Debuting twenty-three years ago with “Manhunter”, there have been five films chronicling the enigmatic and terrifying serial killer Hannibal Lecter.  Though many of us have seen the first three (which are included in this collection), they were previously unreleased on Blu-Ray format until this past month.  If you haven’t seen these films, you owe it yourself to see them at whatever cost, but the Blu-Ray versions don’t necessarily add anything spectacular to the series.  Though worth watching, this collection of films doesn’t differ much from the previously released versions, and I am still waiting for some sort of “Ultimate Collection.” Keep reading after the jump to see why.

For nearly eight years now, developer Bungie has continued to please Xbox owners with their “Halo” franchise.  Two years ago, “Halo 3″ set the benchmark for gaming sales, surpassing every previous release in the entertainment industry.  Not only did it outsell every other game on the Xbox 360, its opening day sales topped that of the “Spider Man 3″ feature film opening.  Needless to say, the games protagonist Master Chief has left an indelible mark on the gaming industry.  However, fans of the series were told that “Halo 3″ was the culmination in the saga- that we had seen the end of Master Chief.  Though this is true, Bungie is soon releasing “Halo 3: ODST”, a game in the Halo universe that does not involve Master Chief, but does involve all of the previous goodies plus a lot more!  Not being an avid “Halo” fan myself, I must admit that is a welcome addition to the franchise and is possibly my favorite game in the series.  Read about this amazing title after the jump.

Many of the more recent film remakes have stayed pretty truthful to their original counterparts – 2009′s Race to Witch Mountain was the exception.  This film veered very far away from the original, and the similarities were very slight.  Though the film does offer some entertaining family fun and had some general similarities, fans of the original will most likely be left wanting more. My review after the jump:

This common misconception that actors don’t work hard should be hushed after watching “The Machinist.”  According to most reports, Christian Bale went from about 180 pounds to just fewer than 120 for this role, which was never seen by that many people.  The quality of the film aside, for someone to put that much work into something is downright astounding.  Never mind the fact that he began shooting “Batman Begins” shortly after.  Though the film isn’t fantastic by any means, it has a “Fight Club” feel in the sense that it demands repeated viewings.  Anyone who has seen the film will agree that is definitely a mind trip and a nice change of pace from the usual Hollywood fare released on a regular basis.

Since about everybody on earth knows about CSI and its various spin-offs, I will avoid talking your ear off about the first season of this awesome show. Back in 2000 when the show debuted, it was praised as unique and downright entertaining, while still leaving us wanting more.  Over the past year or so, a lot of television shows have begun the transfer to Blu-Ray high definition, but I feel that this transfer was a must.  I don’t know if it’s the style of the show, or the post-production that goes into the finished product, but this show looks fantastic in high definition.

Being a fan of both boxing and Ron Howard, I saw this movie a few years back when it first hit theaters.  At the time, I found it enjoyable but wasn’t entirely impressed, which made watching it on the new blu-ray format that much more enjoyable.  The film again showcases how talented Russell Crowe is an actor as well as Howard’s innate ability to tell a story.  Though not a perfect film, its one of those stories that you find yourself truly engaged in, rooting for the characters, and truly hating the antagonist.

The film is based on the true story of James Braddock, a 1930′s boxer who is forced into an early retirement after a hand injury proves serious enough to end his career.  Because boxers back then didn’t make the millions that they do now, he had to return to some sort of work to provide for his wife (played wonderfully by Renee Zellweger) and his four kids.  Since this was during the great depression, it proved even harder for him to find steady work and come up with the money needed for rent and food.  Howard does an amazing job here detailing the hardships and struggles that the average American faced during these times and you really do begin to feel for this family.

The original “My Bloody Valentine” came out in 1981 and is considered a cult classic.  Though not many saw it, those who have (including me) have developed a following for its downright intense death sequences and inventive ideas (for its time).  In fact, Tarantino himself called it his favorite slasher film of the 80′s.  Since everything these days is either a sequel or remake, it was only a matter of time before Lionsgate decided to release a newer, updated version of the film.  Instead of just creating some garbage, popcorn movie, they decided to spend a lot of money getting a decent cast and implementing the use of 3-d technology.  Honestly, the results were not disappointing.