The Clock (Blu-ray Review)
June 20th, 2022 by Brandon Peters
For the month of June, Warner Archive Collection is clearly celebrating the centennial of the birthday of film icon Judy Garland. With three of her films making their debut on the format, there’s no doubt that was the idea. One of which is the 1945 film, The Clock, that co-stars Robert Walker and is directed by her future husband (And Liza’s dad), Vincente Minnelli. The disc will come with a nice handful of extras that either relate to the film or the era when it was released. It was released on June 14th and you can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the reviews.
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Robert Eggers has quickly shot up everyone’s favorite indie director’s list with only 3 films under his belt. With a terrific debut in The VVitch and equally awesome follow up The Lighthouse, its easy to see why. In a sea of lots of safe and monotone looking films we see in the blockbuster market, his quirks, weirdness and visuals are of the most refreshing lot. Granted, he’s not for everyone as people who aren’t the biggest film buffs probably have them in the “terrible column”. But for them, his latest film The Northman felt like a bridge between the abstract and mainstream for him. And you’ll be able to check out his Viking tale on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ay. I released back on June 7th with plenty of bonus material in tow. You can order yourself a copy of the film from the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
What do you think of when you hear the name Michael Bay. Some would say toxic masculinity. Some would say over the top. Some would say style over substance. There are also some that would say action film icon, auteur of mainstream cinema or underrated genius. I can put myself somewhere in the middle. The Rock is one of the finest action films of the 90’s or any decade. It’s big, loud, implausible and a whole lot of fun. Armageddon and Pearl Harbor are two of the most overlong, lazily plotted slogs through film that I’ve ever seen. They’re all from the same director. The same can be said even for franchise work from Bay. Bad Boysand Bad Boys II are two wildly different films to me. One works in a nice tight structure, while the other bloats like me after a big meal. This is all of course in my humble opinion… but why do I ask these questions and make these claims? For the purpose of this review’s exploration of Ambulance. This is Bayhem on a grand scale, but just so slightly different. Check out the details below and be sure to snag a copy of Ambulance using the paid Amazon Link!
Ever since I caught House of the Devil and it greatly impressed me and refreshed my love of horror, Ti West has had somewhat of a lifetime pass for me from that. And thus, I’ve generally enjoyed pretty much every original film he’s put out when he’s able to cut one. X was his latest, and it really had a terrific trailer and wound up managing to garner lots of curiosity and actually deliver on it. Lionsgate has forgone a 4K release on X, which is a shame. But, it is an A24 title, so perhaps like Midsommar before it, we’ll see a more deluxe limited edition for the film later on in the year for the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format (And maybe the Pearl trailer will be back, too?). But for now, you can secure yourself a copy of X, which was released on May 24th, by utilizing the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom.
Cloak & Dagger is often overlooked when it comes to 80’s child-centric cinema. An espionage thriller for kids that isn’t silly or over the top? How you say? Very well in fact. I was able to sit down with Vinegar Syndrome’s exceptional new 4K Collector’s Edition and take the kid friendly Hitchcockian thriller in. What a pleasant surprise! Read more on director Richard Franklin’s Cloak & Dagger below and be sure to visit vinegarsyndrome.com starting July 1st, 2022 to grab a copy of this unexpected, excellent release.
The Contractor asks a few age-old cinema questions. How does one provide for their family when their livelihood is cut down? How do you do a job you’re not so sure of without first thinking of the consequences of your actions in said job? What will your family think knowing what you do is “less than legal?” Does Chris Pine find those answers in his latest action thriller? Will you, the viewer, be on the edge of your seat or on the edge of pushing the “stop” button? Find these answers and more in our coverage of The Contractor below. Hitting home media on June 7th, The Contractor may be up your alley! Be sure to click the paid Amazon link at the end to grab a copy for yourself!
Grease 2 really couldn’t stand a chance. Despite charismatic performances from Michelle Pfeiffer and Maxwell Caulfield and a bevy of character actors (The ones you’d call “that guy/girl from…” but not by name…), the film suffers from the inevitable sequel tropes. But revisiting this for a 40thanniversary Blu-ray may make you wanna go “back (back) back to school again!” Coming home in steelbook form, Grease 2 begs to be revisited. Read all the details below and don’t forget to click the paid Amazon link to get yourself a copy, cool rider!
You gotta love it as a maestro’s catalog continues to upgrade through to whatever the most up to date format there is for home video. Brian De Palma is slowly but surely upgrading. Milestones help to bump things up to the top, as his film The Untouchables will join Mission: Impossible, Carlito’s Way and Scarface on the format. This notable classic gangster film is the one that nabbed screen legend Sean Connery his Oscar and turned his career around for its third act. You’ll be able to pick this 35th Anniversary Edition up in both a regular and steelbook packaging. All the legacy extras have been carried over and a digital copy is included (No standard Blu-ray disc is included). The Untouchables will grace the shelves (Likely physical and virtual) when it arrives on May 31st. You can pre-order yourself a copy of this bonafide classic by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
Its a weird place to be where I don’t really NEED any more Batman, but I’m never going to turn down the opportunity for more Batman either. April finally saw the launch of the latest cinematic iteration of the caped crusader with Robert Pattinson in the role. Director Matt Reeves’ The Batman launched to big time accolades, citing it as the best Batman movie ever as well as audiences embracing it to a good chunk of change at the box office. Warner Bros has already put it out in the digital sphere, with rental and HBO MAX streaming now available, but does us collector’s a favor with a rather nicely packaged 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release for “eternal” at home consumption. The Batman was release on May 24th and you can order yourself a copy by clicking on the paid Amazon Associates link that follows this very review.
Deemed the debut Paramount+ Original film, Infinite seemed to originally be a movie that had a planned theatrical release. Pandemic notwithstanding, the film came and went on the service, leading me to believe Infinite to possibly be inferior. Read more on the film below, and at the end, be sure to click the paid link to secure your copy of Infinite at a great price!
Warner Archive Collection’s May output contains a pretty interesting release that feels surprisingly not in the Blu-ray catalog already despite such big names attached to it. Directed by Victor Fleming seems pretty notable enough. The fact that its his follow up to Gone With The Wind another. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde boasts the cast of Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman and Lana Turner. All of them playing against type. Two of them probably would be enough to push the needle. Nonetheless, its arriving on the format for the first time on May 17th. The disc features a new HD restoration from the best surviving elements and the original trailer comes with it. You can pre-order yourself a copy using the paid Amazon Associate’s link that follows the review.
Akeem and Semmi returning to America was a dream a lot of Coming to America fans dreamed of. From 1988 on, the original film became a cultural icon, showing a sweeter side of Eddie Murphy, and opening up the door for Murphy to become a multiple character innovator in many films to follow. So, how does this film stack up to the original? Do we want to run back to Zamunda, or stampede away in disappointment. More on that below, of course, and be sure to click the paid link at the end, for a surprisingly affordable pick up!
Paramount has had an interesting roll out here of the Beverly Hills Cop movies on the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format. About two and half years ago they rolled out the 3-Movie Collection with 4K restorations, but on standard Blu-ray. That following December, the original came out standalone on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray alongside a Coming To America 4K release, a remastered Trading Places on standard Blu-ray and the standard Blu-ray debut of The Golden Child. Now, a year and a half later, here’s Beverly Hills Cop II for its 35th Anniversary which has been ready to go for over 2 years now. The hold up certainly wasn’t new bonus materials, but its nice to finally have it here. Will anyone clamor for 3 now? Perhaps an update on the trilogy set in 4K can squeeze that one out. Beverly Hills Cop II: 35th Anniversary Edition arrives on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on May 17th. You can pre-order it by using the paid Amazon Associates link after the review.
Candyman took its sweet time coming to Blu-ray in the United Stats. The 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray debut on the other hand? Its coming sort of on the heels of the Collector’s Edition Scream Factory put out a few years ago. And they aren’t slouching with this double dip. A new transfer, and upgraded to Atmos audio track and a new interview filter in to the already stacked bonus features being ported over from the previous release. You can order yourself a copy using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review. Candyman, the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Collectors Edition from Scream Factory, will be hitting stores on May 24th.
