March 22nd, 2023 by Brandon Peters
In the era of dwindling star power, Gerard Butler is still a guy who can open a movie pretty well. Granted, he’s more known for sort of mid-tier action movie, but there’s proven to be a pretty rock solid audience for that when he’s in them. His main franchise is the …Has Fallen series, but people will go see him in other things, which said other things are original action movies or knock offs. Plane is the most recent one, coming out to good reviews and decent business back in January. Its now making its way to home video with a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray that is set to drop on March 28th. It comes loaded with a Dolby Atmos audio track and three featurettes. You can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
Continue reading ‘Plane (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
March 21st, 2023 by Gregg Senko
It’s been a short while since the last Pacific Rim film or Godzilla vs. Kong, but we are due for a good kaiju film, are we not? Straight from Thailand comes The Lake from writer Lee Thongkam who also co-directed with Aqing Xu. Although it’s a 2022 film, it is just now making its way across the Pacific to the shores of the States. Billed as a sci-fi, horror, thriller, The Lake clocks in with a one hour and 44-minute runtime and bills itself as “Godzilla’s water brother from a Thai mother!” That’s cool and all, but does it deliver?
Continue reading ‘The Lake (Film Review)’
March 19th, 2023 by Brandon Peters
A film that has oddly avoided being upgraded to Blu-ray all these years is 1981’s fantasy epic, Dragonslayer. Known for its terrific ILM effects, the film didn’t quite hit Star Wars numbers and has been relegated to cult classic in its lifetime. Now, 42 years later, Paramount is putting it out in a brand new 4K Ultra-HD edition with a restoration on both sight and sound that will be of worth great waiting for the fans. It also features a documentary on the film as well as a commentary with the director and Guillermo del Toro and screen tests. Dragonslayer will be releasing on March 21st in regular and collectible steelbook editions. Whether or not you want the full MacNicol, you can use the paid Amazon associates link following the review to secure yourself a copy of this sure collector’s item for physical media enthusiasts.
Continue reading ‘Dragonslayer (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
March 17th, 2023 by Brandon Peters
Critically acclaimed filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan returns with his seventh #1 movie debut, KNOCK AT THE CABIN, yours to own on Digital March 24 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™ and DVD on May 9 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Based on the book “The Cabin at the End of the World” by Paul Tremblay, the suspenseful apocalyptic thriller is “a relentlessly gripping winner” (The Playlist) that “commands your attention at every reveal” (Comicbook). KNOCK AT THE CABIN comes home with more than 40 minutes of exclusive bonus content, including deleted scenes and featurettes that dives deep into the film’s layered and multi-dimensional themes, Shyamalan’s visionary filmmaking process, and more. Continue reading ‘M. Night Shyamalan’s KNOCK AT THE CABIN Arrives On 4K UHD Blu-ray May 9th!’
March 16th, 2023 by Brandon Peters
One of the funniest stories my friend Scott Mendelson and I have is when we snuck into a test screening of James Wan’s Dead Silence back in (I’m guessing) 2006. For those curious, the “Alternate Opening” and “Alternate Ending” on the bonus features were in the version we saw and the title was simply Silence. Working in the entertainment industry, Scott and I weren’t supposed to be allowed into those things, and if caught would be blacklisted from all test screenings around town. Long story short, I was almost caught because of how I answered a question with an organizer while in line and it led to her introducing me to Leigh Whannell before the film started. Well, I hadn’t seen the film since that screening – UNTIL NOW. Scream Factory is debuting the film on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on March 28th and I get to review it. It features new interviews with Wan and Whannell as well as the guy who mad the dumies for the movie. You can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link at the end of the review.
Continue reading ‘Dead Silence – Collector’s Edition (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
March 15th, 2023 by Brandon Peters
Nominated for three Academy Awards this past Sunday, Darren Aronofsky’s film adaptation of Samuel D. Hunter’s stage play The Whale is now out on Blu-ray. Releasing on March 14th, the film comes with a digital code and two featurettes. As with most A24 films, its only getting a standard Blu-ray release upon its home video debut. Of those three awards, it took home Best Actor (Brendan Fraser) and Best Hair and Make-up. The only one it didn’t snag was Best Supporting Actress (Hong Chau). Fraser’s win did help A24 pull off a clean sweep of all the acting awards as a studio at this year’s Oscars. If you’re wanting to own the film, you can use the paid Amazon Associates link at the bottom of the page, following the review.
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Continue reading ‘The Whale (Blu-ray Review)’
March 15th, 2023 by Brandon Peters
The filmgoing year of 2023 has already begun to great success with the box office smash, well review and audience-liked horror comedy M3GAN. The film went beyond its viral marketing fun to become a film that stood all on its own just fine. One would have thought it would lead to a nice 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release, but like many Blumhouse or James Wan projects, just a standard Blu-ray with mayyyyyybe a 4K later on down the road. M3GAN will include 3 featurettes and the Unrated Cut of the film (its not really a whole lot different). It will be available online and in stores on March 21st. You can order yourself a copy to be to you at or around the release by using the paid Amazon Associates link at the bottom of this review.
Continue reading ‘M3GAN (Blu-ray Review)’
March 15th, 2023 by Aaron Neuwirth
Coming in June: Medicine for Melancholy, the sublime San Francisco–set feature debut of love and connection by Barry Jenkins, rubs shoulders with The Servant, Joseph Losey’s savagely witty British class-war classic, while two favorites—The Rules of the Game, Jean Renoir’s merciless critique of French society, and Time Bandits, Terry Gilliam’s fantastic odyssey to the limits of the imagination—arrive on 4K UHD. Plus, our recently announced nine-film box set Pasolini 101!
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– Continue reading ‘Renoir, Jenkins, Gilliam & More Coming to The Criterion Collection June 2023’
March 15th, 2023 by Brandon Peters
A creator’s big swing. A huge 3 hour Hollywood history epic. High Oscar hopes. Largely divisive reaction. Box office bombing. Minimal Oscar love. That’s the wild ride that was Damien Chazelle’s Babylon just a few months back during the holiday season. I, for one, loved the film but many were taken aback and almost turned into nuns when it came to what the film dished out. Nonetheless, its probably going to have a bit of a cult fanbase that grows in years to come. And one way to keepsake it or check it out is the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray edition that is arriving on March 21st. It comes with some featuerettes as well as the option to put it on your shelf in collectible steelbook packaging. The Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Diego Calva fictional drama about Hollywood’s transition from silent to sound can be yours if you pre-order it now using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of the page.
Continue reading ‘Babylon – Limited Edition Steelbook (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
March 14th, 2023 by Brandon Peters
William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist III has had quite the cult surge over its lifetime since being released in 1990. Its largely gone from middling reviewed, forgotten about by modern audiences of the time film to being generally accepted as a bonafide horror classic and the best Exorcist sequel in present day. The film has been fully appreciated for more than just that one good jump scare hidden within it. Scream Factory surely knows this and is upgrading their boffo Collector’s Edition from a few years back to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray at the end of the month on March 28th. Included here are all the previous bells and whistles as well as the theatrical edition that features a 2022 4K scan of the original camera negative. You can order the film now so you can have it on or around the release date by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows this review.
Continue reading ‘The Exorcist III – Collector’s Edition (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
March 14th, 2023 by Brandon Peters
Millions of viewers know now why loyal gamers have been clamoring for a worthy adaptation of The Last of Us. Based on the famed video game of the same name, the HBO original drama series marked HBO’s second largest debut, behind only “House of the Dragon,” and has shown consistent growth throughout its first season culminating in a 75% increase in Sunday night’s finale audience. Recently renewed for a second season, fans can own all nine episodes of the critically-acclaimed first season along with nearly 3 hours of special features including 3 all-new featurettes, when The Last of Us: The Complete First Season comes to 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on July 18, 2023 and will be available to purchase Digitally* on April 11, 2023. The Last of Us takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival. Continue reading ‘Own THE LAST OF US: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON On 4K UHD Blu-ray July 18th!’
March 14th, 2023 by Brandon Peters
Based on the novel Julia by Peter Straub, the atmospheric supernatural thriller The Haunting of Julia (aka Full Circle) has developed a cult following amongst film fans for its intelligent yet deeply chilling take on a modern ghost story. Never before available on DVD or Blu-ray in the US, this long-sought after film will be available on physical media for the first time in decades as a 4K UHD+Blu-ray combo pack on April 18, 2023 from Scream Factory. The Haunting of Julia features a new 4K restoration from the original negative as well as a bevy of brand-new bonus features including an Audio Commentary by director Richard Loncraine and film historian Simon Fitzjohn, an interview with actor Tom Conti, an interview with actress Samantha Gates, the featurette Park Life where Simon Fitzjohn revisits the locations from the film, featurette A Haunting Retrospective with film critic/author Kim Newman, and more! Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com Continue reading ‘Cult Favorite THE HAUNTING OF JULIA Makes Its 4K UHD Blu-ray Debut April 18th!’
March 13th, 2023 by Gerard Iribe
Director Ringo Lam’s (Wild Search, City on Fire) only film in the wuxia genre is also one his best and bloodiest. Hunted by the Manchu government, a young Fok Sai-yuk is captured and sent to the Red Lotus Temple, where Shaolin monks are enslaved and viciously tortured by the sadistic warden Kung (Wong Kam Kong). Thrown into a pit of corpses and left to die, Fong survives and attempts to save his Shaolin brothers. Produced by Tsui Hark, Burning Paradise is a dark fantasy epic, filled with shocking violence and incredible choreography. Eureka Classics is proud to present the film for the first time in the UK since the VHS era in a blood-soaked special edition. Burning Paradise is released on Blu-ray May 29, 2022!
Continue reading ‘‘Burning Paradise’ on Blu-ray May 29!’
March 13th, 2023 by Gerard Iribe
After the huge success of Mr. Vampire, Hong Kong audiences were desperate for more vampire-hopping action and the films’ producers were more than happy to oblige. A steady stream of jiangshi content was produced over the following years, and presented here are 4 of these classic titles from stunning new restorations. In Mr Vampire II (aka Vampire Family) an archaeologist and his students unwittingly set free a family of hopping vampires who wreak havoc in 1980s Hong Kong. Mr Vampire III returns to a period setting and sees Lam Ching-ying’s Taoist priest battle an evil witch (a brilliant performance by veteran actress Pauline Yuk-Wan Wong). Mr Vampire IV (aka Uncle Vampire) two feuding neighbors (a Taoist priest and a Buddhist monk) must join forces when their village is overrun by vampires. And finally in Vampire vs Vampire, Lam Ching-ying’s Taoist priest finds his jiangshi-fighting knowledge is of little help when he goes up against a European vampire. Featuring a bevy of Hong Kong legends including Lam Ching-ying, Yuen Biao, Wu Ma, Richard Ng, Yuen Wah, and many more – this collection brings together four beloved films in definitive presentations in a very special edition. Filled with screams and laughs, Eureka Classics is proud to present Hopping Mad: The Mr Vampire Sequels on Blu-ray May 22, 2023!
Continue reading ‘‘Hopping Mad: The Mr. Vampire Sequels’ on Blu-ray May 22!’
March 13th, 2023 by Brian White
Rocky movies mean the world to me. Let me start by saying that. The Rocky films are sacred to me and have personally got me through some tough times in life, which I’ll elaborate on in a moment. However, is the price of admission here to get these films on the 4K UHD Disc format worth it? I think that’s the more relevant question to be addressed here. Truth be told when these were announced I didn’t even get excited. I’ve been so disappointed with the quality of some of the catalog films I have seen recently on 4K Disc that I just wasn’t whet with anticipation here. But come on man! We’re talking Rocky Balboa. So let me do this. Let me set aside some of the problems I have with this “Knockout” release for the moment and tell you about my love for the Rocky and now Creed film franchises. Deal? Don’t worry. We’ll get to my beefs soon enough. Continue reading ‘Rocky: The Knockout Collection (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
March 11th, 2023 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Whitney Houston lived an entire life in the public eye. From her early days as a background singer and model, to TV guest actress and finally singing superstar and leading lady, Whitney never really shed the pre-destined image of herself. She was a chameleon, working through each circle, code switching along the way. This drew sharp criticism from the peanut gallery and often caused her to publicly act out when she grew tired of putting on the brave face of America’s Sweetheart. Kasi Lemmons, Naomi Ackie, The Estate of Whitney Houston, Anthony McCarten, and Clive Davis among a huge number of others came together to create a definitive film portrait of the decade long gone Whitney, and for the sum of its parts, it feels a little flat. I go in depth below on Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody and you can click the paid link at the end if you want to get your own copy of the recently released Blu-ray.
Continue reading ‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Blu-ray Review)’
March 8th, 2023 by Gerard Iribe
An uncompromising visionary and a true maverick of European cinema, the Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present three films by Andrzej Żuławski, all making their UK debuts on Blu-ray from new 4K restorations. Rich with multi-layered symbolism and apocalyptic imagery, The Third Part of the Night is Żuławski’s highly influential debut feature film. After his whole family is slaughtered during the Nazi-occupation of Poland, Michal (Leszek Teleszyński) decides to join the resistance but descends into madness after encountering a doppelgänger of his murdered wife. The Devil is a violent tale of Satanic seduction during the Prussian invasion of Poland in the 17th century, which proved so controversial upon release that it was banned for 16 years. And finally, On the Silver Globe, Żuławski’s masterpiece about a team of astronauts who land on a desolate planet and start a new society. When filming was 80% complete, the Polish government ordered the production to be shut down and all the negatives be destroyed. Miraculously, the original film reels were preserved and ten years later the film was presented at the Cannes Film Festival to great acclaim. Andrzej Zulawski Three Films is released on Blu-ray May 22, 2023! Continue reading ‘‘Andrzej Zulawski: Three Films’ on Blu-ray May 22, 2023!’
March 8th, 2023 by Brandon Peters
Warner Bros. Discovery has meticulously remastered Max Fleischer’s treasured set of 17 animated Superman shorts from the original 35mm source elements. Max Fleischer’s Superman 1941-1943 will be available to purchase Digitally on HD and on Blu-ray May 16, 2023. Superman made his comic book debut in 1938, appearing in Action Comics #1 (dated June 1938, but officially published on April 18, 1938), and the Man of Steel’s popularity grew with his subsequent radio program. Max Fleischer gave the world’s first Super Hero his initial animated spotlight, producing 17 theatrical animated shorts from September 1941 to July 1943 that further elevated the character’s profile, and added many significant aspects to his canon – including coining many of Superman’s patented catchphrases and attributes. Continue reading ‘Own Remastered MAX FLEISCHER’S SUPERMAN 1941-1943 On Blu-ray May 16th!’