Archive for the 'Blu-ray Reviews' Category
May 27th, 2025 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
When Kingdom of Heaven was released in 2005, some critics and audiences walked out of the theater feeling underwhelmed. Sure, the visuals were impressive, and the premise had potential, but the film as a whole felt rushed and emotionally flat. At the time, I personally chalked it up as an ambitious misfire from Ridley Scott—grand in scale, but hollow at its core. That assessment changed completely when I finally watched the director’s cut, now newly presented in a stunning 4K restoration. I wasn’t just watching a longer version of the same film—I was watching the film as it was meant to be seen. It’s hard to overstate the difference. This is no mere extended edition; it’s a resurrection. And what emerges is nothing short of a modern epic.
Continue reading ‘Kingdom of Heaven (4K Blu-ray Steelbook Review)’
May 26th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Some films whisper. The Themroc Blu-ray snarls. This 1973 oddity from French director Claude Faraldo trades dialogue for guttural grunts and middle fingers, ditching logic for raw provocation. It’s the kind of movie that will either hypnotize or repel — and sometimes both at once. Radiance Films has given it the kind of treatment usually reserved for revered classics. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just curious about its cult status, this Blu-ray edition demands attention.
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May 25th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
The French underworld doesn’t get much colder than this. In Choice of Arms (1981), director Alain Corneau trades in the sweaty breakdowns of Serie Noire and the twisting tension of Police Python 357 for something more simmering — almost stately. Starring a trio of legends — Yves Montand, Gérard Depardieu, and Catherine Deneuve — this is a gangster film that’s more about regret than revenge, more psychological standoff than shootout. Presented in HD as the final entry in Radiance Films’ Hardboiled: Three Pulp Thrillers by Alain Corneau Blu-ray box set, Choice of Arms arrives looking crisp, cool, and confidently restrained. It’s a slow burn that may not hit as hard as its companions, but it leaves a bruise all the same. Continue reading ‘Hardboiled: Choice of Arms (Blu-ray Review)’
May 25th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Step into a squalid Parisian suburb where desperation sweats through cheap polyester, and every neon flicker spells doom. Serie Noire (1979) isn’t just noir — it’s scorched earth cinema. Patrick Dewaere practically disintegrates on screen as Frank Poupart, a door-to-door hustler unraveling in a world with no escape hatch. Directed by Alain Corneau and adapted from Jim Thompson’s A Hell of a Woman, this film is a fever dream of exploitation, existential dread, and twisted romance. With Radiance Films bringing Serie Noire to Blu-ray as part of their Hardboiled: Three Pulp Thrillers by Alain Corneau box set, the question is: how does this murky descent look and sound in HD? Let’s dig into why this Serie Noire Blu-ray release might be one of the grimiest treasures on your shelf. Continue reading ‘Hardboiled: Serie Noire (Blu-ray Review)’
May 25th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Step into the smoky, paranoia-drenched alleys of late-1970s France — Police Python 357 grabs you by the collar and drags you deep into a tangled web of obsession and betrayal. The new Police Python 357 Blu-ray from Radiance Films isn’t just a fresh coat of paint on a cult classic; it’s a presentation that makes every shadow crawl and every whisper count. This isn’t a mere relic — it’s a pulse-pounding trip into the noir heart of French cinema. Police Python 357 is featured in the Hardboiled: Three Pulp Thrillers by Alain Corneau box set, sitting alongside two more razor-sharp crime gems.
Continue reading ‘Hardboiled: Police Python 357 (Blu-ray Review)’
May 21st, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
John Carpenter’s Starman has always stood out — a sci-fi romance with a big heart and a quietly brilliant performance from Jeff Bridges. Now, the film makes its debut in stunning native 4K as part of an exclusive SteelBook release that promises to win over longtime fans and curious newcomers alike. With a Dolby Vision presentation, an impressive Atmos upgrade, and a solid suite of extras, the Starman 4K UHD Blu-ray is more than just a pretty package. But does this Steelbook edition truly do justice to one of Carpenter’s most unexpectedly emotional films? Let’s take a look. Continue reading ‘Starman (4K UHD Blu-ray Steelbook Review)’
May 21st, 2025 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
When A Knight’s Tale premiered nearly 25 years ago, it was a crowd pleaser and a critic puzzler. Filled with musical anachronisms, rollicking jousting and a sweet rom com for the women in the audience, A Knight’s Tale ended up being something of a box office success and a cult favorite. After spending years languishing on a nearly 20-year-old Blu-ray, with the aged wrinkles of the earlier years of the format to prove it, Sony has been gracious enough to give fans a brand-new edition of A Knight’s Tale, this time in 4K. We get not only the theatrical but also the extended cut in 4K! So, put on your armor and get your javelin ready for the joust, because the Golden Years are still ahead!
Continue reading ‘A Knight’s Tale (4K UHD Blu-ray Steelbook Review)’
May 20th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Radiance Films’ Girl with a Suitcase Blu-ray brings Valerio Zurlini’s classic 1961 romance to home video in a beautifully restored edition from Radiance Films. If you’ve been waiting to see Claudia Cardinale shine in high definition, this Blu-ray release delivers with crisp visuals and newly translated English subtitles. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Italian cinema or discovering Girl with a Suitcase for the first time, this release stands out for its thoughtful restoration and collectible packaging. With region coding friendly to A, B, and C, and an international audience in mind, this disc is a perfect import for film lovers building a world-class collection. Continue reading ‘Girl with a Suitcase (Blu-ray Review)’
May 20th, 2025 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Americans sort of missed the boat on Robbie Williams. He dropped in on us via MTV, most likely TRL, with the minor hit Millenium in 1999. The video was in heavy rotation, however the song didn’t make the impact it was meant to. The compilation album The Ego Has Landed was fashioned as Williams’ American debut, and it too fizzled. We just weren’t ready for that ego I guess. We also never seemed to realize that Williams was an established international star before that song dropped on us. Pre-internet boom, this was entirely possible. When I first saw a trailer for Better Man in theaters well over a year ago, my husband leaned over and said “who?” before immediately following up with “and why is he a monkey?” The question remains, was America still not ready for Robbie Williams?
Continue reading ‘Better Man (Paramount Presents 4K Blu-ray Review)’
May 19th, 2025 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Film fanatics have long been enjoying the feasts of Bong Joon Ho’s labors. His films are visually striking, and his screenwriting is bitingly satirical and socially conscious. The challenging filmmaking goes noticed in all the best ways and those who see his films eat those ideas up! Mickey 17 sat waiting for release delayed for a while and when the film finally was released, unfortunately it failed to reach the audience it might have been able to generate with more promotion or stronger word of mouth. Now, Mickey and his 17…or is it…18??… are available to own on disc… Will you be wanting to bring him home?
Continue reading ‘Mickey 17 (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
May 18th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Our Hokuriku Proxy War Blu-ray review dives into one of the most explosive yakuza films of the 1970s, now available in a sharp new Region A & B edition from Radiance Films. This 1977 Japanese crime classic arrives on Blu-ray with a strong HD transfer sourced from a 4K restoration, crisp English subtitles, and all the gritty style you’d expect from director Kinji Fukasaku. Whether you’re in the US, UK, or collecting worldwide, this Radiance Films disc is a no-brainer for fans of gangster epics, violent power struggles, or anyone searching for a deep cut in Japanese cinema. Continue reading ‘Hokuriku Proxy War (Blu-ray Review)’
May 18th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
This Rapacious Jailbreaker Blu-ray review takes a look at one of the wildest Japanese crime films from the 1970s, now getting a fresh Blu-ray release from Radiance Films. Starring Hiroki Matsukata as a relentless escape artist, this pulpy true-crime story throws you straight into the chaos of postwar Japan. The new Region A & B disc brings crisp picture and sound, making it a must for collectors of Japanese genre cinema or anyone who loves a good jailbreak flick.
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May 15th, 2025 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Dune is perhaps one of the more tricky properties ever to be chosen for filming ever. The 1984 film by David Lynch was a litmus test for what could be in 80’s. It’s a spectacular failure that never really lives up to the incredible filmmaker’s imagination. Other filmmakers tried in between, including one television adaptation that may have come close. Then Denis Villeneuve delivered with 2 incredible films that somehow made the saga of Paul Atreides and Arrakis accessible on-screen for the first time ever. Now, we are in a time where people want to see more going on in the “Dune-iverse” so to speak. Dune: Prophecy is the first such spin-off. Premiering on HBO in 2024, the show divided critics but seemed to find an audience with its first season. Now on Blu-ray and 4K, we have it to hold onto!
Continue reading ‘Dune: Prophecy (Season 1) (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
May 15th, 2025 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
It goes without saying that many of us grew up with Paddington Bear in some form. Be it books, TV or even now films, the marmalade loving, rain hat sporting bear has been a part of many a childhood forever now. The film series has been a warm and pleasant surprise not only commercially but critically as well, with Paddington 2 legitimately becoming one of the best reviewed films of all time. 2024 brought us Paddington In Peru which was another critical success, and a sleeper hit in theaters. While not a monumental achievement like its predecessor (how can you top perfection, right?), the film is still a glowing representation of the sweet as marmalade personality inherent to the character.
Continue reading ‘Paddington In Peru (Blu-ray Review)’
May 14th, 2025 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
As the new year dawned, it was time for a new phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This could be a cause for commotion for some movie fans and a cause for a yawn for others. If you, like me are suffering from superhero fatigue you could be experiencing a curiosity and a cautionary feeling at the same time. Captain America: Brave New World brought the new phase into motion. For me, it feels like a soft launch. In general, how did the movie land? Did it soar above expectations like our new Falcon Captain America, or land with a thud?
Continue reading ‘Captain America: Brave New World (4K UHD Steelbook Review)’
May 13th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Our A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness Blu-ray review covers one of the strangest and most unexpected thrillers to come out of 1970s Japan. This 1977 genre-bender blends sports, scandal, and psychological breakdowns into something that feels both pulpy and unsettling. Radiance Films brings it to Blu-ray for the first time in English-friendly territory with a Region A & B disc, a new HD transfer, and excellent packaging. For collectors of Japanese cult cinema and fans of deep-cut imports, this release finally gives the film a proper spotlight.
Continue reading ‘A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness (Blu-ray Review)’
May 13th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
This Underworld Beauty Blu-ray review kicks off with Seijun Suzuki’s stylish 1958 noir, now available in a new transfer from Radiance Films that brings this cult classic to Region A & B audiences. Region A & B compatible, this disc makes it easier than ever to experience one of Suzuki’s earliest directorial efforts. Shot in crisp black and white CinemaScope, Underworld Beauty blends crime, pulp, and a dash of sex appeal into a lean, 87-minute thrill ride. It’s not as wild as his later films, but the style is already there — and it pops beautifully on this new Blu-ray edition.
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May 11th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Our Weak Spot Blu-ray review takes a look at one of the more obscure political thrillers to resurface on disc, this time from the darker corners of 1970s European cinema. Directed by Peter Fleischmann and starring Michel Piccoli, the 1975 film La Faille is slow-burning, unsettling, and soaked in paranoia. It’s the kind of movie that quietly gets under your skin — not with flashy action or big twists, but with mood, menace, and unease. Radiance Films brings it back into circulation with a new transfer and an edition that finally gives this hidden gem some room to breathe. For fans of political thrillers or slow-burn dramas, this Weak Spot Blu-ray Review highlights why the film is worth rediscovering in high definition. Continue reading ‘Weak Spot (Blu-ray Review)’
