Avengers: Endgame (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
Here we are with the home video release of the biggest movie in the world of all time, Avengers: Endgame. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? That one that followed up the previous years’ giant film with a giant cliffhanger and brought together all of the major superheroes on screen together? No, not Justice League. Okay, I’ll stop being dumb, but how else to introduce a movie that practically the entire population knows what it is and has seen it AT LEAST one time? Its coming to all the formats, including the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format which I am reviewing here. A format that Disney has struggled with overall, with some bright spots leading to hoping a corner had been turned, only to backpedal quickly after. Where will Endgame stand in that pantheon? THERE’S our mystery for the intro paragraph! Well, lets continue!
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God has appointed three archangels to fight against Lucifer, who has assumed human features. Archangel Raphael, in the guise of Father Damon, kills Lucifer and ends his life in jail. But his sister, Archangel Mikhail, knows that one day the Devil will reappear. Eighteen years later, Lucifer returns, now in the form of Andrew, a brilliant but shy schoolboy at Alexandria High who becomes conscious of his devilish nature on his birthday. Archangel Mikhail, allies with Gabrielle to defeat Lucifer in this “remarkably assured, personal and powerful film [that] is never less than gripping” (TV Guide)!
Warner Archive Collection’s tail end of July slate included the Blu-ray debut of the legendary mystery/detective film from the 1930s, The Thin Man. This comedy bending caper was a pretty big hit in the decade and hindsight shows it was quite a big one, developing into one of cinema’s earliest series (Or as we would call them today, “franchises”). The Thin Man spawned a number of sequels through the 1940s as well as a television series in the 1950s. Will this initial release prove to be the first of many Thin Man mysteries to hit Blu-ray? One has to wonder if there are plans to release the remainder. Its probably dependent on how well the sales and actual demand turn out to be for this first film. So, if you’re wanting more Thin Blus (#ThinBlus ???), you’ll probably have to fork over the dollars to this one regardless. Its the name of the game as a boxed set of all the films likely is not in the cards at all. You can grab the original here by finding it on Warner Archive Collection’s site or the Amazon link after the review.
Pokemon: Detective Pikachu was the first potentially “real” challenger to Avengers: Endgame’s box office championship belt, but fell just under 9 million shy of taking it. As Avengers was the fourth film with that moniker, so was Detective Pikachu the fourth Warner Bros produced Pokemon movie (Though not in any continuity as the first 3 were animated from the later 90s/early 00s). There was potential for this movie to be a big hit, vying for a potentially mega popular franchise plus potential nostalgia. Though it wasn’t some juggernaut, the film did do some respectable global box office and came just shy of recouping its budget within the domestic US wide release on its own. Potentially the budget was a bit too much but I’m sure Warner had their eyes more on the global prize that just what it would do at home. The film is not heading its way to home video on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on August 6th where you can pick it up in stores or use the Amazon link below.
The legendary Christopher Lee (Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, The Lord of the Rings) is back as Dracula, bringing unspeakable horrors upon a local village that defies his evil reign. But when a young man and his luscious girlfriend unwittingly visit the Count’s castle, they find themselves trapped in a face-to-face frenzy of bloodthirsty vixens, religious blasphemy and sadistic henchmen. The prince of darkness has returned like never before, but will his horrific mark remain forever?
John Wick reloads for another worldwide smash hit when John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum arrives on Digital August 23 and on 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand September 10 from global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B). The highly anticipated third film in the blockbuster John Wick franchise is an action-packed, international thrill ride that is now Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh™.
Vice Squad has been on the Blu-ray wish list of many cult/exploitation collectors for some time now. The B-movie-like film was one that brought a sort of more seedy underground word of big city prostitution and sexual crimes to a more widespread mainstream release (It debuted at #4 at the box office back in 1982). Scream Factory (Of course) is the distribution label coming through to delight the fans and bring it to the Blu-ray format for the first time. And not just getting it to the format and calling it a day, they have slapped it with the Collector’s Edition label and put Reverend Entertainment on the job for the extras (Which always means rich, lengthy interviews!). This stacked release will be available to purchase on August 13th, but you can also pre-order the film from Shout! Factory’s website or our own Amazon link following the review. 
ROCKETMAN will land on Digital August 6th and on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, and DVD August 27th. The film, which stars Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, and Bryce Dallas Howard, showcases incredible performances of Elton John’s beloved songs by Taron Egerton. The Digital, 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray releases include over 75 minutes of bonus content including four extended musical sequences, deleted & extended scenes, sing-along tracks and much more.
Hellboy’s return to cinema was something of a conflicted affair. The decision to forego the beloved del Toro/Pearlman films and restart fresh was a ballsy one. But, there seemed to be some excitement from earlier photos and the casting of a popular actor in David Harbour. That enthusiasm did not translate into good review or many box office receipts however and led to stories breaking on what a messy, tough affair the film was behind the scenes. Despite that, there’s a feature length documentary on the new 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray for the film, which makes its way home to the format on July 23rd. Stunningly enough, it will be available at no extra charge for Amazon Prime members to see that same day. So, I supposed you can check it out before diving into your pockets to grab it.
The perfect movie for everyone arrives home this summer with the irreverent yet heartfelt sequel to the blockbuster sensation in The Secret Life of Pets 2, debuting on Digital August 13, 2019 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand August 27, 2019. From Illumination, the studio that brought you the original Despicable Me, Minions and Sing franchises, the highly anticipated follow up to the hit animated film led by a star-studded comedic cast reunites all of our favorite Pets and their growing families in a new chapter that explores the deep bond between them and the humans that love them. The 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital versions of the film are packed with more than 90 minutes* of bonus content only when you own, including two brand new, laugh-out-loud funny mini-movies – Super Gidget, featuring the film’s adorable Pomeranian Gidget and her best friend Max and Minion Scouts, starring everyone’s comical little helpers, the Minions. Additionally included are deleted scenes, DIY and drawing tutorials as well as a special interactive Captain Snowball Motion Comic allowing viewers to direct our boisterous bunny hero on his next move exclusive to the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray™ versions! As the dog days of summer come to an end, join this endearing cast of four-legged friends for a quality movie night of family fun with the film that uniquely reminds us of why we love our own pets and what makes them so very special. 
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, caught in between the mega popular Star Trek: The Next Generation and the more traditionally plotted Star Trek: Voyager, was typically overlooked during its time on the air or unappreciated. However, it was a show that was a gamechanger for the television landscape and today’s highly normal serialized storytelling. With no fully remastered and restored Blu-ray sets like The Next Generation likely ever coming fruition, we are instead treated to What We Left Behind; a documentary chronicling the series and its legacy with all the important people brought back to tell the story (Well, except Avery Brooks). Shout! Factory will be releasing this exciting event on Blu-ray on August 6th. This briefly had an event night in theaters, so if you missed out on it, this new Blu-ray is your chance. Plus it is truly loaded with more material beyond the documentary, so you’ll really want to check it out.
Last month it was Ivan Ooze, now Shout! Factory is moving onward with the Power Rangers movies with TURBO. Personally, I can’t say I’m familiar with this one as the whole thing had passed me by and I was probably “too cool” for it when Turbo released in 1997. I recently spoke with Steve Cardenas about the films and VERY positive about the first Power Ranger movie and pretty mum about Turbo here. So we shall see. Anyway, this is the first time for the film to be on the Blu-ray format (Was not included in the big set from last year) and it looks to also contain some nice supplemental fun here as well. You’ll be able to add it to your collection of Zords, Discs and more when it arrives on Blu-ray from Shout! Factory on July 30th.
