Superman: 5-Film Collection 1978-1987 (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
One of the most anticipated sets for most home video collectors when a format changes is that of the Christopher Reeve-led Superman films that ran for a decade. Surprisingly still the pinnacle Superman on film to this day, the whole series will be arriving on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on May 9th. The original film had been released prior, but now we have the other 3, including the 2006 Richard Donner cut of the second one. This is a rather port the extras and update the video and audio release, but so much has been said and done with this, that’s just fine by me. My one wish would be an extended cut of Superman IV, but I know I’m in a short order of folks who would pay good money for that. You can order yourself a copy of Superman: 5-Film Collection (1978-1987) by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
Continue reading ‘Superman: 5-Film Collection 1978-1987 (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
Its nice that M. Night Shyamalan has found some footing again in being a solid filmmakers. While he’s not getting a hit every time out, the output is rather rock solid and of legit public interest. There was a a time when his name popping up in a trailer would yield audible groans from an audience. But since The Visit, he’s been a pretty dependable genre filmmaker. This time, he’s here with the apocalyptic drama Knock At The Cabin. The film was a mild success this past February and wound up hitting Peacock early. Now you’ll be able to own a pristine 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray copy of it, complete with Atmos sound and some fun featurettes. The release date is May 9th, and you can pre-order yourself a copy from the paid Amazon Associates link below.
Kicking off Marvel’s “Phase 5” of its cinematic universe, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will be arriving on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on May 16th. Already available digitally and on Disney+, the film will be able to actually own and in its best possible presentation that day to go along with some nifty extras and Atmos sound. This piece of the puzzle underwhelmed from any number of perspectives and brought forth some interesting conversations regarding the state of the MCU as well as the treatment of digital artists by juggernaut studio. For those of you keeping up with the home video releases, you can pre-order yourself a copy using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review to hopefully have at your doorstep at or in close proximity to the release date.
Shout! Factory has really been coming in hot with their set releases of classic Hong Kong action films of the 70s and 80s. Touting a few Jackie Chan collections and a Sonny Chiba one, their next set features the early work of Donnie Yen. The Tiger Cage Collection features three films more known as cult classics of their “heroic bloodshed” era, sitting in the shadows of the John Woo/Chow Yun Fat epics. Armed with brand new interviews, commentaries and other goodies, this three disc set will be available on May 9th. You can pre-order yourself a copy now using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review at the bottom of the page.
From the moment the marketing began with Cocaine Bear, the world was well aware of its presence. And rather than just being something goofy shared with friends and chuckled at on social media, people actually were curious and showed up to the movie. And, they also were plenty satisfied with what they saw. In addition to coming to Peacock this month, its also hitting Blu-ray on April 18th. Nope, no 4K Ultra-HD for the hit film, but maybe later on. The disc is pretty full of some solid extras, including a commentary, alternate ending and multiple featurettes. You can order yourself a copy using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
The Magic Mike trilogy came to its close this past February. Originally intended as a release that was supposed to be an HBO Max exclusive, the film changed course and did a little theatrical run first that looked pretty fruitful in grosses. Soderbergh has been doing some really solid work there on the streamer and feels to be on a bit of a run. His latest here, pairs him with Channing Tatum again to close the book on their Magic Mike series, Magic Mike’s Last Dance. You’ll be able to purchase the film and own it on Blu-ray when it becomes available on April 18th. The disc will feature a deleted scene and featurette for bonus features. You can use the paid Amazon Associates link below to order yourself a copy and complete your set!
Warner Bros is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2023. And lucky for us physical media collectors, they are doing so with some boffo new 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray releases of many of their classics. Films coming to the format for the very first time. We’ve already seen Training Day to kick things off but more are on the way from seminal astute staples like East of Eden to beloved genre fare like the Christopher Reeve-led Superman films. On April 4th, these get a big kick to the engine as The Maltese Falcon, Rebel Without A Cause and Cool Hand Luke all debut on the format. Gorgeous restorations and classic bonus features abound, these are all available to order at the click of a button at the end of the review. This particular review will cover 1967’s icon Paul Newman feature – Cool Hand Luke. A film that delivered the all time cinematic line of “What we have here is failure to communicate.”
Warner Bros is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2023. And lucky for us physical media collectors, they are doing so with some boffo new 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray releases of many of their classics. Films coming to the format for the very first time. We’ve already seen Training Day to kick things off but more are on the way from seminal astute staples like East of Eden to beloved genre fare like the Christopher Reeve-led Superman films. On April 4th, these get a big kick to the engine as The Maltese Falcon, Rebel Without A Cause and Cool Hand Luke all debut on the format. Gorgeous restorations and classic bonus features abound, these are all available to order at the click of a button at the end of the review. In this review, we’ll be covering the 1955 film that announced James Dean wasn’t just a flash in the pan, that he was going to be a force to be reckoned with. Rebel Without A Cause saw James Dean pining “You’re tearing me apart!” long before Tommy Wiseau made the line a midnight shouting classic.
Warner Bros is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2023. And lucky for us physical media collectors, they are doing so with some boffo new 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray releases of many of their classics. Films coming to the format for the very first time. We’ve already seen Training Day to kick things off but more are on the way from seminal astute staples like East of Eden to beloved genre fare like the Christopher Reeve-led Superman films. On April 4th, these get a big kick to the engine as The Maltese Falcon, Rebel Without A Cause and Cool Hand Luke all debut on the format. Gorgeous restorations and classic bonus features abound, these are all available to order at the click of a button at the end of the review. This review will cover what might be the most well known and beloved classic film noir of all time. Or at least the one that feels like the basis from which everyone’s idea of a black and white noir comes from – 1941’s The Maltese Falcon.
The Star Trek films have felt like they have had the slowest trudge and bumpy roll out onto the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format. The films feel like they should be at the top of the list when format upgrades come, but alas they feel like an afterthought. Odd, especially when they are at the forefront of Paramount+ productions as there’s always a Star Trek going on at any given time. Breathe easy though, as The Next Generation films conclude the film roll out of the series. Released on April 4th, they carry over all the bonus features from before and audio/video updates to the films. Its doubtful the original television series or The Next Generation’s television episodes will ever see the format, so this is quite possibly it (Or at least for a long while). You can order yourself a copy of this set (also available individually) by click on the paid Amazon Associates link at the bottom of the review.
Three years ago, Paramount Presents released an upgraded edition of 1983’s Flashdance with a brand new transfer. Upon reviewing that edition, the film shot up in my esteem by plenty of notches. The film isn’t just a flash in the pan 80s nostalgia dish, it serves as sort of that decade’s Saturday Night Fever from a female perspective. Now, Paramount will be presenting that transfer as it was intended to be seen, on a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray disc. Coming on April 11th, it’ll feature the same audio and extras that were on the Paramount Presents disc. You can order yourself a copy now, to upgrade or own for the first time, by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of this page.
In the era of dwindling star power, Gerard Butler is still a guy who can open a movie pretty well. Granted, he’s more known for sort of mid-tier action movie, but there’s proven to be a pretty rock solid audience for that when he’s in them. His main franchise is the …Has Fallen series, but people will go see him in other things, which said other things are original action movies or knock offs. Plane is the most recent one, coming out to good reviews and decent business back in January. Its now making its way to home video with a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray that is set to drop on March 28th. It comes loaded with a Dolby Atmos audio track and three featurettes. You can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
A film that has oddly avoided being upgraded to Blu-ray all these years is 1981’s fantasy epic, Dragonslayer. Known for its terrific ILM effects, the film didn’t quite hit Star Wars numbers and has been relegated to cult classic in its lifetime. Now, 42 years later, Paramount is putting it out in a brand new 4K Ultra-HD edition with a restoration on both sight and sound that will be of worth great waiting for the fans. It also features a documentary on the film as well as a commentary with the director and Guillermo del Toro and screen tests. Dragonslayer will be releasing on March 21st in regular and collectible steelbook editions. Whether or not you want the full MacNicol, you can use the paid Amazon associates link following the review to secure yourself a copy of this sure collector’s item for physical media enthusiasts.
One of the funniest stories my friend Scott Mendelson and I have is when we snuck into a test screening of James Wan’s Dead Silence back in (I’m guessing) 2006. For those curious, the “Alternate Opening” and “Alternate Ending” on the bonus features were in the version we saw and the title was simply Silence. Working in the entertainment industry, Scott and I weren’t supposed to be allowed into those things, and if caught would be blacklisted from all test screenings around town. Long story short, I was almost caught because of how I answered a question with an organizer while in line and it led to her introducing me to Leigh Whannell before the film started. Well, I hadn’t seen the film since that screening – UNTIL NOW. Scream Factory is debuting the film on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on March 28th and I get to review it. It features new interviews with Wan and Whannell as well as the guy who mad the dumies for the movie. You can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link at the end of the review.
