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Archive for the 'Blu-ray Reviews' Category

Love Hurts (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

2025 already feels like a revival of the exploitation film.  We’ve seen one with a superhero and one about a crazy pilot.  Now we have one about a former assassin trying to do good. Love Hurts debuted just in time for Valentine’s Day this year and was poised to continue Ke Huy Quan’s comeback after his historic Oscar win.  When the film failed to recoup its budget and went quickly to PVOD, it was fast tracked to physical media.  So now, making its way to 4K and Blu-ray, how painful is Love Hurts? 

 

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Companion (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

In this crazy time for America, artificial intelligence is a huge topic of debate.  The use of AI has made things just a bit too creepy for some.  When used for good of course AI is wonderful.  We know though that that’s not always going to be the case. Now imagine a world where AI is used in those ways we would rather it not be used.  Some of those nightmares are realized within the film Companion. Disguised as a romantic comedy at first, Companion turns into a nightmarish thriller that just so happens to be full of laughs too. Read on more about the Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid meet-cute shocker and don’t be fooled by its outward appearance because things are not as they seem.

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A Complete Unknown (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Bob Dylan has been a source of incredible music since the early 60’s. His folk-inspired sound was original even when his debut was nothing but covers. He skated tremendous controversy upon his attempt to explore electric instrumentation with his now indispensable “Highway 61 Revisited” album. The music outraged the folk music fandom but led to the influencing of a generation and for many artist and music fans to come became a milestone in music history. Dylan’s career from the beginnings to the moment he “goes electric” are covered in James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown. Taking a quick line from the classic “Like A Rolling Stone” the film offers a sumptuous glimpse into the life of the reclusive music legend. So how, you ask, is the film and its 4K presentation? Find out within the review, and know the answer is not just blowin’ in the wind.

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Mufasa: The Lion King (4K UHD Steelbook Review)

2019’s The Lion King was a technical marvel for the time.  It’s lip-sync was a little creepy with talking animals looking a bit off, but the CGI otherwise was undeniable.  The billion dollars the film made was no slouch either.  When Barry Jenkins signed on for the inevitable follow-up, this time a prequel, I know I wasn’t the only one that was curious to see what would happen.  Cue Mufasa: The Lion King. Much to my surprise, the visual flare of Jenkins works well with a mega budget and a bevy of stars.  Read more about the “live-action” prequel inside the review and find out more about the once and future Lion King.

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Legend of the Eight Samurai (Blu-ray Review)

Legend of the eight Samurai Blu-rayA Japanese box-office sensation directed by the revered Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale), Legend of the Eight Samurai brings together an impressive ensemble cast, including Hiroko Yakushimaru (Sailor Suit and Machine Gun), Hiroyuki Sanada (Ring), Sonny Chiba (Message from Space) and Etsuko Shihomi (The Street Fighter), in a sweeping epic that blends fantasy with historical drama. Following Message from Space, which transported the story to a science fiction setting, Legend of the Eight Samurai is Fukasaku’s second loose adaptation of Toshio Kamata’s Shin Satomi Hakkenden, itself an adaptation of Kyokutei Bakin’s earlier epic novel Nanso Satomi Hakkenden. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present Legend of the Eight Samurai on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from a new 4K restoration! Legend of the Eight Samurai is now available on Blu-ray!  Continue reading ‘Legend of the Eight Samurai (Blu-ray Review)’

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Flight Risk (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Did any of us have it on our 2025 bingo cards that Mark Wahlberg or Mel Gibson would be returning to theaters with a B-grade exploitation actioner? I definitely did not. Flight Risk, however, is just that. A quick and dirty 90 minutes, is Flight Risk worth all the hatred it received from critics and audiences? Will it work better at home? Find out in the review. Don’t forget to buckle up, there may be some turbulence ahead.

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Godzilla vs. Biollante – The Criterion Collection (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

It is truly a great time to be a Godzilla fan. The 70+-year-old character is as popular as it ever was. That appreciation has led to spectacular new films and the release of older ones on modern formats. Godzilla vs. Biollante is one of my favorite Godzilla films, let alone my favorite of the 80s/90s Heisei era. Still, it was also known for a long time as one of the more difficult entries to get a hold of. Thanks to the Criterion Collection, this 4K UHD release delivers this wonderfully strange addition to the franchise onto a disc that has allowed for an excellent new transfer, some fun bonus features, and more.

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Wolf Man (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Wolf Man LeadThe Universal “Monster-Verse” has been up and down for what feels like decades now. The Wolf Man debuted in 2008 with a whisper. Way before that, in the late 90s, The Mummy set the tone for what could’ve been a legendary run of revived monster films.  The Mummy series continued, but its returns weren’t as promising as the debut. Things went quiet until The Mummy and a rebranded Dark Universe were revived again, this time with Tom Cruise, and this time being a critical flop.  Then, nothing once again.  Cue Leigh Whannell’s 2020 remake of The Invisible Man. Told with a modern twist involving gaslighting and a strong female character, the film was a success during the pandemic, leading to renewed interest in Universal’s monster movie legacy. Now, 5 years later, we have Wolf Man. Not The Wolf Man – just Wolf Man. How does this modernized version of the classic werewolf tale go? Do we have another success or another miss? Prepare for some shocking transformations and some revelations about the 4K transfer of 2025’s first monster flick!

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Tommy Boy (30th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray Steelbook Review)

Comedy films are in short supply in 2025.  The genre has always been a great comfort to me as a movie fanatic.  This is easily the most populated genre in my collection.  The genre is also the one that has many movie memories attached to it for me.  One such film that holds memories for me is Tommy Boy. When Tommy Boy was first teased to come to 4K, I got super excited.  Then nothing for a long time.  Then boom – The real announcement came in.  I was ecstatic.  I went right back to the newly 9-year-old me that bought Tommy Boy on tape with his birthday money.  So how does Tommy Boy hold up 30 years from its initial release? No guarantee on the steelbook, but I’m gonna take Tommy’s word for it that it holds up!

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Moana 2 (4K UHD Blu-ray Steelbook Review)

I’ve said it before previously, but I am a preschool teacher in my day job.  I hear about animated films from the children and their parents.  When it comes to Disney properties, I hear about them more often and sometimes overwhelmingly.  Frozen and Moana are the films that are almost constantly referenced.  Moana 2 emerged as a huge hit for Disney, and yes, I have heard plenty about the film and more than enough of the songs.  But how did the film go down for my first viewing?  Read on below and get to the nitty gritty not just on Moana’s newest adventure, but of this 4K Steelbook release too!

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Amadeus (Theatrical Cut) (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

40 years ago, the past was having a bit of a resurgence.  Linda Ronstadt was topping the pop charts with an album of old-time standards with a full orchestra.  In theaters we were taken back in time with films like The Color Purple and Amadeus. With Amadeus, Milos Forman and playwright Peter Schaffer crafted a gloriously accessible period drama that could excite, stun, and incite laughter in anyone. Now in 2025, for the first time since 2002 the Theatrical Cut has been made available on home media for the first time.  Amadeus won the Oscar for Best Picture along with seven other awards and deservedly so.  Let’s go back with Wolfie and the orchestra and see what it was like living with a made-up rivalry with Antonio Salieri…

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Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

I did not have it on my bingo card to see a sequel to Den of Thieves. Regardless of how that first film ended, it just felt like a one-off film for me.  It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t my favorite either admittedly.  When Den of Thieves 2: Pantera was first announced and my research told me it was finished in 2023, I wondered if it had been held back for any specific reasons and felt relief when it turned out to be a distributer issue.  Now, all I had to do was turn my brain off and watch… So, what’s going on with “Big” Nick and Donnie these days? Find out where they’re at and what the next score is below! You may want to get in on it yourself!

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Gladiator II (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Nearly 25 years passed between the releases of Gladiator and Gladiator II. Between releases I know I wasn’t the only one hearing rumors of a sequel and wondering: “What the hell could they possibly need to dig up to make another movie about??” But here we are at the home release of Gladiator II. A few months after the theatrical release, after the reveal of a massively talented and famous cast and mixed to positive reviews not unlike the original film, we have a new release on 4K and Blu-ray.  I will come out right away and say it – Gladiator II more than delivers, and you can read more about that now! As Maximus Meridius once asked, “Are you not entertained?” I was with this new installment, and the presentation is: Chef’s Kiss…

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Kraven The Hunter (Blu-ray Review)

Kraven The Hunter is the latest of Sony’s Marvel output.  A standalone story, the film came out just before Christmas and landed with a thud at the box office.  Now not even three months after its slip in theaters, the film is debuting on Blu-ray and 4K.  So how does it really fare? Does Aaron Taylor-Johnson have the heart of a lion to defeat the nasty poachers of the world? Find out inside the review.  You’ll no doubt read about some Russell Crowe scene chewing too!

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Panic Room (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Even early into 2025, it feels like the year of David Fincher.  With the late 2024 release of Zodiac in 4K, as well as the new years release of Se7en for its 30th Anniversary we’ve already seen some of his greatest hits on display in the best physical media format.  Now, we’ve got Panic Room making its UHD and Blu-ray debuts from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment! How did this tense thriller take over 20 years to make it to these formats?  How many of us are still holding onto our slim Superbit DVDs of Panic Room? And where does the film live on your list of Fincher flicks? Read on and find out what’s hidden behind the mirrored door!

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Constantine (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Constantine directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Keanu Reeves, is a visually stunning film that delves into the supernatural world of demons and angels. The movie is based on the DC Comics’ Hellblazer series and follows John Constantine, a cynical occult detective with the ability to see and communicate with half-angels and half-demons. Now after 20 years, the film has elevated from box office sleeper hit with bad reviews to huge selling physical media fan favorite with tons of fans! Now, will those fans be pleased with this new 4K release? Find out below and keep your Holy Shotgun cocked just in case any half demons come popping out!

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September 5 (Blu-ray Review)

Do you ever wonder when The Olympics became something more than a show of sportsmanship between the many countries of our world? Do you ever stop to think of the time when there was less political meaning behind the games and more of a coming together for friendly competition? I often do. As a kid, I remember The Olympic Games as a great source of excitement in 1988, 1992 and 1996.  Looking back in history though, it seems as if there has always been a political stance within The Olympics, and one of intolerance.  In the case of the 1972 games, this intolerance came to an unbelievably explosive head in Munich between Israel and Palestine. Much like today, the bad blood remains.  Perhaps all too timely, September 5 was released to film festivals and in select cinemas in 2024, and then wide earlier this year.  The film now makes its debut on Blu-ray, available NOW.  Read on for my thoughts on the film!

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The Social Network (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Social Network 4K UHD Blu-rayOn a fall night in 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius Mark Zuckerberg sits down at his computer and heatedly begins working on a new idea. In a fury of blogging and programming, what begins in his dorm room soon becomes a global social network and a revolution in communication. A mere six years and 500 million friends later, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history… but for this entrepreneur, success leads to both personal and legal complications. The Social Network is released on 4K UHD Blu-ray (in a Steelbook!) February 18, 2025! Continue reading ‘The Social Network (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’

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