Movie Studio: Paramount Pictures

Showtime is home to several hit TV shows, one of them being Dexter which is now into its third season. Coming to Blu-ray this week however is the original season which first aired in 2006. The original season included twelve captivating episodes that first introduced us to Dexter and his life in Miami. I had always wanted to see this series but never had until we were fortunate enough to receive this first season for review. I couldn't help but watch it all in just two sittings and while the show is fantastic, this Blu-ray release leaves a few things to be desired. Let's take a closer look.

When you hear the term 'chick flick,' you could argue that few films fit the description as well as Ghost. Ghost was directed by Jerry Zucker and starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg. It was a hit in 1990, and there is little doubt that is still popular today. Now, Paramount brings the film to Blu-ray for the first time. Let's take a look at this new release.

Jim Carrey's acting career may be seen by most as one filled with over the top comedies like his Ace Ventura series or Dumb & Dumber, but upon any further inspection you'll discover a much more well rounded actor. None of his works perhaps proves this point more than one of his earliest efforts in drama, a film directed by Peter Weir entitled The Truman Show. The Truman Show came to theaters ten years ago, but Paramount is bringing it home again, this time on Blu-ray, this week.

What would you do if you knew you only had a few weeks left to live, and had spent your entire life up to that point doing things for other people, thinking that some day it would be your turn?  That’s the situation facing Georgia Byrd in Last Holiday; an accident at work leads to an MRI that shows she’s in the last stages of cancer.  After getting the diagnosis, Byrd withdraws all her money from the bank, gives away her car, quits her job and heads off on her dream vacation.  Her dream has been to be a chef, and she’s been saving the money she makes working in the kitchenware section of a department store in New Orleans, as well as money her mother left her, to someday open her own restaurant.  Instead, with her days dwindling down, she heads to a swank resort in Europe where the head chef is one of her idols.

Laurence Fishburne and Sam Neil starred in 1997's Event Horizon, a sci-fi horror film directed by Paul WS Anderson (Mortal Kombat, Death Race). The acclaimed horror flick comes to Blu-ray this week packing a handful of extra features. Let's break it down.

Real life is usually messier and less exciting than fiction, and this portrait of the famous Duchess of Devonshire supports that theory. Beautiful in many ways, The Duchess is an interesting, but not riveting, historical drama.

That's right, Iceman! I am dangerous. Favorite line in the film... Wait.  Wrong film? Oh, sorry. Easily confused. 

Sean Penn spent the better part of ten years creating Into the Wild, which is inspired by a remarkable true story of a young man who literally just wanted to get away from it all and become one with nature. The story is that of Christopher McCandless, a very successful college student who one day decides to give up all of his possessions and money and abruptly head west.

Housekeeping! You want fresh Blu-ray?

Samuel L. Jackson is one of my favorite actors and I've seen most of his films, but one that I never got around to seeing for whatever reason was Coach Carter. Coming to Blu-ray next week, we received our review copy in recently and I was pleased to finally have the chance to watch this film which I had heard a lot of great things about. Indeed this is a fine film and a pretty solid Blu-ray release altogether; let's take a closer look.

Andy Samberg stars along side Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Danny McBride, and Isla Fisher in Hot Rod, a comedy from Paramount. Coming to Blu-ray next week, Hot Rod tells the story of Rod Kimble, a self proclaimed motorcycle stunt man who is preparing himself for his greatest, most dangerous stunt in an attempt to raise money for his dying step father.

Worth the watch, especially if you love film.

Fans of The Daily Shows infamous split off “The Colbert Report” starring Stephen Colbert have good reason to be excited this year. In addition to the the lumps of coal that Comedy Central fans are used to getting under their tree every year, you are getting something else for Christmas this year too! Presenting the new Christmas tradition for people who don't put much importance on traditions...A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!

Noelle is a Christmas movie ringing closer to the true issues which face the Church today like nothing I ever could have expected. What I thought would be just another wearisome feel-good Christmas movie turned out to be much deeper and more provocative than anything I could have expected. This Dove Family-Approved movie dares to tell a very non-traditional Christmas tale that will leave you both challenged and perhaps a little confused.

I remember when I went to see Rambo in theaters earlier this year and I saw a promo poster for Kung Fu Panda. It looked like a hilarious new Dreamworks animation with a story that I could get into. I missed the movie in theaters, but I've been fortunate enough to get the Blu-ray released last week in for review, and man is it great.