Fender Bender (Blu-ray Review)
September 19th, 2016 by Brandon Peters
There are no accidents. He stalks the streets. Remorseless. Brutal. Bloodthirsty. When his prey is at its most vulnerable, he appears. And when night falls and all is quiet…he strikes. Prepare for the next driving force in horror with the October 4th, 2016 release ofFender Bender on Blu-ray, DVD and all major digital platforms from Scream Factory. Just in time for Halloween, this chilling feature also comes loaded with bonus features, including a “Retro VHS” cut of the film, audio commentary with the director, a behind the scenes featurette, a producer’s commentary, a collection of vintage slasher film trailers and more! Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com. Continue reading ‘Fender Bender (Blu-ray Review)’
A bizarrely veiled allegory for the McCarthy-era Red Scare, Johnny Guitar was misunderstood upon its initial release. With the leads at their operatic best, the table is now set for an epic showdown in this one-of-a-kind western from director Nicholas Ray (Rebel Without a Cause). One of the most original takes on the western genre—the women are far tougher than the men—Johnny Guitar is praised by fans, filmmakers, and critics alike as groundbreaking. Boasting superb supporting performances, Johnny Guitar features Joan Crawford (Best Actress, Midred Pierce), Mercedes McCambridge (Best Actress, All The King’s Men), Sterling Hayden (Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb), Ernest Borgnine (Marty), Scott Brady (The China Syndrome), Ward Bond (The Searchers), Paul Fix (To Kill a Mockingbird), Royal Dano (The Outlaw Josey Wales) and John Carradine (Stagecoach). Notably, Johnny Guitar’s indelible title song was a collaboration between the Academy Award-winning composer Victor Young (Around the World in Eighty Days), and co-writer and songstress Peggy Lee. 
All the Way exists in a strange space for films where it is packed on with talent and amazing performances, but was made for HBO to be shown on the premium channel instead of in theaters, where its message, cast, writing, and brilliance would have a greater chance to be celebrated by a larger audience. Lucky for viewers, it was recently released on Blu-ray by HBO Films for people without a subscription to find and enjoy. And, well, if possible, viewers should find and enjoy this wonderful look at some key points in the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, as portrayed by the outstanding Bryan Cranston (Trumbo, “Breaking Bad”). 
The myth and poetry of the old west come alive in Fred Zinnemann’s (Julia) classic western, High Noon (1952). One of the great treasures of the American cinema, the film stars the legendary Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly in one of her first screen roles. For his career-defining role, Cooper would go on to win the Oscar® for Best Actor. High Noon’s stellar cast also includes Lloyd Bridges (Try and Get Me), Thomas Mitchell (It’s a Wonderful Life), Katy Jurado (Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid), Otto Kruger (Saboteur), Lon Chaney (The Wolf Man), Henry Morgan (Strategic Air Command), Jack Elam (Hannie Caulder) and Lee Van Clef (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly). High Noon won a total four Academy Awards including Best Editing, Best Score (Dimitri Tiomkin, The Old Man and the Sea) and Best Song, “Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin’,” written by Tiomkin and Ned Washington and sung by Tex Ritter. High Noon also received Oscar® nominations for Best Picture (Stanley Kramer, producer), Best Director (Fred Zinnemann) and Best Screenplay (Carl Foreman). 
Warcraft is a fantasy adventure film that I can honestly say I know next to nothing about going into this 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray review. Many years ago, in another life, I remember my co-worker talking about the Blizzard video game of the same name. He passionately spoke about it pretty much every day. I honestly had no idea what he was talking about, but I humored him nonetheless in pretending that I cared and was paying attention. I’m nice like that. Now let’s fast forward to 2016 and all I knew from watching the Universal trailers of Warcraft was that it should look really cool on the big screen or in 4K being the case here. However, I could also see it sucking really hard too. What a great way to start a review here, huh? Not really! Ha ha. 
Twenty-five years ago, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast broke ground as the first animated feature film to receive an Academy Award® nomination for best picture, and now this tale as old as time joins the Walt Disney Signature Collection. The Blu-ray release will include the original theatrical film; an extended version with the “Human Again” song sequence and a never-before-released on home entertainment sing-along version. The original work-in-progress version will be available digitally and on Disney Movies Anywhere. Relive the magic on Sept. 6 on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere, and on Sept. 20 on Blu-ray™ and DVD.
Blue Underground has deemed its next Blu-ray release to be George McCowan’s film The Shape of Things to Come (1979), starring Jack Palance, Carol Lynley, Barry Morse, John Ireland, and Nicholas Campbell. This debut Blu-ray release for the film will feature an all new interview with the film’s star Nicholas Campbell. It will also have another new interview with the composer of the movie, Paul Hoffert. Those have been commissioned for this release to go with the other usual things like trailers and photo galleries featuring posters and press images. The release will be available for purchase on September 27. This obscurity is likely to be a collector’s item for some and a curiosity purchase for others.
H.P. Lovecraft, famed horror and fantasy writer, was once just Howard Lovecraft, a strange and lonely child. Howard was a boy of infinite imagination and boundless curiosity. His family however was not without peculiarities of their own… This fall, loyal fans and enthusiasts of Lovecraft’s literature are invited to venture into the imaginative Lovecraft universe through the new animated feature HOWARD LOVECRAFT AND THE FROZEN KINGDOM. Written, directed and produced by Arcana Studio’s Sean Patrick O’Reilly (Pixies), HOWARD LOVECRAFT AND THE FROZEN KINGDOM is the highly-anticipated movie adaption of Arcana’s popular graphic novel of the same name and features an all-star voice cast of Emmy®-winner Jane Curtin (3rd Rock from the Sun), Golden Globe®-winner Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), Academy Awards®-winner Christopher Plummer (Beginners, Up), Doug Bradley (Hellraiser), Kiefer O’Reilly (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) and Alison Wandzura(CW’s Van Helsing). A veritable love letter to Lovecraft himself, HOWARD LOVECRAFT AND THE FROZEN KINGDOM is a fantastical movie adventure that entwines new storytelling, actual events of H.P. Lovecraft’s life, iconic elements of his writings and literary characters Cthulhu, Shoggoth and more. 
Three years ago, James Wan took the summer by surprise and by storm with his horror opus, The Conjuring. A period supernatural horror piece that followed up his highly popular and profitable Insidious. It followed real life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren on one of their documented cases. A sequel was certain, but while there was a wait, a spinoff film, Annabelle was released and was a hit at the box office in its own right. However, nobody liked that one. So it was with great wonder if the Conjuring brand had already lost its steam before the real deal second one had come out. The answer was a resounding “no” as The Conjuring 2 was a big hit and its box office didn’t match its predecessor, but lived up to it well enough. We are now going to be getting a third one as well as another Annabelle and another spin off in The Nun (based off the character from this one). Well, Universal…looks like someone may have beat you to that horror-centric monster movie shared universe…and did so true to the genre. Warner Bros is bringing its hit to Blu-ray on September 13th with some extras and a digital copy. Word has it a 4K UHD release was planned but scrapped (No official announcement came though). 
From director Robert Hampton, (Lust Of The Vampire) comes The Horrible Dr. Hichcock(L’orrible segreto del Dr. Hichcock) and stars Barbara Steele (Black Sunday, Pit and the Pendulum, Piranha), Robert Flemying (The Quiller Memorandum, Funny Face, Shadowlands), Montgomery Glenn (Castle of Blood, The Puma-Man, Star Odyssey), Teresa Fitzgerald (Class of Iron, The Giants of Thessaly). The successful Italian horror film from 1962 is making its way to Blu-ray for the first time, courtesy of the lovely people over at Olive Films. While it came out in Italy first in 1962 and not the United States until 2 years later, the United States will be getting it first here on September 13, 2016 and pre-orders are already available. 
Filmed during the 2014 “Soundtrack of the Summer” tour, Styx hits the Las Vegas stage to bring us their signature sound! Live at the Orleans Arena Las Vegas also includes behind the scenes interview with the band and their road crew about the in’s and out’s of life on the road. We get everything from the joys of exploring a new city everyday, to the struggles that come with trying to remain connected to those back home. So strap on your multi-necked guitar and find out if Styx still has what it takes to bring the house down!
Its a good thing that films aren’t always dead on arrival. Some just take longer to resonate or to reach their appreciative audiences. Today, we are here celebrating the 17th anniversary and debut on Blu-ray of the much beloved animated film, The Iron Giant. Its not that it hasn’t always been beloved (The film was well reviewed back in 1999), but it took a while to spread that love. It pretty much bombed or disappointed at the box office in 1999, which was a big let down considering how good the film was. However, as the years have gone on, many were able to right their wrong and be able to see it via VHS, DVD or television and now its rightfully placed on a mantle of one of the greatest animated films. Its also the launching point of the once flawless Brad Bird, and has a nice footnote of international action superstar Vin Diesel voicing the titular character. Here, on Warner Bros first Blu-ray release, you not only get all the old bonus content, but a new documentary and the “Signature Edition” featuring Bird’s preferred version of the film.
A female homage to The Dirty Dozen directed and written by David A. Prior (Deadly Prey,Killer Workout), Mankillers stars Edd Byrnes (TV’s77 Sunset Strip), Gail Fisher (TV’s Mannix), Edy Williams (The Naked Kiss), Lynda Aldon (Doctor Detroit), William Zipp (Deadly Prey), Christine Lunde (The Masque of the Red Death) and Suzanne Tegmann (Death Chase). It’s wall-to-wall action and adventure in Mankillers.
Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” has conquered both audiences and critics, debuting to $179.1 million—the fifth-biggest domestic opening of all time—and earning a 90% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. “Captain America: Civil War” is the highest-grossing film of 2016 domestically, internationally and globally, earning more than $1.14 billion at the worldwide box office. It also continues Marvel Studios’ winning streak as the 13th consecutive film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to debut at #1 at the domestic box office. 
The Flash was both my favorite new and overall show of the 2014-2015 season. It triumphantly took the tired 20-23 episode season order and made it all count and be interesting again. Truly embodying the symbol of hope the character has always been, the show really thrived off of an emotional and familial core. It took a structure working for Arrow and brought in a different light and improved upon it. The show had impressive effects and just a dynamite sense of purpose and stakes. Its first season was so perfect that we at least had that to hold onto forever, no matter where it went in the future. And I’m happy to say, the second season is pretty damn great too. The Flash stars Grant Gustin (Arrow, Glee), Candice Patton (The Game), Danielle Panabaker (Justified, Necessary Roughness), Carlos Valdes (Arrow) and Keiynan Lonsdale (Insurgent), with Tom Cavanagh (Ed, The Following), and Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order). Based on the characters from DC Comics, The Flash is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (Arrow, Supergirl, Blindspot, The Mysteries of Laura), Andrew Kreisberg (Arrow, Supergirl), Gabrielle Stanton (The Vampire Diaries), Aaron Helbing & Todd Helbing (Spartacus, Black Sails) and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, The Mysteries of Laura, Supergirl). 
The prolific Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe producer (as well as the director of several episodes) Franklin Adreon, would helm a number of the highly popular and entertaining Republic Pictures theatrical serials including The Invisible Monster and Radar Men from The Moon. All twelve pulse-pounding episodes of Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (includingEnemies of the Universe, Nightmare Typhoon, Robot Monster from Mars and the exciting final installment, Captives of the Zero Hour), directed by Fred C. Brannon (The Invisible Monster, The Crimson Ghost), Harry Keller (Tammy and the Doctor) and Franklin Adreon (Panther Girl of the Kongo) are now available for your home viewing enjoyment in one exciting package from Olive Films on September 13th. 
