Archive for the 'Blu-ray Reviews' Category
July 24th, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
Nicholas Sparks is responsible for a lot of successful romance dramas. Sure, not all of them have been all that well received (The Notebook seems to be the only film that stands out as generally seen as good), but they cater to a particular crowd that really enjoys them. The Longest Ride arrived this past spring and while it didn’t have the biggest theatrical impact, I am sure there were many who found themselves satisfied with this adaptation. Now the film is on Blu-ray for any romantic out there to enjoy.
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July 24th, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
Last year saw the release of X-Men: Days of Future Past. It was met with wide praise and box office success. With that in mind, there has been promise from Bryan Singer to release a different cut of the film that re-inserts a key sequence involving Anna Paquin’s Rogue back into the film. That cut is now here, on this new Blu-ray, which is a huge double-drip, but one well worth it for fans that want everything. Read on to learn more about this packed Blu-ray, featuring both cuts of the film and more.
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July 20th, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
What We Do in the Shadows is a mockumentary film about a group of vampires living together as roommates. It has been made in the vain of something like Christopher Guest’s This Is Spinal Tap or Best in Show. The film was written and directed by New Zealanders Jermaine Clement (of Flight of the Conchords fame) and Taika Waititi, who also both star in the film. The film was partially made possible by crowdfunding and thankfully it scored well with all who saw it. Now you can check it out too, as it has a packed Blu-ray to check out.
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July 19th, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
`From The Vault` is a series of live concerts from The Rolling Stones archive which are getting their first official release. `Hyde Park 1969` is the latest addition to the series. It was one of the most highly anticipated gigs of 1969 and it delivered on all the promise and then some. On July 5, 1969, the Rolling Stones hosted their iconic free concert in London`s Hyde Park. Having taken two years off from the road, the show was conceived as the beginning of the band s big return to the live stage. It was also planned as an introduction of their hot new guitar player, Mick Taylor. The former disciple of British blues legend John Mayall had been inducted into the Stones just a month prior. Over 400,000 delirious fans of all ages gathered into the park for the concert. The Stones` concert in London’s Hyde Park would pay homage to the late Brian Jones and usher in the new and extraordinary era of Mick Taylor (1969-74). Bring The Concert Experience Home With Brilliant Picture and Superior Surround Sound Continue reading ‘The Rolling Stones: From the Vault – Hyde Park Live 1969 (Blu-ray Review)’
July 18th, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
A western starring Michael Fassbender is good enough to get me excited. Slow West was in limited release this past spring. While it was not a huge hit, it did make a big splash with critics and served as something of a nice distraction in between the bigger budgeted westerns that arrive in theaters every so often. Add the presence of Fassbender and some other strong talent and you have an alternative western with plenty of style to make for an engaging experience fit to be added to the genre. Now the film is on Blu-ray and it looks great.
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July 17th, 2015 by Brian White
There’s something about A24’s Ex Machina that brings warm thoughts to my human mind. Maybe it’s because of their sleeper hit last year, Under the Skin, which I could not get enough of or maybe it’s because this one seeds psychosis within your head, in the way that only a great artificial intelligence film can. Yes, it’s true ladies and gentlemen, the psychological yet stylish thriller Ex Machina will leave you visually, sonically and emotionally enthralled when you give it a spin in your Blu-ray player of choice. It blew everyone away at SXSW this year and now it’s time to be mind blown within the privacy of your own home. I can personally guarantee these claims too. This is my second go around with the flick, and while it’s not action packed like the theatrical trailer may have suggested, the film truly delivers by sucking you into one of the greatest human stories of artificial intelligence in our time, albeit in a slow burning fashion. Ava, the robot in question here, will make you believe and heck, might even make you fall for her. It’s actually hard to decipher what’s the more raw experience here, the interaction between the humans or that with the A.I. Read on you shall! Continue reading ‘Ex Machina (Blu-ray Review)’
July 15th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Shout! Factory has announced the August 11 Blu-ray release of horror master Wes Craven’s The People Under The Stairs (Collector’s Edition). The Scream Factory treatment of this much-loved film includes several new bonus features. Starring Everett McGill (Twin Peaks, Dune), Wendy Robie (Twin Peaks), Brandon Adams (The Mighty Ducks), Ving Rhames (Piranha 3D, Mission Impossible), A.J. Langer (Escape From L.A.) and Sean Whalen (Rob Zombie’sHalloween II, Hatchet III), this “ambitious…very strange horror movie” (Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide) will grab you when you least expect it… and never let go. This isn’t the film’s first rodeo on Blu-ray, but its definitely the worthwhile double dip, upgrade, enhanced version people who own the previous edition will want to shell out for. Continue reading ‘The People Under The Stairs – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
July 15th, 2015 by Brian White
KISS, one of the most popular rock bands of all time (and my all time favorite too), takes center stage in the latest Scooby-Doo! full-length animated film, Scooby-Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery, set for release on Blu-ray by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment July 21st. Starchild (Paul Stanley), Demon (Gene Simmons), Catman (Eric Singer) and Spaceman (Tommy Thayer) join everyone’s favorite teen sleuths in an explosive, new, must-see musical adventure that I personally guarantee you no KISS Army member will want to miss! In Scooby-Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery, the Mystery Inc. gang travels to KISS World, an amusement park dedicated to the band, for a special Halloween concert headlined by the legendary rock group. Can you tell how excited I am about this Blu-ray release? I’m frickin’ doing cartwheels over it. Read on and I’ll tell you why! Continue reading ‘Scooby-Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery (Blu-ray Review)’
July 15th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
The handyman of horror is back with a new box of tricks and fear in TOOLBOX MURDERS 2, a highly anticipated follow-up to the 2004 Tobe Hooper-directed slasher classic. Directed by legendary special effects artist, producer and filmmaker Dean C. Jones (Dark Awakening, X-Men: First Class), TOOLBOX MURDERS 2 stars Chauntal Lewis (Séance), Oscar® nominee Bruce Dern (Nebraska), Brian Krause (Stephen King’sSleepwalkers), Clifton Powell (Ray), Chris Doyle (Toolbox Murders) and Ethan Phillips (Star Trek: Voyager). Picking up directly after the shocking events of the previous movie, TOOLBOX MURDERS 2 ratchets up the terror as it follows one of Hollywood’s most twisted killers. Resurfacing in the darkest corners of the L.A. underworld with a serious axe to grind, the killer hammers out a plan to put the screws to a new victim! Continue reading ‘Toolbox Murders 2 (Blu-ray Review)’
July 14th, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
Danny Collins is the kind of film that is easy to watch for adult audiences in need of some simple fun with actors they enjoy. Al Pacino gets a chance to ease back on the throttle a bit and just be an entertaining presence in a film about an aging rock star looking for redemption. The film was in limited release for a couple months back in the spring, but now it is available on Blu-ray for more people to discover. It is a good thing too, as this is a really likable film.
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July 14th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
A raucous, blood-soaked post-apocalyptic epic filled with inspired vehicular mayhem and unrestrained gore, Wyrmood: Road of the Dead is one of the most wildly entertaining genre films in years. Making its Blu-ray and DVD debut on August 4th, 2015 from Scream Factory, in partnership with IFC Midnight, this critically-acclaimed rambunctious adventure Wyrmood: Road of the Dead comes loaded with bonus features, including an audio commentary with the Roache-Turner Brothers, the featurette The Wyrmdiaries: Behind the Scenes of WYRMWOOD, Crowdfunding Videos: Wyrmwood Production Pitch, deleted scenes, a seven minute teaser scene, a gallery of storyboards by the director and the theatrical trailer. Fans can pre-order their copies now at ShoutFactory.com. With a healthy dose of Mad Max-inspired vehicular mayhem and an enormous serving of pure, raw talent, Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead is a high-octane, visceral thrill ride that is a must for any horror fan. Continue reading ‘Wyrmwood: Road Of The Dead (Blu-ray)’
July 14th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Rosanna Arquette (After Hours) and Vincent Spano (Rumblefish) star in writer/director John Sayles’ romantic-drama, Baby It’s You. Set in 1966 New Jersey, middle-class high school senior Jill (Arquette) finds herself inexplicably drawn to a suave, blue collar bad boy (and aspiring singer) known as “The Sheik” (Spano). Exuding mystery and danger, “The Sheik” woos Jill until she succumbs to his charms, which baffles her friends and horrifies her parents and teachers. Baby It’s You recounts the ups and downs of the lead characters from young love to hook-ups & break-ups to college life and the toll of unfulfilled dreams. With his extraordinary ear for dialog, John Sayles (Lone Star, Eight Men Out, Return of the Secaucus 7) fashions a period piece with contemporary relevance. Featured in supporting roles are Tracy Pollan (TV’s Family Ties), Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket) and Fisher Stevens (Short Circuit). Continue reading ‘Baby, It’s You (Blu-ray Review)’
July 13th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
The gritty urban drama Street Smart is directed by Jerry Schatzberg (Scarecrow, The Panic In Needle Park), from a screenplay by David Freeman, starring Christopher Reeve (Superman, John Carpenter’s Village of the Damned) and Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby, Deep Impact, The LEGO Movie). And it co-stars Kathy Baker (Clean and Sober, The Glass House), Mimi Rogers (The Rapture, Someone To Watch Over Me), Andre Gregory (My Dinner With Andre, The Last Temptation of Christ), Rick Aviles (Carlito’s Way, Ghost) and Jay Patterson (A Million Ways To Die In The West, City of Angels). I had never heard of this film, and it was a neat opportunity to see Christopher Reeve in a film that was new to me at least. It also features him in a very meaty and interesting role on top of that. Continue reading ‘Street Smart (Blu-ray Review)’
July 13th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Criminal Law stars Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight trilogy, Air Force One, True Romance) and Kevin Bacon (TV’s The Following, Footloose, Friday The 13th, X-Men: First Class). The film co-stars Tess Harper (Tender Mercies), Karen Young (9 1/2 Weeks) and Joe Don Baker (Walking Tall) in a film directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, GoldenEye) from a screenplay written by Mark Kasdan. As a huge fan of GoldenEye, Casino Royale and Zorro, making me a Campbell supporter when it comes to practical based films (We all know how he did when he ventured into space with Ryan Reynolds to give us the less than favorable Green Lantern), I was eager to dig into this early thriller of his that I had never seen before. Continue reading ‘Criminal Law (Blu-ray Review)’
July 10th, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
A vicious killer stalks the streets of Hong Kong, methodically executing top martial arts competitors. Xia (Donnie Yen), a convicted killer and kung fu expert, offers to help police find the killer and put him behind bars in return for his own freedom. The killer eludes them again and again, taunting the cops – and Xia, his new target – to discover his next moves. Xia refuses to play his lethal game…until the killer threatens the woman he loves most. Continue reading ‘Kung Fu Killer (Blu-ray Review)’
July 10th, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
In this science fiction thriller, child psychiatrist Catherine Deane (Golden Globe-nominee Jennifer Lopez “Selena,” “Maid in Manhattan”) has developed a technique that allows her to travel through the minds of her patients. When Stargher (Emmy Award-nominee Vincent DOnofrio TV’s “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Full Metal Jacket”), a serial killer who methodically drowns his victims and performs bizarre rituals with their bodies, falls into a coma, FBI agent Peter Novak (Vince Vaughn “Wedding Crashers,” “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story”) asks Deane to enter the killers psyche in hopes of finding the location of a missing girl whom Stargher has kidnapped and, if she isn’t found soon, will drown in her torture cell. However, once Deanne enters the bizarre world of Starghers mind, she finds getting out being a very difficult matter. Continue reading ‘The Cell (Blu-ray Review)’
July 10th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Roller Boogie is the film that asks: can a classical flautist and a roller skating dude find true love and happiness in the California sun while boogying on skates to 70’s disco tunes? Roller Boogie stars Linda Blair (The Exorcist) as Terry Barkley, a genius flautist (and Juilliard hopeful) and Jim Bray (real life roller skating phenomenon) as Bobby James, a maniac on skates with all the right moves and his sights set on becoming an Olympic Roller Skater. Roller Boogie, with its amazing choreography and on-the-skate-floor acrobatics, is directed by Mark L. Lester (Class of 1984), from a screenplay by Barry Schneider, features a soundtrack stuffed with disco tunes including Hell On Wheels performed by Cher, The Roller Boogie written by Mavis & Bob Esty, Boogie Wonderland written by Jon Lind and Allee Willis and the Bob Esty & Michael Brooks song Summer Love. Continue reading ‘Roller Boogie (Blu-ray Review)’
July 10th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
The good. The bad. The Satanic. Scream Factory proudly presents the Empire Pictures classic Ghost Town on July 28, 2015 in its Blu-ray debut. A dusty ghost town, seemingly abandoned, holds the lives of its original inhabitants in an animated netherworld for 100 years. Starring Franc Luz (The Nest, When Harry Met Sally), Jimmie F. Skaggs (Oblivion, Puppetmaster), Catherine Hickland (Witchery) and Bruce Glover (Diamonds Are Forever, Chinatown, Walking Tall), Ghost Town is an unnerving, white-knuckle walk into the wild, undead west. Continue reading ‘Ghost Town (Blu-ray Review)’
