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By Michael Lopez

You've got to hand it to Paramount's Home Video department, they definitely know how to capitalize on a good thing. Before he was raking in hundreds of millions as the director of The Hangover, Todd Phillips was helming teen comedies like Road Trip. And now, the studio is bringing that movie back with a fully-loaded DVD.

The first big plus of the revamped Road Trip is the new "unrated" footage. Back when it was released in 2000, Trip earned itself a much-deserved R-rating. But the extra stuff pushes the envelope even further (and is certain to please fans of onscreen nudity). The infamous "shower scene" has been extended and there's a lot more Amy Smart to love!

The Blu-Ray also presents itself with a very clean visual transfer and enhanced audio (so you can enjoy Kid Rock and Buckcherry songs from the soundtrack). There are also a fair amount of featurettes, including a behind-the-scenes doc called "Ever Been On A Road Trip?"

Alt rockers Eels get a chance to shine on the DVD too, with a special music video added as a bonus feature. And how about the deleted scenes? There's definitely some gems, particularly the ones featuring former MTV clown Tom Green. There's also some extra padding to the love story between main characters Josh and Beth.

Unfortunately, one big thing is missing from the DVD...A commentary from Phillips! It's definitely ironic when you consider that they plastered his name (and The Hangover) all over the front cover. We would have loved to hear Todd reflect on his first major studio movie.

But we still think Road Trip deserves a passing grade, particularly because its comedy holds up so well. Though Green may be a distant memory, he was in his prime here and has some great oddball moments. American Pie star Seann William Scott does an admirable job too, playing another Stifler-esque party animal.

With the school season now ending, Road Trip is a great "let's kick off the summer" movie. It's fun, it's raunchy and it may just inspire you to pack up your car and hit the highway.

What's your favorite college comedy movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Blu-Ray, DVDs, Eels, Movies & CineMás, Road Trip, Seann William Scott, Todd Phillips, Tom Green

By Michael Lopez

A few months back, we told you all about the latest "found footage" horror film, The Devil Inside. Though it had a few genuine scares, most of the movie came off slow and uneventful. Sadly, the new Blu-Ray release does little to help matters with no director's commentary and zero extras.

Despite the bare-bones packaging, Devil does come with some very crisp visuals and great stereo surround sound. It's presented in 1080p high definition and adds an extra Spanish track if you want to hear "El Diablo" speaking in a foreign tongue.

Devil also retains its widescreen angles, so you can see the movie the same way it was intended for the big screen. But other than that, there's really not much to work with. To us that's kind of strange, especially considering the massive push Paramount made to help market the DVD.

In accordance with its release, the studio held a press day at a real L.A. mental hospital. Stars from the movie were there and they all participated in an extensive Q&A. So why go through all that for a minimal DVD? It makes no sense to us. Especially when it's so clear that the people involved would have happily participated in behind-the-scenes featurettes.

Whatever the reason, what we have now is a Blu-Ray that must stand on the movie alone. If Devil were a bona-fide classic, that would be enough. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

Of course, we're all about getting your "scare" on and watching Devil on your home TV can produce a decent amount of chills (though not as many as Paranormal Activity 3). Perhaps by the time October rolls around, it may be a worthy Redbox rental. Or at least fun background ambiance during your next Halloween party.

Did you see The Devil Inside in theaters? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Blu-Ray, DVDs, Movies & CineMás, Paramount, The Devil Inside

By Michael Lopez

It's hard to believe it’s been nearly 20 years since Clueless hit the theaters. The 90's teen comedy helped launch the careers of Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd, but more importantly it offered a great time capsule of an era gone by. The new deluxe DVD brings all the elements we love back to life along with some snazzy "Where are they now?" extras.

First off, the Blu-Ray transfer of the film is amazing. The Hi-Def visuals definitely help the neon 90's colors pop. And, as we all remember, Silverstone’s Cher character was always blinged out, so you can see all of her sparkling jewelry revamped for the HDTV generation.

The movie also comes with several different audio selections, including a Spanish track. There are subtitle options as well, for French, Español and Portuguese. Sadly though, director Amy Heckerling did not record a director's commentary track, which would have been very exciting to hear.

Though we were hoping for a bundle of extras (deleted scenes anyone?), Clueless stops a little bit short. That's not to say what's on the disc isn't entertaining, it’s just that when you compare it to a stocked DVD like Chinatown, you may feel a little slighted.

So what bonus features does Clueless offer? There is a great 18-minute doc called "Class of 95" which updates fans on everyone from the cast. You'll hear about Alicia, Rudd, Stacey Dash, and the dearly departed Brittany Murphy. There is also a great featurette called "Fashion 101", which is a virtual flashback to the baggy pants and grunge clothes that made the 90's great.

"Suck N' Blow" is an interesting bonus feature too. No, this isn't an X-rated extra, but rather an instructional tutorial on the party game Cher and her BFFs played in the film. There is also a funny piece called "Language Arts", zeroing in on the decade's famous slang terms. Who can forget, "I'm Audi?"

And as far as the film is concerned, Clueless is just as memorable now as it was the day it came out. The jokes are constantly witty, the love story is perfect for rom com fans and Silverstone has never looked cuter (remember this was at her Aerosmith video peak!).

Our only hope is that the new resurgence could push Heckerling to green light a Clueless Part 2! Who wouldn't love to catch up with the colorful Cher in 2012? If they can do it for American Reunion, we think the Clue crew deserves an update too.

For now though, the Clueless Blu-Ray does do the trick. We definitely recommend picking it up for a Redbox night in!

What's your favorite 90's movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Alicia Silverston, Amy Heckerling, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Blu-Ray, Brittany Murphy, Clueless, DVDs, Movies & CineMás, Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash

By Michael Lopez

Honestly, we feel kind of bad for the people who missed Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol in theaters. With its high-climbing stunts, amazing explosions and international backdrops, it made for an amazing IMAX experience. But the movie still recaptures a lot of its luster on Blu-Ray, thanks in a part to a host of new extras.

Released this past week, the Protocol DVD has already gotten a ton of praise from the critics. Outside of the crisp visual transfer, the three-disc set includes over two hours of bonus content.

Interestingly, Best Buy has acquired its own special edition of the film, which we think is the best bang for the buck. Their version has an extra hour of features, including exclusive footage shot in Dubai.

The behind-the-scenes doc, Mission Accepted, appears in every DVD package and is probably the most interesting extra. Accepted has in-depth interviews with star Tom Cruise, producer J.J. Abrams and director Brad Bird. But most importantly, it’s got some great exposes on the movie’s incredible stunt work (including that amazing sequence on the Burj Khalifa skyscraper).

The other major featurette is called Impossible Missions and breaks down a few of the movie’s key moments. Though not as informative as the Mission Accepted doc, it’s got plenty of lighthearted banter from the entire production crew.

The deleted scenes are decent, though slightly underwhelming. Clocking in at 15 minutes, you’ll see a bit more of Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and leading lady Paula Patton. There is also an alternate opening that gives you a different perspective of the M:I jailbreak.

Strangely, Brad Bird adds his two cents to each deleted scene, yet didn’t provide a feature length director’s commentary. And that may be our biggest gripe about the DVD, as Bird makes for a fascinating listen.

As you probably know from our previous review, we loved Ghost Protocol. The film itself is amazing and can be enjoyed multiple times. The public clearly embraced this fourth installment too, as it raked in nearly $700 million around the world.

Say what you will about Tom Cruise and his personal life. All we know is that when it comes to his Mission: Impossible movies, he can definitely deliver a badass Blu-Ray!

Did you see Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol in theaters? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Blu-Ray, Brad Bird, DVDs, J.J. Abrams, Mission: Impossible, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, Movies & CineMás, Tom Cruise

By Michael Lopez

Sadly, War Horse seemed to be one of those movies that slipped under the radar while it was in theaters. Yes it got recognition from the Academy Awards, but it hardly became the box office bonanza that you’d expect from a Steven Spielberg film. Well now, audiences who may have missed it can experience the adventures of “Joey” on Blu-Ray, along with a host of enticing extras.

The War Horse DVD arrived this past week and comes with hours of bonus material. Six documentaries are tacked on to the Blu-Ray release, which include the full participation of Spielberg and the cast.

The doc that has been getting the most attention is entitled “A Filmmaking Journey.” Clocking in at 60 minutes, it features some very in-depth interviews with Steven. Fans of his work can get a unique glimpse into his filmmaking process as it traces his War Horse involvement from the pre-production stages all the way to the red carpet.

Anyone who loved the War Horse soundtrack will enjoy the “Editing and Scoring” featurette. This unique doc taps into the creative process of composer John Williams. Known for his classic scores on Jaws, Star Wars and E.T., Williams makes for a fascinating interview.

Other interesting extras include profiles of the original War Horse play, costume design featurettes and a video diary from one of the British extras. Animal fans are in for a treat too, as the film producers discuss the process of casting the four-legged star.

The movie, as we mentioned before, is a fascinating portrait of the first World War. Throughout its 146 minutes, you’ll see lead character Joey grow from a newborn to a powerful steed. And though this is a work of fiction, Joey’s journey capitalizes on real life events that were happening in Europe during the early 1900’s.

Our only gripe would be a lack of deleted scenes or commentary from Spielberg. He must have shot more material chronicling the life of Joey and it would have been great to get a deeper perspective of his vision. Otherwise, War Horse is nearly perfect DVD that you should definitely giddy up and get!

Did you see War Horse in theaters? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Blu-Ray, DVDs, John Williams, Movies & CineMás, Steven Spielberg, War Horse

By Michael Lopez

Yes, we know that most of our reviews are centered around the latest CGI spectacle to hit the IMAX screen. But every now and then, it's important for film fans to dig into the cinema spectacles of yesteryear. Chinatown is a perfect example of one of those titles and it certainly doesn't disappoint with its newly-restored Blu-Ray edition.

Released this past week, the Chinatown Blu-Ray comes chock full of amazing extras. Not only do the special features give you insight into the movie, they offer a snapshot of the 1930's era when the film was set.

Clocking in at one hour and 17 minutes, Chinatown’s "Water and Power" documentary is truly fascinating. The movie based much of its storyline on the real water systems of L.A. (and the corruption of the people who ran them). The doc details all of the historical facts and how they tied in to the movie's "fictional" screenplay.

Another great feature of the disc is the "Chinatown: An Appreciation" segment. Though this movie was made over 35 years ago, it influenced generations of filmmakers (many of whom run Hollywood today). Directors like Steven Soderbergh and David Fincher contribute heavily to this piece.

Fans curious to see what the Chinatown stars are up to today will definitely enjoy the 30-minute "Chinatown: The Beginning and The End" featurette. Leading man Jack Nicholson provides tons of insight from the set, as does director Roman Polanski.

And how about the film itself? Restored with a 1080p AVC-encoded transfer, the Blu-Ray visuals are amazing, especially when you consider this movie's more than three decades old. The audio is fantastic too, capitalizing on the Dolby True HD format.

Chinatown’s presentation is flawless as well, with a gripping story that sucks you in for all of its 130 minutes. Nicholson brought his A-game to this flick, earning a 1974 Academy Award nomination for his role as private eye Jake Gittes. 70's screen siren Faye Dunaway does a fantastic job too, as does resident "bad guy" John Huston. Chinatown even had the foresight to add a strong Latino to its cast, namely Perry Lopez as Lt. Lou Escobar.

The story earned an Oscar for Best Screenplay and it's easy to see why. With its film noir style and well thought out plot twists, it offered a film formula that would later be used by names like M. Night Shyamalan and Christopher Nolan.

But best of all, Chinatown is a lot of fun and truly captivating in its new Blu-Ray package. There's a reason the American Film Institute added it to the Top 100 Movie list. Pop it in the DVD and you won't be disappointed!

What's your favorite old school movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Blu-Ray, Chinatown, David Fincher, DVDs, Faye Dunaway, Jack Nicholson, John Huston, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Perry Lopez, Roman Polanski, Steven Soderbergh

By Michael Lopez

Four months after their triumphant return to the big screen, the Muppets are still more popular than ever. Jim Henson's charismatic creations recently got their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and are now prepping for a big release on Blu-Ray.

That's right, The Muppets DVD is one of the most jam-packed discs we've seen so far. Outside of the director's commentary and eight deleted scenes, Kermit and company filmed new faux trailers, created their own Blu-Ray "intermission," and threw in a ton of bloopers for the die-hard fans.

And just to prove their excitement over the release, Kermit the Frog and new Muppet Walter kicked off a national press tour. They recently popped into MTV Studios, where Walter dropped tidbits about a new sequence featuring bad guy Tex Richman (played by Chris Cooper).

"You’ll get to see [Tex’s] whole big music video," he said. "In the final cut of the film, you just see a couple of minutes. But on the DVD, you get the whole shebang!"

Kermit spoke to the press too, pitching the idea of a Muppets sequel and a possible new series. But for the time being, the Muppets DVD is more than capable of satisfying your Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and Animal fix.

We, for one, were thrilled to hear Jason Segel's participation in the audio commentary. Not only did he star in the film, he helped write it and provides some very interesting insights into his creative process.

But by far our favorite extras are the deleted scenes. As you may recall, we were thrilled when we heard that Danny Trejo filmed a part in the movie. But sadly, his Muppets moment wound up on the cutting room floor.

Not anymore. On the new Blu-Ray, Danny’s back in action in a hilarious cameo. Other axed celebs like Billy Crystal and Kathy Griffin also pop back in thanks to newly restored footage.

And perhaps the biggest bonus is the inclusion of the full Muppets soundtrack! This movie had some amazing musical sequences (one of which won an Academy Award) and they sound just as good coming out of your iPod or stereo.

Fun for young kids (and the young at heart), The Muppets is a great DVD to add to the home library!

Were you a fan of the Muppets movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Billy Crystal, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Blu-Ray, Chris Cooper, Danny Trejo, DVDs, Jason Segel, Kathy Griffin, Kermit the Frog, Movies & CineMás, The Muppets

By Michael Lopez

If you recall, our review of The Adventures Of Tintin wasn't exactly glowing. It was certainly an interesting movie, but not quite worth the $15 you'd have to spend at a 3D theater. Paying $2 for it at a Redbox on the other hand, well that's money well spent (especially if you can grab it on Blu-Ray).

The Tintin DVD is just as crisp and colorful as what we saw in theaters. And we've definitely got to hand it to the engineers who mastered the stereo sounds, the score and voices soar in 5.1 Dolby Digital. There are also Spanish subtitles if you're curious to hear Captain Haddock's growls en Español.

But what really sold us on this Blu-Ray are the extras. There are literally 90 minutes worth of documentaries (which is ironic when you consider that the movie is only 108 minutes) profiling the fascinating journey Tintin made from comic strip to screen.

After watching the film in theaters, we were definitely curious about the roots of the dashing teen reporter. It seems Tintin was created over 80 years ago by a modest Belgian artist. The featurettes profile all of that as well as director Steven Spielberg's involvement. Interestingly, Steven admitted that he was introduced to Tintin while making the first Indiana Jones movie.

There are also explorations into Tintin's world, giving deeper backstories to Captain Haddock, the Thompson Twins, and lovable white pooch Snowy. And, as we mentioned in our review, that was one thing Tintin the movie was lacking.

Special effects fans are in for a treat too. The Tintin: Conceptual Design doc delves deep into the motion capture technology that was used in the film. You will undoubtedly have more respect for stars Jamie Bell and Andy Serkis after watching their performances here.

And how about the movie itself? We'll still give it a solid three stars. The excitement comes at a furious pace (and is fun to rewind on DVD), but there are elements of the story that could have used a bit more polishing. That being said, Tintin is a worthy title for the Spielberg canon and not a bad way to spend a night in during April showers.

What’s the last great DVD you rented? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Andy Serkis, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Blu-Ray, Comics, DVDs, Jamie Bell, Movies & CineMás, Steven Spielberg, The Adventures Of Tintin, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, Tintin

By Michael Lopez

Yes it might not be a classic like Juno, but Young Adult certainly didn't deserve to disappear from theaters after just a few weeks. Unfortunately that was the case and Jason Reitman's quirky comedy dropped off before it could be fully appreciated. Now however, it has arrived on DVD shelves in crisp Blu-Ray condition and with a ton of great extras.

The home version of Young comes with a full-length director's commentary, an 18-minute Adult documentary, and seven deleted scenes. Beyond that, it also has a very informative Deconstructing a Scene segment, which shows viewers how Jason was able to touch up his actors' performances.

In case you need a quick refresher on the plot, Young follows the life of pre-teen author Mavis Gary (played brilliantly by Charlize Theron) as she attempts to reconcile with her long lost boyfriend. The problem is, the boyfriend is married with a kid and doesn't want her back.

Hard to believe, right? How could anyone TURN DOWN Charlize? Well after seeing her performance in this movie, you'll understand. Mavis is arrogant, self-destructive, and a borderline alcoholic who clearly hasn't come into Adulthood in her 37 years.

Co-star Patton Oswalt helps ease her pain. He plays an old high school alum who was pretty much forgotten by Ms. Mavis. As you can expect, their relationship turns out to be the one that's most interesting thanks to some great dialogue by screenwriter Diablo Cody.

So now that you know the rundown, how much do the extras help? Well the deleted scenes delve even further into Mavis' psychotic behavior. Though they may not be pretty to watch, the moments offer great insight into her despicable nature.

Jason's commentary is spot-on too. Just 34, he's truly wise beyond his years. Reitman's technical breakdowns of each scene are fascinating and he offers some truly funny stories from the set.

The documentary has some great stuff too, especially if you're looking for insight from Theron and Oswalt. We say, the Young Adult DVD is definitely worth a rental (and possibly a purchase) if you're in the mood for a well thought out cinematic experience.

Did you catch Young Adult in theaters? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Blu-Ray, Charlize Theron, Diablo Cody, DVDs, Jason Reitman, Movies & CineMás, Patton Oswalt, Young Adult

By Michael Lopez

Want to know where the Gods like to party? Try the legendary Playboy Mansion! Last week, Hef’s palace hosted a release party for the Immortals DVD and, as you can expect, it came with all the fixings. Roman warriors, Greek divas, and tons of eager celebs.

"I've actually never been to the mansion before", High School Musical’s Corbin Bleu told us. "I feel like I'm at Disneyland!"

Something tells us half-naked harems aren't a regular occurrence at the Magic Kingdom. Nevertheless, the Mansion put together a spectacular event. Activities included body painting, Immortals photo opps, and appetizers fit for a King!

But let's not forget the purpose of "God's Night Out." The event was put together to highlight all of the goodies Immortals fans can expect from the new DVD. Outside of stereo-surround sound and crisp Blu-Ray visuals, Immortals 2.0 has deleted scenes, featurettes, and two alternate endings.

As you may remember, we kind of felt something was lacking in the Immortals theatrical release. Could these bonus moments help pad the storyline? Unfortunately, the answer is no. In fact, one of the new endings wraps things up on a much more somber note.

In the original film (SPOILER fans beware!), lead character Theseus met a sad and premature end. The new version doesn't change the outcome at all. In fact, it removes the inspiring "Gods in the sky" finale, which makes us grateful that director Tarsem Singh kept it on the cutting room floor.

Speaking of Tarsem, we were really impressed with his take on filmmaking when we interviewed him for this movie. That's why we're also a bit disappointed that he didn't do a Director's Commentary for the Blu-Ray. His insight into Immortals would have been quite welcome.

Singh does appear in a Tarsem’s Vision documentary though. As you may recall, he helmed Jennifer Lopez' classic flick The Cell and is gearing up to direct Julia Roberts in Mirror, Mirror. So all you amateur movie makers would certainly enjoy taking a look at that.

The other interesting extra on the disc is a preview of the Immortals graphic novel, Gods & Heroes. Now available in book form, it certainly seems like an interesting read for those curious about Theseus and his cohorts.

Bottom line: The Immortals DVD is probably lingering somewhere in the C+ territory. Not terrible by any means, but it could have been a lot better. The Immortals DVD party on the other hand, well that one deserves a A++! Nicely done Hef!

Did you catch Immortals in theaters? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Blu-Ray, Corbin Bleu, DVDs, Exclusive Entrevistas, Gods & Heroes, Hugh Hefner, Immortals, Mirror Mirror, Movies & CineMás, Playboy, Playboy Mansion, Tarsem Singh, Tr3s Exclusives