The Killing: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Review

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

From writer, executive producer and series showrunner Veena Sud (“Cold Case”) “The Killing” ties together three distinct stories around a single murder including the detectives assigned to the case, the victim's grieving family, and the suspects. Set in Seattle, the story also explores local politics as it follows politicians connected to the case. As the series unfolds, it becomes clear that there are no accidents; everyone has a secret, and while the characters think they've moved on, their past isn't done with them.  “The Killing” stars Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominated Mireille Enos (“Big Love)” as Sarah Linden, the lead homicide detective that investigates the death of Rosie Larsen; Billy Campbell (“Once and Again”) as Darren Richmond, Seattle's City Council President and now running for Mayor; Joel Kinnaman (“Snabba Cash”) as Stephen Holder, an ex-narc cop who joins the homicide division in the investigation to find Rosie's killer; Emmy® nominated Michelle Forbes (“True Blood”) as Rosie's mother, Mitch Larsen; and Brent Sexton (“W.”, “In the Valley of Elah”) as Rosie's father, Stan Larsen. The pilot was directed by Patty Jenkins (“Monster”).

Malone DVD Review

Based on the novel “Shotgun” by William Wingate, this drama depicts an ex-CIA hit man on the run from the government who stumbles into a real-estate swindle/murder plot in Oregon.  The movie stars Burt Reynolds, Cynthia Gibb, Scott Wilson, Lauren Hutton, Cliff Robertson, Kenneth McMillan and was directed by Harley Cokliss. This movie is being released through a Manufacturing on Demand program that gives movie fans an option to get older movies that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to purchase.  I was curious to see how those discs turned out and because I’m a fan of Burt Reynolds, I asked to review this movie.  Read on to discover how it turned out…

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) Blu-ray Review

Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, and Martin Balsam lead an all-star cast in this suspenseful film based on the sizzling best seller by John Godey.  A gang of thugs who have hijacked a subway train near New York’s Pelham Station threaten to kill one hostage per minute. Forced to stall the assailants until a ransom is delivered or a rescue made, transit chief Lt. Garber (Walter Matthau) must somehow ad-lib, con and outmaneuver one of the craftiest, cruelest villains (Robert Shaw) ever. It’s a race against time, and no one knows whether things will end heroically or tragically in this pulse-pounding thrill ride!  

Immortals Blu-ray Review

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

From the producers of 300, Mark Canton, Gianni Nunnari, and Relativity’s CEO Ryan Kavanaugh, Immortals explodes off the screen with action-packed battles, mythological adventure and an all-star cast including: Henry Cavill (Superman: Man of Steel), Luke Evans (Robin Hood), Kellan Lutz (Twilight), Isabel Lucas (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), Stephen Dorff (Public Enemies), John Hurt (Hellboy) and Mickey Rourke (Iron Man 2). In this epic tale of vengeance and destiny, power-mad King Hyperion (Rourke) threatens to destroy all of humanity on his maniacal quest to obtain the ultimate weapon – the legendary Epirus Bow that gives the power to unleash war on both Heaven and Earth.  But Theseus (Cavill), a heroic young villager chosen by the gods, rises up to stop Hyperion’s brutal rampage.  With supernatural help from the beautiful oracle Phaedra (Pinto), Theseus embraces his destiny and leads a fierce band of warriors in a desperate fight for the future of mankind.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Volume Five DVD Review

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

The Secret Life of the American Teenager (aka The Secret Life) should keep its secrets to itself!  I admit that my taste in movies and tv shows rivals that of any fourteen year old girl. That’s slightly embarrassing given the fact that I just turned 33.  That being said, it was painful to sit through 602 minutes of The Secret Life.  The first episode was still playing when I began thinking about throwing everyone involved in making this series into one of those Star Wars garbage smasher things.  I would then make sure R2-D2 was nowhere around to help them – because they should be punished for what they have done!