Justice Society: World War II (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
May 2nd, 2021 by Brandon Peters
The Animated DC Universe continues its impressive and well received run going back to the past again with Justice Society: World War II. We get the present meeting such as The Flash goes back and meets a younger Wonder Woman and crew. It’ll be arriving to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on May 11th. It’ll include a making of Featurette as well as a look at the highly anticipated Batman: The Long Halloween Part One. You can pre-order the film now and have it on or around the release date from the paid Amazon Associates link that comes after the review below. It helps the site and it helps you by landing a quality animated superhero film!
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Last year, there was the doom and gloom word that catalog titles were damned in the eyes of Disney. That only their fresh, shiny new stuff “might” be getting 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray releases. Sorry about all of you that love those classic Fox titles, they care even less on those. Everything was going all into the era of Disney+. However, a stunner and sign of hope came with the announcement of Speed (and Heat) coming to the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format. And I can attest that Speed is very real. Word has it that the remaining Alien films will be coming too. Now, its unclear whether this is Disney’s doing or if this is some sort of clean up from things already finished or worked on at Fox before the buyout. Nonetheless, I’ll take the win and enjoyment. Speed is hitting the streets, well, online stores on May 4th. So, step aside star wars, Keanu and Sandra are going to give you some force this year. You can pre-order this using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review.
Wonder Woman 1984 had the unfortunate fate of constantly pushing back its release date. Even prior to a few pandemic related moves, the film had already shuffled a couple of times. After so much moving and shaking, enough had been enough and Warner Bros made the bold move of releasing it in theaters and on HBO MAX parallel to one another on Christmas Day. A move that kick started their notion to release all theatrical films on HBO MAX for 1 month for 2021. And, sigh of relief, it has been given a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray home video release. Hitting stores last week on March 30, it was complete with a nice slew of bonus features and a Dolby Atmos track. A nice follow to the HBO MAX release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League to keep the DC movie hype train going. You can order it now, and you do have the option to use the paid Amazon Associates link following the review if you so choose to do.
I don’t know what’s up with Pixar and Disney lately, but their films have been of the straight to Disney+ fashion in handling releases with the global pandemic. That started with Soul which debuted on the streaming platform at no extra charge like previous releases had done (Luca will go straight to Disney+ later this year). The film was originally supposed to be released last summer only to be bumped and then dumped (Sorry, I wanted a rhyme). It received plenty of worthy acclaim and was a nice gesture to have to watch for free on the Christmas holiday. Wonderfully, though, it has arrived on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray, keeping physical media as a continued viable option. Soul was released on March 23rd, featuring plenty of solid extras as well as a native 4K image (Sometimes for some reason these get downres’d to a 2K digital intermediate). You can own it and see all the goodness by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of this page.
A nice surprise from the continued quality output from Sony, was their restoration and release of the cult classic science fiction film Gattaca. Its not hitting a celebratory milestone until next year (Released in 1997, it’ll celebrate 25 years in 2022). The Andrew Niccol film has long been popular on home video since the days of VHS, so its no surprise it will continue to make format jumps with a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray released. Unfortunately, no new bonus materials are being included but the old ones are being ported over. Gattaca has been given a new restoration as well as an Atmos audio mix for this release. In its first iteration, the film will be put into collectible steelbook packaging with some rather groovy orange art. Released on March 23, you can order the film to upgrade your previous disc and add to your collection by using the trusty paid Amazon Associates link at the bottom of this page following the review.
Monster Hunter quietly appeared in homes just before the new year. With the pandemic seemingly never ending, viewers got a little escape into a not-so-distant future with a fun and escapist fantasy action film. Does the film stand up to others in its field. Do Paul W.S. Anderson and his wife and muse Milla Jovavich deliver the goods? Or are we just watching “Resident Evil: Monsters too!” Find out more in our super late coverage below and grab your copy using the paid link at the end!
Neill Blomkamp really struck a chord with District 9. It was an interesting, funny and thought provoking take on current world and equality issues. Sometimes, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, the film evoked some savage reality even in a Sci-fi realm. Elysium followed in 2013. Not carrying over the humor, the District 9formula is once again used, but differently. Did Blomkamp bite off more than he could chew? Was branching off from Peter Jackson a help or a hindrance. I weigh in below on what could be yet another reference disc from Sony. Click the link at the end to order your copy, and if you feel so inclined, let me know what you think of the film!
Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing came out at just the right time. Released in 1989 with a new wave of social commentary on the injustices of racism in America, the groundbreaking classic breathed new life into an old, ever relevant topic. Now, 32 years later, the film still feels as fresh and timely in 2021 and is making its 4K Blu-ray review too! Find out my thoughts on this brilliant film below, and be sure to click the paid link at the end to get your copy!
Batman is back again in the DCAU with Batman: Soul of the Dragon. I believe this is two releases in a row for the caped crusader, following last year’s A Death In The Family choose your own adventure thing-a-m0-bob. Like Gotham By Gaslight before, Soul of the Dragon is an elseworld story changing things up to try out some different style and substance. And honestly, that’s where its at with me currently. I wish the live action films would get this crazy with Batman and stop taking him so dead seriously. But, don’t get me wrong, Matt Reeves doing Batman excites me a lot and I’m there the moment it arrives. Soul of the Dragon arrives on January 25th on both 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray and regular ‘ol Blu-ray. There’s a load of bonus features plopped onto this as well. You can pre-order from the paid Amazon Associates link below.
Warner Bros has given us our first taste of the Middle Earth saga on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray. Luckily, they’ve decided to start us off with the video and audio. Apparently the extras like the bonus features on the discs as well as sheik packaging will be coming along later this year. Fair enough! I’m not the most gigantic fan of The Lord of the Rings, even though I consider the films great and absolutely admire what Peter Jackson has pulled off, so these early sets probably satisfy my appetite well enough. I reviewed the original trilogy last night and now its onto everybody’s favorite – The Hobbit Trilogy! The films currently are out of stock and went quickly right after they came out last month. However, it appears more are on the way and set to arrive on January 19th! So, if you missed out, you’ll want to get your order in now and not potentially miss another wave of the fantastic little journey. Paid Amazon Associates link available at the end of the review. 
Love and Monsters has had itself a bit of a production history. This film has a genesis dating back to 2012. And even after it was made it found itself shifting back and forth. At one point it was supposed to be releases last month. But with the pandemic and people trying out at home premieres for some movies, Love and Monsters founds its to VOD back in October of 2020. I’m not sure of its financial success from taking that avenue, but the film sure was a bit of a critical and audience darling. Paramount has even opted to put it out on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray for its debut on physical media. It only has a 7.1 audio track and some fluffy bonus materials, but in all honesty, I’d say that’s a pretty decent package for a new movie that’s gone through what Love and Monsters has. Its available now, having been released on January 5th.
Chernobyl made its 4K UHD Blu-ray debut at the beginning of December. However, as Lethal Weapon character Martin Riggs would say “It’s the silly season” and with my day job and other commitments keeping me busy I wasn’t able to watch thee miniseries as quickly as I’d like. But no worry, as I have for you here my in depth look at Chernobyl. Be sure to check for the paid link below to order your copy
One of Paramount’s most exciting releases this year is Francis Ford Coppola’s revisiting of The Godfather, Part III with a brand new cut entitled The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone. This is coupled with a theatrical release for the revisited edit (Stay at home, folks). Surprisingly, this didn’t get a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release, nor was it branded on the Paramount Presents line. Luckily, shortly after this announcement, word was given that The Godfather films would be coming to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray next year in a new set. Here’s hoping this revisited edition of the third film is not only included in that set, but also in a true 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray presentation. The Blu-ray for the film released on December 8th, and the Day 1 price is actually pretty darn good just for those curious in checking it out. You can order yourself a copy of the Blu-ray for The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone by using the paid Amazon Associates link below.
