Halloween-Time Blu-Ray/DVD Review Round-Up
From Anchor Bay Entertainment
The Howling Reborn – Blu-Ray
If you didn’t rent any of the Howling films from the ‘80’s, don’t worry, this one is the next generation. It stars Lindsey Shaw ("Pretty Little Liars," "10 Things I Hate About You"), Landon Liboiron (Fox series "Terra Nova," "Degrassi: The Next Generation") and Ivana Milicevic (Casino Royale, Vanilla Sky) as a creepy matriarch werewolf.
Story goes: A la “Teen Wolf”, high schooler Will Kidman (Liboiron) is lusting after a hot classmate Eliana Wynter (Shaw). He’s shy and reserved so no dice with this edgy chick until he realizes that, coming of age, he’s going through some extra changes of the hairy, long-toothed type. Will is the heir to a powerful line of werewolves. So does he embrace his macho legacy or save Eliana who, in fact, does think he’s hot. He’ll have to take on his own mystery mom and her army of mega-wolves if he decides to fight mother nature.
Special Features: There is a 30 minute “Making Of” Documentary that covers effects, shooting, story etc. Actually quite well done. You get an “Audio Commentary” with director/writer Joe Nimziki and Lindsey Shaw which is full of fun trivia and extra set tidbits. Fun. There is a “Storyboard Gallery” included and it looks pretty cool. All well worth a look.
Wrapping Up: I liked this spooky horror tale way more than I thought I would because it’s just as much a teen love story as a monster flick. You really root for Will and Eliana to hook up, survive and kick butt as a couple. Even more fun for fans of Lindsey or budding fans of Landon from “Terra Nova”. Werewolf effects are combo CGI and guys in suits but the suits are pretty good. Well worth a rental for your Halloween get together/sleepover/horror fest.
From DreamWorks Home Entertainment
Scared Shrekless and Monsters Vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space – DVD Combo Pack
Hey, on the sunnier side of Halloween, you get a lot of bang for your buck with this cute, totally in the spirit party pack.
In Scared Shrekless, our fave ogre 
and pals celebrate Halloween with Shrek’s challenge: spend all night telling spooky horror tales and the last one to be scared “Shrekless” wins. A lot of the stories are acted out starring everyone from “Gingy the gingerbread man to Donkey and Puss in Boots. These are spoofs of well-known horror films like Psycho. All are really cute and fun. The usual Shrek actors provide the voices (Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas).
Special Features: On the “Shrekless” DVD you also get a totally fun parody of Michael Jackson’s famous music video “Thriller”. You can dance along with the animated guys as well. I really got into this but then I was a big “Thriller” fan!
On both DVDs you get a ton of fun music videos from many DreamWorks films like “I Like To Move It” from Madagascar and “I’m A Believer” from Shrek. A really nice extra since these songs are often highlights of the animated films.
The other DVD, Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space gives us B.O.B., Susan, Dr. Cockroach and The Missing Link sent out to investigate a possible alien invasion on Halloween. The local pumpkin patch is full of mutant aliens! It’s up to our fave mutants to smash and bash the pumpkins into submission before they take over Earth. This DVD also has the original voice talents of Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Kiefer Sutherland, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett and Rainn Wilson. Cool!
Special Features: Extras are for the whole family and include a “Monster Karaoke Music Party”, really funny performances by Ginormica (sure sounds like Reese Witherspoon singing) doing the disco song “I Will Survive” over new animation and scenes from the original movie, B.O.B. sings “More Than a Woman”, a Bee Gees song sung to his “love”, a mound of Jello. Dr. Cockroach and The Missing Link really cracked me up dueting “Born to be Wild”, the rock ‘n roll classic. Words are on screen for you to sing along.
“Modern Monster Movie Making” is a pretty thorough “making of” piece with filmmakers and voice actors talking about the 3-D process and the characters. You see all the actors recording their voices and see how the action sequences in the film were created. This was probably on the original film’s DVD but if you don’t have it, it’s cool to see it here.
Wrapping Up: This Halloween-aimed DVD set is delightful, cute and very enjoyable. The new “scary” material is creative and fun and, okay, I got up and danced “Thriller”. I admit it. If you and your buds sing along with karaoke or boogie down, it’s well worth a purchase or certainly a rental.
Moving on to non-spooky adventure and romance…
From Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack
Well, we take it back.. this movie is, at times, quite spooky with killer mermaids and more.
Story goes: Captain Jack is back, and on a quest for the fame, doubloons and glory he’ll gain if he finds the fabled Fountain of Youth. In the way or also seeking the fountain is the famous pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane) and his fiery Spanish daughter (Penelope Cruz) with whom Jack has a past.
Throw in some man-eating mermaids, a side love story between a hot pirate crew member and an innocent “Ariel” mermaid, some Spanish guys seeking the fountain and the British Navy, seeking Jack who has escaped them yet again, and you have it.
Special Features: Not as many as on previous “Pirates” discs. You get an “Audio Commentary” with director Rob Marshall and Producer John DeLuca. This is all kind of tech or describing what you are seeing and thus rather boring. Sure wish Johnny would do a commentary. “Bloopers of the Caribbean” is short but cute with flubs and falls, etc. “Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: Captain Jack's Brick Tales” just recreates some of the film’s key scenes. Cute but why not include some real behind the scenes stuff?
There's the “Disney Second Screen” feature which lets you link up the film to watch on your iPad or computer.
Wrapping Up: This movie looks crisp, colorful and amazing on Blu-Ray butI miss the Will Turner/Elizabeth Swann love story. Although the search for the Fountain of Youth via The Little Mermaid…with fangs tale is a bit confusing, hey, there is lovable Captain Jack and his hot ex-flame (Penelope) and some fun stunts and effects, making this latest “Pirates” a candy-apple-chomping great addition to your Halloween get together whether you rent or add this to your collection.
From 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Monte Carlo – Blu-Ray/Digital copy combo
The Biebs’ squeeze singer/actress Selena Gomez joins “Gossip Girl’s” Leighton Meester and hot Katie Cassidy on a romp in Paris and Monte Carlo.
Story goes: Grace (Selena) just graduated from high school and is off on a vacation in Paris with her BFF Emma (Katie) and downer, more conservative step-sister Meg (Leighton). Things are off to a bummer start when the girls’ tour guide leaves them behind. But, don’t despair, Grace is mistaken for a big bucks socialite (also played by Selena of course) and the girls are off to Monte Carlo for fun and romance. Will they be found out? Will each gal get a prince charming? What do you think?
Special Features: Lots! There are seven “Deleted Scenes” .. okay but you can see why there were cut. The “Monte Carlo Match Up” lets you answer some multi-choice questions to match you up with the girl you have most in common with. Once is enough on this of course but cute. “Ding-Dong Delicious: The Boys of Monte Carlo” is the best extra with behind-the-scenes footage featuring the three “prince charming” guys our ladies fall for. You’ve got “Glee’s” Cory Monteith, Luke Bracey (a cute Aussie Heath Ledger look alike), and French cutie Pierre Boulanger who talk about their characters in the film. The femme leads also talk about these guys. Cute.
“Monte Carlo Couture” features the film’s costume designer dishing on the wardrobe choices for each girl. The actresses also give their opinions on the styles. Fun. “Jet Setter’s Dream” is a location tour of the locales used in the film; Budapest, Paris, and Monte Carlo. A cool tourista extra. “Backstage Pass” features the actresses telling us their experiences while making the film. Also a hoot if you are into these gals. “Gossip with the Girls” gives you the leads again, this time talking about experiences in the various locations.. more insider stories of antics on set etc.
Using the BD-Live feature, you Selena’s music video for “Who Says?” The digital disc lets you watch the movie on PC, Mac or other electronics.
Wrapping Up: There sure isn’t anything new to this story (doubles, mistaken identity) but, in the tradition of the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” movies, there is nothing wrong with vicariously experiencing a European vacay with your gal-pals with romance, intrigue and cool fashions thrown in. This is lightweight fun for all teen girls and certainly for fans of the three femme leads… and there are some cute guys for eye-candy moments as well. Well worth a rental for your spook night sleepover or a buy for fans of the leads.
Note: Coming soon.. the “Jurassic Park” movie trilogy set which we didn’t receive in time for this round-up.
