Patriot Games DVD (4.5 Stars)

"Get down!"

Based on the novel of the same name by Tom Clancy, Patriot Games is the second in a series of movies about CIA analyst Jack Ryan. So how does it hold up? On to the review, please.

Harrison Ford plays Jack Ryan who is on vacation with his family in London. He's retired from the CIA, and is a professor at the U.S. Naval Academy. They witness an attack on Lord William Holmes. Ryan intervenes and is injured, but he kills one of the assailants, Patrick Miller, while his older brother Sean (Sean Bean) looks on. The remaining attackers flee and leave Miller to be apprehended by the police. While recovering, Ryan is called to testify in court against Miller. Ryan is awarded an honorary knighthood and eventually returns to the United States.

While being transferred to prison, Miller's escort convoy is ambushed by his comrades, including Kevin O'Donnell (Patrick Bergin), who kills the police officers, and plans an escape. Miller and his companions flee to Northern Africa to plan their next attempt to kidnap Lord Holmes. Miller however, cannot shake his anger towards Ryan for killing his brother and persuades several members of the group to accompany him to the U.S. to murder Ryan and his family. Ryan survives an assassination attempt outside the U.S. Naval Academy. Later, Miller and a henchman attack Ryan's wife Cathy (Anne Archer) and daughter Sally (Thora Birch) on a busy highway. Her car crashes into a concrete divider severely injuring them both. Enraged over the attack on his family, Ryan decides to go back to work for the CIA, having previously rejected the appeal of his former superior, Admiral James Greer (James Earl Jones).

Perfectly acted, perfectly scripted, and perfectly directed, with perfect special effects, Patriot Games is, without a doubt, the best Jack Ryan movie. Harrison Ford gives a flawless performance as Ryan who's willing to do anything to save his wife and child. Anne Archer also gives a flawless performance as Cathy. Thora Birch does well as Sally. They act just as if they were a real family. Sean Bean gives Miller an air of evil and menace, making him easy to dislike. Everybody turns in flawless performances. W. Peter Iliff and Donald Stewart give Patriot Games a great script. Phillip Noyce directs flawlessly, and never slacks on the pace. The few special effects that show up are flawless.

Patriot Games DVD Review, Video Quality: ????½

Patriot Games looks very good on DVD, presented in 2.35:1 and anamorphic. Sharpness is very good. Shadow detail is quite good, even during the dark scenes. Grain is present, but never blocks detail. Low level noise doesn't seem to be an issue. Color is very good. Skin tones are natural and there is no evidence of color bleed. MPEG artifacts don't seem to be an issue. Film-to-video artifacts don't seem to be an issue. Neither film nor video artifacts seem to be much of an issue.

Patriot Games DVD , Audio Quality: ????½

Patriot Games sounds very good on DVD as well, audio coming in the form of Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 tracks. I watched it with the Dolby Digital track. Dialogue is perfect. Audio sync is perfect. James Horner does the music score and it supports the movie well. The surrounds are very active. The subwoofer is also very active.

Patriot Games DVD Review, Special Features and Extras: ??½

Featurette- Patriot Games Up Close (25:15)

Presented in 1.78:1 and anamorphic with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio, this an interesting doc*mentary featuring interviews from the cast and crew.

Theatrical Trailer (2:36)

Presented in 2.35:1 and non-anamorphic, it's a good trailer.

Patriot Games DVD Review, Overall Score and Recommendation: ????½

Patriot Games is the best Jack Ryan movie, presented well on DVD. It never drags and holds you until the credits roll. It looks and sounds very good on DVD. The extras leave something to be desired, but it's the movie itself that counts and Patriot Games receives my Highest Recommendation.

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The Hunger Games: Catching Fire debuts in March

1/24/2014 10:38:06 AM, by Guido Henkel
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire debuts in MarchToday, Lionsgate Home Theatre has introduced the approaching DVD and Blu-Ray discharge of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, arranging the title for March.
In line with the best-selling second novel of Suzanne Collins’ award-winning trilogy, having a script by Simon Beaufoy and Michael DeBruyn and directed by Francis Lawrence (I'm Legend), The Hunger Games: Catching Fire starts as, against all odds, Katniss and her fellow tribute Peeta have came back home after making it through The Hunger Games. Winning ensures they must change, departing their family members behind and attempt a “Victory Tour” with the districts. On the way, Katniss senses a rebellion being applied – one which she and Peeta might have sparked. In the finish from the Victory Tour, Leader Snow announces a deadly 75th Hunger Games that may change Panem forever.
The DVD version from the release will feature an anamorphic widescreen transfer with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio as well as incorporate a Commentary Track with Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson. It will likewise contain an array of Erased Moments along with a Sneak Look of Divergent.
The Blu-Ray Combo version will offer you up a 1080p hd transfer having a DTS 7.1 HD Master Audio track. As extra supplies you'll also find the Commentary Track with Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson and also the Erased Moments around the release, but additionally, it will likewise contain “Surviving the overall game: Making Catching Fire”, a 9-part feature-length documentary.
“Catching Fire” will get to stores on March 7 for $29.95 on DVD and $#9.99 like a Blu-Ray combo that consists of our prime definition version, the DVD version as well as an UltraViolet Digital HD form of the film. Secure your copy today at Amazon . com.comView the original article here

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

With any great success in Hollywood comes great anticipation and expectations for a follow-up. It?s a challenge that director Francis Lawrence meets with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which boldly builds on the world first seen in Gary Ross? 2012 film. Constructing dark and complex themes and introducing dynamic new characters and stars, it's a satisfying and dramatic new adventure in the now-blockbuster franchise.

Picking up only a short time after the end of the last film, the sequel begins as Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) venture through the 12 districts on a the Victory Tour, ?celebrating? their win in the 74th annual Hunger Games. This is bad news for President Snow (Donald Sutherland), however, as the two young champions have managed to spark ideas of revolution in the country of Panem. Scheming for a way to permanently take the faces of the rebellion out of the picture, it?s announced that the 75th annual Hunger Games ? a special event known as the Quarter Quell ? will put previous champions back into the arena.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire deliberately mirrors its predecessor, from the opening scene with Katniss and Gale hunting in the woods to the march towards the Hunger Games, wonderfully and horrifically reflects how the world of Panem has changed since Katniss and Peeta?s victory in the arena. It lures you into feeling comfortable with familiar scenarios, situations and characters, but then freely pulls a switch that changes everything.

Differentiating the film from some of its YA-spawned brethren, the movie also continues to develop one of the most interesting action movie female protagonists we?ve seen in a long time. Not only does Lawrence fully embody Katniss and completely melt into her performance, Simon Beaufoy and Michael Arndt?s script keeps her on an engaging path and continues to flesh her out as a three-dimensional character ? warts and all. Yes, Katniss is strong-willed, brave and tough, but she is also bullheaded, impulsive, and basically socially retarded. She is a hero ? but a grounded and real one that audiences can really cheer for.

The character?s relationships with both Peeta and Gale move forward in a major way too, but the film avoids all the trappings of on-screen teenage romance by using both men to show a deep fracture in Katniss? psychology post-Hunger Games. Suffering from clear symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, Katniss completely rejects Peeta and embraces Gale after her return home--- as the former is forever tied in her mind to the most horrific event in her young life. But when it comes time to return to the arena she reaches for Peeta, who was with her inside and helped her survive. Unfortunately this dynamic really only reflects on Katniss, as Peeta and Gale once again remain rather underdeveloped, but the film ultimately executes its message and is stronger for it.

More than just building on what was established in the first movie, Catching Fire has plenty new to offer and it?s impressive just how much of it the film actually pulls off. Going back to the Games, Katniss and Peeta are introduced to a whole new class of tributes played by some wonderful performers ? from Jeffrey Wright to Amanda Plummer to Jena Malone. The unexpected and surprisingly excellent standout amongst the group is Sam Claflin, who infuses the slippery Finnick with an excellent blend of charm and slyness; the audience may continually debate whether the story?s heroes should trust him or chop his head off with an axe.

Another outstanding new addition is Philip Seymour Hoffman, who plays Plutarch Heavensbee, the new Head Gamemaker replacing the dearly departed Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) from the first movie. The Oscar winner is utilized perfectly, not just because he?s a good fit for the character, but just because of the sheer amount of gravitas he brings to the table. You hang on every word watching Hoffman?s Plutarch and Sutherland?s President Snow quietly and confidently discuss the need to quell all whispers of uprising in Panem.

Without giving anything away, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire does suffer from a severe case of what I?m going to call ?Part Two Syndrome,? as the movie comes to a sharp and abrupt end that makes the story feel incomplete and leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Still, the sequel solidifies what was already a solid trajectory for the franchise, and I look forward to seeing where the story goes from here.

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EXCLUSIVE: Assassination Games DVD Clip!

Jean-Claude Van Damme and Scott Adkins star in the heart-pounding thriller Assassination Games, on DVD September 6th. Directed by Ernie Barbarash, this intense story finds two contract killers teaming up to take down a cold blooded drug dealer. We have an exclusive clip from the movie, which you can check out below.

Brazil (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a contract killer, willing to take any job if the price is right. Flint (Scott Adkins) left the assassin game when a ruthless drug dealer's brutal attack left his wife in a coma. When a contract is put out on the cold-blooded drug dealer, both Brazil and Flint want him dead - one for the money, the other for revenge. With crooked Interpol agents and vicious members of the criminal underworld hot on their trail, these two assassins reluctantly join forces to quickly take out their target before they themselves are terminated.

Assassination Games was released July 29th, 2011 and stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, Scott Adkins, Kevin Chapman, Ivan Kaye, Valentin Teodosiu, Alin Panc, Serban Celea, Michael Higgs. The film is directed by Ernie Barbarash.

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