Da Vinci’s Demons: The Complete Second Season (Blu-ray Review)
Get ready to journey into one of the greatest minds in history! From Creator and Executive Producer David S. Goyer, comes the second season of Da Vinci’s Demons, bigger and bolder as Leonardo da Vinci travels to South America, Naples, and Turkey, in his quest to find answers. Science mixes with love, lust and thrills in an adventure that is as inventive as the man who inspired it. This is the must see series that critics are calling “Explosive” and a “Fantastical drama” (TV Guide Magazine), “Compelling” and a “Well-crafted story” (New York Daily News) and simply “a whole heck of a lot of fun” (Zap2it). Da Vinci’s Demons: The Complete Second Season is unlike anything ever seen, a historical fantasy drama that truly soars to new heights! Continue reading ‘Da Vinci’s Demons: The Complete Second Season (Blu-ray Review)’
John Cusack (Say Anything…, Grosse Pointe Blank) and Daphne Zuniga (Spaceballs) take a road trip to romance in The Sure Thing, a charming and thoughtful comedy classic that only the ’80s could deliver, presented here in a special 30th Anniversary edition on Blu-ray from Shout! Factory. The release gives the film a brand new transfer and ports over all the extras from teh DVD special edition that was released back in 2003. And I don’t think its been released at all on any format since then. Directed by Rob Reiner (This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride), The Sure Thing is exactly what the title suggests for fans of raucously funny road trips, red-hot romantic comedies and romps through 80’s angst featuring John Cusack! 
Make no mistake about it. I wanted to see Foxcatcher for one main reason. Never mind all the Academy Awards nominations it got. We’ll talk about those in a minute. I wanted to see it because for the first time ever that man I saw in the film’s trailer was not Steve Carell, but someone possessed, almost evil looking. I wanted to find out who this man was. I could care less about wrestling. I needed to find out how the heck Carell looked so sinister, the why and most importantly, did he pull it off. Considering he got nominated for the Best Actor this year, I think the consensus is in that he did, but nonetheless I had to see Foxcatcher with my own eyes. And now that I did, here’s my full Blu-ray review to tell you all about my HD experience. So lace up your wrestling shoes ladies and gentlemen. Ding! Ding! That’s the bell! Let’s take our discussion onto the Blu-ray mat. Follow me! 
Kiss Me Kate — Cole Porter’s 1953 hit musical filmed with the most advanced 3D technology during the medium’s “golden era” – will be released in a newly restored Blu-ray edition by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Viewers will now be able to experience the classic starring Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson and Ann Miller exactly the way it was seen in its 3D release in theatres 62 years ago. 
The SyFy Channel original film, Dark Haul is coming to Blu-ray from Scream Factory. It stars Tom Sizemore, who battles against a creature while trying to transport it and its human sister to a secure location. I’m not sure if they have before, but this might be the first time that SyFy and Scream Factory have crossed paths for a Blu-ray release before. Normally, or in the past, Scream Factory has done work with Chiller TV and IFC Midnight (With more films from the latter coming down the pipeline according to recent reports). I had never heard of this one before, but being a SyFy Channel movie, I already know where to set my expectations and how to appropriately view something of its ilk. 
On Any Sunday: The Next Chapter is a follow-up to the 1971 motorcycle documentary On Any Sunday, produced and featuring Steve McQueen. The doc follows several motorcycle enthusiasts, including racers, stuntman, designers, and the events that they participate in. Interviewees include well known motorcycle personalities such as Robbie Madison, Roland Sands, James Stewart, Jr., and continuing the initial films celebrity involvement, Bo Derek, Scott Caan, and Mickey Rourke. The film premiered on July 12th, 2014 in New Zealand before hitting a limited theatrical run. 
I knew nothing of this film’s existence until Scream Factory announced their acquisition of it. Looking at the original poster artwork, I sort of immediately knew there was a good chance I was going to get a kick out of it. Exterminators Of The Year 3000 is an Italian post-apocalyptic desert car crashing action movie. Basically, some Italian filmmakers saw The Road Warrior and said “Gee whiz, I wanna do THAT!”. Then, they searched through Italy’s couches for change, counted up just enough and went out and just shot the thing. And to be quite honest, there’s a certain joy and charm that comes with it. And with the passage of time, I’m sure there’s a modern day appreciation for this film that may not have been there when it came out in 1983. But, look at this…its on Blu-ray now where something like True Lies STILL is not here. 
One of my favorite comedies from the 1990s was Dumb And Dumber. I laughed my tail off when I first saw the film in the theater. Being a huge Jim Carrey fan since his In Living Color days, I was there opening weekend. The film also introduced us to the Farrelly brothers who would rock pretty good with their comedies through the 90s. People clamored for a follow up to Harry and Lloyd’s first adventure, but Jim Carrey was always holding it back because he became larger than life and began chasing an Oscar and rightfully didn’t need a second one. Instead, they gave us Dumb And Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd. A prequel film nobody was asking for or wanting. People wanted the Farrellys, Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. Well, years went by and Carrey’s box office clout has fallen, so “of course” he was down to do the second Dumb And Dumber. But, now its 20 years later and seems more desperate than essential for all involved but Jeff Daniels. 
With blood-chilling special effects by award-winning FX creators Robert Kurtzman and Steve Johnson, Fear Clinic will take viewers on an unforgettable journey into the very soul of terror itself. Co-written by Hall and Aaron Drane, the film is based on the critically acclaimed and fan favorite 2009 
There are two things I’ve always been clamoring for on Blu-ray; more Blaxploitation films and more Pam Grier. Which, yeah a lot of that is one in the same. And this new release from Scream Factory covers both! “Dracula’s soul brother”, Blacula is here in high definition. Yes, I’m very aware of the title, but note that these were different times and the Blaxploitation era was all about taking things and making it their own. You’d find many a spin on titles like this. The success of Blacula even spawned a Blackenstein. These Blacula movies are somewhat a relic of another time, but I also find them to be plenty enough of a campy hoot to enjoy. A fun trivia fact, Blacula himself is also the King of Cartoons from Pee-wee’s Playhouse (The guy from the second season onward). 
New Year’s Evil is one of the more better known or higher profile golden age slasher films that has yet to see its release on Blu-ray. That is no longer a thing as Scream Factory is rectifying the situation come February 24. And mainly its in the conscience because its a one of them that got to claim one of the biggest holiday’s in their title. Its a film that is a face paced, race against the clock thriller as a man tries to off a woman for every time zone in the United States’ hits the midnight hour. Yes, that’s all very silly, but its all very fun at the same time. Looking back on this film has become a lot more fun than during the time when it was supposed to be “scary”. Time has been kind to it and allowed us to see it in a different way than maybe it was before. As told on the bonus features, this was a pleasant, happy and fun production to work on and it shows on both the film and this Blu-ray release. 
We have all had our share of “horrible bosses” haven’t we? Maybe we don’t care to admit it, but I believe I’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t have at least own horrible boss story. Let’s look at example from a chapter in my own life. In my current position and prior place of employment I am/had been looked upon in very high regards. However, two jobs ago, I felt like I could never do anything right to please the man. Nothing was ever good enough and in return I was constantly bullied, picked upon and insulted almost every day despite everyone else in the company seemingly loving my work and support I provided. It just goes to show you there are such things as “horrible bosses” in life and having said that this personal prologue serves as a nice segue into the Warner Bros. Blu-ray Combo Pack we’re all gathered here today to discuss, introducing Horrible Bosses 2.
