HBO’s Boardwalk Empire is arguably the best-looking television production ever made, and even better in HD on Blu-ray.

Blu-ray Review

Title: Boardwalk Empire (Season 1)

Principal Cast: Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Kelly McDonald

Network: HBO

Reviewed by Rhys Dowbiggin

If there is one thing for sure: HBO knows how to spend its money very, very well.

Set in prohibition era Atlantic City, Boardwalk Empire focuses on figures from all walks of life: corrupt politicians, dirty city officials, small-time gangsters, minority bootleggers, and all their mistresses. The breadth is rather astounding, painting a vivid tapestry of the era. I’ll put it like this: if you are partial to The Untouchables, Miller’s Crossing, Goodfellas, Casino, or The Wire, chances are good you will appreciate this show.

The production value of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire is astounding — arguably the best-looking television production ever made and it has one hell of a convincing argument. From the hardwood of the boardwalk down to the cigarette brands, Boardwalk Empire walks assuredly and talks like it owns the town. It is a show that balances powerful characters with gripping plot developments with a striking blend of the political game and the criminal underworld.

The acting is excellent. A fine ensemble of actors ranges from the promising youth to the grizzled veterans. If there is one issue, it is that Steve Buscemi as the lead feels slightly underwhelming, as his career was built upon character acting which never lent itself to leading-man roles. That said, he succeeds at embodying the conflicted political swindler.

The Blu-ray quality is exceptional. Clearly, the show should be seen in high-definition. The special features are similarly exceptional. Each episode has production notes detailed throughout the episode as it plays, an inclusion that should be demanded of any top production. Additionally, a number of making-of featurettes offer an exceptionally detailed glimpse into the quality production of the show. A character guide allows viewers to scan through the ensemble and track the ever-changing ties between characters. A documentary covers the history of Atlantic City with a detailed account of the events that built the city.

HBO has dug deep into its earthly resources and discovered a diamond, drawn from the ground perfectly cut and nearly flawless. There are no coarse edges; tackling such a grand project, HBO sees no rough diamonds. Why settle for a regular and blemished? As bootlegger Chalky puts it, "I ain’t buildin’ no book case."

DVD Review

Title: Final Destination 5

Director: Steven Quale

Stars: Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Ellen Wroe, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, P.J. Byrne, Arlen Escarpeta, David Koechner, Courtney B. Vance, Tony Todd

Distributor: Warner Bros

Running Time: 92 Minutes

Reviewed By Adam A. Donaldson

There’s three types of 3-D: the type that’s artfully integrated into the film as a storytelling mechanism, the type that’s added to blockbusters for so-called added value, and the type that’s used for the express purpose of having stuff jump out of the screen at you, usually in horror movies. Final Destination 5 is unabashedly one of those films from the third category. Like its predecessor, The Final Destination, the filmmakers are so giddy about having everything from glass, to steel rods, to blood and guts fly out of the screen at you, that watching it at home on DVD without 3-D TV does nothing to diminish it.

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For fans of the first film, this is worth watching, but I advise keeping your expectations rather low.

DVD Review

Title: The Hangover Part II

Director: Todd Phillips

Studio: Legendary Pictures, Warner Brothers

Principal Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, Mason Lee, Justin Bartha, Jamie Chung

Release Date: December 6, 2011

Run Time: 102 minutes

Reviewed by Tessa Perkins

Having really enjoyed The Hangover, I was hoping that this sequel would deliver another unexpectedly hilarious adventure story full of original jokes and funny events. Unfortunately, it did not live up to its predecessor and was a disappointment in many ways. The story is essentially the same, with a new location and some details substituted and new characters added, but it is far from original as they re-used some of their jokes from the first film. There are still some good laughs to be had in this sequel, but far fewer, and the unrealistic ending unravels its credibility.