Beetlejuice (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
2020 has been a good year so far with the studios and the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray catalog titles debuting (Besides friggin’ Disney). As we continue to hear about streaming taking over and “RIP physical media”, I’m not seeing it just yet as we keep seeing awesome announcements. Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice is one of those said announcements. Its been updated with a new transfer and an Atmos track. Unfortunately, its following the same ‘ol same o’l front when it comes to having some fruitful new bonus features for the film. Quite surprising, Beetlejuice has never had even a commentary or vintage interview/EPK featurette presented as a bonus feature. The Blu-ray disc in this set is the exact one that was release in 2008 and continually repurposed in the years since. Though that sucks, my mantra right now is to just be satisfied films are making the format jump at all with the future outlook not so positive. You can pre-order Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice for release on September 8th!
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Supergirl‘s fifth season had the task of following and delivering on the elements put in to play following the show’s obvious peak season. Would it be able to deliver? Like the other seasons, this was shortened by Covid-19, but it was also challenged with having to be told with the massive Crisis On Infinite Earths crossover event placed in the middle of the season. That behemoth proved a challenge across the board for the CW’s Arrowverse as it was obviously the focal point of attention for the year. Like the other Blu-ray releases for the previous television season’s CW Arrowverse shows, the full crossover is included here as a limited edition bonus disc, complete with every episode and bonus features. Supergirl itself contains the 19 finished episodes, deleted scenes, a gag reel and that San Diego Comic Con featurette that appears on all releases. You can pre-order the season now to have it for it release date of September 8th.
As mentioned many times prior in reviewing the title, DC Animated Universe is really where its at when it comes to some quality superhero material and comic book arc adaptations. Personally, their elseworlds and one-off tales are where I wish the feature films would play with our more familiar characters. Superman: Man of Tomorrow, the latest effort, finds a retelling of the man of steel’s origin story with not only some different details (Oh, hai Lobo) and introducing a newer animation style. Releasing on the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format, the combo pack set will contain bonus features both new and old to go along with some classic Superman: The Animated series episodes in tow. In addition to a regular edition there is a collector’s edition that contains a collectible figurine. You can pre-order now, using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review to ensure yourself a copy for when it arrives on September 8th.
CW’s The Flash continues to be the top show of the Arrowverse as well as on the network itself in both popularity and ratings. The show returns to Blu-ray boasting a “complete” sixth season, however as anyone knows that it isn’t quite as whole as it was supposed to be. Another one taken down early by COVID-19 precautions, the show was halted in the middle of production of its 20th episode and decided to finish the season on an underwhelming closure with the 19th installment. Its a shame, but they do what they have to do. In its latest Blu-ray, it features the normal deleted scenes, gag reel and San Diego Comic Con hub bub that gets spread across all the Arrowverse Blu-rays. And its original release, like the others, it comes with a disc featuring the complete Crisis On Infinite Earths cross over event. To boot, there is a noir version of an episode done in black and white as well. The Flash: The Complete Sixth Season is available now, available by order below on the paid Amazon Associates link.
The High Note came out in the middle of the pandemic with little to no fanfare. The ads touting the film as a feel-good hit made it seem like it would be another film passed over for bigger louder summer fare. Interestingly enough, the following on demand wasn’t too bad, and the film is a small but mighty one that beckons to be revisited once you’ve finished your first viewing. Read more about The High Note below and be sure to click the paid link at the end to get your copy, which will be released August 11th!
With the CW’s flagship Arrowverse show, um, Arrow, having its final curtain call following the Infinite Crisis mini-series, a new vigilante show would arise to fill that void in its wake. Batwoman was the character to do so, filling the familiar streets of Gotham with a new angle with familiar vibes and new characters. One of the big attractions in the show’s launch was the high profile casting of Ruby Rose in the title role as Kate Kane. Unfortunately, that spark was short lived as she exited the show after two years in the role and only one (COVID shortened) season of the show (She debuted in the previous years’ crossover event). All eyes and interest will be on how the show’s second season handles this pivot, but you can return to that inaugural and unique season of Batwoman when it arrives on Bu-ray later this month (August 18). Pre-order links up are up now all around, but its always appreciated when you click on the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review. 
Scream Factory continues its digging through the Paramount catalog vault this month and uncovers 1990s film version of the television anthology horror series Tales From The Darkside. Slapped with a Collector’s Edition label, its coming to Blu-ray for the very first item and is accompanied by a brand new impressive six-part retrospective documentary. The film boasts a load of talent, including the likes of Julianne Moore, Christian Slater, Debbie Harry, Steve Buscemi and James Remar while crafting stories from Stephen King, George A. Romero, Arthur Conan Doyle with effects from KNB. That’s kind of a star studded roster all around. This edition comes with some really impressive new key art and other archival material as well. You can put a pre-order in now at Shout! Factory’s website or by using the paid Amazon link that follows the review. Tales From The Darkside: The Movie arrives in stores and online August 25th.
For the past (a little over a) year, Scream Factory has been blessing us every couple months with a Universal Horror Collection. Each set gathering four films from the 1930s-1950s that weren’t of the Classic Monsters canon and putting them onto Blu-ray for the first time. Many of them starring legends like Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill. The previous set even put out a monster’s entire series (“Cheena, the Ape Woman”) for the first time. Some primarily science fiction movies have squeezed their way into these sets as well, and are certainly a welcomed addition. Sadly, Scream Factory has announced that this sixth set will be the last one in the series. I’m sure if they are able to, they will pick it up again, but for now, that’s all She-Wolf of London wrote. Its going out with a bang too, with films featuring Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr. and Barbara Shelley. You can pre-order the set from the paid Amazon link below to complete your set when it arrives August 25th.
One of Hollywood’s most legendary and electric onscreen and offscreen couples of all time were Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. The duo starred in a total of nine films together from 1942’s Woman of the Year all the way to 1967’s Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, with the run only ending due to the death of Tracy that same year. As a couple they were their own brand and franchise and have seldom been match or had anything like it in the history of cinema before and after. Warner Archive Collection will be bringing two of their classics to Blu-ray for the first time in August, 1945’s Without Love and 1952’s Pat and Mike. This review will be taking a look at the sports romantic comedy Pat and Mike that also stars Aldo Ray and has smaller roles filled by the likes of later stars Charles Bronson and Chuck Connors. You can pre-order the film now and find it available on Warner Archive Collection’s own shop for release on August 25th.
Growing up, I had parents that were big fans of John Travolta. Pretty much, if he was in a movie playing in theaters, we were seeing it. If we missed it, we were renting it the week it came out on VHS. They were mostly addicted to the subpar outings of his. An unfortunate piece of trivia for me, is that due to this, I’ve seen every movie in the Look Who’s Talking series in theaters. And of course, one film we DIDN’T go see him for in theaters was Pulp Fiction. Go figure. Anyway, what does my crying and griping about my parents taking me to Mr. Travolta’s lesser projects have relevance for here? Well, I saw Michael opening weekend. Which is the film for which the Blu-ray I’m about to review is of. I didn’t remember much of this Nora Ephron film, so I felt maybe it’d be neat to revisit it when the Warner Archive Collection August titles came by my desk. The film will be available for the first time on August 11th and can be pre-ordered on their website or from the paid Amazon link below.
One month, two Jerry Zucker titles from two different decades and two completely directions for the Paramount Presents brand label. We first talked about Ghost, but now lets shift landing gears to Airplane! A landmark comedy that has never left the “movie quotes” lexicon and still works its magic on generation after generation. And this year it is turning 40 years old. Holy moly, you have earned that exclamation point! For this new edition there is a new 4K transfer of the film, overseen by its directors. The Filmmaker Focus is here, but another new bonus feature comes in the likes of a Q&A recorded back in January at the Egyptian Theater (Remember when we used to go to those places? Ah, fond memories). Its available now in this edition or a steelbook which are both handsomely priced. You can nab this one with the standard Paramount Presents packaging by clicking on the Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
Scooby-Doo has long been one of the most popular children’s cartoons in the Amercian pop culture lexicon. Since its creation 40 years ago, the toon has constantly been refurbished, re-run, re-invented and re-introduced to brand new generations. Like many a Mickey Mouse or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, once Scooby-Doo arrived on the scene, he never left. The latest iteration, SCOOB!, was one of the famed movies that were prepared for a theatrical released, but as a result of the (continuing in the US) pandemic, altered its distribution to be a direct to VOD title. Probably influenced by the success of Trolls: World Tour, SCOOB! just up and gave it a go. As a father of two, I took the bait, seeing as we would have seen it in theaters anyway at the same cost. Now, happily, its arriving on physical media AND on the glorious 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format. So, all you dastardly Why So Blu readers go forth, read the review and order yourself your own copy of SCOOB!
For the 25th anniversary of Clueless, and almost on the exact day, Paramount will be re-releasing the Amy Heckerling film on Blu-ray with a special steelbook to commemorate the milestone. To shoot straight to the point, this is the exact same disc that has been out for eight years now, just in brand new and more fashionable clothing. One would wish that they’d have offered up something more; a new transfer, a retrospective, an interview, a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release…something that felt a little more worthwhile. Steelbooks are cool, but what about the big fans that already have the film? At least the pricepoint isn’t too bad. You can own the new packaging when it releases to stores online and physical on July 21st. Lets revisit this same same disc disc.
