Back To The Future (4K Blu-ray Review)
October 22nd, 2020 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Back To The Future is another eternally iconic 80’s classic making it’s way to 4K Blu-ray this insane year. The film holds up to this day as an exciting, funny sci-fi/fantasy that is hard to beat. Performances, direction, music and storyline all hold up 35 years later. Read more below on the first in the Back To The Future series and be sure to click the paid links below to order your own set!
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When Friendsgiving popped up in my email as a potential review title, I sort of scoffed. I’d never heard of it but something about the huge cast made me curious. I popped in the disc and was immediately pleased with my decision to take the film on. Read more about Friendsgiving below and click the paid link at the end to snag yourself a copy, which streets on October 27th!
4K BLUsday returns for more! Who won the BACK TO THE FUTURE: ULTIMATE TRILOGY contest? Check out the YouTube Video Companion to find out! I’m also
One of the most banner years for cinema was 1999. There were so many great and notable releases in that year that its pretty unbelievable to take in. Liam Neeson happened to be in two big releases that summer. Unfortunately for him, they happened to be two films that weren’t very well received. In addition to Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Neeson also starred in Jan de Bont’s reimaginging of The Haunting of Hill House and Robert Wise’s 1963 film of the same title. Paramount Presents asks that we take another look at this film, twenty one years later, as they debut it for the first time on Blu-ray as part of the Paramount Presents collection. On top of having a new transfer, the film will also feature a brand new interview with director Jan de Bont. It arrives just in time for some Halloween viewing on October 20. You can order yourself a copy using the paid Amazon Associates link at the end of the review.
Turning five years old this year, Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash has received a home video upgrade by moving to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray. The film was an Oscar darling, garnering five nominations in big categories. It landed J.K. Simmons a Best Supporting Actor win, which was basically his to lose the entire awards season. One of the most fun bits of trivia is that Whiplash is also a Blumhouse film. You could argue that J.K. Simmons IS quite scary in it if you wanted to. Sony will be giving this a 4K make-over and a new Dolby Atmos track for this release. Extras are the same as its the previous Blu-ray disc that’s included. The film will also come with a digital copy code. Sony released it on September 22nd, so its available to order now. You can use the paid Amazon Associates link at the bottom of this review to do so, if you’d like.
District 9 has been called a lot of things over the years. It has been said that the movie will blow your mind and that it is a must see movie. Harry Knowles of Aint It Cool News once went on record as saying he was mind f*#ked by the movie. Heck, when last checked today, the film still holds a 90% on 
Adaptation was a big deal in 2002, following the well lauded Being John Malkovich. The Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman combination went to bat again. Though it wasn’t nominated for Best Picture or Director, it had a good presence in major categories with Best Adapted Screenplay (Charlie Kaufman), Best Actor (Nicolas Cage) and Best Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep) nominations. Chris Cooper took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this movie. Shout Select is adding the film to their line. No, its not getting a collector’s edition or even a new transfer. They are, however, bringing back some old features that didn’t make the original Blu-ray (From the DVD) and adding an image gallery for the film. You can pre-order this edition by using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review. Shout! Factory has Adaptation slated for release on October 27th.
There’s a clear focus currently over at Warner Bros and Warner Archive Collection in restoring the old works of the Hanna Barbara animation that became a lengthy pop culture phenomenon starting in the 1960s. One of their greatest achievements was The Flintstones. Sure, we all know the theme, the characters, tag lines and more. But, think about what impact they’ve had in the fact that we still have Fruity Pebbles as common everyday breakfast cereal and who hasn’t preferred to have Flintstones vitamins when they were a little tyke? No, they don’t have the dominance they once had, but people have never forgotten The Flintstones and they still pass on from generation to generation. Warner Bros is bringing out every episode of the original series that introduced us to them (There were many spin offs as well) onto a beautifully restored Blu-ray release that also includes 2 movies as well (NO, not the live action ones we want to forget). You’ll be able to own it all starting October 27th! 
About one year ago we were getting to revisit the world of Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad in the more present tense or “post-Breaking Bad” once more with El Camino. We’ve currently been living in the pre-Breaking Bad world with the phenomenal Better Call Saul the last five years or so, but now its time to check up on where things were left off. El Camino was a Netflix exclusive film, but as per usual, one year later, you can own it on physical media to go with your Breaking Bad Blu-ray collection. Sony is putting the film out first in a Steelbook Edition. There are plenty of bonus features to go with this beautiful looking package as well, including two commentaries. This was released on October 13th, so its currently available now. Sure, you could always stop in on and watch it on Netflix, but will you always be able to stop in and watch it on Netflix? Make sure that’s not a worry and order yourself a copy from the paid Amazon Associates link at the bottom that follows the review. 
William Shatner’s relationship with Star Trek has been pretty well chronicled and quite a journey for 54 years now. From his contentious relationship with fellow castmates, not understanding the deep Star Trek fan devotion to reconciling and figuring it out and embracing it in his life. He’s also made some films to reflect on his journey and the mentality and study of the series as a pop culture staple. Shout! Factory is putting together these film as a set. It includes The Captains in its film form and extended episodic one. Shatner’s tale of Star Trek: The Next Generation getting off the ground in Chaos On The Bridge. Finally, his tribute to the fandom of the series, his own version of Trekkies, called Get A Life! These will all feature some bonus material and be coming out on October 20th. This is a very nice little set for any Trek fan to have as a bonus to all the episodes and films they likely already have in their collection and the second such Trek documentary item Shout! Factory has put out in the past year.
Warner Archive Collection is adding the 1990 film Reversal of Fortune to their roster for October. Based on a true story, the film tells a tale from a high profile case of law professor Alan Dershowitz and the murder trial of Claus von Bulow. Historically, besides being a well received film, it is notable for being the film that landed Jeremy Irons the Academy Award for Best Actor. The film also earned nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay Based on Material From Another Medium. It features plenty of familiar faces in the cast sporting early roles in their respective careers. Coming along for the ride as bonus materials are a trailer and a commentary. The film is now available for pre-order. The release date is October the 13th (Oooh, big competition for that Friday the 13th set!), and you can use the paid Amazon Associates link below to pre-order and have upon release. Or you can secure a copy by ordering straight from Warner Archive Collection’s site. 
Two interesting concepts come together as one in the latest DC Comics Animated Universe film (Going under a “DC Showcase” banner). One of their most requested stories for adaptation is the Death in the Family arc from the late 1980s. You know, the “Death of Robin”. In a nifty little touch, that is almost a fitting tribute of how things went down back then, they are utilizing a choose your own adventure approach to the film, allowing you to pick certain fates which leads to one of seven possible endings. This is a short film, but getting through these unlocks different routes, storylines or takes on similar scenes. In addition to Death in the Family, it features four other DC Showcase shorts. And there are commentaries for everything as a bonus feature. Warner Bros is set to release this on October 13th. It well to know that the digital version does not have the choose your own path option, but does include streamlined versions of some predetermined routes. However, one of the endings is only found on the disc version. Considering the Blu-ray comes with a digital code, why not go this avenue?
When I saw the trailer for Drop Dead Gorgeous and then once the film released in 1999, later on home video, I just poked my nose up and said “nah!” and carried on. Young, adolescent, ignorant and stupid as I was in my youth as a “film lover” and one studying the art. I had heard this film had a pretty solid reputation over the years, and my curiosity to right my wrong of not even giving it a chance back in the day never scratched the itch. Once Warner Archive Collection announced it and offered it up for review, this was my opportunity to finally go back and check out the film. They’ve released it for the first time on the format this week (October 6th is the actual street day), and you can order it from them or the paid Amazon Associates link at the end of the review. Unfortunately, aside from the film’s trailer, there aren’t any old or new extras to be found on the disc. But, fans should rejoice in what is a pretty excellent presentation for the film in its first showing on Blu-ray.
