Beetlejuice (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
2020 has been a good year so far with the studios and the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray catalog titles debuting (Besides friggin’ Disney). As we continue to hear about streaming taking over and “RIP physical media”, I’m not seeing it just yet as we keep seeing awesome announcements. Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice is one of those said announcements. Its been updated with a new transfer and an Atmos track. Unfortunately, its following the same ‘ol same o’l front when it comes to having some fruitful new bonus features for the film. Quite surprising, Beetlejuice has never had even a commentary or vintage interview/EPK featurette presented as a bonus feature. The Blu-ray disc in this set is the exact one that was release in 2008 and continually repurposed in the years since. Though that sucks, my mantra right now is to just be satisfied films are making the format jump at all with the future outlook not so positive. You can pre-order Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice for release on September 8th!
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As mentioned many times prior in reviewing the title, DC Animated Universe is really where its at when it comes to some quality superhero material and comic book arc adaptations. Personally, their elseworlds and one-off tales are where I wish the feature films would play with our more familiar characters. Superman: Man of Tomorrow, the latest effort, finds a retelling of the man of steel’s origin story with not only some different details (Oh, hai Lobo) and introducing a newer animation style. Releasing on the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format, the combo pack set will contain bonus features both new and old to go along with some classic Superman: The Animated series episodes in tow. In addition to a regular edition there is a collector’s edition that contains a collectible figurine. You can pre-order now, using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review to ensure yourself a copy for when it arrives on September 8th.
Scooby-Doo has long been one of the most popular children’s cartoons in the Amercian pop culture lexicon. Since its creation 40 years ago, the toon has constantly been refurbished, re-run, re-invented and re-introduced to brand new generations. Like many a Mickey Mouse or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, once Scooby-Doo arrived on the scene, he never left. The latest iteration, SCOOB!, was one of the famed movies that were prepared for a theatrical released, but as a result of the (continuing in the US) pandemic, altered its distribution to be a direct to VOD title. Probably influenced by the success of Trolls: World Tour, SCOOB! just up and gave it a go. As a father of two, I took the bait, seeing as we would have seen it in theaters anyway at the same cost. Now, happily, its arriving on physical media AND on the glorious 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format. So, all you dastardly Why So Blu readers go forth, read the review and order yourself your own copy of SCOOB!
Braveheart is one of those Top 10 films of mine that I will continue to re-purchase without any thought or hesitation every time its available on a newer/better home media format.
Pretty crazy to think that the Academy Award Best Picture winner Gladiator turned 20 years old this year. But hey, here we are. In celebration of that, Paramount is releasing a new Steelbook edition for the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray they brought out two years ago. This is coming out in tandem to celebrate Braveheart’s 25th anniversary with a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray steelbook. Gladiator‘s 4K steelbook features Russell Crowe’s Maximus in a battle ready pose, oversized for the space provided on the cover. Disc content-wise, this is the very same release from a couple years ago, the identical discs inside that include one 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray and two standard Blu-ray discs. Both cuts of the film are here like that set as well. As is, enjoy the images of the steelbook to accompany the review I wrote in May of 2008. You can find yourself a paid Amazon pre-order link at the bottom. 
Sonic the Hedgehog made its awareness even more well known thanks to online fan whining and pouting about the look of the character after the first trailer. This lead to the movie being pulled and set for a later date in order to improve the animation. And I’ll agree, it did look better, but old and animation or new, the movie itself was still going to be the same despite that irrelevant detail getting a fix. And the film got in and made itself some money just in time before theaters began closing their doors. The film also received an advanced digital release upon that shift in movie watching climate, but now is available on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray to own (Released on May 19th). You can relive or check out for the first time all the speedy animated hedgehog versus crazy 90s-like Jim Carrey antics paired with James Marsden smolder when you order it from the paid Amazon Associate link below. Thanks in advance to Lt. Grammar Police for the gripes. 
I’ve been a fan of Leigh Whannell (And James Wan) since the the original Saw put them on the map. Long have I admired how those can make five dollars look like 80 million dollars on the screen. The two, in both their respective directing careers have showcase such smaller film that have larger impacts and experiences. Heck, just the other day, Forbes’ Scott Mendelson pointed out with Aquaman that sure its an expensive movie, but he’s shocked it wasn’t even more expensive to an ungodly degree. Whannell isn’t quite to overstuffed budgeted blockbuster tentpoles yet, but he certainly is on track. His previous film, Upgrade, was my favorite film of 2018. So, it was with great excitement when not only did I hear he was directing a new Invisible Man feature, but that he was teaming with Blumhouse for it. That’s about as perfect a marriage as can be. And perfect it was. You’ll be able to check out this modern horror masterpiece in the finest 4K presentation when it arrives on May 26th! 
This spring has been representative of two things for me. One is that, for better or worse, being stuck in shelter-in-place has been helpful in some ways and hurtful in others. On a lighter note, two is that we have been blessed with so many fantastic catalog titles coming out to keep us happy at home. Jaws is one such release, coming out on 4K Blu-ray (finally) in celebration of its 45th anniversary. The movie is just as you remember it being – tense, well crafted, slyly funny, and iconic. The new edition will certainly make the film’s fans very happy! Without further ado, here’s all you need to know about the Jaws 45th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray!
Paramount is unloading a trio of Tom Cruise headlining films on May 19, including Top Gun, Days of Thunder and the 2005 Steven Spielberg adaptation of War of the Worlds. No doubt these were ready to be released in anticipation of Top Gun: Maverick this summer, but alas that film has moved to December. Luckily these 4K Ultra-HD Blu-rays move on as originally planned. This review is covering War of the Worlds, a film I actually hold close to my heart as it has a special place for me. It was the first film I saw in the fabled Grauman’s Chinese Theater when I moved to Los Angeles in the summer of 2005. I enjoyed the film well enough then and more upon subsequent viewings, but regardless of its quality I will always carry that special memory with me. Nonetheless, as mentioned, it arrives on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on May 19th and you can land yourself a copy of it to hopefully be delivered as soon as it can using the Amazon Associates link following the review. 
Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn is a movie title I have loved saying over and over for some time now. It rolls off the tip of my tongue like a youth’s belly skin does over a wet 
Days of Thunder here finds me doing some of my first writing in a long time.
Well, it finally happened… We finally have Top Gun in 4K. The iconic action classic finally hits home in the best way to watch films at home. The sights, the sounds, the sweat, the soundtrack. The film is a cultural standpoint for blockbuster filmmaking. There is something special that radiates through this movie that is almost unexplainable. At one point, this was a film I avoided like the plague. Does the film still hold up? How about the transfer? Let’s go in depth below, and don’t forget to click the paid link at the bottom to preorder your copy of Top Gun, available May 19th!
Shout! Factory will make their first foray into feature films on the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format later this month when Michael Cimino’s best picture winner The Deer Hunter arrives on May 26th. But, they’ve actually been putting out 4K Ultra-HD Blu-rays for a couple of years now, courtesy of these IMAX documentaries. And they’ve actually proven quite stunning in sight and sound. The latest addition is D-Day: Normandy 1944. Pascal Vuong directs a Tom Brokow narrated documentary that gives a nice fresh and unique take on the battle of Normandy during World War II. This release will feature a good host of bonus feature interviews and behind the scenes videos to accompany it after you’ve finished the film. The film dropped onto the format on May 5th. You can order the film by using the Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
Guy Ritchie has returned to form. For us that means a crime caper! The Gentlemen is just that. Foul language, violence, ridiculous amounts of money and a lot of twists to keep you guessing. Just what we’ve been waiting for through some not so great experiments. Read on about Ritchie, his film and the tech specs below! The Gentlemen is available on April 21st, so feel free to click the paid link at the bottom to order a copy!
Will Smith and Tom Holland team up in Spies in Disguise. The film was the first non-Disney/Pixar animated film since the big acquisition. This particular cartoon journey is centered in a super-cool spy situation. Will Smith’s super spy has a doppelganger on his hands… How does he clear his name and still stay hidden… Duh… Disguise! But… Does the film go for the gold, or does it come in dead last? Read in depth below, and check for a paid purchase link afterwards to grab a copy for yourself!
Robert Downey Jr. returns after his epic demise in Endgame with a little family movie reimagining Dr. Doolittle. Rex Harrison’s first incarnation remains the one to beat, despite being dated. Eddie Murphy had a nice retread that worked for me in the 90’s but which wore off considerably as an adult. Does RDJ save the storied history of the doc who can talk to the animals? Or is it just as bad as you read it was?
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker gave us the finale of the Skywalker saga of the Star Wars Universe. Though ultimately that’s primarily been the crux of the whole thing, we’ll likely be seeing spin-offs and new efforts finding themselves even more separate from it as time wages onward for the Disney Lucasfilm investment. Perhaps a lot of streaming television programming is the majority of it, with The Mandalorian going over very well as a Cassian Andor and Obi-Wan Kenobi pair of series set to arrive in the future. As far as feature films, the allure of a Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, or Kylo Ren focused films are pretty much now in the rearview. And your collections will all find themselves complete one the ninth and “final” episode of the saga finds its way to your shelves on March 31st. It will be available in many different standalone versions and also as a part of the Skywalker Saga box set that includes all nine Star Wars episodes.
