Crank 2 - High Voltage - Two-Disc Special Edition - Buy from Amazon
The first of several late releases to be reviewed this week, this film starts at the end of Crank. Literally. In fact, the last minute of Crank is seen at the beginning of this movie. For those who haven't seen the earlier film, Chev Chelios is a hitman who was poisoned after his boss turns on him. But by some miracle, he survived. He not only survived the poisoning, but the fall from the helicopter. This is where Crank 2 - High Voltage starts, with Chev Chelios lying on the streets after his fall, but before EMT can arrived, he's picked up by the Triads who want to harvest his heart and transplant it in their leader, Poon Tang. They replaced his heart with an artificial one, because they want to harvest the rest of his organs, starting with his... organ, which prompts him to wake up and kick ass. But now he has to stay electrically charged in order to keep going long enough to retrieve his heart.

At the beginning of the movie, John de Lancie has a cameo as a new anchor talking about the events of the day, which he describes as, 'improbable'. In the audio commentary track, the writer / director team of Neveldine/Taylor say that this is their cover for those who think the movie isn't realistic enough. Or at all. And it isn't. This movie has been described by many as a live action video game more than it is a movie, and that's a good term to use. If you are looking for low expectation cinema, a film filled with over-the-top action, violence, vulgarity, nudity, etc., then this is the film for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a coherent plot, character development, etc., then you should stay far, far away. Even those just looking for action, violence, and nudity could find their patience tested by some of the more ridiculous scenes in the movie and because of that I think the replay value will be lower than some of Jason Statham's past films.

On the other hand, the extras are strong for a film that wasn't a major box office hit. Things start off with an audio commentary track with Neveldine/Taylor, who fill the track with plenty of information, although fortunately they never try to defend their movie as anything more than it is. (In fact, at one point they say one of the scenes was a joke put into the script to test to see if anyone read it before it was given the go ahead. Apparently no one at the studio did.) There is also a 50-minute making of featurette that is split into two parts that talks about the origins of the movie, the script, the filming, etc. with the usual mix of talking heads, behind-the-scenes footage, and clips of the movie. Very in-depth for a movie that is incredibly shallow. There is a much shorter, 4-minute featurette on how the film was shot (for less than $13 million) and how that caused a lot of things to appear in the movie that shouldn't be there, like cameras, lights, the crew, etc. The second disc is just a digital copy of the movie.

Crank 2 - High Voltage is too over the top for most people and even for a lot of Jason Statham's fans, it is probably only worth a rental. If you are interested in buying, the Blu-ray is the better deal than the Two-Disc Special Edition and that edition is worth buying.

Regardless of why he's there, he has to adapt to his new surroundings, his new co-workers, etc., while trying to deal with decidedly old attitudes and police methods. His new boss is Lieutenant Gene Hunt who is a prototypical tough 70s cop. Detective Ray Carling, who is not happy with his arrival, as he was expecting a promotion. Detective Chris Skelton is more of a modern detective and accepts Sam's use of technology to solve crimes and objects to the use of violence (or at least would object if he wasn't so easily bossed around by his co-workers). Finally, there's No Nuts Norris, who is named that because she is a woman. (Like I said, it's the 70s and they have different attitudes.) No Nuts, a.k.a. there's Annie Norris is a police woman, which means none of her male co-workers take her seriously, except Sam. In return, he confides in her and explains the situation he's in. Not that she's convinced, but at least she listens.

There are essentially two parts to this show that you have to judge. Firstly, it is a police procedural show set in 1973. Secondly, it's a Sci-fi mystery show with a mythology we have to uncover. For the show to be completely successful, both aspects of the show have to work. And they do... right up to the ending. That ending... I'm not sure about it. A great surprise twist makes you want to re-watch the show right away to look for clues. A bad surprise twist makes you want to slap the people involved in making it. This ending is right in the middle. Good news, the show works even if you don't even watch the final episode, and by the time the series finale comes around, you will be interested in seeing how it ends, even if you are not fully satisfied.

Extras on the four-disc set include audio commentary tracks on four episodes, including the finale. There is a 16-minute long making featurette, which does discuss the ending, in vague terms, but obviously don't watch it first. There is a 10-minute behind-the-scenes featurette that follows Jason O'Mara on a filming day. Jason O'Mara gives Lee Majors a tour of the set. Finally there are ten deleted scenes and 3 minutes of outtakes.

I'm sure the makers of Life on Mars would have loved it if the show has lasted more than one season. That said, at least The Complete Series remains strong throughout its short run and the 4-disc set has plenty of extras compared to the average concurrent TV on DVD release. Worth checking out for most, picking up for many.

It's Christmas Eve and Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and many of the rest of the Muppets are about to head out of New York City for the holidays, but they are in line waiting to mail off the last of the Christmas letters. Why they waited to the last minute is beyond me, but after a dance number gets out of hand, they are thrown out of the post office. Just before they go, they are invited to Christmas dinner by Claire, but is disappointed that they are all traveling and her and her Mom will have to spend the holiday along. But at least Gonzo was able to mail her letter to Santa, right? Nope. It the commotion at the post office, her letter and two others were accidentally left behind, now Gonzo, Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Rizzo the Rat, and Pepe the King Prawn will do anything, and I mean anything, to get those letters to Santa before Christmas officially begins.

Anyone reading this know who Zero Punctuation is? He does video game reviews and is quite cranky. In one review he complains about the nature of side missions in a lot of Role Playing Games. Find Item A and give it to Person B. In poorly designed games, a lot of times these missions are complicated by a series of hindrances that make little sense in the grand scheme of things and are only there to pad the playing time. I was reminded of this while watching the movie. The task is simple: take three letters meant for Santa and make sure they are delivered, but the post office is closed. Muppet labs steps in to help, but that works about as well as you would expect. They try carrier pigeons, the mob (huh?), etc. I think this story could have worked as a 30-minute TV special, or a 20 -minute TV special, if you minus the commercials and credits. However, this 55-minute version seems padded. It's better than the previous two TV specials (2002's It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie and 2005's The Muppets' Wizard of Oz) but it is nowhere near as good as Muppet Christmas Carol, which is the one I would recommend instead.

(On a side note, when Beaker had the wish granting hat on, his wish was not what I was expecting. Had I been in his shoes, and given Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's track record, I would have wished with all of my heart that I WASN'T WEARING THE WISH GRANTING HAT!)

Extras on the DVD include something called The Muppets Stocking Stuffer Smorgasbord, which is a Yule Log set with close to a dozen places to select (gifts, decorations, stockings, etc.) that take you to image galleries, behind-the-scenes clips, and interviews. There are also about 10 minutes of outtakes at the end of the movie itself.

A Muppets Christmas - Letters to Santa is a move in the right direction for the long-running franchise, but it is still well below its peak. The DVD has some extras, but not a whole lot and I think it is worth a rental, but no more.

• Mickey's Christmas Carol - It's Uncle Scrooge taking the lead role in the Dickens tale. If you don't know the plot of that story, you likely have no interest in this DVD.
  Easily the best known short on this DVD and it is also the newest from 1983. It is also arguably the best, as it was nominated for an Oscar.
• The Small One - A young boy has to take his small donkey into town to sell it because it can no longer pull its weight. At first he almost sells the donkey to a tanner, but he wants to find someone who will take care of the donkey as much as he does. It looks like he won't be able to find one, till a many needs to carry his pregnant wife to Bethlehem.
  This film was directed by Don Bluth, and you can tell, because the animation is excellent. On the other hand, I found it a little dull, but I think I'm in the minority here.
• Pluto's Christmas Tree - Mickey and Pluto cut down a tree from the forest to be their Christmas tree; however, the tree they choose is the home of Chip 'n' Dale. Now Pluto is trying deal with these two pests, but Mickey doesn't even know they are there.
  This short is over 50 years old, but it is part of the tailing end of the Golden Age of Walt Disney shorts. Good humor, good action, and fans of the studio will be glad to have it on DVD (if they don't already).
• Santa's Workshop - The short takes a look at Santa's workshop where we see singing and dancing elves as they make singing and dancing toys.
  From 1932, this is very typical of the era. I.E. there's little in the way of plot and it is also heavy in repeated animation. Those who are aficionados of animation from this era will be happy that this short is included and it has historical significance. That said, it is not the best on this DVD.

It is way too early for a Christmas release, but Walt Disney Animation Collection - Volume 7 - Mickey's Christmas Carol has no real duds, and depending on your tastes, all four shorts included have something to offer. Call it a solid purchase.

The three stories here are...

• Groundpiglet Day - It's winter but there's no snow. Rabbit's calendar say's its Groundhog day, but without a groundhog to consult, they give the job to Piglet. But when his predictions fail to come true, he's blamed for the winter storm.
• A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving - It's time for Thanksgiving dinner, but Rabbit's type-A personality takes over and tries to organize the celebration according to traditions. Tigger and Eeyore have to find cranberries, Gopher has to make a pumpkin pie, etc. And Winnie the Pooh and Piglet have to capture a turkey, but they don't have any idea what a turkey is.
• Find Her, Keep Her - A winter storm causes a little bird, Kessie, to be blown out of her nest and into Rabbit's home. So Rabbit decides to adopt her and raise her as his own.

Extra on the DVD include two more episodes from The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, also with winter themes, and couple of simple games. Also included with the DVD is a stocking you can hang on your Christmas tree.

Winnie the Pooh - Seasons of Giving is merely average compared to recent releases for the franchise. That said, the 10th Anniversary Edition Giftset is good value, assuming you don't already have the previous release and you would be willing to pay around $5 for the Christmas tree decoration.

Wolverine and the X-Men - Deadly Enemies - Buy from Amazon
The latest X-Men TV series is set shortly after an attack that left both Professor X and Jean Grey missing and the X-Men disbanded as a result. Now years later the X-men have reformed with Wolverine as the leader, which is a role he is not very well suited to. I reviewed the previous release and enjoyed the series, but thought the DVD was too expensive. This time around there are five episodes instead of three, so we already know that on a price per minute basis there's an improvement, but what about the show?

• Overflow - Wolverine gets a message from Professor X from the future. It seems that an event that is about to happen will destroy all of Africa. He is even more troubled when he finds out Storm is the one responsible.
• Thieves' Gambit - Forge has worked on a collar that can inhibit mutant powers, but it is stolen by Gambit who was being paid by Senator Kelly. Now Wolverine and Gambit have to team up to steal it back. Of course, Gambit's a thief, and one should never trust a thief.
• X-Calibre - Cargo ships have been making money by transporting mutants to Genosha; however, recently these ships have come under attack and mutants are not among the survivors that are found floating among the wreckage. Now Nightcrawler has decided to figure out who, or what, is responsible.
• Wolverine vs. The Hulk - Quite frankly, all you need to know about this episode is the title, as The Hulk vs. Wolverine is one of the best rivalries in all of comics. This time around Nick Fury of SHIELD 'recruits' Wolverine and he is sent in to stop The Hulk after The Hulk was similarly recruited and sent in to stop the Wendigo.
• Time Bomb - The Brotherhood of Mutants have a plan to take out MRD computer archives using a mutant called Nitro, whose powers are as unstable as his name suggests. Unfortunately Professor X warns Wolverine that his powers will destroy half the Mutant population if they can't capture him and give him back to the MRD.

Wolverine and the X-Men is an excellent show and the extras on this DVD are better than most TV on DVD full-season releases. That said, Deadly Enemies has a price per minute that's a little higher than I would like. Personally I would wait for a full season set. I would assume it will come out sooner rather than later and it should be a better deal.

X-Men Origins - Wolverine - 2-Disc Blu-ray Edition
The Blu-ray finally arrived this past week. It's the first summer blockbuster to come out on Blu-ray this year, so I'm very interested in seeing what they did with the technology and if it is worth buying.

The film tells the origins of Wolverine, which is one of the most popular mutants in Marvel Comics. We learn his connections with several other characters from the X-Men franchise, including Sabretooth. Especially Sabretooth. But there are also a number other seen here, some of which play key roles (Gambit, The Blob, etc), while most others are nothing more than cameos. On the one hand, this does give the comic book nerds in the audience a chance to play, "Spot that Mutant", it doesn't give more casual moviegoers a lot to sink their teeth into. There are a number of impressive action scenes, but the story is weak without much in the way of dramatic tension.

On a side note, Ryan Reynolds short role as Wade Wilson was the best part of the movie. Thank goodness there are making a Deadpool spin-off and I'm happy early reports will make him more like the comic than in this movie. (He will be breaking the fourth wall, for instance.)

The extras on the DVD include two audio commentary tracks, the first with the director and the second with two of the producers. Both are worth checking out, but solo tracks tend to be drier, and that this is the case here. Next up are several featurettes. Starting with the longest, there's Weapon X Mutant Files, which takes a look at a number of the mutants featured in this film (and some of the non-mutants). The Roots of Wolverine is a 16-minute interview featurette with Stan Lee and Len Wein, who talk about how X-men were created and how Wolverine joined the group, etc. Any fans of the comic will love this and will want to watch it several times. Wolverine Unleashed is a 12-minute making of featurette, which is typical of these types of featurettes. Thrill of the Chase is a 6-minute making of featurette about one of the specific action scene. There is a featurette about the World Premiere, and finally four deleted / alternate scenes.

The 2-Disc Blu-ray Edition has all of this, all of which is presented in High Definition. It also has Ultimate X-Mode, which are four Picture-in-Picture tracks. X Connect has information about the movie vis a vis the comic book origins. The Director's Chair talks about the making of the movie. Pre-Visualizing Wolverine has some early special effects for some of the scenes. Finally, X Facts is a pop-up trivia track. The disc is also BD-Live and you can look up facts for the actors. The second disc of the 2-Disc set is the digital copy of the movie.

Technically speaking, the High Definition presentation is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, the video is good, but not great. Well, to be fair, it's very good, but not among the best I've seen, and not a disc I would grab to show off my home theater system. (It would have to be in the top five for that to happen, so that is a very high bar to reach.) Since this was the first summer blockbuster to come out on Blu-ray this year, I was expecting top-of-the-line video quality. On a side note, I've come to a conclusion... Nature looks awesome in High Definition. I'm not sure what it is about a lush forest that shines so much more compared to an urban environment, but it does. Maybe nature just has more details by its very nature. The audio is better than the video, and it is worth showing off to your friends, as the 5.1 track makes excellent use of all speakers to put the viewer at the heart of the action.

X-Men Origins - Wolverine is not a perfect movie with a rather simplistic story, but I think it is better than its Tomatometer score would indicate. Causal fans of the franchise will want to check it out, while hardcore fans of the comics will want to own it. And if you want to own it, the 2-Disc Blu-ray Edition is the one to get. It looks good, sounds amazing, and has plenty of extras, including some High Definition exclusives that push the technology. And to top it all off, it comes at a price that is lower than the equivalent DVD.