Archive for the 'Blu-ray Reviews' Category
May 27th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
“Wham! Bam! Here Comes Pam” and with that Pam Grier is back in action as Friday Foster. Based on the syndicated newspaper comic strip of the same name, Grier stars as intrepid photojournalist Friday Foster. Directed by Arthur Marks (Class of ’74, Detroit 9000), based on his story, Friday Foster features supporting performances by Godfrey Cambridge (Watermelon Man, Cotton Comes To Harlem), Eartha Kitt (Boomerang, The Emperor’s New Groove), Carl Weathers (Rocky, Predator), Scatman Crothers (The Shining), Ted Lange (TV’s The Love Boat), Jim Backus (TV’s Gilligan’s Island, Mister Magoo). It was an adaptation of the 1970-74 eponymous syndicated newspaper comic strip, scripted by Jim Lawrence and illustrated by Jorge Longarón and Gray Morrow. This was Grier’s final film with American International Pictures. Continue reading ‘Friday Foster (Blu-ray Review)’
May 25th, 2015 by Brian White
Focus is one of those films I initially saw trailers for on television earlier this year and thought to myself nah I’ll skip it. It just didn’t do anything for me. Then came all the reviews like Aaron Neuwirth’s positive coverage here (God I miss all his incredible movie reviews). And so because of all the positive praise this film has garnered, sign me up! I wanted to see it! Thankfully Warner Bros. will be releasing this title in retailers everywhere on June 2nd and I just so happen to have exclusive access to one of those Blu-ray Combo Packs now. So I thought oh what the hell. Let’s do this! Let’s review Focus for the people. And here we are. Ready to see things sharper? Well, we’re talking about the Blu-ray format so chances are good that you’re ready. Here we go! Continue reading ‘Focus (Blu-ray Review)’
May 24th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
This summer, SCREAM FACTORY™ invites horror enthusiasts and movie collectors to further venture into the great outdoors and experience what Camp Rolling Hills and Camp New Horizons have to offer – nature walks, randy campers, puritanical camp counselor, murder and a feast of gory goodness! Fans of the popular SLEEPAWAY CAMP movies rejoice as the collector’s editions of SLEEPAWAY CAMP II: UNHAPPY CAMPERS and SLEEPAWAY CAMP III: TEENAGE WASTELAND hits on home entertainment shelves everywhere on June 9, 2015 from SCREAM FACTORY™. Both movies debut for the first time on Blu-ray™. Each collector’s edition Blu-ray+DVD combo pack features anamorphic widescreen movie presentation, exciting bonus content, newly rendered retro-style artwork, a reversible wrap with theatrical key art and more!
. Continue reading ‘Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
May 24th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Pam Grier teams up once again with Coffy director Jack Hill in this blaxploitation follow-up that was filmed in an astounding 17 days. Foxy Brown co-stars Antonio Fargas (Conrack, Car Wash), Peter Brown (Teenage Tease, Merrill’s Marauder’s), Terry Carter (Brother On The Run), Sid Haig (Coffy, The Devil’s Rejects, Jackie Brown) and is directed by Jack Hill (Coffy, Switchblade Sisters). Foxy Brown (Pam Grier, Coffy, Jackie Brown) is “a whole lot of woman” and more. Just you wait and see. The film itself is intentionally a spiritual follow up to the previous Hill-Grier collaboration, Coffy. And again, the film once again tuggs along grindhouse-era fan-favorite Sid Haig for a small role in the events. Olive Films is bringing Foxy Brown to the fold for the firs time in the US, preceded by a release from Arrow Video back in 2013 (Which included a limited edition steel book case). Continue reading ‘Foxy Brown (Blu-ray Review)’
May 24th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Pam Grier became a staple of early 1970s blaxploitation films by playing bold, assertive women, starting with Jack Hill’s Coffy. Her character was advertised in the original trailer as the “baddest one-chick hit-squad that ever hit town!” Grier’s role was noted as being the first African-American female to headline an action film. As many of you may know, I’ve been touting more blaxploitation on Blu-ray since my first wishlist back in 2013. As a matter of fact, Coffy was at the top of that list. It appears things are finally turning around here in 2015. There are many on the slate over the globe throughout the year and on the horizon. Olive Films is taking on a trio of Pam Grier’s finest. Coffy was already available in the UK, but its now making its Blu-ray debut here in the US. Continue reading ‘Coffy (Blu-ray Review)’
May 24th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
This summer, SCREAM FACTORY™ invites horror enthusiasts and movie collectors to further venture into the great outdoors and experience what Camp Rolling Hills and Camp New Horizons have to offer – nature walks, randy campers, puritanical camp counselor, murder and a feast of gory goodness! Fans of the popular SLEEPAWAY CAMP movies rejoice as the collector’s editions of SLEEPAWAY CAMP II: UNHAPPY CAMPERS and SLEEPAWAY CAMP III: TEENAGE WASTELAND hits on home entertainment shelves everywhere on June 9, 2015 from SCREAM FACTORY™. Both movies debut for the first time on Blu-ray™. Each collector’s edition Blu-ray+DVD combo pack features anamorphic widescreen movie presentation, exciting bonus content, newly rendered retro-style artwork, a reversible wrap with theatrical key art and more! Continue reading ‘Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
May 24th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Channel your inner champion and brace yourself for this inspiring adventure based on a true story of underdogs triumphing over tremendous obstacles in McFarland USA on Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack, Disney Movies Anywhere and Digital HD June 2nd! This moving story features Kevin Costner(“Dances with Wolves,” “The Untouchables”), Maria Bello(“A History of Violence, “Prisoners”) Morgan Saylor (TV’s “Homeland”) and Diana Maria Riva (“NCIS: Los Angeles,” “Castle”) amongst others in this touching tale displaying the power of family, commitment and work ethic that transforms a cross-county team into champions. Bonus features include McFarland Reflections, deleted scenes, extended scenes and more!
. Continue reading ‘McFarland USA (Blu-ray Review)’
May 20th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
One of the most beloved fantasy films of all-time, The Last Unicorn has enraptured generations of fans with its poetic tale of a brave unicorn’s journey through a mystic land seeking others of her kind. On June 9th, 2015, rediscover this classic tale with Shout! Factory’s release of The Last Unicorn: The Enchanted Edition on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and standalone DVD. Fans who order their copies from ShoutFactory.com will receive a limited edition collectable 18”x 24” poster with their order, available while supplies last.
. Continue reading ‘The Last Unicorn – Enchanted Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
May 19th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Trespassers will be violated. Scream Factory proudly presents the action-packed supernatural thriller Scarecrows. Making its Blu-ray debut, this release comes packed with new bonus features, including audio commentaries with director William Wesley and producer Cami Winikoff, and interviews with special make-up effects creator Norman Cabrera and actor Ted Vernon. This is a sort of horror/slasher/horror-action film that I’d really never heard of. It comes from a fabled year in horror; 1988. So, of course I was pretty eager to tear off the plastic and dig into this, seeing what I had been missing out on all these years. Like many, it has a nice following and set of fans, but would I wind up one of them. Continue reading ‘Scarecrows (Blu-ray Review)’
May 19th, 2015 by Gregg Senko
I am a sucker for anything regarding Egyptology. Even if it’s semi-related and mostly imaginable, I still \want to know what it’s about. When The Pyramid debuted in theaters last December, I made it a point to catch it on the big screen. Unfortunately, this picture was in and out of theaters in record time, relegating the anxious to wait until a disc release. Here we are five months later and the waiting has come to an end! But was it worth it? Based on the quick exit from the cinema, I didn’t have high expectations. Continue reading ‘The Pyramid (Blu-ray Review)’
May 18th, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
Now on Blu-ray is Still Alice, the film that finally won Julianne Moore an Oscar for her acting talents. The film also stars Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, and Kate Bosworth. It concerns the battle Moore’s character faces, upon learning about a horrible diagnosis that will most certainly affect her and her loved ones. I’ll go into whether or not the film is worth your, as well as dig into what the Blu-ray experience for this award-winning drama has to offer.
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May 16th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Unjustly ignored on its release, director Kurando Mitsutake’s tale of a modern day blind swordsman assassin turns Japanese genre conventions upside down. Fans have long requested this wild mix of Tarantino and ZATOICHI in HD, and Synapse Films has pulled out all the stops to create an awesome special edition for release only on Blu-ray. If you’ll remember, Mitsutake is the director of GUN WOMAN, a film that I reviewed last weekend and is coming to Blu-ray the same day. Set in nowhere and in no time, SAMURAI AVENGER: THE BLIND WOLF is a bloody sushi-western and a modern day action film with a classic samurai essence. Continue reading ‘Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf (Blu-ray Review)’
May 15th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Independent U.S. distributors Blue Underground have revealed that they are planning to bring to Blu-ray Luigi Bazzoni’s western Man, Pride and Vengeance (1967), starring Franco Nero, Tina Aumont, Klaus Kinski, Guido Lollobrigida, and Karl Schönböck. The preliminary release date set by the distributors was March 24, 2015, but was then changed to May 26th, 2015. So, now after two months of waiting its finally here. Blue Underground continues to be one of the premiere American Blu-ray distributors committed to transferring many of the Franco Nero spaghetti westerns to high definition. I believe this is one of the many non-Django lot that gets labeled as such for sales/promotional reasons and the fact it has Nero and its an Italian western. But, I’m pretty certain this has nothing to do with those. Continue reading ‘Man Pride Vengeance (Blu-ray Review)’
May 15th, 2015 by Sean Wright
Black or White from writer/director Mike Binder (The Upside of Anger, Reign Over Me) concerns the custody of Eloise, who after her white mother died in childbirth, is raised by her white grandparents, Elliott (Kevin Costner) and Carol (Jennifer Ehle). After Carol dies in an accident, a custody battle ensues between Elliott and Eloise’s black paternal grandmother Rowena (Octavia Spencer). The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before received a wide theatrical release on January 30th, 2015. Continue reading ‘Black or White (Blu-ray Review)’
May 13th, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
The Cobbler is the latest film from writer/director Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent, The Visitor, Win Win). It stars Adam Sandler as a shoemaker who acquires magical powers. Yes, that makes it sound like something fairly dim and fitting of Sandler’s more outlandish crop of films, but this is not a Happy Madison production. As a fan of McCarthy, I was hoping to find something worthwhile, given his previous films, but I was not quite sure what to expect. I missed the film in theaters and had only heard negative things. Now it is available on Blu-ray, where I was able to give The Cobbler a fair shake.
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Continue reading ‘The Cobbler (Blu-ray Review)’
May 12th, 2015 by Kori Kemerer
Okay. I am sure that I will probably never hear the end about this, but I really, really enjoyed Fifty Shades of Grey. Now don’t get me wrong – I’m smart enough to say it’s not great, but it’s not terrible either. To be completely honest, this is exactly what I expected from the film. Fifty Shades of Grey is based on the EXTREMELY popular and unfortunately poorly-reviewed novel of the same name by E.L.James, but boy did it ever get the housewives talking. And better yet…it’s on Blu-ray now! Continue reading ‘Fifty Shades of Grey (Blu-ray Review)’
May 10th, 2015 by Brian White
American Sniper saw a limited release theatrically last year on Christmas Day. So if you are in the know with my usual rants, then you have already guessed it and hit the nail on the head. It wasn’t released or screened anywhere near me last Christmas, hence why I did not see this masterpiece until January this year and also why it’s sorely missing from my Top 10 Films of 2014 post here. It juts goes to show you that you can’t have your cake and eat all the time too. You either pay the high taxes and live in a shoebox in LA or you stuff your face with fatty BBQ, sip back on sweet tea and watch the world pass you by, but I digress. We really do have a movie to discuss here. So ladies and gentlemen, let me be the first to formally welcome you to my much-anticipated and all-American Blu-ray review of American Sniper. Continue reading ‘American Sniper (Blu-ray Review)’
May 10th, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
From Executive Producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and show creator Courtney Kemp Agboh (“The Good Wife”) comes “Power”, a visionary crime drama set in two different worlds – the glamorous New York club scene and the brutal drug trade. James “Ghost” St. Patrick has it all: a beautiful wife, a gorgeous Manhattan penthouse, and the hottest, up-and-coming new nightclub in New York. His club, Truth, caters to the elite: the famous and infamous boldface names that run the city that never sleeps. As its success grows, so do Ghost’s plans to build an empire. However, Truth hides a ugly reality. It’s a front for Ghost’s criminal underworld; a lucrative drug network, serving only the wealthy and powerful. As Ghost is seduced by the prospect of a legitimate life, everything precious to him becomes unknowingly threatened. Once you’re in, can you ever get out? Continue reading ‘Power: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray Review)’
