Beastmaster (1982/MGM/Umbrella Region Free Import Blu-ray)/Bent (2018/Lionsgate Blu-ray)/Escape Plan 4K (2013/Lionsgate 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray w/Blu-ray)/Lionheart (1991/MVD Blu-ray w/DVD)/Orange Is The New Black: The Complete Fifth Season (2017/Lionsgate DVD Set)

4K Ultra HD Picture: A- Picture: B-/B/B/B & B-/B- Sound: B-/B/A- & B/B & B-/B- Extras: C+/C/B/C+/D Main Programs: C+/C/B/B/C

PLEASE NOTE: The Beastmaster Import Blu-ray is now only available from our friends at Umbrella Entertainment in Australia, can play on all Blu-ray players and can be ordered from the link below

Here's a set of action films asking their characters to be tougher than usual in different ways...

Don Coscarelli's Beastmaster (1982) has its following and resurfaces to find new fans and let those curious about it catch it. Now owned by MGM, Umbrella Entertainment has issued it in a Region Free Import Blu-ray in our first look at it since we covered the U.S. DVD version from one of our fellow writers who is a fan...

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3362/Beastmaster+-+Divimax+Edition+(1982/Anchor+Ba

I am not as big a fan, find it a bit silly, though some aspects play better in this era where viewers are drowning in mostly awful CGI visuals. It is one of the more notable films in the fantasy, sword, sorcerer, overly-muscled lead inspired jointly by the successes of Star Wars (1977) and Schwarzenegger's brief run as Conan The Barbarian. Marc Singer is able to handle the lead, Tanya Roberts (TV's Charlie's Angels, A View To A Kill) as 'the girl', Rip Torn as the villain and John Amos (TV's Good Times, Coming To America) doing his best to help the hero.

At least the film is consistent to itself, in its writing and knows when to quit, timer capsule that it is, cliches included. See it at least once if interested.

The 1080p 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer can show the age of the materials used and comes from an older HD video master, but this is better than the old DVD we looked at many years ago. The old analog Dolby A-type noise reduction stereo track has been upgraded here to DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless sound, but the older DVD had regular DTS and this is not that much better. The combo will suffice here, but the film is going to need a major upgrade for what we expect will be an inevitable 4K 2160p release.

Extras include a feature length audio commentary track by Director Coscarelli and Producer Paul Pepperman, plus a Behind The Scenes/Making Of featurette: The Saga of the Beastmaster (55 minutes).

Karl Urban, Andy Garcia, and Sofia Vergara star in Bent (2018) a thriller/conspiracy film that is about as average and run-of-the-mill as a cop drama comes. Urban is a tough as nails cop who ends up getting involved in a elaborate conspiracy involving the car bomb murder of a government official's wife. The plot thickens when he finds out the woman had a secret lover (Vergara) who was also involved in the murderous plot... and things get even weirder from there.

Presented in 1080p on Blu-ray disc with a widescreen aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and an English DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix, the film looks and sounds fine for the format. Nothing too fantastic or overly stylistic about the presentation here, but it looks fine for what it is.

A digital copy is included.

Special Features:

Behind the Scenes of Bent featurette

Cast and Crew Interviews

In the wake of a sequel upon us, we get the underrated action flick Escape Plan 4K (2013) on 4K UHD Blu-ray that doesn't disappoint in terms of presentation. Starring Hollywood action royalty Sly Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, this film has plenty of heart beating action to appease fans of '80s action fare. Far better than many of the films both actors have put out lately, this is definitely worth revisiting even if you don't have much interest in the upcoming sequel.

Other recognizable stars in Escape Plan include Jim Caviezel, Vincent D'Onofrio, 50 Cent, Amy Ryan, and Vinnie Jones. The film is directed by Michael Hafstrom (Netflix's Bloodline, Derailed, and the underrated Stephen King film 1408) who is no stranger to action movie fare.

You've never quite seen an 'escape from prison' film like this! When Ray Breslin (Stallone), who is an authority of jailbreaks, gets wrongfully accused and thrown in 'The Tomb', he must find a way out. Deemed to be impossible to break out of as it features all of the high tech bells and whistles, he finds an unlikely ally in inmate Swan Rottmayer (Schwarzenegger) who aids him into doing the impossible.

The 2160p HEVC/H.265, HDR (10; Ultra HD Premium)-enhanced Ultra High Definition image presentation here is all new and quite impressive as Lionsgate ups the picture with a widescreen aspect ratio of 2.39:1 and gives us a new (and fantastic sounding) Dolby Atmos 11.1 lossless soundtrack to go along with it. When comparing the 4K to the also included 1080p Blu-ray disc, the details are improved in the richness of colors and details (and evident in the mix as well). The film is nicely shot and the hard work of the crew is on full display here. While the Blu-ray was always a good looking release, this shows how much of an improvement 2160p can be and bumps the film elements up a notch. Other tracks on the disc include some foreign language tracks (French and Spanish) and English, lossy 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo audio depending on your home theater system.

A digital copy is also included.

Special Features include...

Audio commentary with director Mikael Hafstrom and co-writer Miles Chapman

"Executing the Plan: The Making of Escape Plan" featurette

"Maximum Security: The Real-Life Tomb" featurette

"Clash of the Titans" featurette

Deleted Scenes

Lionheart (1991) is one of Jean Claude Van Damme's best movies and here it is in HD glory courtesy of MVD Rewind! There's plenty of butt-kicking action in this flick, where Van Damme ends up fighting for the entertainment of the rich in order to help out his sick brother. At what costs will be go through in order to be the top fighter? This was a VHS classic back in the day and has a very '80s vibe and look to it, which makes it fun.

Presented in 1080p high definition on Blu-ray disc with a 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio, the disc features the Original 2.0 Stereo Audio (Uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray) and 5.1 Surround mixes. Also included is an anamorphically enhanced, standard definition DVD with similar (but compressed) specs. The film is pretty clean and nicely restored here, making this a must have for Van Damme fans the world abound.

Special Features include...

"Lionheart: The Inside Story" (HD, 47:29) (Featuring interviews with cast and crew including star / co-writer Jean-Claude Van Damme, Director / Co-Writer Sheldon Lettich, Producer Eric Karson and stars Harrison Page and Deborah Rennard)

"Inside Lionheart with the Filmmakers and Cast" (HD, 25:52) (All new documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew including Jean-Claude Van Damme)

"'Lionheart': Behind the Fights" (HD, 10:19) (Featuring interviews with cast and crew including Jean-Claude Van Damme)

Archival Audio commentary by Sheldon Lettich & Harrison Page (on Extended Cut only)

Archival Interview with Sheldon Lettich (SD, 25:51)

Archival Interview with Harrison Page (13+ minutes)

5 Promotional TV Clips (SD)

Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery

Original Theatrical Trailer

Collectible Mini Poster

MVD Rewind has done a nice job with this line of releases and Lionheart is no exception. The presentation is solid and there's tons of extras as you can plainly see. This release comes recommended to Van Damme fans for sure.

Netflix's smash hit Orange in the New Black is starting to lose a bit of its appeal it seems as this dreadful Season Five (2017) lands on disc. While the concept is pretty interesting as there haven't seen many 'women in prison' films that aren't exploitation front and center in the past few decades, but the show is just more of the same, though it certainly has it's niche audience and another season on the way.

The show stars Taylor Schilling, Natasha Lyonne, Uzo Aduba, Danielle Brooks, Jackie Cruz, Lea DeLaria, Michael Harney, and Selenis Leyva to name a few. There a few special guest stars in this season which include Jason Biggs and Mary Steenburgen.

Episodes include Riot FOMO, F**k/Marry/Frieda, Pissters!, Litchfield's Got Talent, Sing it, White Effie, Flaming Hot Cheetos Literally, Full Bush/Half Snickers, Tied to the Tracks, The Tightening, The Reverse Midas Touch, Breaking the Fiberboard Ceiling, Tattoo You, and Storm-y Weather.

Presented in anamorphically enhanced standard definition with a 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio and a lossy 5.1 Dolby Digital track, the DVD presentation is pretty much on par with the presentation of the series on Netflix. Nothing wild or eye popping about it but it looks fine for the format.

A digital copy is also included.

No Extras.

There are plenty of hot button topics in Orange is the New Black that will certainly appeal to a certain kind of audience. The show isn't necessarily too far of a departure from reality, as most of this could very well happen. Fans seem to still be on board and it hasn't completely lost its touch, it just doesn't seem to this reviewer as anything particularly new or special.

To order the Beastmaster Umbrella import Blu-ray, go to this link for it and other hard to find titles:

http://www.umbrellaent.com.au/

- Nicholas Sheffo (Beastmaster) & James Lockhart

https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/