The Burnt Orange Heresy (Blu-ray Review)
Charming and ambitious art critic, James Figueras played by Claes Bang, has fallen from grace. He spends his days in Milan lecturing witless tourists about art history. His only glimmer of hope is a newfound love interest, the enigmatic American, Berenice Hollis played by Elizabeth Debicki. An opportunity strikes when he is contacted by wealthy art dealer Joseph Cassidy played by Mick Jagger who summons James to his villa on Lake Como and asks him to steal a painting from the legendary reclusive artist, Jerome Debney played by Donald Sutherland. Soon, James greed and ambition get the better of him, and he finds himself caught in a web of his own making. The Burnt Orange Heresy is now available on Blu-ray from Sony Pictures Classics. Continue reading ‘The Burnt Orange Heresy (Blu-ray Review)’
Well, 2002’s Ghost Ship is now worthy of the Scream Factory Collector’s Edition, eh? All right. Time to revisit it, then. At the very least, new interviews and bonus features can paint an entertaining story about a film I’m pretty sure most people thought was a disappointment. I think the popular word on this one was that “it had an amazing opening scene!” For this new Blu-ray release they’ve rounded up director Steve Beck for a commentary and for interviews they have Gil Adler, Isaiah Washington and Jason Baird. Funny enough, like Steve Beck’s Thirteen Ghosts which also had a Collector’s Edition release, Ghost Ship was once packaged as a multi-feature Blu-ray with the remake of House of Wax. Could a Collector’s Edition of that film be around the corner as well? I actually like that one, so I’d be pretty enthused. Ghost Ship arrives with this new Scream Factory Blu-ray at the end of the month on September 29th. If you’re a fan, use the paid Amazon Associates link after the review to pre-order a copy.
Sherlock Holmes was not the film I thought it’d be. So much so that I was strongly apprehensive about the sequel. So much so that until I received my copy of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows on 4K disc that I did not make a point to view the film. Where I was totally disappointed in the first film, the second in what is now the Sherlock Holmes trilogy is a horse of a different color. Check out more about A Game of Shadows below and be sure to click the paid Amazon link at the end if you’d like to snag a copy!
I’m a sucker for 1970s science fiction in either television or film. Its likely a bit of a love for the style and aesthetic that comes across, but there are some great ideas explored through the writing. In the television medium, these weren’t always about action and blasting all the time, they had to provide good drama and character explorations. Gene Roddenberry, famous for creating Star Trek, tried his hand at the genre on television again a few years after the crew of the Starship Enterprise had gone off the air. His new attempt was an Earthbound story of a man out of time. The first attempt, Genesis II wasn’t picked up for series, leaving its pilot as a standalone TV movie. Just a year later, it would be rebooted as another pilot called Planet Earth. That one would also not make it to series. A third try, without Roddenberry’s involvement (But with Planet Earth star John Saxon returning) also failed. Regardless of success, these curious television oddities, Genesis II and Planet Earth are now coming to Blu-ray from Warner Archive Collection on September 29th. Pre-order using the paid Amazon Associates link below.
When a new format breaks out, it should be mandatory that the entire catalog of Alfred Hitchcock be immediately upgraded, restored and released. Unfortunately, in these streamy times we live in, that doesn’t seem to be of interest as finally in 2020 we are delivered just a small sampling size of his collection of masterpieces. Luckily that sampling size comes in the form of 4 pictures many would have at the top of their favorites list. Universal delivers the “Classics Collection” which features Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho and The Birds. Four films that definitely showcase the master in different areas. It comes complete with digital copies and the standard Blu-ray editions. All bonus material is ported over to this set as well. I don’t know what else to tell you, as this is a must have from the jump for any real film collector. This set arrived on September 8th, so if you haven’t already, make sure you get your order in now and start sinking your teeth into this lovely set.
Sherlock Holmes made its way to the premier 4K Blu-ray format last week! Has time been kind to the big budget Guy Ritchie revamp? Let’s relive 2009 with Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Rachel McAdams in a dingy dirty London and see how it holds up, shall we?
Young Sheldon is finding its annual way home to my beloved Blu-ray format September 1st courtesy of Warner Archives. I suppose if anyone is qualified to write about it on the website here that would be myself having covered The Big Bang Theory seasons for the last seven years. If interested, you can find all my reviews of the show archived right 
Sometimes it quite stunning what films haven’t had their time in the spotlight with the Blu-ray format yet. There are films that seem so obvious that when they are announced you realized you thought it was already out and readily available. I do an annual piece for this site highlighting those titles that haven’t seen a Blu-ray release yet in any region of the globe yet. And after seven years of those article (Including a year where it was an almost weekly piece), even I missed William Wyler’s 1953 film Roman Holiday. For crying out loud, its the breakout Academy Award-winning performance for screen icon Audrey Hepburn. I can see you’re as surprised as I am. Paramount is making good on its tardiness, as they debut it as a part of the Paramount Presents line. An extensive new restoration has been done as well as actually loading one of these releases with extras (Even coming with a digital code). Take note, the press release to announce the film did mention it as a limited edition. You’ll definitely want to pre-order the film (Use the paid Amazon Associates link below if you like) to have upon arrival September 15th.
2020 has been a very interesting time for the movie world. Home entertainment sales have gone up a bit, thanks to digital (unfortunately) and also DVD (even more unfortunately…). The most wonderful thing though is that 4K catalog titles are on the rise. We keep seeing a steady stream of announcements and box sets, making us 4K collectors salivate with all the new editions we can get lost in as the months go slowly on. The Goonies is no exception, and is in fact one of my favorite films, and one I’ve been anticipating on the format ever since we were blessed with it! 
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!
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!
