Archive for the 'Blu-ray Reviews' Category
December 9th, 2014 by Brian White
When I think back to joys of my childhood some of my earliest thoughts of happiness revolve around family and sports, but quite honestly movies and comics. Yep! As a child, I had one wild imagination growing up and with no nearby childhood friends to play with I had to find ways to occupy my time and keep myself busy. I swear I rehearsed that lightsaber duel as Luke Skywalker against Darth Vader in the Empire Strikes Back almost daily. However, I digress because we are not here to talk Star Wars, but that of Ninja Turtles. So remember, just five sentences ago I mentioned the word comics? Yes! Besides Groo, I can still remember those rated-R, crisp, black and white pages of those early Mirage Studios issues of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. That was 1984! A lot has happened in the world of the four turtles since then, but possibly none more revolutionary than the casting of Megan Fox as April O’Neil in this newest onscreen reboot by Michael Bay’s production company, Platinum Dunes. Continue reading ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Blu-ray Review)’
December 9th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
Jeff Beck is undeniably one of the world s greatest guitar players. Technically brilliant, he is renowned for pushing musical boundaries and has excelled across many different genres from rock and jazz to pop and blues. Live In Tokyo was filmed at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Japan on April 9th this year. These Japanese dates were the first to feature Jeff Beck s new backing band of Jonathan Joseph (drums), Nicolas Meier (guitars) and Rhonda Smith (bass) and the setlist includes some material from his new, as yet unreleased, studio album. In contrast to Beck s previous visual releases, both filmed in small clubs, Live In Tokyo is filmed in a major concert arena and has a very different, more expansive feel. Jeff Beck is a true guitar legend and this show captures him at his very best. Continue reading ‘Jeff Beck: Live in Tokyo (Blu-ray Review)’
December 9th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Anyone interested in the history of film knows that the 1930s was considered the Golden Era of Hollywood. Technological advancements were changing the way the film landscape was shaping up, stories started pushing through and testing the limits. The final year of that decade closed out an impressive run with one of the biggest Academy Award races ever. It wasn’t called “Best Picture” back then, but “Outstanding Production” in the 12th Annual Academy Awards for films in 1939 featured a roster of The Wizard Of Oz, Gone With The Wind, Wuthering Heights, Of Mice And Men, Love Affair, Stagecoach, Dark Victory, Goodbye Mr. Chip, Ninotchka and the film we’re here to talk about today, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. This 75 year old Frank Capra classic was nominated for 11 of those Oscars, but only took home one of them (Lewis R. Foster, “Best Story”). However, I believe more important than an Oscar is being a film that stands the test of time, one that you constantly go back to and still remains relevant to the conversation even 75 years later. While, yes, others on that list meet that qualification, it was as damn good year, but Mr. Smith Goes To Washington somehow has a timeless message and spirit that carries with it to make it one of the best and most important films ever made. Continue reading ‘Mr. Smith Goes To Washington – 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
December 7th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
So here we are again with another family film based on the true story of a dolphin named Winter. For the record, “Another Dolphin Tale” or “A Tale of Two Dolphins” may have been better title ideas to work with, but Dolphin Tale 2 is largely more of the same, as far as this sort of sequel to this sort of film goes. It is essentially harmless. With “family friendly” certainly serving as the mantra, Dolphin Tale 2 has old-fashion drama that is fitting for all audiences who are happy to embrace the simplicity and enjoy the animal antics over the acting and other minor questionable elements at play. Now the Blu-ray is available for anyone curious or excited about a sequel to Dolphin Tale.
Continue reading ‘Dolphin Tale 2 (Blu-ray Review)’
December 7th, 2014 by Brian White
Something exciting actually happened here this past summer in Austin, TX. Hooray! The pilot episode of The Strain premiered at the ATX Television Festival here in June this year. Now although I wasn’t present for its festival premiere, I was able to catch the pilot episode the night it aired this past July on FX networks and I was shocked by just how much fun I had with the show. However, soon the shock wore off and was instantly replaced by a thirst for each Sunday night to come and usher in a new blood curdling episode. Before I knew it, thirteen weeks went by like that and I’m left now holding the Blu-ray of Season One in one hand, pecking on the keyboard of my laptop with the other and drooling out of the corner of my mouth for more to come in Season Two. So where shall we start? I know! Let’s talk the basics first…the beginning. Continue reading ‘The Strain: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray Review)’
December 7th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
The Giver centers on Jonas (Brenton Thwaites), a young man who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Yet as he begins to spend time with The Giver (Jeff Bridges), who is the sole keeper of all the community’s memories, Jonas quickly begins to discover the dark and deadly truths of his community’s secret past. With this newfound power of knowledge, he realizes that the stakes are higher than imagined – a matter of life and death for himself and those he loves most. At extreme odds, Jonas knows that he must escape their world to protect them all – a challenge that no one has ever succeeded at before. The Giver is based on Lois Lowry’s beloved young adult novel of the same name, which was the winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal. Continue reading ‘The Giver (Blu-ray Review)’
December 6th, 2014 by Brian White
Call me crazy (no pun intended), but every time I look at the title of this film, its poster art and the fact that it stars Ben Kingsley, I just get Shutter Island on the brain. Is that fair to typecast this film instantly like that? I don’t think it is, but I can’t help the way my brain thinks sometimes. There are two reasons why I really wanted to see Stonehearst Asylum and was overjoyed when I learned I’d be reviewing it on the Blu-ray format. The first reason is obvious. It stars one of my favorite actresses, the forever beautiful Kate Beckinsale. And second, this film comes highly recommended from a co-worker of mine so I’m glad if nothing else that I’m finally having my first viewing of it on my favorite HD home media format, Blu-ray. So let’s talk some Stonehearst Asylum now! Continue reading ‘Stonehearst Asylum (Blu-ray Review)’
December 5th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
I love being able to say that Dead Snow 2 is an even better zom-com about Nazi zombies than the first film. While I had a lot of fun with Tommy Wirkola’s (Hansel & Gretel Witch Hunters) first foray into the world of Nazi zombies in Norway, that film was more devoted to being a riff on horror comedies that had come before it. With Dead Snow: Red Vs. Dead, Wirkola and his co-writers have the chance to explore the idea they came up with and have delivered a really fun film as a result. Now this zom-com sequel is on Blu-ray for everyone to check out.
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Continue reading ‘Dead Snow: Red Vs. Dead (Blu-ray Review)’
December 4th, 2014 by Nate Boss
Isn’t it funny to think that Alex Proyas’ 2004 sci-fi action-thriller I, Robot is already ten years old? It doesn’t seem that long. The CG effects don’t look aged. The actors, save for a young Shia LaBeouf, don’t look like they’ve aged all that much, either. The story hasn’t aged, as is evidenced by the fact that a 1950 novella by legendary author Isaac Asimov was adapted into an existing screenplay to create the film we know. In my eyes, it’s a somewhat timeless film, an opinion aided by the film’s smart wardrobe efforts. So, is ten years too soon for a film with a similar premise, even if the end result is a drastically different film? Automata makes for an interesting viewing experience, not only for its themes and visuals, but also the questions about its similarities to other films. Continue reading ‘Automata (Blu-ray Review)’
December 3rd, 2014 by Brandon Peters
An imaginative animated tale for the pre-school/kindergarten set, The Hero Of Color City chronicles the adventures of a diverse band of crayons that come alive in a little boy’s room when he drifts off to sleep. Replete with valuable life lessons, this enchanting story will entertain and inspire in a stunningly rendered and utterly unique animated world. In support of the December 2 release, Magnolia Pictures has partnered with the non-profit organization, The Crayon Collection. The group collects crayons from national and regional restaurant chains to donate to children in need.
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December 2nd, 2014 by Brandon Peters
In years to come, we’re going to look back and forget Marvel was ever “taking a big risk” with Guardians Of The Galaxy. The property was based off one of their most obscure titles and focused on weird galactic space adventure featuring no household name characters. And to lead it all was a lesser proven lead, Chris Pratt. With both the hugely positive response from critics and fans alike along with being the year’s biggest box office success, both those things are soon to change. It’s fantatstic to think this all was the product of a man whose filmmaking roots come from Troma, James Gunn. And he doesn’t forget where he came from either. Did you spot Lloyd Kaufmann in the film? Also, who WASN’T jamming out to “Awesome Mix Vol. 1” after this movie dropped? Continue reading ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy (Blu-ray Review)’
December 2nd, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
Starring Academy Award(R) winner Helen Mirren (Best Actress, THE QUEEN, 2006), produced by Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and Julia Blake, and directed by Lasse Hallstrom (CHOCOLAT), this uplifting story bursts with flavor, passion and heart. When the chill chef proprietress of a Michelin-starred French restaurant in southern France (Mirren) gets wind of a culinary immigrant opening an Indian restaurant just 100 feet from her own, her icy protests escalate to all-out war between the two establishments. It’s a celebration of triumph over exile as these two worlds collide and one young man tries to find the comfort of home in every pot — wherever he may be. Continue reading ‘The Hundred-Foot Journey (Blu-ray Review)’
November 30th, 2014 by Brian White
If the year 2011 taught us nothing but the fact that good things can come from rebooting a beloved franchise, then I’d be alright to call it a day right here and now. Never in my wildest dreams could I have ever conjured up such a crazy notion that the quirky Planet of the Apes franchise could ever be resurrected after that feeble attempt by Tim Burton (I really wish they could have went through with the Adam Rifkin script) way back in the summer of 2001 before our economy took a crap and I have been broke ever since because of low interest rates. However, I digress. We are not here to discuss our nation’s economy because if the fictional ape character of Caesar was real, I have no doubts that it would thrive once again under his direction. All hail Caesar, right? Exactly! That’s exactly the sentimentality I want you all to have over the course of the next five minutes or so as I impregnate your mind with a world dominated by apes, or at least on the cusp of that becoming a reality in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Continue reading ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Blu-ray Review)’
November 28th, 2014 by Brian White
There’s no denying that the early success of Why So Blu can be traced back to three key triggering events in our website’s now six-year timeline. The odd or ironic thing about it is that all three of those events revolve around one premium cable television series. Yep! You guessed it…Starz’s Spartacus! Those events include the odd chance meeting of what would become one our website’s most prolific movie reviewers, Aaron Neuwirth, at the Comic-Con 2010 panel for Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, being the first site back in 2010 to publish a review of the much anticipated debut Blu-ray release of Spartacus: Blood and Sand and last but not least, the promotion of that Blu-ray review to the thousands of loyal Spartacus fans courtesy of the PR person any guy would be lucky to have in their corner. And because of all she does for us, Why So Blu is still kicking and thriving. So I guess it’s only appropriate that we’re here today, in her honor, to discuss the perfect Christmas stocking stuffer for that blood thirsty gladiator on your holiday shopping list this year, Spartacus: The Complete Series – Limited Edition on Blu-ray. Continue reading ‘Spartacus: The Complete Series – Limited Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
November 23rd, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Horror is a such an extensive genre in film that it even comes with its own set of sub-genres. It goes further than that though. Those sub-genres even have their own sub-genres, and its like there are sub-genres of sub-genres of sub-genres. Surprisingly, one of those that branches out in many directions is the Zombie genre. I even think there’s enough of them that today’s film could qualify for it. And it might be one of the grand daddies of it. I’m talking about Nazi zombie genre. Of course during World War II, Adolf Hitler just HAD to have been experimenting with undead soldiers right? Anyway, its one of those crazy concepts that is just so wild, it can’t be anything but fun when they do it in modern day. How did it fair back in the 70s though? That’s what we’re here to find out. Join me as we take a trip back to the super low budget 16mm film, Shock Waves. Continue reading ‘Shock Waves (Blu-ray Review)’
November 23rd, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Sergio Corbucci is a legendary director of Zapata Westerns, or more commonly known as “Spaghetti Westerns”. He most notably directed the debut of the character of Django played by Franco Nero. That film has spawn thirty some sequels over the years and drove Nero to stardom. However, today’s film, Compañeros would be their last. Nero wasn’t happy with how much Compañeros focused more on another character. Though they had history and had made classic films with one another to this point it seemed to be a deal break for Nero. He’s on record for having turned down some movies if Sergio Corbucci was attached to or in talks to direct. Continue reading ‘Compañeros / Vamos A Matar (Blu-ray Review)’
November 22nd, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
From The Vault is a new series of live concerts from The Rolling Stones archive which are getting their first official release. ‘Hampton Coliseum Live In 1981’ is the first title in this series. The Rolling Stones American Tour in 1981 was the most successful tour of that year taking a then record $50 million dollars in ticket sales. The tour was in support of the critically and commercially successful ‘Tattoo You’ album. There were fifty dates on the tour which ran from Philadelphia at the end of September through to Hampton, Virginia on the 18th and 19th of December. The show on December 18th, which was also Keith Richards birthday, was the first ever music concert to be broadcast on television as a pay-per-view event. The footage has now been carefully restored and the sound has been newly mixed by Bob Clearmountain for this first official release of the show. Continue reading ‘The Rolling Stones: From the Vault – Hampton Coliseum (Blu-ray Review)’
November 22nd, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
Join Lowell Thomas and follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo in this new, digital restoration of Search for Paradise, the fourth of the original, 3-panel Cinerama travelogues. Released in 1957, the motion picture takes you to the “Roof of the World,” the Himalayas and Karakoram mountains of Central Asia, the highest region on Earth. You’ll become part of the adventure as explorer Lowell Thomas searches for paradise in ancient cities, wild river rapids, and the lush gardens of mountaintops. Your first stop is the Forbidden Kingdom of Hunza, a hidden valley bordered by China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, home to a legendary warrior tribe. Next, you’ll challenge the rapids of the Mighty Indus River, fed from a fantastic galaxy of monumental glaciers draining from some of the greatest heights known to man. From there, find respite in the romantic Shalimar Gardens in the Vale of Kashmir, then fly to Katmandu for the coronation ceremony of King Mahendra of Nepal. The adventure concludes with a trip to a U.S. Air Force base, where Thunderbird jet planes cut across the sapphire blue sky overhead at supersonic speed. Flicker Alley and Cinerama, Inc. are proud to present Search for Paradise in the Smilebox® Curved Screen Simulation. Unseen theatrically since the early 1970s and never before issued on home video, Search for Paradise has been digitally remastered from original camera negatives. The film captures the imagination and asks what your dream paradise would be: beauty, adventure or peace. Continue reading ‘Cinerama’s ‘Search For Paradise’ (Blu-ray Review)’
