Masquerade (Blu-ray Review)
February 6th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
CJ Entertainment brings Masquerade to the United States on Blu-ray. This title was originally released on June 11, 2013 as a Best Buy exclusive. On February 11th, that exclusivity is relinquished and it will be available for purchase from other outlets. This historical fiction film is the fourth highest grossing film in Korea’s history. I think its worth noting that in terms of countries South Korea has had possibly the best and most original output for film in general in the last 10 plus years, so this is saying something. Masquerade also swept Korean’s equivalent of the Academy Awards, the Grand Bell Awards, winning in all 15 categories. Continue reading ‘Masquerade (Blu-ray Review)’
Millennium films brings you Life Of A King, the true story of Eugene Brown. A man who opened up a chess club to help troubled inner-city youths in the Washington DC area. The film boasts a cast with Cuba Gooding Jr, LisaGay Hamilton and President David Palmer himself, Dennis Haysbert. There are also some young actors that put in some good turns and maybe we’ll be seeing more of them in the future. Its directed by Jake Goldberg. The only other film he directed is a film called Don McKay. Funny as it is, that film is also about a janitor. It’s a small film that debuted at the Los Angeles Film Festival last year. The film features a man’s ability to connect to these kids using chess to open their minds and help them to become better kids, stay off the streets and plan for a better future. 
Originally slated for December, Scream Factory’s Collector’s Edition of Sam Raimi’s Darkman finally arrives on Blu-ray. For good reason, too. They got Liam “I will find you and I will kill you” Neeson to sit down for an interview exclusive to this release. And, to be honest, this release was PACKED before they even cherry topped it with that impressive get. This may be its 2nd release on Blu-ray, but that previous release had absolutely nothing in the way of bonus materials. But, luckily for you, people who actually care have got their hands on this film and delivered enough reason to double dip or to reward those who have waited and hoped for something more substantial to get released. 
For its 18th DC Universe Animated Original movie, they have adapted Justice League: Origins. This feels kind of like a timely “plant the seeds for later” type release as we all know their ultimate goal is to make a live action Justice League movie. Justice League: War is the name and bringing it to life with their voices are notables Michelle Monaghan (Wonder Woman), Alan Tudyk (Superman), Sean Astin (Shazam), Justin Kirk (Green Lantern), Shemar Moore (Cyborg) and Jason O’Mara (Batman). Its one of those “non-stop thrill ride” type movies that starts with a boom and keeps on exploding throughout its runtime. It also features some cool newer takes on the heroes outfits as well. 
Night Of The Demons is a film that has been engrained in my consciousness ever since my very first viewing of it. I remember it quite clearly. That damn VHS box at the rental store was incredibly terrifying to me (see the thumb). I always wanted to rent it but backed off. Once the time came, I finally divulged. And holy crap, this movie spooked the crap out of me. It had some disturbing material that has haunted my brain since the first time I saw it. Plus it had this alluring sexual vibe to it that as a kid in the Midwest growing up Catholic always adds a dimension of horror because it seems kind of dirty like you shouldn’t be watching. It’s those early viewings and lasting effect that has made this film one of my favorite horror movies of all time. So imagine my delight when my favorite Blu-ray distributor got their hands on it. Joy! 
The Golden Globe nominated (Best Actress in a Mini Series-Rebecca Ferguson, Best Mini-series or TV Movie) mini series The White Queen arrives on Blu-ray from Starz/Anchor Bay Home Entertainment. The series originally aired on the BBC in June 2013. It was followed by being acquired by the Starz network and aired there two months later in August. The series is work of historical fiction based on a popular book series. The BBC declined a further series and claimed it to be a one-shot, but Starz has stepped in and is developing another mini series, The White Princess which is also based on books in the series. This is definitely a title cashing in on the success of HBO’s Game Of Thrones, and those are big aspirations, but how does it stand in its own right? Well, keep reading and I’ll give you my two pennies. 
Let’s face it. Escape Plan is the tag team hardcore action moviegoers of my generation have been dying to see happen on the big screen ever since the big guns of the 80’s. With the exception of Arnold’s brief scenes in The Expendables series, Escape Plan truly marks the first time Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger have starred together in the same film. I don’t know how you feel about it, but that’s one massive production in my opinion with both of those hulking names thrown together in the same ring. So nevertheless, since I missed the press screening last year, I have been drooling with anticipation and anxiously awaiting for this “action” flick to come out on the Blu-ray format, like a dog waiting for its master to come home from a hard day of work, just to get a first hand look at their onscreen chemistry together, outside of The Expendables franchise. Now the real question is whether or not I was disappointed in it? I’ll get to that more in a few minutes, but for now let’s talk about everything Escape Plan. You down with that? 
When I was growing up, Ouija boards were a terrifying thing. It wasn’t like today. More and more people believed in just not messing with them as they were tools of witchcraft and made people uneasy just seeing them. Originally titled “Ouija”, Witchboard was the horror film that came along and played on all of those fears. It’s a film that when I saw it as a kid just kind of confirmed with me not to ever f*%$ with one of the boards. It was that kind of supernatural element that got under your skin with just a thought even well after the film’s credits have rolled. Yes, The Exorcist had used the board as a factor in the film, but Kevin Tenney’s film wanted to make the board an entire focus on its horror and not just and one and done kind of thing. Oh and did I mention that Witchboard also stars 80s super hottie and co-star(along with Dave Coulier) of America’s Funniest People Tawny Kitaen! 
Universal’s Machete Kills represents everything that’s wrong with Hollywood, sexploitation, extreme gore, bad dialogue, ridiculous plot and action sequences…you name it. But why do I love it so much?! Because it’s so much God d@mn fun if you let it be! That’s why! If you can’t let go and have a fun time with a Machete flick, then you’re a corpse! Loosen up. Let go of everything that makes sense in life. It’s perfectly acceptable to rip someone’s intestines out, jump out the window with them in tow and swing from them to the below building floor. Totally realistic! Right? Wrong! But who the hell cares?! This is Machete and this is the Austin’s prodigal son, Señor Robert Rodriguez writing and directing these flicks. If you can’t respect that harmonious blend, then I have no reason to deal with you anymore. Move along. I’m sure there’s a Muppets review or two here on the site for you to look at. 
On the surface, after seeing multiple television spots initially, Last Vegas appeared to be nothing more than a cash grab at the box office as the older generation’s version of the wildly popular first entry in the franchise, The Hangover. Heck, it’s even about four friends and a bachelor party in Vegas! How much more convincing can that as an initial assessment possibly be? And guess what?! The movie poster’s tagline even read that “it’s going to be legendary.” I got to be honest with you. I feel like I hit a grand slam here with my initial way of thinking. The Hangover involved four guys, Las Vegas, a bachelor party and it was…L-E-G-E-N-D-A-R-Y. However, I digress and won’t throw anymore jabs. We’re always taught in life not to judge a book by it’s cover so instead of speculating and trading zingy one-liners, let’s roll the dice and find out how Last Vegas is! 
I’m a big big fan and lover of the A Nightmare On Elm Street franchise. I grew up with Freddy Krueger as well as Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees. Freddy became the absolute phenomenon of those guys though. He was everywhere. And he’s left an incredible legacy and a ton of fans. Never Sleep Again chronicles the journey from his first film to Freddy Vs. Jason. It even covers some memorabilia aspects and that TV show that’s not so fondly remembered, Freddy’s Nightmares. This came out on DVD back in 2010 and 1428 mentioned there were no plans for a Blu-ray. However, Image Entertainment has come to the rescue of us that live and die by the Blu and brought this documentary to the Blu-ray format! 
