When the marketing blitz hit the street about a game that made the symbolic world of Metal a reality, many wondered if it was just a gimmick. The only thing that kept that nasty brand at bay was the knowledge that Tim Schafer, the man behind “Psychonauts,” was helming this Brutal creation. Thankfully, “Brutal Legend” is anything but gimmicky, or cliché for that matter. This game is downright fun, amusing and surprisingly filled with an awesome multiplayer real-time strategy (RTS) experience.

You begin “Brutal Legend” as Eddie Riggs, the forgotten Roadie of a band that gives Metal a bad name. When Eddie dies in a stage accident, he wakes up in an Oz like world of Metal. Everything from the instrument-inspired stone landscapes to the character races, scream Metal. For instance, there is one race in the game that is the literal incarnation of Headbangers. They have been imprisoned and forced to bang their heads against the wall at a rock quarry. Luckily when Eddie comes by to rock out a tune on his axe, he gives the Headbangers a chance for freedom through a life of Metal. It’s every kids dream. This fantasy world couldn’t have been better if J.R.R. Tolkien had created it.

One of the best things about this game is the Voice Over by Jack Black. Eddie Riggs is pretty much the digital embodiment of Jack. Each off the wall situation in the game gives Jack a chance to dip into his sarcastic takes on life. When Eddie frees the Headbangers, he declares “No Headbanger Left Behind” to mock the 2001 “No Child Left Behind Act.” You’ll hear Jack throwing in little side jokes from time to time that never seem to get old. He’ll deliver witty remarks when falling to his death or when trying to acclimate himself to the medieval world he finds himself in. But Jack Black isn’t the only real-life person gone digital in “Brutal Legend.” Ozzy Osbourne also shows up as The Guardian of Metal, a weapons and upgrades dealer. Strangely, I actually was actually able to understand Ozzy the whole time. I’m still wondering how they got him to be drug and alcohol free to record his Voice Over.

The graphics are vivid and immediately draw you into this metal world. The characters, like the Headbangers or the ridiculously large and stupid bouncers, are colorfully stylized caricatures of reality. The animations in battle are engrossing. And, by engrossing I mean at times the game is beautifully gross. At the beginning of the game you have the chance to bleep out expletives or choose your gore level. Keep it bloody, and you’ll be in for a bloody-good mess. For instance there are several guitar solos (mini games that require you to press a button sequence correctly to execute) that you can play throughout the game. One solo allows you to melt the faces of your opponents. You also get to queue up favorites like Motorhead while you’re driving around - great fun.

“Brutal Legend” is an open world game filled with endless side missions. Unfortunately, these secondary missions all feel like three or four recycled missions. You’ll still find yourself playing through them in order to raise fire tributes, the games currency to buy upgrades and items from Ozzy. You can also upgrade your car, The Deuce, with different weapons. Luckily, there are enough varied primary missions that are challenging and filled with quirky storytelling.

The best parts of the game are the Stage Battles. These are RTS moments where you build a stage and organize several formations of troops to win fans over. You also build Merch Booths because, heck, fans like their merchandise. Each fan base functions as a control point. The more fans you have the stronger you are. You’re only allowed to create a limited number of troops at a time to do battle. So, gamers will need to strategize where they send which troops. These battles are even better in Multiplayer because you’re playing against real opponents. You can move different battalions of troops to different areas to either attack or defend. These battles can get extremely intense as the tide of fan control continuously shifts.

“Brutal Legend” is easily one of the best RTS games this year. Surprisingly, the game isn’t even designed as a full-blown RTS. It has an extensive action-adventure game too with a fun story. If it weren’t for the fire tributes, secondary missions would be a complete waste of time. Trying to get more points through these missions’ saps the game’s momentum. The multiplayer is definitely an excellent feature, one that any gamer can easily waste away several hours playing without a thought to the single-player campaign.

Title: Brutal Legend
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Adventure
Publisher: EA
Developer: Double Fine
Release Date: October 13, 2009
Rating: 8.8 / 10

The Surfer and the other Squaddies
The other teammates respect him, but don’t even pretend to understand him. While Iron Man tries to fathom the mysteries of the Surfer’s powerful surfboard, Falcon has taken it upon himself to educate the alien in the ways of Earthlings. The Surfer stays on Earth because he finds a sense of belonging and higher moral purpose with the team. His moral standards and calm demeanor make him the team’s conscience. We will see him adjusting to life on Earth and confronting his fear and shame over the awesome evil he escaped from, the aforementioned Galactus.

The Surfer adds his cosmic “energy factor” to The Super Hero Squad Show.

Operating without the supervision or protection of their respective Jedi Masters, Padawans Ahsoka Tano and Barriss Offee embark upon a desperate, last-ditch effort to destroy the droid foundry established by Poggle the Lesser on Geonosis. But when their descent into the Geonosian catacombs becomes a deadly journey into darkness, they must rely on each other’s strengths to find the light and complete their mission in “Weapons Factory,” an all-new episode of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” airing at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, November 13 on Cartoon Network.

“The one thing I really think is great about The Clone Wars is how it has a message in it of courage and loyalty and honesty and hard work,” says Meredith Salenger, who provides the voice of Barriss. “Barriss is very bright, honest, professional and brave. She would much rather sacrifice herself for the protection of others and the completion of her mission. Just learning those things – the tenets of the Jedi way – is important for kids. The Jedi have good values.”

“Her Jedi Master is Luminara Unduli, who is very by-the-book and ordered. As a loyal student, Barriss tends to be just as structured in her approach to dealing with situations,” Salenger says. “However, I think the more time she spends with Ahsoka, the more she tends to improvise a bit and trust her own instincts. Like most relationships, you are always learning from your friends who have different attitudes about life. When Barriss is with Ahsoka, her vulnerability and curiosity come out. With best friends, you can’t help but be influenced by one another.”

The votes were tallied. Jax was given permission to leave the charter and enter club pergatory. But, Gemma had an ace up her sleeve. In what may be the most endearing scene of Sons of Anarchy to date, Gemma recounted the story of her rape.

The dramatic scene was laid out amidst a montage of images of club members and their families: Opie with his new family, Bobby hanging with the club, Chibs on the periphery feeling abandoned by his family, Tig alone looking for forgiveness for his killings and Piney staring at a gun and a drink - seemingly contemplating suicide.

When the scene ended, Jax (Charlie Hunnam) and Clay showed contrasting displays of sadness for the mother and wife they love. Jax showed anger by slamming his fist against the table, while the stolid Clay finally broke down with a tear gracing his eye. Never before have I seen Ron Perlman in such an emotional scene. Without so much as a word, he captured the audiences attention through the subtleness of his facial expressions. Every word that Gemma spoke was immediately reflected in the eyes of Jax and Clay. Hunnam and Perlman delivered a gripping performance that I couldn’t help but watch again.

For a while we’ve seen religious references to Jax as savior. In Season 2 Episode 10, “Balm,” after Jax hears the story, he doesn’t hug his mother. Instead, Jax goes up to her and takes both hands in his own and kisses her hands. The scene was reminiscent of when religious patrons kiss a Cardinal or the Pope’s hands. Gemma is SAMCRO’s leader and moral compass. To commit a crime against the Gemma is to instigate a holy war.

Jax is back in the club one-hundred percent and there will be hell to pay. When he put his hand on Clay’s shoulder, Clay grasped it with the fatherly affection he had recently forgotten. In one instant, the two tossed aside their differences to face the greater evil of Zobelle.

You’ve got to admire the writing on Sons of Anarchy. Everyone knows that Jax couldn’t go nomad. There wouldn’t be much of a show without him. The creative staff could have easily squashed the family differences after the fight in prison. They could have also had Clay say, “No, I want you to stay in the club.” But, Clay didn’t. This family healing was earned and well deserved. And, if I said it before, I’ll say it one more time: Katey Sagal deserves an Emmy. If you agree, chime in. If you don’t then you probably don’t watch Sons of Anarchy.

Set in a world where vehicles (primarily cars) represent humans, Cars tells the story of an arrogant race car, Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson), that has his eyes only on fame and fortune, nothing else. Before an important championship race, McQueen finds himself lost in a desolate town called Radiator Springs, just off the famous Route 66. From Tow Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) to Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) to Sally (Bonnie Hunt), McQueen encounters many rich characters that he grows to love and the experience completely humbles him and changes his perspective.

Cars frequently finds itself close to the bottom of many people’s Top Pixar film lists (It’s not an easy job sitting between The Incredibles and Ratatouille if you’re looking at the studios feature film catalog chronologically).  Many will argue that the anthropomorphic car gimmick just didn’t work or that the story was too just flat when compared to Pixar’s other more imaginative and brilliant films. But it’s all there, the great voice acting, the Pixar novelty and subtle humor, the amazing animation and the signature wholesome ending that leaves you feeling all warm and tingly inside.

And since Cars represents the top merchandise selling Pixar film to date, the release of The Ultimate Gift pack right before the holidays makes perfect sense. The Ultimate Gift pack distinguishes itself from the previous Cars Blu-ray release with the fact that it not only comes with a DVD version of the film, but it also comes with die-cast collectible models of Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater. The cars themselves are pretty sweet, though they are alternate colors than those for the characters in the film. And Mater, who was rust-ridden in the movie, has a very shiny finish in this die cast.

The Blu-ray itself is an impressive presentation and just the way the film was meant to be seen. The painstaking detail that Pixar went through to make the film eye-popping is evident as you see the cars’ vibrant colors down to the reflection in their chrome. That said, the Blu-ray is certainly worth the upgrade for videophiles that enjoyed the film. Equally important, the 5.1 audio track brings the movie to life even more; the revving of these cars will make you feel like you’re in the race with them.

On par with other Disney Home Video releases, Cars keeps you busy after you’re done watching the film. I found the director commentary to be pretty interesting, as John Lassetter takes you through each scene and his inspiration for many different parts of the movie. I’ve seen the movie a handful of times, but had a new found appreciation for the amount of research that went into emulating the NASCAR experience.

There’s also some stuff for the kids. The Carfinder game takes you through scenes of the movie and you have to use your remote control to pick cars out of the screen. It’s a bit drab and takes a really long time to load, but your kid may have more patience than I do. The disc is also littered with more behind-the-scenes featurettes and a high-def updates to the popular “One Man Band” and “Mater and the Ghostlight” shorts.

The price of entry is a little steep at $49.99 suggested retail price, but you can probably get a better deal, especially with holiday sales coming (currently, you can nab it at Amazon for $31.49). Either way, the gift pack is great for those that are big fans of the movie and have been looking for an excuse to upgrade from the DVD.

CARS Blu-ray Combo Pack Special Features:

• Carfinder Game - go deeper inside the world of Cars than ever before and discover hundreds of
cars in this immersive game
• Cine-Explore - the ultimate interactive, behind the scenes experience
• Radiator Springs Featurettes:
o Radiator Springs
o Character Design
o Animation And Acting
o Real-World Racing: Getting Geeky With The Details
o Hudson Hornet
o Graphics
o Darrell Waltrip Museum Tour
• Never Before Seen Deleted Scene: Traffic School!

CARS on DVD!
Includes the bonus features:
• Animated Short “Mater and the Ghostlight”
• Academy Award® Nominated Short “One Man Band”
• Inspiration for Cars

Title: Cars - Ultimate Cars Gift Pack
Starring: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy, Bonnie Hunt, John Ratzenberger
Directed by: John Lasseter
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Pixar
Release Date: November 10, 2009
Rating: 8.5 / 10

Marvel is proud to unveil your first look at episode 2 of the Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic. Based on the acclaimed story by superstars Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and John Cassaday (Captain America), the X-Men are faced with a mysterious new villain and a possible cure for the mutant gene! Now Cyclops, Wolverine and all your favorite mutants must face the greatest threats of their lives and, before it’s all done, experience one of the most jaw-dropping moments in Marvel history.

The “4-Disc Combo Pack” includes two Blu-ray discs packed full of content, as well as a DVD which also contains the feature and all of the special features (sans BD Live) contained on the first Blu-ray disc. The collection is rounded out by a digital copy of the film for Windows or Mac.

Up tells the story of Carl Frederickson (Edward Asner), who takes off in his own home with the help of thousands of helium balloons after facing some hard times in his life. He is accompanied against his will by a wilderness scout, Russell (Jordan Nagai), who stows away on the crude airship. The film’s first 10-15 minutes are some of the most touching ever created in the animated realm, and everything that follows is a rousing adventure with some touching lessons and a great bond between youth and old age.

While the Blu-ray copy unfortunately does not offer the film’s theatrical 3D option, the high-definition video is stellar, bringing to light the expert quality of Pixar’s animation, as well as making the beautiful colors of the jungle adventure scenes pop. While the animation quality is universal, the difference is noticeable in the Blu-ray’s coloring, which is incredibly vibrant.

The special features contain absolutely everything Up fans could have hoped. The standard audio commentary is replaced by “Cine-Explore,” a commentary by co-directors Pete Docter and Bob Peterson that includes visual support in picture-in-picture boxes throughout the feature. Another Pixar tradition, the original theatrical short, “Partly Cloudy,” is present, but the first disc also includes “Dug’s Special Mission,” a new short that is entertaining but feels more like a deleted scene from the film, similar to the extra short included on the Wall-E Blu-ray.

The second disc is highlighted by eight documentaries, each offering unique behind-the-scenes looks into the film. “Adventure Is Out There” shows the real-life inspiration for Paradise Falls, and anecdotes about the trip members of the development team took to the exotic locale for inspiration. “Geriatric Hero” is another favorite, highlighting why Pixar went with a senior citizen protagonist in its latest adventure and examining that character, Carl Frederickson. Hi-def enthusiasts will also be happy that Disney and Pixar have offered every feature in high-definition. It is always nice to have consistent quality in the extras.

It is also worth noting that Pixar makes good use of the Blu-ray medium for what is usually a painful, throw-away feature on home video releases – the game. Instead of offering a poorly developed remote-controlled game, Pixar recognizes the limitations of games on home video and offers an interactive trivia experience in “Global Guardian Badge Game.” Gamers can choose between two difficulties and try to name states, countries and capitals around the world to collect badges. It encourages multiple playthroughs and actually serves as a fun education tool, while also playing into the film’s adventure. Brilliant!

Up was already a great film, highly recommended for anyone of any age, but with the Blu-ray release of Pixar’s latest getting the full Disney treatment, it becomes one of the best home video releases of 2009. Only the lack of a 3D version keeps it from perfection.

Special Features

-The Up Blu-ray disc is presented in 1080p high definition 1.78:1 aspect ratio video; English 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital audio; with English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles

-Special features on the Blu-ray discs are all presented in 1080p 1.78:1 aspect ratio video; English 5.1 or 2.0 Dolby Digital, French and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital; with English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles

-“Dug’s Special Mission” – All new short follows the misadventures of Dug

-“Partly Cloudy” – Theatrical Short

-Cine-Explore – The making of Up with Pete Docter and Bob Peterson

-The Many Endings of Muntz – Alternate Scenes

-Global Guardian Badge Games – A multilayered geography game

-Married Life – Expanded character back story

-8 All-New Documentaries – Including “Adventure Is Out There” – Travel to the real Paradise Falls

-DVD of feature with DVD bonus features

-Digital Copy

Title: Up (Blu-ray 4 Disc Set)
Starring: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, John Ratzenberger
Directed by: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Pixar
Release Date: November 10, 2009
Rating: 9.5 / 10

About the Writer:
Bill Jones is editor-in-chief of padsandpanels.com, a site dedicated to coverage of comics and games.

In “Slack Tide,” Dexter took a brief pit stop from his Trinity quest to get himself involved in yet another sloppy kill. This time the target is Jonathan Farrow, an arrogant photographer who just happened to shoot (in the photography sense) several models that wound up missing/dead soon thereafter. But as the last minute of this slow, but important episode revealed, Farrow, who winds up dead on Dexter’s table, wasn’t the culprit. It was his assistant.

All the signs were there. Dexter has been getting sloppy. Gone are the days of meticulously planned kills. In their stead are sloppy, impetuous hack jobs. Of course, this all makes for great TV, but (and I’m channeling my inner Harry here) you’ve got to wonder how long can Dexter keep himself away from the electric chair. As shocking as the reveal was that Farrow was innocent, one has to wonder how much it will change Dexter’s disposition. You could argue that this isn’t the first time that Dexter was responsible for the death of an innocent man. Albeit self defense, he did kill Oscar Prado in the first episode of Season 3. And although he didn’t pull the trigger (er, I mean light the match), he did imprison Doakes which allowed Lila to blow him to smithereens. For Dexter, self-preservation rules above all else. If anything, this mishap will accelerate Dex’s plan to close in on Trinity - it’s time for him to get back to normalcy and float under the radar for a spell.

Meanwhile, Quinn is inadvertently quickly becoming this season’s Sergeant Doakes on his mission to dig up some dirt on Dexter. After finding out that Dexter has been keeping his apartment, he almost stumbles on Dexter running down Farrow. Several questions remain with Quinn at this point : 1) will he follow Dexter at the right time and figure out his secret and 2) will he hook up with Debra. Ironically, given the fact that Quinn’s internal investigation story-line in Season 3 was absolutely unnecessary, he is a big driving force of the plot this season (giving the reported the inside scoop on the Trinity story, which lead to the shooting of Lundy and Debra).

And what can we say about Trinity? He’s building a coffin, but for who? Is it to bury the ashes of his sister finally and end his killing cycle? Is it for himself? Is it for Kyle Baker (Dexter?). Or, is it for a yet to be targeted fourth kill in the cycle in which the body is buried, thus never found? Now THAT would be a reveal… that the Trinity Killer is in fact the Quadruple Killer.

With five episodes to go, we’re left wondering just what will happen in the next 5 Sundays. There’s a definite build up to a Trinity / Dexter showdown, but it’s also a strong possibility that Debra will get in the middle of that bout. And I also have a strange feeling that Deb and Quinn will get involved romantically. It’s also worth noting that Quinn is bound to get some real dirt on Dexter, which may lead to more fireworks (it’s not looking good for you Quinn).

Expect the madness to continue big time next week. In the post episode previews, Dexter is seen admitting killing a man to Trinity, who does the same. And in action movie fashion, Dexter saves Trinity as he falls from the roof of a Four Walls Build. Meanwhile, Deb enlists Quinn to help her with the unofficial investigation of Trinity. Check out some preview clips of episode 4.08 - Road Kill:

Episode 4.08, Road Kill, Synopsis:

Dexter has always known his father’s Code was meant to protect him from exposure. But after committing a serious mistake, he wonders if it could have been designed to protect him from something even more dangerous - human emotion. When he discovers that Trinity is planning an out-of-town trip, Dexter sees an opportunity to ride along and gain insight into the mind of a fellow monster. Even so, Dexter isn’t prepared for the startling revelations Trinity makes along the way, revelations about his own past which only serve to convince Dexter of what he must do. Meanwhile, back at Miami Metro, Debra refuses to let a technicality keep her off the Trinity case. She works through others to ensure her voice is heard - that is, until she realizes that her single-minded pursuit of the Trinity Killer may have blinded her to the truth.

Written By: Melissa Rosenberg & Scott Reynolds
Directed By: Ernest Dickerson

Now, HBO is proving that writer’s were right to strike with a new storytelling adventure based online. HBO Imagine is a unique web experience that blows movies like “Vantage Point” out of the water. Instead of simply cutting back and forth between multiple perspectives, HBO employs a semi-cube viewing device that allows you to view a story from four different angles. The interactive cube features two films, each 2 minutes long. Once you watch them you can unlock bonus footage as if you were playing a video game.

Since each person’s experience is unique, we’ll be checking out this new venture and letting you know our own experience.

Check out the trailer for HBO Imagine now:

Click here to be a part of the HBO Imagine experience.

The original Ice Age (2002) found a nice spot for itself in the animated mix. While it didn’t exactly exceed its competition in any respect, Ice Age had plenty of wit and enough character to carry it successfully. With a unique ensemble cast including Ray Romano, Denis Leary and Queen Latifah, the film told a fun story of unlikely friendships, with good humor in the form of Scrat’s quest for an acorn.

But fast forward seven years and Fox is still trying to recreate success with the same formula. As a result, Dawn of the Dinosaurs has its moments, but the story and characters are starting to get stale, despite a spirited performance by the series’ newest addition, a weasel named Buck (Simon Pegg).

When Sid (John Leguizamo) stumbles upon and decides to raise three dinosaur eggs, the Ice Age herd finds itself in an underground world where dinosaurs still live. As Sid is taken captive by a T-Rex, the rest of the crew is guided through the dangers of the mysterious land by Buck in a rescue effort, but finds that an even bigger threat is on their heels.

Dawn of the Dinosaurs is, at times, entertaining, but finds itself falling into most of the trappings of sequels – everything has to be three times more extreme (dinosaurs, for instance, and the Scrat scenario has gone way overboard), the returning voice actors sound less than enthusiastic resuming their roles and the plot is weighed down by previous storylines, though Dawn of the Dinosaurs does better than most working around the last of the bunch, to be fair. Its worst offense, though, is not having much of a point. Despite the introduction of the zany Buck, most of the characters find themselves back in the same spot they started. There is a superficial breakup of the gang and some minor obstacles to overcome, but overall it feels as if the characters don’t undergo much change.

The Blu-ray outing leaves out the option of the 3D viewing experience, as shown in theaters. The HD video is as crystal clear as it gets, though. The action scenes are fantastic, but the high caliber of video quality only brings to light how bland the environments can be, even when the characters find themselves in an under-ice paradise populated with extinct beasts. Dawn of the Dinosaurs has the visual feel of stage actors walking around a static set, rather than a living world. The audio, while a clear master track, does not make much use of its surround channels.

The special features seemingly fill out every last digital groove on the Blu-ray disc, but many of those features are throwaway, and some even hearken back to the second installment of the series rather than this one. The storybook editor is a creative interactive element, but ultimately proves to be tediously pointless. But despite a lackluster commentary and simple features, “Buck: Easel to Weasel” is entertaining; the Scrat shorts are always fun to revisit; and “Evolution Expedition” includes a few nuggets of intriguing information. So, it’s not an entire loss.

Fans of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs will find enough to like in its Blu-ray release, with a beautiful video transfer. But for anyone else looking for an animated film for the entire family, this isn’t the one. While children will likely remain entertained by the action-heavy scenarios, adults won’t get much more than some adorable animation (the baby T-Rex) and a few inspired Buck moments.

Special Features
-The Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is presented in 1.85:1 aspect ratio video; English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Spanish, French and Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital audio; with English SDH, Spanish, Portuguese, Cantonese and Mandarin subtitles
-Filmmakers’ Commentary
-Ice Age Storybook Maker
-Evolution Expedition Featurette
-Buck: From Easel to Weasel Featurette
-Unearthing the Lost World Featurette
-Unfinished Deleted Scenes
-“Walk the Dinosaur” Music Video
-Fox Movie Channel Presents… Featurettes – Making a Scene: Ice Age The Meltdown, In Character with John Leguizamo, In Character with Ray Romano, In Character with Queen Latifah
-BD Live: Like Lookup
-Scrat Pack (Scrat Shorts) – Gone Nutty: Scrat’s Missing Adventure, Not Time for Nuts
-Scrat Featurettes – The Saber-Toothed Squirrel: Nature’s Nutty Buddy, Scrat: From Head to Toe (Drawing Tutorial), Scrat: Breaking Story, Scrat: News Report, Falling for Scratte
-This set includes a DVD copy of the feature in standard definition, with filmmakers’ commentary
-Digital Copy

Title: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Starring: Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, Ray Romano, Seann William Scott
Directed by: Carlos Saldanha, Mike Thurmeier
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: October 27, 2009
Rating: 6 / 10

About the Writer:
Bill Jones is editor-in-chief of padsandpanels.com, a site dedicated to coverage of comics and games.

Monsters, Inc. tells the story of the monsters who come out of the bedroom closet to scare children at night. At it turns out, the monsters are more scared of the children than the other way around. But a job’s a job for Sulley (John Goodman) and his sidekick Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal), who harvest screams as a form of fuel in Monstropolis. And business is good for the duo until the evil Randall (Steve Buscemi) is within contention of the office scare record. He leaves a closet door portal on the floor, and a child escapes into Monstropolis and finds herself in the care of Sulley and Mike.

As is par for the course with Pixar, Monsters, Inc. is packed full of dynamic animation with vibrant characters and an important message, in this case that laughter is stronger than fear. It isn’t quite as rich as some of Pixar’s flagship features. The dialogue lacks a bit of punch, despite solid performances by the core cast. But Monsters, Inc. is still packed with plenty of humor, and still stands leaps and bounds above what most studios accomplish in the animated realm, with that classic Pixar appeal for both adults and children.

The high-definition video goes a long way in accenting the bright monster colors, and brings every strand of fur on the beasts to life. The surround soundtrack provides an incredible mix, making sure the voices always stand out above all, but using all of the channels well in surrounding the viewer with the sound of the action. Monsters, Inc. fans with the hi-def capabilities will want the new set for its visual and audio upgrades alone, and definitely get what they pay for in this respect.

The special features in this set are so abundant that they practically feel endless. Aside from the usual director commentary, the first disc is rounded out by a feature on the Monsters Inc. ride at Tokyo Disneyland and a round table with the filmmakers, as well as the Academy Award winning “For the Birds” short and “Mike’s New Car” short. The bulk of the bonus material, however, is found on the second Blu-ray disc included in the set.

The “100 Door Challenge Game” serves as an application for gamers to Monsters, Inc. Players answer trivia questions and get tested in a number of different ways. Gamers are allowed three wrong answers before the game ends. Depending on the correct answers, players are offered various jobs at Monsters, Inc., which can either be turned down (for a replay) or accepted (to move onto other things). The disc also features a tour of Pixar, which is enlightening. Then there are art galleries that seem to go on forever (and are all re-scanned in hi-def this time around), and multiple featurettes on almost every aspect of animated filmmaking of which one can think. The materials aren’t quite as insightful as with other Pixar releases, but Monsters, Inc. does its best to make up for that with sheer quantity. There is so much content packed onto these disks! And just when viewers think they’ve seen it all, Pixar has packed in several Easter eggs with a load more bonus material.

Much like Monsters, Inc.’s role within the Pixar catalog, the Blu-ray release isn’t quite the crème de la crème of home video releases, but it offers more than enough to satisfy any fan of animation with a heart and sense of humor.

Special Features
-The Monsters, Inc. Blu-ray disc is presented in 1080p high definition 1.85:1 aspect ratio video; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital audio; with English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles
-Special features on the Blu-ray discs are presented in 1080p high definition; English, French and Spanish 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital audio; with English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles
-Monsters, Inc. Ride and Go Seek: Building Monstropolis in Japan – Go behind the scenes of the new attraction in Tokyo Disneyland
-Filmmaker’s Round Table – Filmmakers reflect on the creation of the film
-Audio Commentary
-For the Birds Short – Academy Award Winner – Best Animated Short Film
-Mike’s New Car – Academy Award Nominated – Best Animated Short Film
-All-New Roz’s 100-Door Challenge Game
-Pixar Fun Factory Tour
-Banished Concepts
-DVD with feature film and original DVD bonus features
-Digital copy

Title: Monsters, Inc. (4-Disc)
Starring: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, Bob Peterson, John Ratzenberger
Directed by: Pete Docter, David Silverman, Lee Unkrich
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Pixar
Release Date: November 10, 2009
Rating: 8.5 / 10

About the Writer:
Bill Jones is editor-in-chief of padsandpanels.com, a site dedicated to coverage of comics and games.

About Siege:
‘Siege’ is coming! It’s all been leading up to this universe shattering four issue limited series from the superstar team of Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel! Following the events of Dark Reign: The List, Norman Osborn sets his sights set on Asgard and nothing will stop him from completing his mission. But what does he want? How do Loki and Thor figure in? And just how does this relate to the inner strife between the Cabal? Marvel’s greatest heroes unite against the deadliest threat they’ve ever faced, but even they have no idea what’s coming next. It’s time for the most jaw dropping comic book event of the decade begins in December with Siege: The Cabal and continues in January’s Siege #1!

TNT and Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution have reached a deal of a reported $2.2 to $2.3 million per episode for the crime procedural. The show, starring Simon Baker as a Patrick Jane, a consultant with a California Bureau of Investigation, currently airs on Thursdays at 10PM on CBS.

You can expect to see the show weekly on TNT starting in the Fall of 2011, with a bigger launch in 2012.

USA Network has answered the question with “White Collar.” The budding bromance between Neil Caffrey (Matthew Bomer) and Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) continued last week in Episode 2, “Threads.” Unlike most sitcoms and dramedies, where a few episodes are dedicated to poking fun of male-on-male friend relationships, “White Collar” has centered its entire show on Neil and Peter’s offbeat and often-cutesy tug-of-war.

In “Threads,” Neil throws Peter an assist by helping Peter impress Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen), Peter’s wife. Instead of taking the glory in finding an excellent party location for an FBI sting, Neil decides to tell Peter’s wife, who is planning the event, that Peter found the location. By doing so, Neil proves that having a wingman is not just necessary in dating, but also in sustaining a healthy marriage. Later on, Neil helps to “dress up” Peter as a tough-guy bodyguard. The scene was reminiscent of seeing a wife help her husband get dressed, by fixing his tie for his first day of work. You can join me in two quick finger snaps if you thought the scene was adorable.

But don’t be fooled into thinking that these two forces will always be on the same page when it comes to matters of the heart — or their bromance. Both Neil and Peter have no remorse in using the other to achieve their end game. When Neil needs to check out the tape of Kate’s last prison visit for a secret message, he asks Peter to do him a solid and get him the tape. Of course, nothing comes without a price when dealing with the law. Peter responds, “Help me wrap up this case and I’ll see what I can do about that tape.” Peter is left thinking that Neil wants to see the tape as a simple heartfelt memento, but he isn’t above getting his price paid first. Whatever happened to “bros before hoes?” Thankfully, neither of their secret desires has been maliciously aimed at hurting the other.

The bromance between Neil and Peter isn’t the only thing grabbing a laugh on “White Collar.” The villains are laughable too. When Ghovat (Carlo Rota of “24“), Episode 2’s criminal, is trying to escape with the spoils of white-collar war, he says, “Please don’t try anything. I have five bars and free long distance; I can be far away and still cause you pain.” And, I bet you thought Verizon was doing a good thing by having that large network? Back to T-Mobile!

In White Collar Episode 3, “Book of Hours,” the disappearance of a precious bible creates an interesting union when a New York Mafia kingpin enlists the help of Peter and the FBI in tracking down his beloved artifact. But while rooting out the thief, Neal finds himself in a tango with a sexy female villain and must decide where his loyalty truly lies.

Episode 3 premieres this Friday at 10/9C.

In this video, Kristinie Stone, Producer of the X-Men Motion Comic, takes us on a tour of Continuity Studios - introducing us to everyone involved in the creation of Marvel’s first motion comic.

Neal Adams’ Continuity Studios’ website states, “It’s not animation. Not a film. Not a comic book…but the best of all three. It’s the comic book…walking and talking. What is the future of comics? It’s both comic “books” and motion comics.”

Showtime has answered fans’ Dexter fascination with both iPhone apps and recently released Dexter web series. What’s next? An ongoing comic book? Broadway Plays? A theatrical release?

So far, Dexter will continue on through season 5. But like all good character-driven-TV shows, at some point Dexter must come to an end. Maybe that ending won’t be season 5. Maybe, it will be Dexter Season 6 or 7. But, the show will eventually end. If the end doesn’t bring out the big serial killer reveal (and subsequent jail time or death penalty), Dexter will either die or find a way to put his Dark Passenger to rest. Fans will no doubt continue to look for longevity in their beloved serial killer. Sex and the City was able to go to film, could Dexter be Showtime’s first move to the big screen? Although I’d be all for Dexter going to film, sometimes the best heroes need to die to create an even larger legacy.

When Dexter does meet his eventual end, then I hope that the ending will be a decisive one. After “The L Word” finale, I just can’t bear to watch another open-ended ending.

Preview next week’s episode:

About Dexter Season 4 Episode 7: Slack Tide:
Dexter finds himself enjoying a brief moment of tranquility. He’s finally managed to strike a balance between work, family… and other pursuits. But he’s keenly aware that times like these aren’t meant to last. When Miami Metro discovers a string of murders connected to a prominent photographer, Dexter sees an opportunity for a clean kill. However, his plans seem to be thwarted every step of the way. Quinn has taken a renewed interest in Dexter’s nightlife. Dexter’s plans to keep Astor and Cody distracted with new activities soon backfire. Even Harry disapproves of Dexter’s choice of pastime, urging him instead to focus his efforts on the Trinity Killer. Meanwhile, Debra returns to work, frustrated to find everyone treating her with kid gloves. She decides to concentrate on her pursuit of the Trinity Killer as well as delving into her father’s checkered past - investigations which Dexter fears might lead her to danger - or worse, the truth.

DC dug in its heels and exposed us to ‘Blackest Night’, a solid universe-wide event, not entitled ‘Crisis’. Brilliantly handled by Johns and Reis, the event focuses not on the Holy Trinity of Superman/Batman/ Wonder Woman (who have separate off-shoot minis related to the title), but instead focuses on the Flash, the Atom, Mera (of Aquaman lore), Firestorm, and of course, the Green Lantern. A sort of housecleaning event as well, ‘Night’ has cleaned the clocks of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, the substitute Aquaman, Tempest, the newest Hawk (of Hawk and Dove), Firestorm’s girlfriend, Gehenna, and recently the JSA’s Damage. I will miss some of these characters (my friends are well aware of my obsession with all things avian); while other characters… good riddance.

Now finally we learn of Nekron, the central villain of this title and how he fits into the larger mythology of our ‘gone and back again’ heroes (Flash, Superman, etc). Call me morbid, but I just can’t wait to see who gets their lights permanently turned off in the remaining four chapters of ‘Blackest Night.’

Not to be outpaced, Marvel dove into mutant-land and found a villain complex enough to head their newest X-themed crossover, Necrosha. Selene, the immortal, self-proclaimed goddess with the power to drain life-forces, has corrupted the ubiquitous techno-organic (T.O.) virus and used it to revive former allies and enemies of mutants in her quest for immortality. Selene has her sights on the former mutant haven, Genosha, where she plans on reviving the decimated mutant population for her own purposes.

So here again, we have zombies, of the suped-up techno-magicky kind, doing damage on members of the New Mutants (yeah, their back!), X-Force, and X-Men. Oh, Warlock! Why did you return only to have your head ripped off by your former friend, Doug Ramsey? Kudos goes to the writers who somehow made Ramsey’s super “language-translator” power cool.

Time to crawl under the covers, kiddies, to read your comics old school with a flashlight in hand. That way, you have a weapon and a shield when the creepiest of the creepy return to the pages of your favorite titles.

With the winter holidays close at hand, might we lose Frosty or Rudolph as well? Ravenous Reindeer and Killer Frosty?

Oh happy days!

The movie did some great per theater numbers, grossing over $500k this past weekend in NY, LA, Boston, and Philadelphia. Now Apparition is opening Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day wider on November 13 to additional cities including Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, and more.

The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day is the much-anticipated sequel to the indie cult classic, The Boondock Saints. The film is the continuation of writer/director Troy Duffy’s tough, stylized cutting edge saga of the MacManus brothers (Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery). The two have been in deep hiding with their father, Il Duce (Billy Connolly), in the quiet valleys of Ireland, far removed from their former vigilante lives. When word comes that a beloved priest has been killed by sinister forces from deep within the mob, the brothers return to Boston to mount a violent and bloody crusade to bring justice to those responsible. With a new partner in crime (Clifton Collins Jr., Star Trek) and a sexy FBI operative (Julie Benz, TV’s “Dexter”) hot on their trail…the Saints are back!

All fingers point to Luann’s rival producer in the porn production business. Which would mean that Jax has added to his father-in-law’s blood toll count on “innocent” women killed both indirectly and directly by SAMCRO.

But could the killer have been Ethan Zobelle? I find it hard to believe that this secondary player has made such a bold move against SAMCRO alone. However, this would be the epitome of “the father’s sins passing onto the son.”

On the business side, this presses SAMCRO up against the wall when it comes to income. After the gun business fell apart, Jax thought that he could realize his birth father’s dream of legit money through porn. Unfortunately, that ship has sailed, and Jax is left wondering if he has failed his father’s dream or if his father’s dream will forever be just a dream.

Who will crack first in the SAMCRO Civil War? Only 5 episodes left on this season of “Sons of Anarchy.”

In Sons of Anarchy Seaon 2 Episode 9, “Fa Guan,” when SAMCRO’s adult film business becomes a hindrance to the club, Clay seizes the opportunity to revive the gun-running cartel. As Jax and Clay continue to clash over club activities, their relationship reaches a new level of antagonism.

Episode 9 is written by Dave Erickson & Stevie Long and directed by Paris Barclay.

We’ve been starving for a good Serena love interest all season. Carter stepped up to the plate and struck out. Hopefully, Trip can provide the sparks needed to bring Serena back to the forefront of drama. The Carter story felt like a needless and utterly forgettable shift toward this richer and juicier story arc. Not only would a Serena-Trip relationship be a political scandal, but also the romance may spark another rivalry between Nate and Serena.

Speaking of Nate Vanderbilt, he’s fallen to the sideline in season 3. However, Vanessa stills to be harboring repressed feelings for the Vanderbilt legacy. At the end of Episode 8, Vanessa was surprised and, dare I say, wooed by Nate’s sacrifice for Trip. Is she ready to dive back into more Grandfather drama? If there’s one thing we know about Vanessa, it is that she loves lost causes. So, expect Vanessa to take a ride on the Nate railroad at least one more time before the end of season 3.

Surprisingly, Chuck and Blair have continued to stay faithful. Outside of Blair’s childish antics, Chuck has stepped up as overwhelmingly mature person on Gossip Girl. He was finally able to revitalize the club Vanessa introduced him to in season 2. Also, he was the one who tried to unite the warring factions of van der Woodson and Waldorf. Personally, I’m all for the Blaire versus Serena feud.

About “Gossip Girl” Season 3 Episode 9, “They Shoot Humphreys, Don’t They”:
Not satisfied with just being Queen of Constance Billard, Jenny (Taylor Momsen) sets her sights on becoming the Queen of all the Upper East Side by landing the hottest escort for Cotillion. Nate (Chace Crawford) and Chuck (Ed Westwick) plot to help Serena (Blake Lively) and Blair (Leighton Meester) repair their damaged friendship. Dan (Penn Badgley) is upset when Olivia (guest star Hilary Duff) contemplates leaving school for a movie project. Jessica Szohr, Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle also star. Alison McLean directed the episode written by Amanda Lasher.