedy Feature Film to be shot in Houston in 2013 for release in 2014. Producers: Todd McCammon, Courtney Lomelo, and Larry Carrell. Director: Larry McKee. Script: Todd McCammon. Story Consultant: Molly Vernon. Director of Photography: Larry McKee.

DVD REVIEWS

FREE DVD GIVEAWAY

We are doing a Free DVD Giveaway! If you are interested in a chance at winning a free copy of Muay Thai Warrior, Game of Thrones: Season Two, Barney Loves You, Thomas and Friends: Full Steam Ahead or Dalziel & Pascoe: Season Seven, it is really easy! All you have to do is send me an email at HoustonMovieGuy@gmail.com. The subject line of the email should read DVD GIVEAWAY. In the body of the email, be sure to put your name, full mailing address and which DVD or Blu-ray you would like. Winners will be selected by random drawing. Best of luck!

MUAY THAI WARRIOR – Well Go USA

Betrayed and left for dead by treacherous Japanese forces, young samurai Yamada Nagamasa (Seigi Ozeki) is rescued to a remote village in Siam and nursed back to health among the acolytes in the monastery. Working tirelessly to master the art of Muay Boran (Thai boxing), fearless and brutal Yamada is selected to become a royal bodyguard to King Naresuan The Great. His greatest challenge comes on the day he s forced to fight back against the elite Japanese warriors who left him behind. Based on actual events from the 17th century’s Ayutthaya period

GAME OF THRONES: Season Two – HBO

Based on the best-selling book series by George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones is an epic drama set in the grounded fantasy continent of Westeros, where ambitious men and women of both honor and ill-repute live in a land where summers and winters can last years. Season 2 plays out against the backdrop of a fast-approaching winter – the season of the white raven. In King’s Landing, the coveted Iron Throne is occupied by cruel young Joffrey, counseled by his conniving mother Cersei and uncle Tyrion, who has been appointed Hand of the King. But the Lannister hold on the Throne is under assault on many fronts. There’s Robb Stark, son of the slain Lord of Winterfell, Ned Stark, who seeks autonomy in the North and has taken Cersei’s brother Jaime prisoner in battle; Daenerys Targaryen, who looks to shore up her depleted power in the east through three newborn dragons; Stannis Baratheon, eldest brother of the late King Robert, who rejects Joffrey’s legitimacy and aligns with a powerful priestess to raise a naval attack; and Stannis’ brother Renly, who has maintained his own claim since fleeing King’s Landing. In the meantime, a new leader is rising among the wildlings North of the Wall, adding new perils for Jon Snow and the order of the Night’s Watch. With tensions and treaties, animosity and alliances, Season 2 of Game of Thrones is a thrilling journey through a riveting, unforgettable fictional landscape.

BARNEY LOVES YOU – Lionsgate

All we need is love from our family and friends – and of course Barney! Discover the joys and laughter that moms, grandparents and cousins can bring in this unforgettable and heartwarming collection that the whole family will cherish! BARNEY: YOU CAN BE ANYTHING – What do you want to be when you grow up? Join Barney and his friends as they look through Barney’s costume shop and try on a few jobs for size. Just imagine and you can be anything! BARNEY: I LOVE MY FRIENDS – Come join in the fun as Barney takes his friends on a super-dee-duper adventure that shows just what it means to be a friend. Princess Baby Bopr has a royally good time when she sees that a key to being a friend is keeping promises. Riff goes to great lengths to make up for a big mistake and prove he’s a friend who sees things through to the end. BJr feels left out when he’s not included in a drawing, and learns the importance of being honest and expressing his feelings. With singing, dancing and lots of monkey-ing around, Barney brings kids on a friend-tastic adventure and shows that everything is more fun with friends

THOMAS AND FRIENDS: Full Steam Ahead – Lionsgate

Everyone’s favorite true blue engine, Thomas, is back with friends old and new in four fun adventures on the Island of Sodor in Thomas & Friends: Team Up With Thomas. This DVD is enhanced with CG animation and a live-action host, Mr. Arkwright, who welcomes viewers with a smile and a fun project for Lady Hatt’s grandchildren. Thomas, Edward, Toby, James and the rest of the engines introduce young engineers to Hank, a big, strong, new engine, and Flora, a lovely new lady steam engine. Together, they take us along on their tasks around the island. Be careful: trouble may lie around the next bend. But one thing’s for certain – you’ll always come home with a brand new friend! THOMAS & FRIENDS: WOBBLY WHEELS & WHISTLES: Travel along with Thomas for a wonderfully wobbly and wheel-spinning good time! The No. 1 blue engine has bridges to cross and tracks to uncover in these exciting adventures. When Victor gets overloaded with too many tasks, can Thomas help him let out steam? And while trying to get Scruff as clean as a whistle, will Thomas have to get his own wheels dirty? Just when things seem to be rolling along, will Ol’ Wheezy make a wobbly mess of Thomas’ special delivery? Hold on for exciting surprises waiting to be delivered just for you! THOMAS & FRIENDS: RAILWAY FRIENDS: All aboard for six all new adventures with Thomas and his engine friends in Thomas & Friends: Railway Friends. Meet Thomas’ best friend Percy, attend a festive winter party at the wharf, take a wrong turn on a mistaken shortcut, and see Thomas worry about his squeaky brakes and strive to become a `Really Useful Engine.’ Filled with charming characters and heroic displays of loyalty, responsibility and friendship, this DVD will be a treasured addition to any home entertainment library.

DALZIEL & PASCOE: Season Seven – BBC

Andy Dalziel and his sidekick Peter Pascoe are back to solve more murder mysteries in this thrilling new season of Dalziel and Pascoe. Warren Clarke is the witty down-to-earth Andy Dalziel and Colin Buchanan is his university-educated sidekick DI Peter Pascoe. The riveting combination of Dalziel’s old-style policing and Pascoe’s university-educated new man approach has made them a worldwide hit. Dalziel & Pascoe is based on the award-winning novels of top crime-writer Reginald Hill.

REGULAR SHOW: Party Pack – Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network’s hit animated comedy series Regular Show is anything but regular and fans keep asking for more. Regular Show: Party Pack DVD features 16 episodes from 3 hilarious seasons. The Emmy nominated hit comedy (Outstanding Animated Program) is part of the popular Monday night line-up on Cartoon Network along with the hit show Adventure Time. Regular Show: Party Pack features Mordecai and Rigby along with their friends Pops Muscle man Skips and Benson laughing having fun and even singing karaoke. Make your next party a party to remember with the Regular Show: Party Pack DVD.

H2O JUST ADD WATER: Season One – Flatiron

Watch what happens when three normal teenage girls growing up on the sun-drenched beaches of the Gold Coast stumble upon an ancient cavern that transforms their lives forever. Sure, they face typical teenage problems, but with an added twist: they’re mermaids with magical powers. Clearly one of the most wholesome and valued shows for kids from recent times, H2O – Just Add Water is educational, exciting and perfect for the entire family!

THE INTOUCHABLES – Sony

When Driss an ex-con from the projects is hired to take care of an eccentric French aristocrat named Philippe his newfound job quickly becomes an unpredictable adventure. Speeding a Maserati through Paris seducing women and paragliding over the Alps is just the beginning as Driss turns the often humorous world of upper-class Parisian society upside-down. As this unlikely duo overcome adversity of every flavor in this true story they also shatter their preconceptions of love life and each other. Based on the #1 international best-selling book You Changed My Life.

THE BAY – Lionsgate

Two million fish washed ashore. One thousand blackbirds dropped from the sky. On July 4, 2009 a deadly menace swept through the quaint seaside town of Claridge, Maryland, but the harrowing story of what happened that Independence Day has never been told – until now. From Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson comes this nerve- shredding tale of a small town plunged into absolute terror. The authorities believed they had buried the truth about the tragedy that claimed over 700 human lives. Now, three years later, a reporter has emerged with footage revealing both the cover-up and an unimaginable killer: a mysterious parasitic outbreak. Told from the perspective of those who were there and saw what happened, The Bay unfolds over 24 hours though people’s iPhones, Androids, 911 calls, webcams, and whatever else could be used to document the nightmare in Claridge.

DUCK DYNASTY: Season Two – Lionsgate

In Season 2, Volume 1, of the hit series “Duck Dynasty” on A&E, Louisiana’s bearded, camouflage-clad millionaires continue to live out the American dream while staying true to their rugged outdoorsman lifestyle and Southern roots. Ask anyone in Louisiana and they’ll tell you that the bayou state’s favorite first family doesn’t live in the governor’s mansion but in the backwoods, where the Robertsons’ rags -to-riches story is still unfolding. A homegrown mom-and-pop operation, Duck Commander has become a sporting empire by fabricating top-of-the- line duck calls and decoys out of salvaged swamp wood. This newly-minted multimillionaire family is kept in line by business-savvy Willie, who runs Duck Commander with the help of his brother Jase, their respective wives Korie and Missy, patriarch and founder of the company, Phil, and uncle Si. Together they run a booming business that employs half their neighborhood, but at the end of the day you can find the whole family around matriarch Miss Kay’s dinner table. Each episode brings a new set of challenges, met with a special brand of Southern know-how and a down-home sense of humor.

INTERVIEW WITH A HITMAN – Well Go USA

Silent. Relentless. No attachments. This is Viktor s code. The mantra that took him from the slums of Romania to the pinnacle of his profession as a murderer for hire. Viktor knows the value of life more than most, which makes him the perfect killer. But after a ruthless betrayal by his bosses, he escapes to London, joins a new family, and finds himself caught in a vicious underworld power struggle. Viktor is now better, faster and more ruthless than ever before, but an encounter with a dark beauty offers him a chance at new life. But can he ever hope to escape the ghosts- and buried secrets of his past?

PLAYING FOR KEEPS – Sony

Gabriele Muccino’s Playing for Keeps, an awkward mix of sports and suds, exists primarily to keep the Gerard Butler contingent happy. Fortunately, the Scottish actor gives a likable performance, speaks in his native brogue, and boasts the kind of lean physique that comes from back-to-back athletic pictures. Though he once enjoyed a successful soccer career, Butler’s George now struggles to make ends meet. The action begins after he moves to Virginia to reconnect with his son, Lewis (appealing newcomer Noah Lomax), though he’s ultimately hoping to reunite with his ex-wife, Stacie (Jessica Biel), except she’s engaged–and still bitter about his past infidelities. When George catches sight of Lewis’s soccer coach slacking off, he steps in and wins over players and parents alike.

MIDNIGHT STALLION – Vivendi

Fifteen-year-old Megan Shephard and her parents will do anything to save their struggling farm. When the family discovers a wild stallion in a nearby forest they begin to wonder if this could be the answer to their prayers. Kris Kristofferson and Jodelle Ferland star in this heartwarming and inspiring tale that celebrates the spirit of family and the amazing courage and determination it takes to defeat all odds.

WWE: The Best of Monday Nitro Volume Two – WWE

For six years WCW Monday Nitro went head-to-head with WWE Raw pulling out all the stops to gain the upper hand in the escalating Monday Night War. The place “where the big boys play” produced such a wealth of non-stop thrills action drama and controversy that we could not possibly scratch the surface in one volume. Host Diamond Dallas Page returns to present Volume 2 of the wildly successful Best of WCW Nitro series. Sports entertainment fans will relive eight more hours of the poisonous n.W.o electrifying cruiserweights and unparalleled star power that delivered an endless supply of timeless matches and moments. All the greatest WCW stars are included such as Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan and Sting Kevin.

THE REAGAN PRESIDENCY – PBS

One of America’s most dynamic leaders, Reagan remains a guiding light for the Republican Party. Some historians and scholars believe Reagan re-shaped not just the political landscape, but the way many Americans view government – and each other. In this three-hour series, titled The Reagan Presidency, the producers will focus on the eight years of the Reagan presidency. In addition to interviews with those who’ve spent years analyzing his policies and legacy, the producers will also interview key members of the Reagan team, as well as foreign leaders with whom the president interacted.

THE MAYO CLINIC DIET – PBS

The Mayo Clinic Diet puts you in charge of making simple, changes that will result in a weight you can maintain for the rest of your life. Join the experts at Mayo Clinic as they debunk the various weight-loss programs and give a real plan for lifelong weight management, and weight-loss success. Not a fad diet, just the facts, and tools to help you lose weight the healthy way. Experts share the information from years of research, and real people share their experiences from dieting to help guide the viewer.

HURRICANE SANDY: Inside the Megastorm – PBS

Was Hurricane Sandy a freak combination of weather systems? Or are hurricanes increasing in intensity due to a warming climate? How did this perfect storm make search and rescue so dangerous? Inside the Megastorm takes viewers moment by moment through Hurricane Sandy, its impacts and the future of storm protection. Through first person accounts from those who survived, and from experts and scientists, Inside the Megastorm gives scientific context to a new breed of storms.

CHASING MAVERICKS – Fox

Gerard Butler, Elisabeth Shue and Hollywood newcomer Jonny Weston star in this inspiring true story of courage and friendship the whole family will love. When 15-year-old Jay Moriarty (Weston) discovers that the mythical Mavericks surf break is real, he reaches out to local surfing legend Frosty Hesson (Butler) to train him to ride it. What begins as a mentorship turns into an extraordinary bond that transforms both their lives, as Jay and Frosty learn valuable lessons about conquering fear in pursuit of your dreams. Featuring the most spectacular wave footage ever captured on film, Chasing Mavericks is packed with action and drenched with excitement!

CALIFORNIA SOLO – Strand Releasing

Former Britpop rocker Lachlan MacAldonich (Robert Carlyle) has settled into a comfortably numb existence working on an organic farm just outside Los Angeles. By day he travels to the city’s farmers’ markets to sell produce to people like Beau (Alexia Rasmussen, Our Idiot Brother, Listen to Your Heart, Tanner Hall), a lovely struggling actress. By night he drinks himself into a stupor until he retires to his shabby apartment where he records a podcast about great musicians. After being pulled over one night for drunk driving, he is threatened with deportation and is forced to confront his past and current demons. California Solo is a touching, human story about post-fame life and personal redemption.

MUDHONEY: I’m Now – MVD

This documentary tells the story of Mudhoney from their very beginnings, to following them on their recent world tour and everything in between. Complete with testimonials from friends, music industry veterans, and musicians such as Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard & Jeff Ament, Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore & Kim Gordon, Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil, and Mudhoney themselves.

MICHAEL JACKSON: Moscow Case 1993 – MVD

The Moscow Case is a 52 minute documentary with never-before-seen footage of Michael Jackson in Moscow during the “”Dangerous”" tour. This film tells the behind the scenes story of Jackson’s ill fated concert in September 1993. It includes unique archival footage showing Michael close up and personal while meeting fans and playing with orphan children. This documentary is valuable to anyone seeking insight into Jackson’s personality as well as anyone interested in doing business in Russia after the end of communism.

COLLABORATOR – E1 Entertainment

Robert Longfellow (Martin Donovan) is a famous playwright who can t seem to catch a break. Retreating to his childhood home, he crosses paths with his former neighbor, Gus (David Morse), a right-wing ex-con who is Robert s polar opposite in every possible way. At a drunken reunion gone terribly wrong, Gus holds Robert hostage at gunpoint, leading to a shattering climax as status, celebrity and the imminent threat of violence converge.

BREAKING DAWN: Part One – Summit

In the highly anticipated fourth installment of The Twilight Saga, a marriage, honeymoon and the birth of a child bring unforeseen and shocking developments for Bella (Stewart) and Edward (Pattinson) and those they love, including new complications with werewolf Jacob Black (Lautner). Includes eight additional minutes of never-before-seen film footage and comes in beautiful, collectible packaging with pearlized finish and embossing.

BREAKING DAWN: Part Two – Summit

In the final chapter of the Twilight Saga phenomenon, the birth of Bella and Edward’s child brings conflict between Bella and her lifelong friend, Jacob, and an all-out war between the Cullens and the Volturi.

POWER RANGERS: Clash of the Red Rangers the Movie – Lionsgate

The Samurai Rangers team up with the mysterious RPM Ranger Red to fight off dual threats from Master Xandred’s Mooger army and a robotic supervillain from the RPM Ranger’s dimension, but when both Red Rangers get struck with hypnobolts they turn against one another, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

FREE DVD GIVEAWAY

We are doing a Free DVD Giveaway! If you are interested in a chance at winning a free copy of The Master, BBC Earth Africa, Storage Wars: Volume 4, Sinister, Escape Fire or Swamp People: Season 3, it is really easy! All you have to do is send me an email at HoustonMovieGuy@gmail.com. The subject line of the email should read DVD GIVEAWAY. In the body of the email, be sure to put your name, full mailing address and which DVD or Blu-ray you would like. Winners will be selected by random drawing. Best of luck!

THE MASTER – Anchor Bay

A striking portrait of drifters and seekers in post-World War II America, Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master unfolds the journey of a naval veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) who arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future–until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

BBC EARTH AFRICA – BBC

Mike Gunton Executive Producer of Life brings his next landmark series to Blu-ray with Africa! This 6-part series will amaze and awe with stunning photography and truly moving stories of survival on the continent with the most diverse animal life anywhere on our planet. Premiering simultaneously in the UK U.S. and Australia it promises to be a worldwide phenomenon on a scale not seen since Planet Earth.

CHRONICLE OF A SUMMER- Criterion

Few films can claim to be as influential to the course of cinema history as Chronicle of a Summer. The fascinating result of a collaboration between filmmaker-anthropologist Jean Rouch (Moi, un noir) and sociologist Edgar Morin, this vanguard work of what Morin would term cinéma verité is a brilliantly conceived and realized sociopolitical diagnosis of the early sixties in France. By simply interviewing a group of Paris residents in the summer of 1960—beginning with the provocative and eternal question “Are you happy?” and expanding to political issues, including the ongoing Algerian War—Rouch and Morin reveal the hopes and dreams of a wide array of people, from artists to factory workers, from an Italian émigré to an African student. Chronicle of a Summer’s penetrative approach gives us a document of a time and place with extraordinary emotional depth.

STORAGE WARS: Volume Four – A&E

Join Darrell, Barry, Jared, Brandy and Dave as they continue their quest for everything interesting in Storage Wars, Volume Four. This program follows the exploits as teams of bidders seek out both seen and unseen value in abandoned or foreclosed on storage units. As the bidding intensifies, so too does the rivalries, the bent egos and the dollar values. This is an incredibly interesting and entertaining program that should not be missed!

SINISTER – Summit

Ten years ago, true crime writer Ellison Oswald made his reputation with a best-selling account of a notorious murder. Now, desperate to replicate success of his first book, he moves his family into a home where the previous occupants were brutally executed and a child disappeared, hoping to find inspiration in the crime scene. In the home, Ellison discovers a cache of terrifying home movies, unwittingly opening the door into a nightmarish mystery.

ESCAPE FIRE – Lionsgate

The award-winning Sundance hit documentary Escape Fire: The Fight to Save American Health Care tackles one of the most pressing issues of our time: how can we save our badly broken healthcare system? Co-directed by Matthew Heineman and Academy Award nominee Susan Froemke, this thought-provoking documentary exposes a U.S. healthcare system designed to profit from disease not health, reward quantity over quality, and promote high-tech over high-touch. Escape Fire interweaves dramatic personal stories with the efforts of leaders battling to transform healthcare at the highest levels of medicine, industry, government, and even the U.S. military.

SWAMP PEOPLE: Season Three – Lionsgate

The Gator Gold Rush is on in Season 3 of Swamp Peopler. With Delta waters and gator prices higher than ever Troy Landry Clint RJ and Jay Paul Junior Edwards his son Willy and many others stalk the Atchafalaya Swamp hunting for the biggest baddest beasts around. From Leo the Lion to Treebreaker to Big Foot monster alpha male gators are in their crosshairs as they battle everything from sweltering heat to outsiders setting lines and tornado-force storms that threaten to shut down gator season altogether. Will these crazed killers prove too much for the gator hunters or will Troy and company cash in big? Will lady swampers Liz and Kristi make their best catch all season or will they barely survive it? And will newcomers Austyn and Blake manage to escape Dead End Bayou? For generations the resilient Cajun people have transcended it all.but as the old Bayou saying goes A gator doesn’t get big by being stupid.

A SIMPLE LIFE – Well Go USA

Roger (Andy Lau) is a successful movie producer. Ah Tao (Deanie Ip) has worked for Roger’s family as a nanny and maid over the course of four generations. When Roger comes home to find Ah Tao’s suffered a severe stroke and is unable to care for herself, he agrees to help her relocate to a nursing home. He wants to help, but fears he’ll fail her. She needs his kindness, but doesn’t want to be a burden. As their roles reverse, he becomes her caregiver, and comes to understand how much she means to him.

CHICKEN WITH PLUMS – Sony

From the Oscar nominated filmmakers of Persepolis, Chicken With Plums is a captivating live-action fairytale. Since his beloved violin was broken, Nasser Ali Khan, one of the most renowned musicians of his day, has lost all taste for life. Finding no instrument worthy of replacing it, he decides to confine himself to bed to await death. As he hopes for its arrival, he plunges into deep reveries, with dreams as melancholic as they are joyous, taking him back to his youth and even to a conversation with Azra, the Angel of Death, who reveals the future of his children. As pieces of the puzzle gradually fit together, the poignant secret of his life comes to light: a wonderful story of love which inspired his genius and his music.

JOSHUA TREE – Shout Factory

It’s high-caliber action from start to finish when exotic car runner Wellman Santee (Dolph Lundgren) goes gunning for his money and running for his life after his partner is killed during a botched heist. Sensational stunts and spectacular special effects push the action into overdrive as he captures a beautiful hostage (Kristian Alfonso) and takes off across the desert in a high-speed chase. Six thousand square miles of sand and dozens of turbo-charged super cars set the stage for a bloody, bullet-riddled showdown with a ruthless killer.

THE SESSIONS – Fox

Paralyzed and confined to an iron lung since childhood, poet-journalist Mark O’Brien (Hawkes) has overcome adversity time and time again. But now, at age 38, he faces his toughest challenge yet: losing his virginity. With the help of a beautiful therapist (Hunt), a sympathetic priest (Macy), and his own unbridled sense of optimism and humor, Mark embarks on an extraordinary personal journey to discover the wondrous pleasures that make life worth living.

THE TERMINATOR – Fox

In this newly remastered film, Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as the most fierce and relentless killing machine ever to threaten the survival of mankind! An indestructible cyborg – a Terminator (Schwarzenegger) – is sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the woman whose unborn son will become humanity’s only hope in a future war against machines. This legendary sci-fi thriller from pioneering writer/director James Cameron, written with Gale Anne Hurd, fires an arsenal of action and heart-stopping suspense that never lets up!

THE LONELIEST PLANET – IFC

Alex (Gael Garcia Bernal) and Nica (Hani Furstenberg) are young, in love and engaged to be married. The summer before their wedding, while backpacking in the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia, they hire a local guide to lead them on a camping trek. Venturing into the stunning wilderness, the trio’s peaceful adventure takes a dark turn as a subtle rift opens between Alex and Nica, quickly widening until it threatens to undo everything the couple believed about each other and themselves. Along with their ever-present guide, the young travelers find themselves journeying not only into a landscape that’s both overwhelmingly open and frighteningly closed, but also into the farthest depths of their own understanding. A unique examination of the parameters of love, The Loneliest Planet is a tale of betrayal, identity, failure, and the ambiguities of forgiveness.

JEDI JUNKIES – Cinedigm

Jedi Junkies is a one-of-a-kind feature film about the world’s most dedicated Star Wars fans. From lightsaber-wielding martial artists to a filmmaker who built the world s only life-size Millennium Falcon, the film offers viewers a rare glimpse into extreme fans personal and professional self-expression. Featuring the perspectives of celebrity insiders including Olivia Munn (Attack of the Show), Phantom Menace actor Ray Park (Darth Maul) and Blair Witch Project director Ed Sanchez, Jedi Junkies will change the way you look at fandom and Star Wars forever.