Cabin in the Woods (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
The Cabin in the Woods is one of those films that proves you should never judge any book by its cover or so to speak. This is one of those stories for me that’s so much deeper than what appears on the surface. What’s on the surface you ask? Well in regards to this movie I see it as your everyday cliche horror/slasher film that we all grew up on the 80’s complete with jocks, sexy chicks and good ole Rated-R gore. However under the surface it’s so much more. In fact by the flick’s fiery ending its flipped completely over and insane as can be (in a very good way). I can go on and on about how much I adore this 2012 gem, but rest assured we’ll cover all that down below. For the time being I am just stoked that The Cabin in the Woods is getting the red carpet treatment on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray this September 5th. However, before we get into the UHD Disc’s vitals let’s chat about why this little horror story is so damn scrumptious.
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We have a sorta fascination with older, aged action heroes nowadays without really knowing it. People have flocked to Liam Neeson movies and there seems to be some interest still there when Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger do a movie. Its come a long way since an aged Roger Moore was vine swinging in India or hanging off a fire engine in San Francisco. Well, one series (Based on a comic book) decided to embrace all that, with the action comedy Red. Lionsgate is continue to consistently dig back into some of its catalog from this decade and make the 4K jump with them. Red and its sequel, Red 2, are next in line, coming out September 5th. If you’re interested in snagging a copy to have when it hits shelves, click on the Amazon link below. 
As is every summer, Marvel kicks it off with its latest and greatest. 2017 saw the hotly anticipated to their surprise hit from a few years back, the (At the time) dice rolling Guardians of the Galaxy. And of course the film was a big damn hit. James Gunn has shown he really has a handle on the source material and the film universe and characters he’s crafting as well. Its fantastic news that he will be returning for a third volume of the adventures of Star Lord, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Drax and what will be Adolescent Groot. Also fantastic new, James Gunn has willed his way and gotten his wish to have the film released on the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format, making it Disney’s first. The director campaigned for it all throughout his post production and press tour, having shot the film in 8K and not wanting his blasting of colors in the film to go to waste. You’ll be able to check out Disney and Marvel’s first foray into this exciting new format on August 22nd. And might I recommend you pre-order using the Amazon link below. 
If you’re of my generation, who didn’t watch television’s Baywatch growing up? I mean of course we all watched for Knight Rider‘s David Hasselhoff and beach babes like Pamela Anderson, Nicole Eggert, Yasmine Bleech and Carmen Electra were just icing on the cake. Sure (wink, wink). Baywatch is not only part of our pop culture, but like The Terminator 1 and 2 to most people, part of our beloved childhood too. So when word of a reboot surfaced regarding turning the nostalgic show into a motion picture I feared the absolute worst. Yes I feared my childhood would be butchered and erased just like 2015’s 
Six years ago I fell in love with the Alien franchise when I was forced to tackle the Alien Anthology Blu-ray box set in my complete review of it all 
Here I am with another second week of summer film with an underwhelming box office return in 2017. Snatched wasn’t the bomb King Arthur: Legend of the Sword was, but I’m pretty sure people were it expecting it to do a lot better. Its reviews were right about there with King Arthur (though a little better). Personally, I was looking forward to this one, but didn’t get a change to see it in the theater due to…I dunno, life and stuff probably. But, now its here and on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray for me to check out in the comfort of my own home theater. You can pick this one up now (Sorry for the late review, it didn’t show up til after it’d be released) as it streeted back on August 8th. And if you don’t have the film, pre-order using the Amazon link below. 
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. The summer’s first flat out failure. Coming as no surprise as even its release date was one that usually spells doom and gloom (2nd week of summer, aside from 2009 Star Trek, never prevails for a tentpole). Plus, in the early going on, just nobody seemed to be interested in this one at all. Meant to be a franchise starter with the Knights of the Round Table, it looks like we won’t seeing Gallahad: Legend of the Chaste in theaters anytime soon. Its another big budget underperformer for Guy Ritchie and more proof that Charlie Hunnam is not a box office draw (Say what you will, and this has nothing to do with talent, the dollars speak for themselves). But, since nobody saw it in the theater and I’m sure many were at least curious, its here for home video and streaming consumption on August 8th. 
The Boss Baby wanted in on some of that Zootopia cash in 2017. The trailer was one of those that was paired with Rogue One: A Star War Story and also hooked on to Sing! Yeah, those are some really successful movies that also had an attendance of young children and families. While it was no Zootopia in terms of the box office, a half a million dollars (Well, inches from it) is nothing to sniff at. No, this film didn’t really gather to my interest at all with the trailer, as it looked pretty expected and easy given what they were trying for, but my children were excited by it and really wanted to see it. I didn’t get them to the theater for it, but I am able to rectify that now. You can too, if you so choose (And at the highest standard for that matter), when the film releases on the 4K Ultra-HD format on July 25th. 
The Mcconaissance. A term coined for the career comeback of Matthew McConaughey. A multi-year film run that resulted in the Academy Award winning performance for The Dallas Buyers’ Club. An Oscar win was something many thought was possible in the 1990s, but for most the 2000s, he was just seen as slumming it around in romantic comedies, an underwhelming drama and some failed big budget films (Like Sahara, which is actually awesome, go check it out). However, if you look at the box office haul for those romantic comedies, they were making money. Basically, he was making movies that boys wanted to see, which is silly, but that’s how backward the world of film fandom/criticism can be. But, this turn all began with this little film here, The Lincoln Lawyer. Its now coming to the 4K Ultra-HD format from Lionsgate on August 15th. 
Resident Evil is one of the biggest video game franchises of all time. Its popular in multiple entities and explorations, too. There were seven theatrical films based on the movies and don’t make me count the amount of games, sequels and spinoffs its seen. The original first 3 run of games are some of my most favorite ones of all time. They also make this little straight to video animated movies that sort of carry their own store too. Vendetta is the newest exercise in that kind of animated bloodshed and gun firing powerhouse. You can order the film, which is being released on July 18th, by clicking the Amazon link at the bottom of this review. 
Well, here we go again. Another Smurfs movie put out on 4K Ultra-HD, and another task at hand for me. As you’ll recall, I thoroughly enjoyed my last experience just a couple months ago (Sarcasm font). The Lost Village is the third film in the ongoing Smurfs cinematic franchise. I didn’t see the second one, so there’s a gap in the middle for my watching, but something (and someone, Brian) tells me I’m going to be okay by having missed the sophomore outing. At least if there is a fourth one, I have some time to have a break as all of them are on 4K Ultra-HD now and don’t have it coming on the horizon. You can find this one in stores now, as it was already released on July 11th. If you love your kids, this probably makes for a good treat. 
Not too far back, Brian White covered the 20th anniversary release of director Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray. Because he likes me/feels bad for me/wanted to be generous/something, we agreed to split the Besson 4K Ultra-HD Blu-rays coming out in July (In preparation for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets nonetheless). The other, his sorta underground classic 1990s hitman drama/action/thriller, Leon: The Professional. This one, like Fifth Element, you’ll remember was released on Blu-ray last year remastered in 4K. Well, now we TRULY get to see what that is all about. Unlike The Fifth Element, you’ll ONLY be able to purchase this one at Best Buy starting on July 11th for the time being. With this release you get both cuts of the film (Theatrical and Director’s Extended Cut). Here’s hoping the go the full mile and we see La Femme Nikita on 4K Ultra-HD soon! 
Terrence Malick has been on a tear in this current decade (Do we call it “the tens” or whatever?). It once took the man thirty eight years to put out five films, now he’s put out five works in the last six or seven years (One of said films is a documentary). I actually still haven’t seen Knight of Cups, which this reminded me of that gap. His latest is a look on the Austin, Texas music scene called Song To Song. The main players in the film are quite an elite bunch, featuring three (each multiple) Academy Award nominees and one Oscar winner. That would be Natalie Portman, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender and Ryan Gosling. So, ideally you’re getting some of the finest voice over inner monologues you can get, right? Song To Song is coming to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray (Malick’s first film to land on the format) on July 4th. 
I have to get the following off my chest first before we move along. I have never seen nor do I have any interest in ever seeing the classic anime film Ghost in the Shell. It doesn’t even intrigue me in the slightest. I was such a big fan of 
I’m sorry but try as I might I’m just not a fan at all of 2014’s 
When I first sat down to work on this movie review prior to seeing the actual movie itself this spring I thought to myself what a wonderful world. LOL. I am kidding. I pondered about what they can do in this outing that hasn’t been done in the previous seven ones. I must admit I was a bit nervous. However, the one thing I always manage to do is have fun with this franchise. Therefore, I wasn’t expecting anything less than a good time with this eighth episode in the franchise. Much like attending a Posion concert back in the late 80’s you can always count on the Fast & Furious franchise to deliver nothing but a good time. You don’t even need to know about cars except the fact that they can fly in these movies. All you need to do is come equipped with the ability to laugh, giggle and excite from the larger-than-life action pieces and humorous one-liners. I think the majority of us can at least do that. What say you? Let’s tackle Universal’s newest 4K release.
The Fifth Element seems to be one of those films that is every sci-fi + A/V enthusiasts wet dream. I’m not saying by any means it’s the greatest movie ever made, but you can definitely have fun with it if you allow it. The film’s audio surround track has always been heralded as a favorite amongst home theater enthusiasts/fans. This one practically screams 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray treatment so much so that I’m really shocked Sony didn’t release it last year. Maybe they were waiting for the the all-new bonus featurette to be completed. It’s even presented in 4K here. In “The Director’s Notes: Luc Besson Looks Back” extra the acclaimed director discusses the origins and impact of the celebrated film. Whatever the reason of delay for this historic 4K UHD release the day is finally among us and the wait is practically over. Join me below in celebrating everything The Fifth Element releasing in glorious, eye-popping 4K Ultra HD July 11th. Read on baby!
21 years ago, Trainspotting arrived. One of the biggest trends in film of the 1990s was the rise of the independent film and Trainspotting was one of the largest. It was the second film from Danny Boyle (Go seek out Shallow Grave, his first, its awesome), but its the one that really launched him. It also launch the careers of Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Johnny Lee Miller, Kelly Macdonald and Ewan Bremner as well. The film was one of those “MTV Generation” kind of movies, but damn was it ever so energetic and effective. Rewatching it for this review, I had just forgotten how damned good and powerful it was. Now, we’re here 21 years later (2o for the characters in the film) for a reunion movie and follow up that had been discussed by Danny Boyle for many years. And, is it also ever so exciting to see a Danny Boyle film getting a 4K Ultra-HD release! The film will be available for purchse on June 27th and can be pre-ordered below. 
