Phantom Thread (Blu-ray Review)
It’s fair to say opinion on a film can change over time. I rarely, if ever, feel my take on a movie differs all that much from the words I put together at the time, but appreciation (and vice versa) can grow. Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread came at a time when so many films were being assessed for end-of-year lists, but it’s the one that has stayed with me most in the months since watching it (and re-watching it in theaters again). Plenty of intrigue came from watching the central relationships, and it’s made all the more excellent thanks to PTA’s steady hand behind the camera and the masterclass of acting in front of it. Following Phantom Threads awards run, which led to Oscar nominations in major categories, as well as a much-deserved win for Best Costume Design, the film has now made its way to Blu-ray, further allowing for audiences to embrace such a terrific feature.
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This past holiday season, Jumanji and The Greatest Showman showed that even with a Star Wars movie around, there was still winter money to be made at the box office. Hoping to be like the film Sing! the year before, an animated movie that thrived alongside a Star Wars, Ferdinand released to some solid reviews. The film mad some okay money and did well worldwide, but didn’t really launch like I’m sure its creators and respective studio would have liked. But, it’ll now have its chance to thrive in the home video world. The animated film features the voices of people from all over the map like John Cena, Kate McKinnon and Peyton Manning. The film is currently available on all formats and you can order yourself a copy from the link following the review. 
The early 1980s wasn’t just high time for the horror genre with just slasher films. Though those took a lot of the spotlight, the werewolf film was proving a pretty lucrative and prosperous business as well. An American Werewolf In London and The Howling were the bigger names of them, but there were many others sprouting out. Schlock master Larry Cohen contributed one in 1981, Full Moon High. The film starred a young Adam Arkin as a high school werewolf, beating Michael J. Fox’s Teen Wolf to the punch by about four whole years (Six if you want to count that this movie started film in 1979). Like Teen Wolf (And Teen Wolf, Too), Scream Factory has their hands on this one and is bringing it over to Blu-ray on April 10. You can already pre-order it by clicking the link below. 
Truth be told I really have no right reviewing this. Yes, I’m tackling this one by default because I have two 4K Ultra HD setups at home, but I have never seen the original Jumanji starring Robin Williams. Is that bad? I’m told no because I surveyed a lot of my peers and none of them had any great things to say about the classic family film. So if they don’t have any kind words, then why should I waste my valuable time on it? However, I feel very different about this 2017 reboot of the action/adventure comedy. This very likable Rock-driven (Dwayne Johnson) vehicle has had mammoth legs at the box office and thee’s always the added attraction of Nebula (Karen Gillan) to gaze upon here too. Heck, I even hear there’s talk of not one, but two sequels already planned in this world. So hell yeah. Sign me up. I am very eager to tackle Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle down below for the very first time and bonus…on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray too. Let me put on some bug spray and I’ll be right back. It’s a jungle out there! 
Stephen King’s Pet Sematary was adapted into quite a popular 1989 film that stands as one of his more popular works that wound up getting a sequel (Can someone please put that one on Blu-ray next, please) like the Children of the Corn films and the Sometimes They Come Back films. Its had two Blu-ray releases that had some okay bonus materials included. However, now, we get Unearthed & Untold: The Path To Pet Sematary which is a feature-length documentary chronicling the first film. With no big desire from the studio that holds the rights to do a big collector’s edition or beefed up release (In this age of streaming, this is scaringly becoming a norm), this documentary sits alone. But in all honesty, its that “Disc 2” you’re wanting to go with your standard Blu-ray release of it. Like the Creepshow one before, Synapse Films is adding the Pet Sematary one now to their catalog. You can order it (Released on March 13th) using the Amazon link below. 
Holding on as one of the most long-demanded films to come to Blu-ray in the United States, in celebration of its 40th anniversary and with just days left on the calendar, the long awaited Suspiria release from Synapse Films made its debut. A labor of love, said Blu-ray as well as nationwide revival screenings set the film world on fire with this new 4K restoration that took years to develop. With the original limited Steelbook edition sold out, Synapse is giving you another shot at owning Dario Argento’s masterpiece. There’s a film only edition and a two disc edition that comes with the bonus features in the limited edition release. They are both currently available now, and any serious film fan or Blu-ray collector should be owning this historic restoration. 
Path of Blood is a tribute the samurai films of yesteryear (A genre I quite adore) from writer/director/animator Eric Power. The film uses the animation style of “cut paper animation” (paper stop motion). Which, you’re right for your mind instantly wandering over and thinking of South Park as they utilize the style as well. The film is a feature version of a short film from Power and took a few years to bring up. Released in 2013, the film is finally getting a home video Blu-ray release in the United States. Synapse Films has brought the film over the high definition format in a Special Edition that was release March 13th (Meaning, you can buy it now). If you’re someone into the samurai films, this homage is something you may want to take a look at. Grab yourself a copy by pre-ordering from the link below. 
The Shape of Water had me very curious. It’s not because it’s brought to you by the masterful mind of Guillermo del Toro, but it’s because of our resident MPAA certified reviewer, Sir Aaron Neuwirth. He gave it an overwhelming 5 doggies out of 5 doggies over 
Every popular film must find itself a way to being a trilogy, right? Well, that’s the case now with the Pitch Perfect franchise. Personally, I found the first film to be charming enough and it was quite popular enough to warrant an encore performance or a victory lap of sorts. That victory lap turned into a really really awful film, but it did make money, so here with are with our third film about a zany female collegiate acapella group. And hey, it didn’t total as much money as the second film, but still made plenty enough to count your winnings take it home and bid the world adieu. This final performance of the Bellas will be making its way to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on March 20th (The first two films will also see an upgrade on this date). Don’t be one of those lazy pitches, pre-order yourself to have it on release. 
Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you the 10th film in the Children of the Corn franchise, Children of the Corn: Runaway. This one is the 9th in the ‘canon’ storyline as the television remake doesn’t count. This series with Stephen King roots hasn’t had a theatrically released entry since 1995’s barely in theaters Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest (The feature film debut of Charlize Theron). They have appeared to have thrived on straight to video features. Heck, I even kept up with them for awhile, and funnily enough, I confess, I own every one of them on Blu-ray (Eeek!). I think this film was originally scheduled to come out earlier (Maybe 2017), but its finally hitting here now. You’ll be able to check out the latest monthly Lionsgate straight to video entry of a long running horror franchise on March 13th! 
The Justice League motion picture is finally getting its deserving shot to win over your living room on March 13th. As far as 2017 feature films going into last November I had thought of nothing else except Justice League ever since I left San Diego Comic-Con that July and attended this unforgettable superhero panel captured in all its splendor and awe right 
Downsizing is acclaimed director Alexander Payne’s first in four years. That last one was the absolutely terrific Nebraska. This time he pairs with Matt Damon for a quirky concept of people shrinking themselves to live in a community where they are much wealthier than they would have been at normal size. The trailer for the film was pretty dynamite in my opinion, but I guess didn’t sell it well at all as the film completely bombed both in the United States and worldwide. With other studios, that would mean just putting it out on standard Blu-ray and being done with it, but kudos to Paramount as they’ve decided to stick with the times and put this one out on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray. You’ll be able to catch it since you missed it in the theater on March 20th. Amazon Pre-order link available below if you’re interested. 
Thirty six years ago, two fantastic visionaries in the realm of puppeteering and one of the men responsible for the first two Star Wars films put their heads together for a a mystical fantasy film, The Dark Crystal. Those men were Jim Henson, Frank Oz and Gary Kurtz. I’m not sure kids today are so hot on The Dark Crystal, but when I was growing up in the 1980s, it seemed to be on TV quite a bit and at every VHS rental store. Maybe its popularity is nostalgic adults like myself. Regardless, its exciting to see this film get the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray upgrade and that the life and work of Jim Henson still is important and relevant to studios today. There is a fancy digibook version of this on standard Blu-ray, but the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ay is getting a standard case. Regardless, this new release, that has a new bonus feature, will be available March 6th. Pre-order below! 
Nominated for five Academy Awards and winning over critics and audiences alike this past fall was Greta Gerwig’s feature directorial debut, Lady Bird. The coming of age tale of a teen girl going through her senior year at the beginning of this century brought another strong performance from Saoirse Ronan, and maybe put more than just us film geeks on notice for Greta Gerwig and if it hadn’t been for that equally awesome performance by Allison Janney in I, Tonya, the Best Supporting Actress Award would be Laurie Metcalf’s. Lionsgate is bringing it to Blu-ray just after the awards which will remind how refreshing and how much of a joy this film is or for many others a nice discovery of the film they heard’s name called a few times in the big categories for the Oscars. You can pick it up Tuesday or pre-order it using the Amazon link below. 
Grabbing most of the slasher spotlight in 2006 was Adam Green’s Hatchet, that just embraced and celebrated all the was stalk n’ stab horror. But there was another film that should have been a huge landmark but flew under the radar. That film was a super grassroots low budget film Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. Not only was it ahead of the game in its fake documentary/found footage style for most of the film, but its deconstruction and comedic aspects were the best of the genre and even more hard nosed inside baseball than genre legend Scream. But, the folks at Scream Factory are aware and know how special this film is as they are releasing it under their collector’s edition banner on March 27th. Get in for that pre-order now! 
Writer and director Martin McDonagh has hit big this year with his highly acclaimed and decorated third feature film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. It has been collecting hardware for the overall film as well as the performances of Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell, with Woody Harrelson receiving nominations for his role. Like many others, I’ve been a big fan of McDonagh for his first two films; In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths. Films that are also worthy of the celebration Three Billboards is receiving this year. What makes me excited for this 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray release is that his short film (and first), the Academy Award winning Six Shooter starring Brendan Gleeson has been included. This release is already available, so if you’re too tired to go to a store and pick it up, please click on the Amazon link to order yourself a copy. 
