Night Of The Animated Dead (Blu-ray Review)
When Night of the Animated Dead was announced about a month ago, it rather took me by surprise. I had no idea this project existed, let alone was being worked on. George Romero’s legendary film has been remade a few times over the years to vary degrees of intrigue and success (I do like the Tom Savini directed HBO movie quite a bit). An animated take is an interesting spin if done right. The film boasts a casts of notables including horror queen Katharine Isabelle in a role as well as the likes of Josh Duhamel, Dule Hill and Jimmi Simpson. There’s a featurette on making it included in this release as well as a digital copy. Night of the Animated Dead will arrive on Blu-ray on October 5th, giving you plenty of time this Halloween season to add it to your roster of spooky movies to marathon through.
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Paramount Presents continues to do good on bringing out films that haven’t been on Blu-ray before in such exciting and classy fashion. And they bounce around all different eras, genres and decades in their historic catalog. While not the first time on Blu-ray, the United States is getting treated to its first release of Jonathan Mostow’s Breakdown starring Kurt Russell. This rather loved cult film (though it was #1 opening weekend) arrives with a brand new 4K restoration of the film. There is also a nice list of new bonus features that include interviews (Jonathan Mostow, Kathleen Quinlan, Martha De Laurentis), an alternate opening and Kurt Russell on a commentary track. Its a very exciting package for this film to have, making the wait on it well worth it. The film arrived on Blu-ray on September 21st, and you may order it using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
One of the most demanded for Blu-ray horror films from the 1980s for many years has been 1982’s Alone in the Dark. Heck, it even made my Wishlist one year, and that was rather late as I’d been forgetting it since the first one I did 8 years ago. This early New Line Cinemas movie has been a cult favorite for many years, even receiving a special edition back in the DVD days. Luckily it has wound up in the caring hands at Scream Factory for its debut on the Blu-ray format. It features some new bonus material and the old stuff as well as new 2K transfer. Alone in the Dark was released back on September 14th, but there was a delay in the distribution facilities getting them out. This title wasn’t alone in that, as many have seen delays or late shipping in production. To grab yourself this wonderful horror collector’s item, use the paid Amazon Associates link below to secure yourself a copy!
For the past 4 years, Warner Bros has been gifting us one pristine restoration of a Stanley Kubrick film in the September/October frame. Staring with 2001: A Space Odyssey and movie through The Shining and Full Metal Jacket, we now arrive on 1971’s A Clockwork Orange. A film notable for making quite a statement, finding itself to be a controversial piece of cinema in response to its release, later becoming a staple of college dorm room posters and angsty teen imagery. With the pattern set of the 3 previous releases on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray, it was a foregone conclusion that A Clockwork Orange would be this year’s. That makes it look very much like Eyes Wide Shut will be for 2022. A Clockwork Orange is out now, having released on September 21st. You can order yourself a copy from the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
One of M. Night Shyamalan’s most beloved films, Unbreakable, turns twenty whole years old this year. A film that was quite a bit ahead of its time in bringing the comic book superhero into a more grounded nature, its interesting to see it in light of what came in the twenty years since release. To honor its age and legacy, Disney is giving the film a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release. No new extras or audio, but the film’s picture is getting the boost. You’ll also be able to complete the trilogy to have it join the 4K releases of Split and Glass. You’ll eventually be able to order the film on Amazon at some point, and I may update this review with a paid Amazon Associates link, but right now there is no active or visible listing. Unbreakable arrives on the format September 21st.
In what seems like an incredibly perfect match, Shout! Factory will be releasing new digitally remastered versions of the first four films from the wonderful stop-motion animation studio, LAIKA. Those films include Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings. In addition to the new restorations, every release will feature new bonus features while carrying over the old ones. Also, a booklet is included inside the packaging. For today’s review, we’ll be taking a look at their fourth feature Kubo and the Two Strings, which found LAIKA taking aim at crafting something out of the samurai lore. ParaNorman and Kubo and the Two Strings are the second wave of these LAIKA Blu-rays arriving from Shout! Factory on September 14th. The other two films were released back in August. You can land yourself a copy of Kubo and the Two Strings by clicking the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review. 
The Fast and Furious “saga” has been the best and biggest film franchise that isn’t Marvel. Working in its own world and continuity, eliciting spinoffs now even. F9: The Fast Saga was delayed last year only to become the surefire big movie of the summer this year when it finally dropped. It brought back fan favorite Sung Kang from the auto garage afterlife and swapped Dwayne Johnson for John Cena in terms of former wrestler turned actor star quality. You’ll be able to add the film to your collection when it jumps onto the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format, which includes a Director’s Cut of the film and some terrific extras. You can pre-order using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review below to ensure yourself a fine copy of this disc when it arrives September 21st.
Perhaps because I’m a little older and not hip to everything, I had no idea about @zola until I returned to theaters after being fully vaccinated. Spiral: From The Book Of Saw was my first film back and it had a trailer attached to it that caught my attention and stuck in my brain plenty after. I’m pretty sure @zola didn’t play near me, but I really wanted to see it. So when a review copy was offered my way, I quickly snatched it up. The Twitter/Reddit thread turned motion picture was released on Blu-ray on September 14th. It includes a commentary as well as deleted scenes and a making-of featurette. The film can be yours to own by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
Film collectors rejoice! The long thought “dead format” of home physical media continues to grow and expand into the 4K era. 1995’s The Shawshank Redemption has been on many a fan’s wish list for the format since coming out in 2016. Was Andy Dufresne’s story worth the wait for glorious 4K? Did Warner continue its streak of great looking 4K discs? Releasing today (9/14/2021) in standard and steelbook forms, find out more about the film and it’s new disc below, and click the paid link at the end if you haven’t gotten your copy already!
Despite everyone’s huffing and gruffing and sharing disappointment over lifeless Disney retreads of their animated classics in live action form, they keep making money. So, until that stops, they’ll keep turning them out in a rather seasonal and scheduled fashion. I have to wonder if they’ll ever make it to Home On The Range or The Emperor’s New Groove. Cruella became the latest, taking the Maleficent route in focusing on the villain. Strange to say, but every once in a while, these things are gonna click and strike well (The Jungle Book). Lucky enough, the Emma Stone led film was just that. Now it arrives on physical media form after a run in theaters and Disney+ (Both premiere and regular access) on September 21st. At the time of this review, now Amazon pre-order links are available, but check back if you’d like to order from and support Why So Blu.
After spending a little over the first half of the year delivering on the small screen, Marvel returned to theaters in July with the long awaited Black Widow. Long awaited by a delay of over a year, but also for seeing Scarlett Johansson’s super popular take on the character get her own solo film. The film’s bigger story and headlines have been heavy on its box office and legal proceedings with Scarlett Johansson on how it was delivered to audiences. This was a day and date premiere in theaters and Disney+. Aside from that, its coming home for real ownership on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on September 14th. A quick 2 months following the theatrical drop. There’s a light array of extras put on the disc along with an Atmos track for us home theater junkies. You can order yourself a copy of the film using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review (Link not currently available as of this posting).
After an “are they dead?”, “is Vestron over with?” period, Vestron Video returned last year with a pair of releases, then quickly disappeared again. Now, they seem to be finding a little bit of consistency with The Wraith last month and more announced for the future. August saw this release of Sundown: The Vampire In Retreat. Now, while I’m familiar with the works of Anthony Hickox, David Carradine and Bruce Campbell, I had never known or heard of anything to do with this movie until Vestron announced the release. And this sucker is plenty loaded with interviews and commentary. They also have it priced pretty stellar for a new Collector’s Series release of something. You can order yourself a copy of the film by using the paid Amazon Associates link below.
In what seems like an incredibly perfect match, Shout! Factory will be releasing new digitally remastered versions of the first four films from the wonderful stop-motion animation studio, LAIKA. Those films include Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings. In addition to the new restorations, every release will feature new bonus features while carrying over the old ones. Also, a booklet is included inside the packaging. For today’s review, we’ll be taking a look at their sophomore effort ParaNorman, which found LAIKA really flexing and taking a rather giant swing after their breakout feature. ParaNorman and Kubo and the Two Strings are the second wave of these LAIKA Blu-rays arriving from Shout! Factory on September 14th. The other two films were released back in August. You can land yourself a copy of ParaNorman by clicking the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
It feels like we should’ve already been at this point by now; the Star Trek films on the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format. But alas, Paramount has waited for the 55th anniversary of the show’s television premiere to do so. And in waiting, it feels like they almost are here unprepared. This “Original 4-Movie Collection” is quite an odd way to come out of the gates. Its almost as if they didn’t finish restoration on The Final Frontier and The Undiscovered Country in time. And I suppose I applaud getting something out, but you knew this was coming. Anyway, minor quibble aside, I’m very excited to finally see these 4 films restored with a quality upgrade. This set is arriving this week (released on Tuesday, September 7th), the day before the anniversary of the airing of “The Man Trap”, which introduced us to Captain Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Sulu and Scotty. This set includes The Motion Picture, The Wrath of Khan, The Search For Spock and The Voyage Home. You can order it using the link below.
While I don’t agree with or appreciate the toxic way in which fanboys went about demanding the “Snyder Cut” of 2017’s Justice League, I’m happy that it existed, was greenlit to be finished and we were able to all check it out. Debuting as a crown jewel of HBO MAX, it was the talk of town for comic book movie nerddom for a bit. Even if it underwhelmed with its streaming numbers, it felt like a rewarding experience for those who wanted it and converted plenty who didn’t believe. A nice closing chapter on the lengthy saga of 4 years. We can now all move on. Already available outside the US (Likely because not every country has HBO MAX access), the film dubbed Zack Snyder’s Justice League will be available on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on September 7th. You can pre-order the set from the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review to have when it arrives just after Labor day.
In what seems like an incredibly perfect match, Shout! Factory will be releasing new digitally remastered versions of the first four films from the wonderful stop-motion animation studio, LAIKA. Those films include Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings. In addition to the new restorations, every release will feature new bonus features while carrying over the old ones. Also, a booklet is included inside the packaging. For today’s review, we’ll be taking a look at 2009’s breakout Coraline, which introduced the world to LAIKA and provided a rather dashing effort in 3-D cinema as well as breaking new ground in stop-motion animation. Coraline and The Boxtrolls are the first two arriving from Shout! Factory on August 31st. The other two films will be following them with a September release. You can land yourself a copy of Coraline by clicking the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review. 
One of the unfortunate box office disappointments this summer was Lin-Manuel Miranda’s big offering of the musical In The Heights. One of the best reviewed movies of the year (And judging from social media reaction, it was very well received), it failed to strike anything at the box office. In addition, the numbers of its simultaneous HBO MAX release were underwhelming as well. Perhaps with it available through digital purchase and rental as well as physical media, it can begin to build a cult audience and shine on for years to come. Said physical media release is getting a boffo 4K disc with an Atmos track and plenty of extras and watching options (Sing-Along) to enjoy the film by. You can pre-order the film using the paid Amazon Associates link below so you can have one when it releases on August 31st.
