The Great Escape Is A Great War Movie

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox/MGM

The world celebrated what is one of the most important dates in history last week with the remembrance of VE Day.  That was the day that the war in Europe ended.  Interestingly enough, last Tuesday, MGM and 20^th Century Fox released the fiftieth anniversary edition of what is one of the most talked about films centered on the war in Europe in The Great Escape.  This is hardly the shortest movie made about events from the war.  It clocks in at nearly three hours long.  And even with certain fictionalized portions as noted in the movie’s bonus features, it still proves almost half a century later to be one of the greatest WWII themed movies to ever be crafted.

What makes The Great Escape enjoyable, despite its run time, is that while it is on the surface a story based in WWII, it is more a story about the power of teamwork and of the human spirit to survive.  Having so many P.O.W.s from so many different backgrounds in one confined area could be argued to be a microcosm of the nations of the world.  This likely wasn’t the primary intent of script writers James Clavell and W.R. Burnett.  But seeing this and the ability of the men to work together for a singular cause despite their varied backgrounds helps to illustrate the power of teamwork and the human spirit to survive.  Those messages are made even more powerful when juxtaposed against the ideologies of the Nazi party.  It shows that no matter how great the odds, even ordinary people can do extraordinary feats when they come together.

The messages of teamwork and the human spirit are integral to the enjoyment of The Great Escape.  Those same messages are illustrated even more through the movie’s main storyline and its action sequences.  The movie’s main storyline is not that difficult to follow.  A group of P.O.W.s is sent to what is supposed to be an inescapable P.O.W. camp created by the Nazis.  The allied prisoners find every way to hide their “great” escape plan from the Nazi guards manning the camp.  The ways in which the plan is covered up are funny.  From singing Christmas music to using special code, it all seems so outrageous.  But it’s that outrageousness that is so entertaining.  As soon as audiences allow themselves to be pulled into the story, and get over the fact that some of the story was in fact fictionalized, they will find themselves appreciating the story even more.

Staying on the matter of the fictionalized portions of The Great Escape, the bonus features included in the movie’s fiftieth anniversary Blu-ray edition do a lot to justify the fictionalized portions of the story.  It is noted in the bonus features that portions of the story were in fact added that didn’t happen, such as Steve McQueen’s famous motorcycle chase.  It is noted that he made the demand that unless this scene was added, he was not going to star in the movie based.  Perhaps most interesting to note in the included bonus features is that despite some changes and additions here and there, the men that actually escaped from Stalag Luft III were quite accepting of the movie and even tried to claim that this character and that was based on him.  One can’t help but laugh at the pride brought out in those men when they shared their stories and joked about being the influence behind given characters in the movie.  The pride of the men on whom the movie was based is the most important reason for the movie having been made.  And it’s the most important reason for the movie to be seen to this day.  It is a tribute to just one more group of individuals of what former newsman Tom Brokaw properly called “The Greatest Generation.”  With members of this generation passing away each day, a movie like this is increasingly necessary in order to keep the memory of that generation alive.  It’s a movie that members of every generation should see at least once.  It is available now in stores and online and can be ordered direct online via the Fox store at http://www.foxconnect.com. 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

New Shout! Factory DVD One Of The Best Takes On Robinson’s Life, Legacy

Courtesy: Shout! Factory

Audiences are going to be treated to yet another new big screen biopic next week in the form of the new movie, 42.  The film centers on baseball legend Jackie Robinson.  42 won’t be the first release that centers on the famed baseball star.  The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) first told the player’s…well…story with Robinson himself telling his life story.  So needless to say, more than likely this latest biopic will likely over embellish Robinson’s life story at more than one point.  So before audiences go to see that movie, they would do well to check out Shout! Factory’s new DVD release, Jackie Robinson: My Story.

Jackie Robinson: My Story is just that.  It isn’t a documentary so to speak.  It is the story of Robinson’s life as told by actor Stephen Hill.  While the presentation is obviously aimed largely at younger audiences, it is just as entertaining for adults, too.  Hill plays the role of Robinson throughout the roughly ninety-five minute feature.  It’s a bare bones, no nonsense presentation that is easily accessible and just as easy to understand.  The presentation also includes footage of Robinson’s career both on the field and off.  That inclusion will help to both inform and entertain viewers.  The only real downside to the entire product is that it doesn’t offer the option of selecting individual chapters.  If a viewer stops at one point in the feature, one can only hope that the DVD starts back at that point.  Otherwise, said viewer will have to skip through the chapters and then fast forward or rewind to get to the point at which said individual stopped previously.  Luckily, it is the feature’s only negative.  Also included in this single disc story is a history lesson on both Robinson and his teammates and their role in societal changes from the ballpark.  When weighing all of these factors in with the fact that a new baseball season has just started and new biopic on Robinson is set to debut next week, Jackie Robinson: My Story becomes that much more of an enjoyable piece both for kids and adults alike.

The first thing that viewers will notice about Jackie Robinson: My Story is its simplicity.  It’s not some overblown drama or even overblown dramatic documentary.  It’s a simple story about a great man.  Presented here is actor Stephen Hill playing the role of Robinson in a simple setting.  The setting is meant to be the locker room of the then Brooklyn Dodgers.  Hanging behind Robinson…er…Hill are the uniforms of some of Robinson’s fellow legendary teammates.  Hill tells the entire story of Robinson’s life entirely from that simple setting.  Because of the set’s simplicity, there is nothing to distract viewers as they listen to Robinson’s incredible and at times painful life story.  And while there are loads of names and dates thrown out there, that lack of distraction help viewers to remember some of them, including: Pee Wee Reese, Satchel Paige, and Roy Campanella among others. 

The inclusion of Reese, Paige, and Campanella was important in that it was Reese that first took Robinson under his wing and helped make the push for Robinson to be able to play as a member of the Dodgers.  Hill proceeds from here to explain that despite the popular belief, Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella and other African-American players didn’t just start flowing into the major league ranks after he was allowed to play.  He explains how the process was actually more gradual and how African-American athletes still faced an uphill battle as the views of baseball fans still had yet to change at the time.  But that they had managed to break in and become the stars that they did shows that views were beginning to change.  Keeping this in mind, it serves as a reminder how pivotal this was not just in the history of baseball but in American history in general.  It’s just one of so many moments that viewers will find interesting throughout the course of this original bio.

The simple set used for Jackie Robinson: My Story and the acting (so to speak) of Stephen Hill help make this new release from Shout! Factory enjoyable for audiences of all ages.  There is one other factor that makes this a DVD worth checking out, whether in the classroom or the clubhouse.  That factor is the inclusion of actual footage and pictures from Robinson’s life.    Just as with the simple set, the inclusion of actual video footage and pictures from Robinson’s career and life serve as valuable visual aids.  Whereas the simple set helps to draw attention to Hill and his take on Robinson, the video and pictures help to illustrate the story being told.  They help to bring the entire thing full circle and that much more accessible for audiences. 

There is an irony in the inclusion of one piece of footage in particular.  That piece of footage is the Dodgers’ 1951 pennant matchup against the rival Giants.  This piece is also used in 20^th Century Fox’s recent movie, Parental Guidance.  It’s ironic that this is included in both because of the timing of each one’s release.  Both pieces were released within roughly a week of one another.  Sure, the timing of the pair’s release to home viewers is purely coincidental.  But it makes for an interesting discussion bridge.

As one can note by now, Jackie Robinson: My Story offers plenty of positives.  For all the positives, there is just one negative.  Surprisingly enough, it’s not too bad of a negative.  It is the lack of a chapter selection option in the main menu.  If a person were to remove the DVD from a DVD player, and put it back in later, this means that one would have to skip through chapters and then fast forward and/or rewind the show to where it was last stopped, rather than simply being able to jump to a given spot.  While this is at least a slight detriment to the overall package, it isn’t too bad as the entire feature is interesting that a person won’t want to stop watching once getting into it.  So to that extent, while it is a negative, it’s a minor negative at worst.  It’s because of that this Jackie Robinson: My Story is an enjoyable piece both for sports fans and for those studying African-American history.  It is available in stores and online and can be ordered direct from the Shout! Factory store at

http://www.shoutfactory.com/?q=node/216808.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

The Sandlot Still A “Hit” Twenty Years Later

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Two decades ago, what is one of the best modern coming-of-age stories ever crafted was released in the form of 20^th Century Fox’s baseball based story, The Sandlot.  In the twenty years since that movie first debuted, it hasn’t’ lost a single bit of its shine, even with a previous Blu-ray release having been put out a little over two years ago.  What continues to make The Sandlot so appealing to this day is its continued ability to relate to viewers of every age.  It reminds older audiences what it’s like to be a kid.  It reminds them of all the joys and simplicities of being young.  And despite being set in the 1960’s, it’s a story to which even today’s younger audiences can relate.  Older viewers remember the “good old days” of hanging out with friends, and getting into all kinds of trouble.  They remember the joys of simply being kids as well as the trials and tribulations of being the “new kid” trying to fit in in a new environment.  And even today’s generation knows of these joys.  So for those audiences who have yet to see this movie, it makes for a nice addition to said individuals’ home libraries.

The Sandlot 20^th Anniversary Edition was released on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack last week, only a little over two years since its previous Blu-ray release.  Little has changed between that release and this one.  But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  The story is so enjoyable in its own right there really is no need for much in the way of bonus features.  Though some audio commentary would have been a nice addition to offer viewers more insight into the story and how everything came into place.  Especially being that 20^th Century Fox is celebrating the movie’s 20^th birthday, it would have been just as interesting to have any of the original cast members that could have been recruited to offer their own retrospective on the movie and its meaning to each one to this day.  Perhaps that could be taken into consideration for the movie’s twenty-fifth or thirtieth anniversary edition.

The bonus features aside, The Sandlot 20^th Anniversary Edition is still a wonderful addition to any family’s home library.  It offers so many fun and funny moments both for parents and kids alike.  Watching Squints fake a drowning in order to get a kiss from a certain young lifeguard is one of the story’s many funny moments.  What young boy hasn’t fantasized the way that Squints did?  And the boys’ various plans to get the Babe Ruth signed baseball back from “The Beast” will make viewers of all ages laugh.  There is a certain reality to those scenarios.  It’s one of those “boys will be boys” types of scenarios.  And speaking of “The Beast”, his ability to thwart the boys’ every attempt is equally comical in its own way.  Then of course, there is also the famous chase scene in which Benny is being chased by the massive Mastiff.  The music and shooting style made this one of the movie’s best moments, if not the best moment in the movie.  It’s tough to put a finger on exactly what makes this such a memorable moment.  But audiences of all ages will love the entire sequence. 

The chase scene with “The Beast” and the boys’ attempts to get Smalls’ signed baseball back make for their own share of enjoyment.  Just as enjoyable and relatable is the story element of the myth surrounding the owner of “The Beast”, Mr. Mertle (James Earl Jones).  The boys all believe that Mr. Mertle is this evil man who told “The Beast” to eat a boy years ago.  But after Benny retrieves Smalls’ baseball, the pair meets Mr. Mertle for himself, dispelling the myth once and for all.  Again, while this story is set in the 1960s, this is another element to which audiences even today can relate.  Every young generation has its myths surrounding certain figures.  And the revelation about the figures’ always turns out to be entirely different from what is believed.  It makes for yet another of so many great moments included by writer/director David Mickey Evans and co-writer Robert Gunter.  The Sandlot 20^th Anniversary Edition offers more memorable moments than could be shared in one sitting.  There are so many that audiences will consider their favorites.  And it’s because of this abundance of wonderful moments and equally wonderful writing (and camera work) that anyone who has yet to add this timeless story to their home library will want to do just that.  The movie is now available in stores and online and can be ordered direct online via the 20^th Century Fox store at http://www.foxconnect.com/the-sandlot-20th-anniversary.html.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Hitchcock A Surprisingly Interesting Story

Courtesy: Fox Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Fox/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Fox Searchlight’s Hitchcock is quite the interesting story.  While it would be so easy for some to attempt to call this largely independent film a glorified biopic, it is anything but.  It is in fact one more movie adapted from the written word.  It has been adapted from the book, Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho.  Author Stephen Rubello’s book is a nonfiction work.  It’s one thing to try to adapt a fiction work to the big screen.  It’s a whole other task to try to translate an author’s work from a nonfiction into a near two hour movie that will be accepted by both uninitiated audiences and those more “experienced” Hitchcock devotees.  That has already been evidenced in the likes of Public Enemies.  The original book on which it was based is an excellent read.  But the big screen take on that story hardly translated.  So the question remains, where does Hitchcock get things right where other historically based movies adapted from nonfiction books get it wrong?

Despite what apparently many critics and audiences had expected of this movie, it is not just another standard biopic.  Rather it is the story of how the famed director made his now legendary cinema classic.  It examines not just how he made the movie, but how the movie made him.  Audiences see in this story, the impact that making Psycho had on his marriage, too.  In simple terms, this adaptation of Rubello’s book is less a history lesson and more a romance.  It portrays a couple that is nearly torn apart as each becomes wrapped up in their own personal projects before each reach a revelatory point that brings them back together.  This, in turn, leads the husband and wife team to finish Hitchcock’s masterpiece that remains one of horror’s best ever.

Audiences are instantly pulled into this movie as Hopkins introduces the story exactly as the real life Hitchcock had done in his classic TV series, Alfred Hitchcock Presents.  This homage to Hitchcock history is enough to generate some laughs and applause from those who remember the classic program.  From there, the combination of the movie’s sets and costumes work together to keep audiences fully engaged in the story, as they strive to keep the story as historically accurate as possible.  Also worth noting here is the inclusion of facts about how studios and censors operated in the days of Psycho.  This was one of the hurdles which Hitchcock had to face in bringing his movie to the masses.  While the process of bringing Psycho to theaters may or may not have played out exactly as portrayed in this movie, it will still keep audiences engaged.  And seeing him overcome everything thrown out at him, audiences will cheer at his success.  That cheering will continue right to the story’s end.  The reason behind that will be left to those who have yet to see the movie.  But any viewer that knows anything of Hitchcock history will appreciate it, and will in turn be left agreeing that this turns out to be a movie worth having seen at least once.

Life of Pi One Of 2013s Best Home Releases

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

20th Century Fox’s big screen adaptation of author Yann Martel’s book, Life of Pi is one of the best movies of 2012. And now that it has been officially released on DVD/Blu-ray/Digital combo pack, it is become one of the top home releases of 2013. The movie has been billed as “The Next Avatar” as a means of promoting the movie. But the reality is that it isn’t the next Avatar. Rather, it’s better than Avatar. Unlike that movie, Life of Pi has so much more than just special effects going for it. What’s more, it doesn’t have the “preachy-ness” of that movie. It’s a work that in its little more than two hours succeeds in keeping viewers engaged, and by the end of that time, will leave any viewer moved. Even though there are disparities between the movie and the original, book, this adaptation still succeeds in the end. And thanks to the bonus features of the home release, audiences who perhaps might have criticized it for the differences between the book and movie will have a different view thanks in large part to the movie’s bonus features. BY the time one watches through the movie and its bonus features, one will see exactly why this is one of the best home releases of 2013.

The big screen adaptation of Life of Pi is such a wonderful work. Despite being billed as “The Next Avatar”, it is far better than that movie. It succeeds in so many ways that Avatar fails. Life of Pi is obviously not the first epic tale ever made. But it is the first great epic of the 21st Century. A lot has changed from the book, obviously. But as audiences will learn through the movie’s home release that even the book’s author, Yann Martel openly accepted the big screen adaptation. He even notes early in the bonus features that it would be difficult to directly translate the book to the big screen. This is just one of so many factors that make this such an impressive story.

Also interesting to note from the movie is its dual faceted storyline. On one side, audiences get an allegory about having something in which one can believe. Audiences are presented with this from early on as Pi discusses with the writer about trying his hand at so many different faiths. That theme of faith continues throughout Pi’s journey. The second storyline that makes the movie a success is the classic man versus nature/man versus himself storyline. Pi being alone at sea, save for one other figure—in this case, a tiger. Being lost at sea, he has to face the tiger, himself, and the elements. For those who have read the book, one could make the argument that the tiger was really just a product of his own imagination, just as the other animals. That plays perfectly into another part of what made Life of Pi so enjoyable.

Late in the movie (not to give away too much plot information), the adult Pi tells his reporter friend about a second story that he told a pair of Japanese officials, since the ship on which Pi and his family were traveling was Japanese. In explaining to his reporter friend the second story that he told to the officials and why he told the second story, he asked the reporter which story he preferred. This is really a dual purpose question. On the surface, he was asking the reporter which story he preferred and what he believed. On another level, he was asking audiences—regardless of whether or not they had read the book before watching this movie—which story they preferred. That in itself makes the big screen adaptation that much more entertaining. The fact that writer David Magee could have Pi break down that fourth wall with such subtlety adds even more to the movie. Magee is asking not only which story do viewers believe from Pi, but which version do they “believe” more?; the book or the movie? That is the eternal question with movies after all. Regardless of which version viewers “believe” more, it is still a movie that any true lover of movies should see at least once.

As one can already tell, a lot of work went into the adaptation of Yann Martel’s novel. In terms of the storytelling, the story was adapted quite well, changes aside. The story was just part of what made this one of the greatest movies of 2012, and the first great epic of the 21st Century. Also to be taken into account with this movie is its spectacular special effects and cinematography. Not enough can be said of the work that went into both. Viewers will be amazed in watching the movie’s bonus features to learn that the tiger in the movie was a real tiger less than half the time. The bonus features reveal that the majority of the time, the tiger was in fact digitally created. But it looks so realistic that one can’t really tell the difference. And of course, who can forget the now famous whale scene or the flying fish? These and so much more make Life of Pi a visual masterpiece.

Staying on the movie’s visual aspects and its bonus features, there is perhaps one negative to the entire package. That one negative comes as director Ang Lee discusses how he and his staff presented the movie to 20th Century Fox’s studio heads not in storyboard form, but in digital storyboard form. So not only have animated movies gone the way of the dinosaur, but apparently the mere art of storyboarding has, too as studios are apparently opting even more for a digital product even in movies’ storyboarding. It’s a minor negative. But it’s still very telling about the direction that movies and visual entertainment in general have taken. It makes the statement without saying it, that the very art of making art is dying. And that is a sad statement. So while it isn’t necessarily a negative to Life of Pi, it makes for an interesting dissertation for those involved in the movie and television industry. Keeping this in mind, it takes little to anything away from the movie itself, and allows the movie to maintain the status of one of 2012’s greatest movies as well as one of 2013’s greatest home releases. It’s available now in stores and online. It can be ordered online direct from 20th Century Fox’s online store at http://www.foxconnect.com/life-of-pi.html.

See A Movie, Concert On Phil’s Picks

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

The Phil’s Picks blog and Facebook Page is hosting two brand new giveaways during the week of March 18^th – 22^nd.  The first half of the week will see giveaways of 20^th Century Fox’s award winning movie, Life of Pi.  The adaptation of the book by Yann Martel is available now on Blu-ray/DVD/Vudu combo pack.  Next Monday – Wednesday, I’ll be giving away one copy each day on the Phil’s Picks Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/philspicks.  But I’m not just going to do any drawing.  Those of you who have already “Liked” my FB page have to recruit more people to “Like” it in order to win.  It will start Monday, March 18th.   Here’s how it’ll go down.  The first person to get just five (5) people to “Like” my page each day will win that day’s copy of “Life of Pi” on Blu-ray/DVD/Vudu.  The people that you get to “Like” my page have to post to my timeline noting that you got them to “Like” my page.  That way I can count each person’s recruits under your name.  Make sense?  Let me know if it doesn’t and I’ll try to explain it in simpler terms.  I’ll announce the winner of each copy each afternoon at 4pm.  Again, that’s the first person Monday – Wednesday to get 5 people to “Like” my page.  And it doesn’t start until Monday.  So that means that you need to get out there and spread the word about the Phil’s Picks FB page if you really want to win!  I’m going to run the contest for these copies of “Hitchcock” the same way the following week

And if you’re not one of the people to enter or win, you can pick up your copy in store or online now.  It can be ordered online at http://www.foxconnect.com.

Courtesy: Prosthetic Records

The second contest of the week of March 18^th – 22^nd will be held throughout the week.  It is a contest for a pair of tickets to see Holy Grail on the Metal Alliance Tour.  The band will play at Charlotte’s Tremont Music Hall on Saturday, April 13^th alongside Anthrax, Exodus, and Municipal Waste.  The performance is part of the band’s tour in support of Holy Grail’s new album, Ride the Void.   Names will be taken beginning today, March 15^th until 8:45a.m. EST March 22^nd.  One winner’s name will be drawn next Friday morning at 9am EST.  The contest is courtesy of Prosthetic Records.  You have to be able to attend the show in order to enter. 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Win “Life of Pi” On BD/DVD/Vudu Combo Pack

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Life of Pi is one of the biggest movies from 2012.  Now it has finally been released to multiple formats.  Thanks to 20^th Century Fox and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment, the Phil’s Picks blog has three copies of the movie to give away on Blu-ray/DVD/Vudu combo pack. 

Next Monday – Wednesday, I’ll be giving away one copy each day on the Phil’s Picks Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/philspicks.  But I’m not just going to do any drawing.  Those of you who have already “Liked” my FB page have to recruit more people to “Like” it in order to win.  It will start Monday, March 18th.   Here’s how it’ll go down.  The first person to get just five (5) people to “Like” my page each day will win that day’s copy of “Life of Pi” on Blu-ray/DVD/Vudu.  The people that you get to “Like” my page have to post to my timeline noting that you got them to “Like” my page.  That way I can count each person’s recruits under your name.  Make sense?  Let me know if it doesn’t and I’ll try to explain it in simpler terms.  I’ll announce the winner of each copy each afternoon at 4pm.  Again, that’s the first person Monday – Wednesday to get 5 people to “Like” my page.  And it doesn’t start until Monday.  So that means that you need to get out there and spread the word about the Phil’s Picks FB page if you really want to win!  I’m going to run the contest for these copies of “Hitchcock” the same way the following week

And if you’re not one of the people to enter, you can pick up your copy in store or online now.  It can be ordered online at http://www.foxconnect.com.

To keep up with all the latest sports and entertainment news and the latest giveaways, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, as well as giveaways at the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

FHE Celebrates Upcoming Re-Issue With New Promotions

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

The 2013 MLB season is right around the corner.  And just in time for the start of a brand new season, 20^th Century Fox is set to release its classic baseball-centered coming-of-age story, The Sandlot in a special 20^th Anniversary Blu-ray/DVD combo package.  The new re-issue will be released Tuesday, March 26^th.  The movie features an all-star cast including: James Earl Jones, Denis Leary, and Karen Allen just to name a few cast members. 

Along with the re-issue of this classic movie, Fox Home Entertainment will partner with Benny The Jet’s favorite shoe brand, PF Flyers for a very special one-of-a-kind promotion.  The companies will release a limited run of “The Secret Weapon” the same day the movie hits stores.  The shoes will be sold in a vintage 1960’s shoebox.  The shoes won’t be all that fans get when they purchase a pair of PF Flyers.  The box will also include a $3 Sandlot coupon with the shoes.  And anyone who picks up the new 20^th Anniversary edition of The Sandlot on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will get a coupon for 10% off a pair of PF Flyers inside the box.  More information on this special is available online at http://www.pfflyers.com. 

The special limited run of PF Flyers is just one promotion being put on by FHE along with the classic movie’s re-issue.  FHE is also partnering with Major League Baseball and the Fox Sports Networks for what is being dubbed the “Sandlot Baseball Field Program.”  The program’s aim is to renovate baseball fields across the country so that baseball lovers the nation over can have a “Sandlot” of their own in their own backyards.  And many of the nation’s Major and Minor league baseball parks will present screenings of The Sandlot with Director, Writer and Narrator, David Mickey Evans.  A full schedule of screenings is listed below.

The Sandlot

Screening Locations/Dates

(*Subject to Change)

ARM & HAMMER Park, home of the Trenton Thunder (Trenton, New Jersey) – 4/13/13

 

Fluor Field at the West End, home of the Greenville Drive (Greenville, South Carolina) – 4/19/13

 

Arvest Ballpark, home of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Springdale, Arkansas) – 4/21/13

 

Rangers Ballpark, home of the Texas Rangers (Arlington, Texas) – 5/11/13

 

Tucson Padres at Kino Stadium (Tucson, Arizona) – 5/18/13

 

Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals (St. Louis, Missouri) – Date to be announced

 

Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – Date to be announced

 

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, home of the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) – 6/1/13

 

AutoZone Park, home of the Memphis Redbirds (Memphis, Tennessee) – 6/15/13

 

Steinbrenner Field, home of the Tampa Yankees (Tampa, Florida) – 6/22/13

 

Dell Diamond, home of the Round Rock Express (Round Rock, Texas) – 6/25/13

 

Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks (Corpus Christi, Texas) – 6/29/13

 

Fifth Third Field, home of the Toledo Mud Hens (Toledo, Ohio) – 7/5/13

 

Classic Park, home of the Lake County Captains (Eastlake, Ohio) – 7/12/13

 

CommunityAmerica Ballpark, home of the Kansas City T-Bones (Kansas City, Kansas) – 7/26/13

 

Security Service Field, home of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Colorado Springs, Colorado) – 8/2/13

 

Fifth Third Field, home of the Dayton Dragons (Dayton, Ohio) – 8/10/13

 

Werner Park, home of the Omaha Storm Chasers (Omaha, Nebraska) – 8/17/13

 

The Epicenter, home of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Rancho Cucamonga, California) – 8/30/13

 

Coolray Field, home of the Gwinnett Braves (Lawrenceville, Georgia) – 9/21/13

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Richard Burton Being Honored With Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Veteran actor Richard Burton will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Burton will be honored at a ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, March 1^st.  His star will be placed next to that of Elizabeth Taylor.  The placement is largely symbolic as it honors the duo’s relationship both on-screen and off.  The ceremony is planned to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of Cleopatra.  Taylor and Burton co-starred in the movie as the Queen of the Nile herself and her lover, Mark Antony.  Cleopatra will be re-issued on Blu-ray this year.  A release date for the upcoming re-issue has not yet been made official.

The effort to give Burton a star was led by Welsh business academic professor Dylan Jones-Evans.  His effort was made on behalf of the Western Mail, the official newspaper of Wales.  Jones was very happy when asked about the news of Burton’s new honor.  “I am delighted that Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has agreed to partner with us to recognise one of Wales’ greatest ever actors with a star as part of the 50^th anniversary celebrations of Cleopatra,” he said.  “I am also sure all the people of Wales will be thrilled that he is receiving this accolade on the most special day for the Welsh nation, St. David’s Day.”

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Mary Daily, President of Worldwide Marketing Chief Marketing Officer of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment also offered her thoughts on the news.  “Richard Burton remains one of the greatest actors of his generation whose iconic voice, rugged good looks and talent knew no bounds.  From My Cousin Rachel, which cemented Burton as a Hollywood leading man to The Robe and the Blockbuster Cleopatra, Burton is an integral part of the 20^th Century Fox Legacy and we look forward to celebrating his contribution to stage and film with the country of Wales and the rest of the world.”

Burton, who was the son of a Welsh coal miner, started his career as a distinguished Shakespearian stage actor.  It was his role in Cleopatra that led to his eventual marriage to Taylor.  The pair’s marriage made headlines the world over.  They went on to star in nine other films together, including: The Taming of the Shrew, The V.I.Ps, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  This latter film garnered Taylor her second Oscar for Best Actress.

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Action Flick Fans Will Be “Taken” With Taken 2 On Blu-Ray, DVD

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Taken 2 is one of those movies for which there is no grey area.  It’s a fast moving, flash-boom-bang shoot-’em-up action flick that is very much in the vein of Lionsgate’s recently released The Expendables 2.  The only difference between that over the top sequel and this one is that more than likely 20th Century Fox will let this franchise end with the end of this movie.  Is it the best sequel ever made?  No.  But it is a great turn off your brain flick for anyone looking to escape from the constant barrage of negative news and every day stresses thrown at audiences every day on television and in the work-a-day world.  Right from the movie’s opening moments, it grabs viewers by the collar, making no bones about what to expect.  Once it takes off, there is no stopping the story’s action.  From gunfights to car chases and everything in between, this latest (and likely last) movie in the Taken franchise accomplishes the very goal which it set out to achieve in its short ninety-two minutes.  That goal is to entertain audiences and let them enter another world, if only for a short time.  For that, 20th Century Fox and all involved with this movie are to be commended.  That’s especially the case in a time when audiences need an escape more than ever.

As one can hopefully already tell, Taken 2 offers exactly what action movie buffs want out of said genre.  But there’s more to the movie than just the action that makes it worth at least one watch.  Much like The Expendables 2 and so many other action movies, this story offers audiences a hero for whom they can cheer in Liam Neeson’s Bryan Mills.  All Mills wants is to finish the job that he started in the franchise’s first movie.  But the thing is so do the men who took his daughter.  And both sides will go to whatever lengths necessary to accomplish their goal.  Being that Bryan Mills is a clearly defined archetypal hero, rooting for him is that much easier.  So many of today’s movies have fewer heroes and more anti-hero figures.  It’s nice to see that Bryan doesn’t fit into the latter mold.  It’s one more positive to a movie that any action movie lover will appreciate.

Audiences will appreciate this movie even more now that it is available on DVD and Blu-ray.  The Blu-ray/DVD/digital combo pack offers audiences the most in-depth experience.  It offers audiences both the theatrical and unrated version of the movie along with an interesting bonus “pop-up” feature in the unrated version called “Black Ops Field Manual.”  It offers extra little bits of information about plot elements of the movie.  It’s sort of a director’ commentary without the commentary.  There’s also a character profile of Liam Neeson’s Bryan Mills courtesy of FX network.  There is no bonus commentary included here.  But that’s not necessarily a loss as there’s nothing extra needed to understand.  This is an action movie with an easy to understand plot, period.

The movie’s bonus features add their own element of enjoyment to this fast paced action flick.  In an even deeper level, there’s one more factor that makes the movie even more interesting.  That factor is that while this movie is a sequel, it could just as easily succeed as a stand-alone movie.  Audiences don’t necessarily need to have seen the franchise’s first movie to enjoy this one.  All audiences need to know is the most basic elements of the first of the pair of movies to understand the plot for this one.  Keeping this in mind, and adding in the bonus features of the Blu-ray/DVD/combo pack, Taken 2 actually turns out to be one of those rare sequels that actually turn out to be as good as the original.  In the grand scheme of things, it turns out to be a sequel that’s worth at least one watch.

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