JAM Reviews Music, Music Everywhere from Lionsgate/HIT Entertainment

Music, Music Everywhere: HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate DVD
Review by JAM

It’s time for a little singing, a little dancing, and a whole lot of fun as Barney, Bob, Thomas, Kipper, and Angelina teach us about the beauty and happiness that come from music. Barney shares knowledge and a fun time while working with the piano in Play Piano With Me. In Roley’s Important Job, Roley tries to find ways to help and is stymied on the jobsite, only to find he could help musically. Rusty the diesel learns to toot his own horn in Tuneful Toots, at times annoying Thomas & Friends but eventually coming through. Kipper and Tiger deal with nerve wracking drum riffs until they inspire them to create music alongside Arnold’s Drum. And finally in the bonus Angelina the Ballerina episode Angelina’s Musical Party, CGI animated Angelina teaches her friends what music can truly do.

JAMS Ink on Music, Music Everywhere

Get off your seat and dance, because your kids are going to want to keep moving to the tune based episodes on this DVD. Throw in a bonus CD with 5 songs form their friends, and the fun will never stop. Grab a copy today and let the fun begin.

Episode List:
Barney – Play Piano With Me
Bob the Builder – Roley’s Important Job
Thomas & Friends – Tuneful Toots
Kipper – Arnold’s Drum
Angelina the Ballerina – Angelina’s Musical Day

Bonus CD includes the following songs:
P-I-A-N-O
Good Manners
Roll Call
Narrow Gauge
The Next Steps

Music, Music Everywhere plays its way into stores on July 20, 2010. Grab a copy and sing along!

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Martina McBride at the Orange County Fair

Hey guys and gals, your JAM team was sent out to the Orange County Fair for the always incredible HollywoodTeenZine to see the always amazing Martina McBride at the Pacific Ampitheatre on July 22, 2010. Check out the photos and recap here http://hollywoodteenzine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1342&Itemid=50

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Acceptance from Vivendi Home Entertainment

Acceptance: Vivendi Home Entertainment
Review by JAM

Most teen dramas focus on romantic relationships or adolescent changes, with a small side of not fitting into a high school world. In Acceptance from Vivendi Home Entertainment, the emphasis is laid on the finding of a college that is right for a person rather than the typical teen dramas from years gone by. For those of us who have done the search or are in the middle of searching for our future college, we know the drama that can be involved. Now imagine it Hollywood style!

Taylor Rockefeller (Mae Whitman from Parenthood, or the voice of Tinkerbell for us animation buffs) is a high school former overachiever searching for the next step in life, which for her is going to a college she likes whichever one that may be. On the road to her acceptance, she seems to be searching for acceptance of any kind, even justifying stealing other people’s mail as a way to be accepted into their families. Her mother Nina (Joan Cusack) is looking to push her into a big name school where she learn everything possible, meet a successful husband, and become the success all mothers want for their kids. Only problem is that Nona has blinders on when it comes to success, wanting only a top school for her daughter where she can get an education and find a successful husband, especially since Taylor’s father is a bit of a deadbeat dad. The parental relationship obviously affects Taylor in a myriad of ways, causing more pressure and stress as failures and screw-ups compound.

Throw in a messed up former best friend Maya (Deepti Daryanani) and a messed up former boyfriend AP Harry (Jonathan Keltz) to go with messed up parents, mix them all together and out comes a fun little high school/college drama in which things may end up differently than we expected but might still work out for the best.

JAMS Ink on Acceptance

Acceptance is quite the quirky little drama starring a quirky mix of actors and actresses starting with the marvelous Mae Whitman. She has now become Tinkerbell to me, as whenever I see her I think of that little pixie. Having little girls around this reviewer means Tinkerbell will always be an important part of our lives, so I hope Mae knows it is a compliment to be seen as a little pixie dust toting fairy.

Kiersten Warren also plays a huge role in the movie, best known to this reviewer from Saved By The Bell: The College Years. In watching the movie in which she plays the mother of a graduating senior, I was flabbergasted to see her cast to play that age. Of course, then after consulting IMDB I found she was quite a bit older than me, though I must say she still looks like that cute sassy college student she portrayed alongside Zach Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar).

Joan Cusack is amazing even as a train-wreck of a mother. So many movies, often with her brother John, and she is the type of actress that can control a scene without being the main star and this movie is no different. Her facial expressions have always been top-notch especially as the majority of her characters are just a bit off.

Funny little coincidence… Rob Mayes who plays Justin Smelling, the perfect SAT kid in Acceptance was in what movie that JAM has reviewed this last year??? If you guessed Ice Castles from back in February 2010, you have studied my reviews way too much. LOL

EXTRAS

None

Acceptance from Vivendi Home Entertainment is sent onto shelves on July 27, 2010.

ACCEPTANCE
Street Date: July 27, 2010
U.S. Rating: NR
Total Run Time: 88 minutes

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews White Collar: Season One Blu-Ray from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

White Collar Season One – Blu-Ray : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Review by JAM

Take one brazen thief with a sense of style and panache (Matt Bomer), a federal agent who plays things by the book most of the time (Tim DeKay), a supporting cast that includes a bumbling, trustworthy criminal friend to the thief (Willie Garson), an on the run ex-girlfriend that had stolen the thief’s heart and maybe more (Alexandra Daddario), and a former child star playing the smarter half in the agent’s marriage (Tiffani Thiessen), and now you have White Collar, a show that will steal your time and your thoughts as it paints a surreal picture, a Dali if you will, throughout the first season.

Neal Caffrey (played by Matt Bomer) is our thief on the lam, at least until he is caught for the second time by FBI agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). Peter seems to have a history with Neal, with respect for his talents and the idea that maybe given the right choices, Neal might not make the wrong decisions. So the idea of a partnership is tossed between the two, giving Neal the chance to not have to stay behind the bars that trap him, the chance to live life without having to glance over his shoulder nonstop, and to do the right thing by putting others behind bars who are preying on society. Of course, there are a few catches. An ankle bracelet with GPS locator, a limited range of wandering in the city for a man who has traveled the world, and a hotel room almost as cramped as his cell are all hindrances to Neal’s freedom, but being the opportunistic man he is means the deal is consummated.

Neal is a thief with a heart of gold, but that does not mean he always follows the rules. Spending much of his time on the hunt for his ex Kate (Alexandra Daddario), Neal assists Peter in his cases while looking for his chance to escape and rescue his enigmatic love. The entire first season is about the playful banter and growing friendship between Neal and Peter which culminates in a partnership that is strong in its weaknesses, yet ready to unravel with a single betrayal. Cue the emotional cliffhanger to end the season and you have one of the best new shows on television.

JAMS Ink on White Collar

You know, I really did not want another show to watch. It is a bad excuse for a reviewer to make, but my life is full of things already and the commercials for the show first started appearing last year and looked kind of cool, and I went back and forth…

And I started watching it. And I started DVRing it. And I started loving it.

If you made me choose between my major shows (Burn Notice, Leverage, and White Collar) I really don’t know which way I would go. That’s how much White Collar grabbed my attention and held it. Neal is suave, sophisticated, and the kind of guy that you would love to hate but you can’t because he would be cool to hang out with. Peter is the older brother/father figure that Neal needs, yet rebels from, Kate is that ethereal beauty that appears unannounced and disappears just as suddenly, Mozzie is strange but compelling and useful as heck, and Elizabeth seems to hold everything together. I think that I just realized that the strength of my crazy awesome cable shows are all the same. A strong ensemble cast that holds your attention and each plays a part, even if some are more important in the overall schemes than others. Now the only question is, since all of my favorite shows involve criminals or people that toe the line, does that say something about me?

Keep an eye on FBI Agent Diana Lancing (Marsha Thomason). She came into last season as someone Peter could trust and had his back, but she may be playing sides now that the new season has begun. In my opinion, I am guessing she is protecting Peter from something, but that could foretell the ultimate sacrifice as the season progresses. We shall see…

Favorite Episode of Season One – Episode 8 Hard Sell. Neal and Peter both infiltrate a group of corrupt Wall Street brokers and get pulled into a case that might end their partnership permanently. It was a fun episode overall and had the coolest comic book storage place I have ever seen, and being a comic book junkie I really want a room like that.

JAMS Ink Comments on White Collar Blu-Ray

I am not going to pretend to be an expert on pixels and ratios and all the other Blu-ray centered stuff that many people can share with you. But I am going to be honest with you, if you are able to watch it, GET THE BLU-RAY! I have learned to love the clarity of picture and color that comes with the Blu-rays I have reviewed, so even though I may not know the technical aspects behind it I can still recommend it. White Collar, in my opinion, is enhanced by the Blu-ray as the amazing urban scenery literally pops off the screen. The fact that the series is predicated so much on artwork, mainly stolen or forged, anything that enhances the beauty of the item in question lends to strengthening your experience. So, JAM says go Blu-ray if you can.

EXTRAS

Pro and Con
A Cool Cat in the Hat
Nothing But the Truth
Gag Reel
Deleted Scenes

Episodes:
• Pilot
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Tim DeKay, Tiffani Thiessen and Matt Bomer
• Threads
• Books of Hours
• Flip of the Coin
• The Portrait
• All In
• Free Fall
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Matt Bomer and Willie Garson
• Hard Sell
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay
• Bad Judgment
• Vital Signs
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Tim DeKay, Tiffani Thiessen and Willie Garson
• Home Invasion
• Bottlenecked
• Front Man
• Out of the Box
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Tim DeKay and Matt Bomer

White Collar: Season One from Twentieth Century Fox appeared on shelves on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 13, 2010. Grab a copy and make a run for it! (after you pay of course).

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at www.jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Saving Grace: Final Season from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Saving Grace: The Final Season: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Review by JAM

How many people do you know that wish they had a second chance at life, whether the chance to change a moment, a decision, a time frame, or whatever. You know the adage “be careful what you wish for because you might just get it”? Well Grace Hanadarko (Holly Hunter) gets the chance to change her life through divine intervention and the angel Earl (Leon Rippy). With the twists and turns that her life goes through because of it, she may tell you that she doubts it was worth it or she may tell you that in the end it was what she needed. This final season of Saving Grace answers that for us.

The third season starts with Grace recovering from her failure at the end of Season Two and still trying to see God’s plan for her through the work that she has been doing. Grace tries this season to share what she is going through with obvious mixed results. She becomes known as the “Angel Cop” through her actions, but still struggles with everything that is before her. With help from friends, family, and an angel Grace will face whatever she has to, even the ultimate evil.

JAMS Ink on Saving Grace

Grace is definitely a hard character to get a grip on, and some may connect more to such a flawed and gritty character. For me, this was never a show that caught my attention and even with this season set, I have to say she’s not on the top of my list. BUT… (Notice the big but) I do appreciate someone fighting for redemption and trying to do some of the right things even as she may not make all the right choices. Even against the worst of odds, she never backed down. In fact, that seems to be the gist of this series is that Grace never seems to back down, even when she looks to be broken and defeated she picked herself and fought the good fight.

Saving Grace really seemed to be a series that ended too soon, especially as the final episodes seemed to be rushed a bit in order to end it. As much as I was not so intrigued by the show while on air, while watching this season set I found myself thinking about where they may have gone with the show if they were given the time they needed. With a good cast and an interesting premise, it would have been interesting to see if things would have been different if not rushed to complete the series.

Favorite Episode – Episode 17 I’m Gonna Need a Big Night Light. Seeing Grace at her worst, dealing with the ramifications of the accidental death of a child in an accident, fighting against God and looking like she was about to give up, and then coming forth to face whatever is to come, even if she is scared, confused, angry, or whatever other emotion is flowing at the time. As much as the show is about redemption from a higher power, it never seems to be extremely “preachy” but this is what a true believer often faces (maybe not over the top Hollywood style like this). When the chips are down and everything is against you, still you know what has to be done. Faith has power and Grace may not always have believed or understood, but she did what had to be done on faith. And she did it her way with the style that only Grace had.

EXTRAS

None included on this Final Season disc.

Episode List

Disc One
We’re Already Here
She’s a Lump
Watch Siggybaby Burn
What Would You Do?

Disc Two
Mooooo
Am I Going to Lose Her?
That Was No First Kiss
Popcorn

Disc Three
Looks Like a Lesbian Attack to Me
Am I Gonna Die Today?
Let’s Talk
Hear the Birds

Disc Four
You Can’t Save Them All, Grace
I Killed Kristen
So Help You God
Loose Men in Tight Jeans

Disc Five
You Think I’m Gonna Eat My Gun?
I Need You To Call Earl
I’m Gonna Need a Big Night Light

Saving Grace: The Final Season from Twentieth Century Fox appeared on shelves on DVD on July 13, 2010. This set is definitely recommended if you are a fan or if you are searching for something different in your viewing collection.

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at www.jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Thomas & Friends: Creaky Cranky for Lionsgate/HIT Entertainment

Thomas & Friends: Creaky Cranky: HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate DVD
Review by JAM

Chugging down the tracks comes another DVD starring Thomas and his friends in Thomas & Friends: Creaky Cranky. Thomas shares another four episodes on this DVD starting with Creaky Cranky in which Cranky the Crane taunts Thomas about who is stronger and can carry the biggest load. In Tickled Pink, James new unfinished paint job leaves him feeling less than happy when he first heads to pick up children with his pink first coat. Steamy Soder gives Thomas the chance to run the steamworks which leads to issues as the power rises right to his head. And finally in Early Bird, Thomas takes the mail run for Percy but without asking for hints on how to do the job right, he finds he has bitten off more than he may be able to choo-choo.

JAMS Ink on Creaky Cranky

Excellent set of episodes for the parents of young kids who are in a little bit of a bossy and stubborn stage right now. Thomas is always a good watch for the boys and girls in the family as the lessons learned are not gender based, but good for any and all kids of young age. Driver Perkins is also an excellent addition in the DVDs, sharing real life lessons from a real life person when the episodes are set up to play through.

Bonus Features include a karaoke music video for “Sound Song”.

Episode List:
Creaky Cranky
Tickled Pink
Steamy Soder
Early Bird

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Our Family Wedding from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Our Family Wedding: DVD: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Review by JAM

Marcus and Lucia are two young lovers on their way to marital bliss or so they think. You see, it’s their marriage, but when their parents get involved it becomes their parents’ wedding and their lives come crashing down right before their very eyes. Will love be enough or is the honeymoon over before the marriage has even began?

Marcus (Lance Gross) is an aspiring doctor out to change the world by joining Doctors Without Borders and heading out to Laos. Lucia (the amazing America Ferrera) is the young woman who has fallen in love with him, left law school to teach the underprivileged, and has kept secrets from her parents this whole time. Believing they have found their soulmates, they head out to LA to meet the parents and share the wonderful news. To say it does not go well would be an understatement.

Brad Boyd, Marcus’ dad (Forest Whitaker), is a single dad living the life of a 20 year old bachelor with the clubbing, the partying, and the nightly romances. Problem is he has a twenty something son looking for advice on life, relationships, and marriage. Oh yeah, and the way he meets Lucia’s father Miguel Ramirez (Carlos Mencia) leads to the start of the crazy festivities to come. Throw in Lucia’s mother Sonia (Diana Maria Riva), a stubborn and ornery sister Izzy (Anjelah N. Johnson), and Brad’s long time lifeline Angela (Regina King), add a couple of grandparents and friends and we have a recipe for disaster.

Race, family relationships, and physical happenings all threaten to derail the upcoming festivities, but you get the chance to see if love can cure all… Even family.

JAMS Ink on Our Family Wedding

The movie itself is a fairly enjoyable romp through the pre-wedding festivities of a happy couple, just amplified due to racial, familial, and relational obligations. America and Lance actual seem to make a good couple on the screen, definitely the highlight of the movie. They are dealing with issues every married couple faces during the preparation along with a number of issues that seemed to be specific to their relationship and families.

There in lie the issues with the movie. It was a fun loving enjoyable movie in the vein of Meet the Parents until the parents really got involved. Forest Whitaker is often an amazing actor, but playing the part of a middle-aged lothario made him come off as a wasted character that was exemplifying messed up black male stereotypes. It was especially annoying to see a son that exemplified positive role model type traits coming from a father that seemed to never see what he truly had before him. Carlos Mencia’s character is done so over the top that he never is likeable or even really understandable until the very end of the movie.

One of the other bright spots was Lucia’s sister Lizzy. The sharp tongued sister seemed to be underused even though she played in some important scenes to the movie. The end credits showed that Carlos’ character is going to have more fun when it comes to wedding time for her as the melding of cultures will continue.

I recommend this movie as long as you are not expecting comic perfection. It does have its spots where it is truly funny and its spots where it truly is not, but overall America Ferrera and Lance Gross save it before it goes too far. So take a look if you get the chance.

EXTRAS

Blu-ray and DVD Special Features:
● Deleted Scenes
○ Lucia and Miguel Toss the Ball
○ The Families Meet Gusto; the Families Walk and Talk Outside of Gusto’s on the Street
○ Marcus Asks Angela to Stand in for His Mother
○ Angela’s House – The Morning After
○ Brad is Pouring His Heart Out on the Radio
○ The Director’s Cut Ending
● Extended Scenes
○ Police Station – Sonia and Miguel Discuss Lucia and Marcus
○ Angela Discovers Tipsy #1
● “Til Dads Do Us Part” featurette
● Gag Reel

Deleted scenes and gag reels are always fun to see visions of the movie that did not come to fruition and outtakes that keep the set light and laughing. The deleted scenes do give some more insight into the characters, but I don’t know if they are really missed in the end.

Our Family Wedding from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment makes it way down the aisles of your closest stores on July 13, 2010.

OUR FAMILY WEDDING
Street Date: July 13, 2010
Screen Format: Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (BD) / English 5.1 Dolby Digital (DVD)
Subtitles English, Spanish & French (BD/DVD)
U.S. Rating: PG-13
Total Run Time: 103 minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes


Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Despicable Me for HollywoodTeenZine - In Theaters Now!

JAM and HollywoodTeenZine's reporter in training Natalia checked out Despicable Me and shared their thoughts on the movie. Check out the written word or the cutest reporter's video here at http://hollywoodteenzine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1256&Itemid=45

Despicable Me stars the vocal talents of Steve Carell, Julie Andrews, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, Jason Segal, and more. Check it out in theaters today!

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Despicable Me Soundtrack for HollywoodTeenZine

“I’m having a bad, bad day, it’s about time that I get my way, steamrollin’ whatever I see. Hoh, despicable me” Pharrell – Despicable Me

New movie time means new soundtrack time and if you need some music to listen to while you plot to steal the moon, I have the CD for you. JAM had the chance to check out the soundtrack from the summer's coolest animated movie starring the vocal talents of Steve Carell, Julie Andrews, Miranda Cosgrove, and more. Check out the full review at http://hollywoodteenzine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1261&Itemid=50

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Predator: Ultimate Hunter Edition - Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Predator: Ultimate Hunter Edition on Blu-Ray: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Review by JAM

Much like a good wine, some movies only get better with time. Predator from 1987 is one such movie that was tepidly reviewed during its release, yet hailed as one of the best action films of all time nowadays. In preparation for the second sequel Predators, Fox has rereleased the original on Blu-ray in the Predator: Ultimate Hunter Edition with an all-new digital restoration of the film and an all-new documentary “Evolution of the Species: Hunters of Extreme Perfection”.

Sent on a rescue mission in the country of Guatemala, Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Major Alan “Dutch” Schaeffer, the leader of a group of commandos who include a who’s who of muscle bound action stars from 1987 including CIA officer George Dillon (Carl Weathers), Blain Cooper (Jesse Ventura), and Billy Sole (Sonny Landham). Each of these actors paled in comparison to the 7’2 1/2” Kevin Peter Hall that played the Predator himself (and a helicopter pilot at the end). This commando team is sent into the jungle, recruited by the CIA for a rescue mission only to find out they have really been sent in for vengeance. A previous extraction team had been killed and gutted, and the CIA believed it was the work of Guatemalan rebels only to find something worse. The team is stalked and hunted through the jungle by an otherworldly force and slowly taken one at a time until the final confrontation. Who will win between man and alien?

JAMS Ink on Predator

Ahhhhhhnuld!!! One of the major films to establish Arnold as the go-to guy in action films was Predator, which came in a five year period which included Conan the Barbarian, The Terminator, Red Sonja, Commando, Raw Deal, Predator, and The Running Man. It is funny to look back at this 1987 movie and see two big buff action stars, who also shared time in The Running Man, becoming state governors recently, Arnold and Jesse Ventura. It was also interesting to see a villain who towered over Arnold as Kevin Peter Hall was about a foot taller and an imposing site in the Predator armor.

I’ve always liked the sci-fi aspect of Predator with an alien race basically scouting or hunting on our planet. Not something I would really want to happen, but fun to watch on the screen. The costume has become an iconic look, with t-shirts, comics, figures and movies tied in with the Aliens race as well. And everything could have been WAY different if the original plan of Jean-Claude Van Damme as the Predator had happened. A ninja type Predator may have been interesting, but so much smaller in stature. In my opinion, they made the right choice.

EXTRAS

Predator: Ultimate Hunter Edition Blu-ray Special Features:
• ALL-NEW Digital Restoration of Predator
• ALL-NEW Sneak Peak at Predators
• ALL-NEW “Evolution of the Species: Hunters of Extreme Perfection” Featurette
• Feature-Length Audio Commentary by John McTiernan
• Text Commentary by Historian Eric Lichtensfeld
• “If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It” Making-Of Documentary
• “Inside The Predator” Documentary
• Special Effects Featurettes
• Deleted Scenes and Outtakes
• Short Takes
• Theatrical Trailers
• Photo Galleries
• Predator Profile

A two disk DVD previous release had nearly all of the extras included on this release, including the deleted scenes, making of documentary, and the special featurettes, but there are a few brand new additions to this release. A sneak peek at Predators, a new digital rendering of the Predator movie, and a featurette discussing the evolution of the species which is a cool discussion about the first movie with people involved in Predator and the soon to be arriving Predators, including the director Robert Rodriguez.

Predator: Ultimate Hunter Edition Blu-ray from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment stalks its way onto shelves on June 29, 2010 and it is definitely recommended for any fans of the original movie as the digital transition is extremely well done compared to the first release. Make sure to grab a copy before it disappears into the foliage.

PREDATOR: ULTIMATE HUNTER EDITION BLU-RAY
Street Date: June 29, 2010
Screen Format: Widescreen – 1.85:1
Audio: English 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio, English 4.0 Dolby Surround, Spanish 5.1 Dolby
Digital and French 5.1 DTS
Subtitles: English/French/Spanish
U.S. Rating: R
Total Run Time: 108 minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Let's Grow: Safety First from Lionsgate/HIT Entertainment

Let’s Grow: Safety First: DVD Edition
Review by JAM

A big thank you to HollywoodTeenZine’s junior reporter Natalia for helping us with this video review for Let’s Grow: Safety First from HIT Entertainment and Lionsgate.

As Natalia said, this DVD is about keeping us safe. Water safety, speed and buddy systems, and other safety issues are discussed by our friends Barney, Thomas, Bob, Kipper, and Fireman Sam, as well as our Sprout hosts of Let’s Grow, Sean and Chica. Check out the DVD synopsis provided by Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment.

DVD SYNOPSIS
The fun of learning continues in Let's Grow: Safety First - an all-new, safety-themed compilation starring Barney, Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam and Kipper - hosted by Sean and Chica from Sprout®, the 24-hour preschool channel. These heartwarming stories will inspire and entertain, while demonstrating valuable life lessons and important safety tips along the way. So grab your helmet, look both ways, buckle-up and get ready to learn that safety comes first!

On the DVD are the following episodes:

Episode List:
Barney – Home Safe Home
Bob the Builder – Slow Down Scrambler
Thomas & Friends – Thomas and the Runaway Car
Fireman Sam – High Jinx
Kipper – Skates

Bonus Episode:
Angelina the Ballerina – Angelina and the Broken Fiddle

This was a fun and important compilation DVD that taught safety with our main characters providing it during their stories. The Fireman Sam was especially interesting since it looked to be an early episode from the design of the characters and the environment. Overall, JAM highly recommends Let’s Grow: Safety First for you and your young children. Check it out when it comes out on June 29th, 2010 at a store near you.

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at www.jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Hot Tub Time Machine - Blu-Ray & Digital Copy from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Hot Tub Time Machine: Blu-Ray/Digital Copy: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Review by JAM

Back to the 80s we go when the hair was big, the clothes were bright colored, and life seemed so much better. Well, it seemed so much better at least for these three guys; Adam (John Cusack), Nick (Craig Robinson), and Lou (Rob Corddry). A failed relationship, a cheating wife, and a party guy trying to end it all brings these three friends together for one last hurrah at the place where their life had so much more meaning to them in the 80s, the Kodiak Valley Ski Resort. Joined by Adam’s video game obsessed nephew Jacob (Clark Duke), they reach the summit only to realize that much like their glory days in the past, everything has now changed. Cue in a crazy party full of drinks, hot tubs, and male bonding and the world changes as they knew it.

Much like in any time-traveling movie, episode, or book, they are reminded that anything they do may affect the future. Needless to say things get messed up, yet seem to often have a way of correcting themselves. Each of them tries to better their situation, often leading to same or worse results and especially affecting Jacob who shouldn’t be there anyway. Only time will tell if they make the right decisions and make it back to a world they want to live in.

Also starring 80s icons Chevy Chase (SNL, Caddyshack), Crispin Glover (Back to the Future trilogy), and William Zabka (one of the best movie villains ever in the Karate Kid), Hot Tub Time Machine takes you on a fun romp through the past that wasn’t as good as you remember and not as bad as it could have been.

JAMS Ink on Hot Tub Time Machine

I am going to be honest. I could have lived with a little less of the language in the movie. The movie itself was a fun escape from reality filled with guys that should never have had the opportunity to change the past but struggled with the responsibilities while there. And it was fun to see a small clique of friends be able to come together and relive their good times, in fact it makes me want to make a few phone calls soon. But I just think having to have so much swearing just seemed to take something away from the movie for me. Just JAM’s honest opinion.

John Cusack is such a cool actor in the majority of his movies. Even as a down on his luck guy, he just comes off as someone that you could hang out with. Heck, even as a assassin for in Gross Pointe Blank he seemed really fun. Plus, I just realized that his love interests in the movies are some really awesome women. Kate Beckinsale in Serendipity, Rachel Weisz in Runaway Jury, Minnie Driver in Gross Pointe Blank, Catherine Zeta Jones and Julia Roberts in America’s Sweethearts, and now Lizzy Caplan in Hot Tub Time Machine.

Don’t know the name Lizzy Caplan? She was on one of this reviewers favorite “chick clique” shows called Related (yes, this review is written by a man, but the show still rocked). It was a well done family dramedy that was a lot of fun to watch and starred Lizzy, Jennifer Esposito, Kiele Sanchez, and Laura Breckenbridge as four sisters trying to make their way through life, and I thought it was really good. Unfortunately I guess the ratings did not agree. If you ever get the chance to see an episode though, I would recommend it.

EXTRAS

Blu-ray Special Features:
Disc One:
• Deleted Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer
• Theatrical Promotional Spots
o Production: Acting Like Idiots
o Chevy Chase: The Nicest Guy in Hollywood
o Totally Radical Outfits: Dayna Pink
o Crispin Glover: One Armed Bellhop
Disc Two:
• Digital Copy of unrated version of Hot Tub Time Machine

DVD Special Features
• Deleted Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer

Digital copies rock! It gave me the chance to watch the movie on my free time before I was able again to watch the Blu-Ray at home. Of course, watching the Blu-Ray gave me the chance to check out the deleted scenes, some of which definitely belonged on the floor. The good ones included a crazy scene with Chevy Chase when the guys are about to go back and a scene in which Lou discusses Nick’s package as he prepares to complete a lost bet. It is not something I would normally want to watch, but I was dying laughing at it. Also included are some theatrical spots describing the movie which are worth your time to check out as well.

Hot Tub Time Machine: Blu-ray& Digital Copy from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment bubbles onto shelves on June 29, 2010. Check it out for a good time, 80s style! Make sure to grab a copy before drains away.

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE
Street Date: June 29, 2010
Screen Format: Widescreen
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital (BD)
English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital (DVD)
Subtitles English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Spanish, French (BD/DVD)
U.S. Rating: R
Total Run Time: 98 minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.