Dragonslayer (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
When I was making my Top 10 films of 2022 list, Sarah Polley’s Women Talking was one of my very last cuts. Its a terrific film that wound up being pretty silent come awards season chatter whereas it seemed like it was going to be a big player. For the Academy Awards, its been nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Nonetheless, some recognizing is better than none. You’ll be able to bring the film home on standard Blu-ray when it hits the market on March 7th. Unfortunately no 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray at this time, but a physical release is something to be grateful for (I’M STILL WAITING BARBARIAN ON AT LEAST REGULAR BLU-RAY!). The film with a stacked cast full of great performances is available to pre-order now and you can do so by scrolling all the way to the bottom of this page and clicking on the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
As part of the year-long centennial celebration for the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros. Studio, five films featuring the iconic DC Super Hero Superman – Superman: The Movie, Superman II, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, Superman III, and Superman IV – will be available for purchase in a five-film collection on 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital on April 18. Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the Superman films star Christopher Reeve as the legendary “Man of Steel.” On April 18, the Superman 1978 – 1987 5-Film Collection will be available to purchase on Ultra HD Blu-ray™ Disc from online and in-store at major retailers and available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more. The Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Packs will include an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the feature films in 4K with HDR, a Blu-ray disc with the feature films and special features in HD, and a Digital version of each film. Ultra HD Blu-ray showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before. 
Like a Scream sequel, Puss In Boots laid in hibernation for 11 years before returning to theaters with another adventure. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish came at the Holiday time in December and fare well against the mighty Avatar: The Way Of Water. The movie looked like something of an afterthought and then surprised and wowed audiences and critics alike. Now its coming home for hopefully more people to jump on board The Last Wish train. Released on February 28th, the movie will include an Atmos track and a slew of extras (including a new short) to keep the party going after the credits roll. You can order yourself a copy of Puss In Boots: The Last Wish by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of the page.
Embark on Magic Mike’s last hurrah, featuring Channing Tatum reprising his role as Mike Lane when “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” arrives for Premium Digital Ownership at home on February 28th . The film is directed by Steven Soderbergh from a script by Reid Carolin, with help from Soderbergh’s creative team behind the scenes includes production designer Pat Campbell (TV’s “The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself”), costume designer Christopher Peterson (“The Irishman”) and music supervisor Season Kent (“KIMI,” “Let Them All Talk”), with choreography by Alison Faulk and Luke Broadlick, both part of the “Magic Mike” franchise, starring “Magic” Mike Lane (Tatum). The film also stars Salma Hayek Pinault (“House of Gucci,” “Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard”), along with dancers from the “Magic Mike Live” shows in London and Las Vegas. The film will be available on Blu-ray and DVD beginning on April 18th . The film also stars Ayub Khan Din (TV’s “Ackley Bridge”), newcomer Jemelia George, Juliette Motamed (TV’s “We Are Lady Parts”) and Vicki Pepperdine (“Johnny English Strikes Again”). The film was produced by Nick Wechsler, Gregory Jacobs, Tatum, Carolin and Peter Kiernan with Julie M. Anderson executive producing. The film was recently released in limited theaters as a special opportunity for fans and they came out in numbers to experience this final film. 
Warner Bros is celebrating its 100th Anniversary with the release of many high profile classic titles new the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format. The look like they’ll all come with a nifty slip cover that has newer art and a header logo signifying the century of cinematic existence. I believe the first one under that look will be Antoine Fuqua’s 2001 Academy Award winning film Training Day (nabbing Denzel Washington the Best Actor trophy). In addition to a brand new 4K transfer, the police thriller will be getting a brand new Dolby Atmos track, the first time it will be presented at home in a lossless format. All of the extras originating from the first DVD release are carried over and provided here, too. Training Day will be released on February 28th and you can pre-order yourself a copy using the paid Amazon Associates link at the bottom of this review to secure yourself a copy. 
All four big-screen adventures featuring 
Heroic Gerard Butler teams up with Mike Colter when Plane is scheduled for arrival on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand March 28 from Lionsgate. From director Jean-François Richet (Blood Father, Assault on Precinct 13, Mesrine), Plane stars Gerard Butler (300, Law Abiding Citizen, The Phantom of the Opera), Mike Colter (TV’s “Luke Cage,” Men in Black 3, TV’s “Jessica Jones”), Yoson An (Mulan, Mortal Engines, TV’s “Creamerie”), Daniella Pineda (Jurassic World: Dominion, TV’s “The Vampire Diaries,” “Cowboy Bebop”), and Paul Ben-Victor (The Irishman, Get Hard, TV’s “True Detective”), and Tony Goldwyn (Ghost, The Last Samurai, TV’s “Scandal”).
William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist III will rise to a 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Collector’s Edition on March 28, 2023 from Scream Factory™. From the creator of the original The Exorcist, this terrifying third installment of the popular horror franchise creeps in 4K UHD for the first time. Fans can possess William Peter Blatty’s original version of the novel Legion with this director’s cut of The Exorcist III. Customers who pre-order their copy at ShoutFactory.com will receive an exclusive 18” x 24” rolled poster featuring the original theatrical artwork while supplies last.
