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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

It seems like TV audiences are embracing Latinos in the new year. Last week proved to be a huge success for Eugenio Derbez' CBS sitcom ¡Rob! and this past Monday, Jorge Garcia helped bring Fox 10 million viewers with the debut of Alcatraz.

Produced by J.J. Abrams, Alcatraz opened up a whole new can of mysteries last night. The series has been described as a mix between CSI and Fringe and features Jorge in a prominent role. His Dr. Diego Soto character has plenty of geeky tendencies and is also an expert on the famous prison island.

Critics seem to have taken a shine to Alcatraz too, with Newsday saying it looks "plenty promising." Zap2It praised Garcia's performance on the show, along with creepy leading man Sam Neill. And People Magazine kept its review tongue-and-cheek, saying the show was great "escapist entertainment."

It all sounds very exciting to us and the fact that Alcatraz was able to hold its ratings for two straight hours proves that it's already got a ton of devoted fans. Let’s hope it can help fill the island mystery void left by Jorge’s previous show.

What did you think of Alcatraz? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Alcatraz, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Fox, Hot Stuff, J.J. Abrams, Jorge Garcia, Lost, Sam Neill, Television

By Michael Lopez

Sci-fi sites were buzzing today with news that J.J. Abrams has "officially" confirmed Benicio Del Toro's participation in the new Star Trek movie. Though he didn't reveal details about Del Toro's role, he did express excitement about having the Wolf Man on board.

"Well, we're just in negotiations, we're in discussions. But I would love to work with [Benicio],” Abrams said at a recent red carpet appearance. "I've wanted to work with him for years, it felt like a good opportunity."

The most interesting rumors circulating say that Benicio will reprise Ricardo Montalban's role as the legendary Star Trek villain Khan. But nothing has been confirmed yet, which means Del Toro may possibly be cast as a member of the Starship Enterprise.

The Star Trek sequel is still in the final script stages and should start filming in early 2012. Hopefully by the time the new year kicks off, we'll have a much better idea on who (or what) Benicio will be playing.

Are you getting excited about Star Trek 2? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Benicio Del Toro, Blogger: Michael Lopez, J.J. Abrams, Movies & CineMás, Star Trek, Star Trek 2

By Michael Lopez

You've got to hand it to the Super 8 marketing team, they made sure this movie maintained a lot of secrecy. But was the ultimate payoff worth it? That depends on what you were expecting. If you were yearning for a violent creature feature, not so much. But if you want a nostalgic tale about pre-pubescent teens, you're in for a treat.

Having a name like Steven Spielberg attached to it, you know Super 8 will contain a least a few supernatural elements. In his four-decade career, the legendary movie-maker has created sci-fi classics like E.T., War of the Worlds, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. And it's clear that Super 8 writer/director J.J. Abrams used Spielberg as a major influence when crafting this film.

Setting Super 8 around young teens in 1979 also makes you wonder if Abrams wanted to interject a bit of his own history into the movie (J.J. himself was coincidentally 13 that year). All six of the main characters are huge cinema buffs and use their "Super 8" camera to shoot homemade scenes around their small Ohio town.

But what starts out as a poignant snapshot of life in the 70's soon turns into an otherworldly mystery. While shooting one of their scenes at the town train tracks, the six kids unexpectedly witness a horrific crash (which the Super 8 effects team did a fantastic job on). From there, government cover-ups and local secrets begin to emerge.

Obviously not everyone has seen the movie, so we'll keep this review light on the spoilers. That being said, the "alien" element of the movie isn't quite as prominent as the trailers would lead you to expect. There are no laser-shooting robots or fire-breathing lizards (à la Abrams’ Cloverfield), but rather hints and glimpses of a misunderstood monster.

Ultimately, it's the kids who hold the secret to Super 8’' alien mystery and you can expect plenty of sappy moments when the pieces get put together. J.J.'s' young performers definitely showcase some phenomenal acting skills during those scenes (particularly Elle Fanning) and we give him credit for going with mostly unknowns for the prominent roles.

Bottom Line: There's no denying that both Abrams and Spielberg are masters of the filmmaking game. Unfortunately that may be the one thing lacking about Super 8. While the shots, effects, and performances are first-rate, several parts of the movie feel a bit too polished and formulaic, leaving you with a bit of the "been there, done that" feeling.

What did you think of Super 8? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Elle Fanning, Hot Stuff, J.J. Abrams, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Steven Spielberg, Super 8

By Michael Lopez

One of the summer's most talked-about movies arrives in just one day and, judging from last night, it's already got a huge following. Celebs like Tom Cruise, Conan O'Brien and Steven Spielberg all showed their love for Super 8, strutting across the black carpet at the Los Angeles premiere.

"I've already seen it and it's all that!" actor Clifton Collins Jr. exclaimed at the premiere. "It's great, you'll dig it."

Clifton has a long history with Super 8 director J.J. Abrams. He famously played Javier Parez on Abrams' show Alias and was featured in the recent Star Trek reboot.

"Great filmmakers are also great people,"Collins went on to say. "And J.J. is certainly one of them."

Interestingly, quite a few J.J. collaborators made appearances at the premiere. Jorge Garcia, also known as Hurley on Abrams' show Lost dropped in, as did hotshot Latin scribe (and Fringe co-creator) Roberto Orci.

But much of the attention was focused on the young stars of the film. Interestingly, rather than cast well-known child actors, Abrams and co-producer Spielberg decided on using mostly unknowns for the supernatural coming-of-age story.

15-year-old Zach Mills plays Preston, a self-described "braniac" who, along with his friends, gets entangled with an escaped creature from Area 51. Zach spoke to Tr3s about what fans can expect from the mysterious plot.

"It has a lot of elements to it," Mills explained. "It's scary, it's funny, and it has a lot of romance to it."

When asked about working with Hollywood powerhouses like Abrams and Spielberg, Zach admitted that he was humbled by the experience.

"It was amazing working with both of them. They’re both really nice in person."

Another Super 8 up-and-comer is 16-year-old Gabriel Basso. A regular on the Showtime series The Big C and Nickelodeon's iCarly, Gabriel added a bit of insight into his character as well.

"I play Martin. He has a weak stomach and isn’t the brightest tool in the shed," Basso joked. "He throws up a lot in the movie."

Not that Gabriel the actor is anything like that. Sounding confident and self-assured, he went to explain his take on working with Steven and J.J.

"Getting paid to hang out with friends and hang out with the two biggest names in the industry, what is not cool about that?"

Unfortunately, the only thing the cast wouldn't talk about were the much-guarded Super 8 plot details. Is it an alien movie? A story about adolescence? Or perhaps a little of both? Looks like we'll have to wait until the movie hits theatres to find out.

Are you planning on watching Super 8? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrities, Clifton Collins Jr., Gabriel Basso, Hot Stuff, J.J. Abrams, Movies & CineMás, Premieres, Steven Spielberg, Super 8, Tr3s Exclusives, Zach Mills

By Michael Lopez

We all know J.J. Abrams has a knack for TV storytelling. As a producer of Lost, he took the castaway concept to levels that were downright bizarre. Now J.J.’s adding his otherworldly touch to another famous island, Alcatraz, and he’s bringing actor Jorge Garcia along for the ride.

Jorge became a fan favorite during his six seasons on Lost. Throughout the course of the show, his Hurley character became a multi-millionaire, a fugitive-on-the-run and, ultimately, an island god. This time, though, Abrams hopes to stretch Garcia’s talents even further.

“You know, Jorge brings Jorge to the table and that is something that you don't turn away from," J.J. told IGN.com. "He's an actor who can make you laugh, who can make you cry…. You've seen him terrified, you've seen him be smart and resourceful and angry and vengeful. You've seen every shade and all that says to me is he's a great actor. So to me, though the [Alcatraz] character he's playing is nothing like Hurley, it's a character that without question, Jorge Garcia can kill, and I cannot wait to see him do it.”

Unfortunately details about Jorge’s new character are being kept under lock and key. In fact, the entire concept of the Alcatraz show has been shrouded in mystery. The best Abrams could do was confirm that paranormal elements will be present.

“I would definitely say that there is something wildly weird that happened at Alcatraz,” he said.

So far, rumors about the script mention time travel and disappearing prisoners. It all sounds very exciting to us, especially if they bring more Lost alums along. Alcatraz is expected to air on FOX sometime next fall.

Are you excited about J.J. Abrams’ new show? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Alcatraz, Hot Stuff, J.J. Abrams, Jorge Garcia, Lost, Television