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Archive for the 'Blu-ray Reviews' Category

You Don’t Nomi (Blu-ray Review)

You Dont Nomi Blu-rayRLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, is releasing the acclaimed documentary YOU DON’T NOMI on July 21, 2020.  The feature screenwriting and directorial debut of Jeffrey McHale, YOU DON’T NOMI is available on DVD for an SRP of $27.97 and on Blu-ray for an SRP of $28.97. In YOU DONT NOMI, a chorus of film critics and fervent devotees explore the complicated afterlife of 1995s biggest film flop, Paul Verhoeven’s Showgirls, from disastrous release to cult adoration and extraordinary redemption. The film features Adam Nayman (Vice Guide to Film), April Kidwell (I, Nomi) and Peaches Christ (Milk).
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The Lady Eve – The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray Review)

Here’s another screwball classic getting the Blu-ray upgrade from The Criterion Collection. The Lady Eve is a wonderful romantic comedy about a con gone wrong due to feelings getting in the way. Preston Sturges is in peak form with this film, knocking it out the same year as another one of his classics, Sullivan’s Travels. The combined screen energy from Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda is already enough to deliver something worthwhile, but thanks to sharp writing and a sense of poignancy, the film has many raising it to much higher ground.

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Ghost – Paramount Presents (Blu-ray Review)

Paramount Presents returns this month with two new editions of classics from Jerry Zucker that helped launch the 1980s and 1990s decades. One of which is the romance phenomenon that was Ghost. The Patrick Swayze / Demi Moore paranormal romantic drama nabbed Whoopi Goldberg an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and Bruce Joel Rubin some Oscar hardware for Best Original Screenplay. It was also up for three more awards for that year, including Best Picture. Maybe hard to realize today or appreciate, but Ghost made over HALF A BILLION DOLLARS at the box office in 1990 ($217 million of that in the United States off of a $12 million opening). Ghost was everywhere and a staple in pop culture. Everybody knows the lines, the clay scene, everything. Now you can look at it again with a brand new 4K transfer when it arrives on the Paramount Presents label featuring a new interview with the director, Jerry Zucker. Pre-order now to secure your copy for its release date on July 21.
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Thirteen Ghosts (2001) – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)

One of the joys of covering the Scream Factory titles for me is the ability to revisit some films that I haven’t seen in a significantly long time with a completely refreshed pair of eyes. Does it always pan out? No. But its still exciting to have another look. Thirteen Ghosts was a film I didn’t think much of (Or care for) back when it was released in 2001, but I was always a much different person then that I am now. While I wasn’t particularly fond of it, I’ve noticed over the years that there does seem to be a cult following for this one, so I’m looking forward to another chance. Regardless, this second release for the film (Originally on a double feature release with the 2005 House of Wax remake) is quite loaded and given the typical loving touches that Scream Factory is known for. They even nabbed Shannon Elizabeth (Very much an “it girl” in the early 2000s when this came out) back for an interview. You can pre-order now to secure a copy for the July 28th release date.
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Braveheart Limited Edition Steelbook (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Braveheart Steelbook 4K ReviewBraveheart is one of those Top 10 films of mine that I will continue to re-purchase without any thought or hesitation every time its available on a newer/better home media format.  First VHS, then DVD to Blu-ray and now I’m bringing this epic war film home again on 4K Ultra HD in a limited edition steelbook edition (available at Best Buy HERE).  There’s just so much I love about Braveheart not to mention the fact that I once dated a descendent of William Wallace’s, so she says.  To me historic pieces of this kind really don’t get any better than this especially under the love, care and ultimately direction of its main star, Mel Gibson.  Say what you want about the man.  He may be a drunk and a reckless person in real life, but he’s one hell of a passionate director when it comes to his film projects.  In this case though Braveheart is both the icing on the cake and the yummy cake itself.  I know it sounds like I’m biased in my words.  I am, but there’s just so much ammo to back up my thoughts here with.  Let’s revisit the years 1995/96 down below in more detail.  Shall we? Continue reading ‘Braveheart Limited Edition Steelbook (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’

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Criss Cross [Masters of Cinema] (Blu-ray Review)

Criss Cross Blu-rayIllicit passion, greed, robbery, and murder collide in Criss Cross, a crime suspense tale from a true master of the genre, Robert Siodmak (The Killers). Steve Thompson (Burt Lancaster Novecento, Birdman of Alcatraz) is a hardworking armoured car driver with a fatal attraction to his ex-wife Anna (Yvonne DeCarlo The Munsters), who’s now married to notorious hoodlum Slim Dundee (Dan Duryea Winchester 73). Unable to stay away from her, Steve has a secret tryst with Anna … only to be discovered by Dundee. To cover up their affair, Steve convinces Dundee that he only met with Anna to get Dundee’s help in robbing an upcoming payroll shipment he will be driving. The hood falls for the ruse, which triggers a series of harrowing events that ultimately lead to violence and death. From a new 4K restoration, The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present this essential film noir in its UK debut on Blu-ray. Continue reading ‘Criss Cross [Masters of Cinema] (Blu-ray Review)’

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The Specialists [Eureka Classics] (Blu-ray Review)

Specialists Eureka Classics Blu-rayFrom Sergio Corbucci, the legendary director of Django, Navajo Joe, The Great Silence, Companeros and The Mercenary comes The Specialists (Gli Specialisti, aka Drop Them or I ll Shoot) , a thrilling spaghetti western starring French music and film great Johnny Hallyday (The Man on the Train, Détective, Vengeance). Notorious gunfighter Hud Dixon (Hallyday) arrives in Blackstone, a town where his brother was wrongfully accused of robbing a bank and lynched for it. As Hud seeks revenge, he starts to discover the truth behind the stolen loot, and has to contend with an idealistic sheriff, a beautiful and seductive female banker, a corrupt businessman and a one-armed Mexican bandit, who was once his friend. Also starring Gastone Moschin (The Conformist, Caliber 9), Françoise Fabian (Belle de Jour, My Night at Maud s), and gorgeously filmed by Dario Di Palma (The Seduction of Mimi, The Oldest Profession), Eureka Classics is proud to present Gli Specialisti on Blu-ray from a new 4K restoration. Continue reading ‘The Specialists [Eureka Classics] (Blu-ray Review)’

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The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse [Masters of Cinema] (Blu-ray Review)

Eyes Dr Mabuse Blu-ray ReviewAfter enjoying fantastic success with Fritz Lang’s two-part “Indian Epic” in 1959, German producer Artur Brauner signed the great director to direct one more film. The result would be the picture that, in closing the saga he began nearly forty years earlier, brought Lang’s career full-circle, and would come to represent his final celluloid testament by extension: his final film masterpiece. The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse [Die 1000 Augen des Dr. Mabuse] finds that diabolical Weimar name resurfacing in the Cold War era, linked to a new methodology of murder and mayhem. Seances, assassinations, and Nazi-engineered surveillance tech all abound in Lang’s paranoid, and ultimate, filmic labyrinth. One of the great and cherished “last films” in the history of cinema, The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse provides a stylistic glimpse into the 1960s works on such subjects as sex-crime, youth-culture, and LSD that Lang would unfortunately never come to realize. Nonetheless, Lang’s final film remains an explosive, and definitive, closing statement. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Fritz Lang’s final film on Blu-ray. Continue reading ‘The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse [Masters of Cinema] (Blu-ray Review)’

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Cannery Row (Blu-ray Review)

Warner Archive Collection extends its library in June with the release with a bit of an ambitious film from the glorious year of 1982. David S. Ward’s Cannery Row was the bold attempt to pair two novels together, which is a bit of a love story. Personally I’ve not seen the film before, but after the Blu-ray debut of Urban Cowboy a few weeks ago, I suppose I’m on a Debra Winger kick and was more eager to check this one out. They also tout it as an “atmospheric gem” and I’m excited to see what that’s all about. Somebody over at Warner Archive Collection deems it pretty worthy as they gave it a 4K transfer. Unfortunately nothing new or vintage in terms of bonus features is available to fill the disc up, but like many of these older titles now, a fresh transfer and the ability to own it are bonus enough. Cannery Row released on June 9th and is available to order by using our paid Amazon link below or finding it on the WB Shop.
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Kiss Of The Vampire – 2016 Universal Edition VS 2020 Scream Factory Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)

Time again for a round of comparing some screen shots. This finds us taking a look at the transfers from the new Scream Factory Collector’s Edition of Kiss of the Vampire against the 2016 Universal Hammer Horror 8-Film Collection release. That particular one shared a disc with another film, whereas Scream Factory’s it does not. Below are 10 shot comparisons between the two. I’ve decided to not include any captures from the 1.66:1 presentation on the Scream Factory disc and just use the more direct comparison of the 1.85:1 since that how it was presented on the Universal release.

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Kiss Of The Vampire – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)

Scream Factory has been doing a pretty admirable job here with their foray into the iconic Hammer Horror vault, bringing improved and beefed up editions of previously released titles as well as scratching many of them off the bucket list for many a collector. Falling into the former is July’s release of Kiss of the Vampire, upgrading a title from the 8-film Universal set yet again. And they are doing this one quite well. Not only do we receive new bonus content, including two fresh “Men of Hammer” profiles and a new commentaries, they’ve done a new 2K transfer of the film. And that’s not all, the release includes three different ways to watch it, which consists of two different versions of the film (Theatrical and television) across three different aspect ratios. All in all, I’d say they’ve loaded this little cult film up with the goods. You’ll be able to add it to your Scream Factory or Hammer library when it becomes available to own on July 21st. Pre-orders are available now and you can secure your copy now by clicking the paid Amazon link below. Continue reading ‘Kiss Of The Vampire – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’

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Gladiator – Steelbook (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Pretty crazy to think that the Academy Award Best Picture winner Gladiator turned 20 years old this year. But hey, here we are. In celebration of that, Paramount is releasing a new Steelbook edition for the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray they brought out two years ago. This is coming out in tandem to celebrate Braveheart’s 25th anniversary with a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray steelbook. Gladiator‘s 4K steelbook features Russell Crowe’s Maximus in a battle ready pose, oversized for the space provided on the cover. Disc content-wise, this is the very same release from a couple years ago, the identical discs inside that include one 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray and two standard Blu-ray discs. Both cuts of the film are here like that set as well. As is, enjoy the images of the steelbook to accompany the review I wrote in May of 2008. You can find yourself a paid Amazon pre-order link at the bottom. Continue reading ‘Gladiator – Steelbook (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’

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Pretty in Pink: Paramount Presents Edition (Blu-ray Review)

Paramount has been rolling right through releases for their new Paramount Presents line.  I have been looking forward to each release, finding interesting choices (Ahem…some of these were already available…) in each wave of releases.  My colleague Brandon Peters has been ripping through the releases, giving amazing commentary on the films and the tech specs.  I hope to live up to his astute reviews as I delve into the Paramount Presents edition of Pretty In Pink.  I am a John Hughes fanatic, and love even his lesser efforts so I was super excited to see this one added to the Paramount Presents line and finally getting a blu-ray release. Dive in below and If you’ve been wanting to own Pretty In Pink on Blu-ray, as always, feel free to use the paid Amazon link following the review. It both helps our site and helps you to get the product for which you’ve been seeking.

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One Cut of the Dead (Blu-ray Review)

One Cut Dead Blu-rayIn One Cut of the Dead, while shooting a low-budget zombie film in an abandoned warehouse, the crew find themselves caught between actual zombies and a mad director who won’t stop rolling. If you think you know what happens next, think again. Filmmaker Shinchiro Ueda turns teh film on its head more than once for one of the wildest, funniest, and most surprising zombie movies of all time. Continue reading ‘One Cut of the Dead (Blu-ray Review)’

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The Hunt (Blu-ray Review)

The Hunt appeared to by a normal Blumhouse release til it became a controversial one and delayed thanks to Tweets from a certain dolt running the country I live in. Nonetheless it just moved to a later time and then wound up hitting theatrical release the weekend before theaters closed up shop for the pandemic. It then wound up a headliner for the theatrical at home push for digital streaming while folks have been couped up. What a crazy history for this little Blumhouse thriller. Nonetheless, Its finally getting a Blu-ray release (Including a digital code) to bring a little relief in that its coming to the format with ease. While, I was sure it would come to physical media, part of me was curious if it would, due to a wonder if it was necessary with the at home push being so strong and appealing early on digitally. Alas, Blu-rays are still going pretty well and this one is out and available for you to purchase, so you can using the paid Amazon link below. Continue reading ‘The Hunt (Blu-ray Review)’

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Friday The 13th – 40th Anniversary Limited Edition Steelbook (Blu-ray Review)

Fridvay The 13th turned 40 years old this year. Granted, it happened during the beginning of the pandemic and lockdowns initiating so it feels it kind of had an underwhelming celebration. Happily, my friends Jason Coleman and James Oster were able to hold their rad Flicks For Fans event honoring the film. With the film in legal troubles, no further entries are able to cash in on the milestone. Maybe its the fact that multiple Fridays a year, the film gets highlighted by the same rankings, “Things you didn’t know”, top 10 kills lists and more that it waters the excitement down. Paramount could have brought some excitement with a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray debut for (at least) the original film. But instead we are seeing the same disc that released in 2009 repurposed again (So long ago that I worked on it before I moved out of Los Angeles) with different packaging. And even that got delayed and couldn’t hit the anniversary (Just announced on the day). Regardless, the packaging utilizes the original poster and is pretty cool looking. We’ll have a look here at it in this review. Continue reading ‘Friday The 13th – 40th Anniversary Limited Edition Steelbook (Blu-ray Review)’

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Selena (Blu-ray Review)

Hard to believe, but until last month (May 19th to be precise), the popular and well regarding biopic of the 1990s late Tejano pop sensation Selena had never made it to Blu-ray. The 1997 famously launched icon Jennifer Lopez from a supporting player to a lead star all on its own and also put her musical talents to the forefront as well. There are many a strange late additions or still not on Blu-ray titles out there and some even surprise me as I research this stuff constantly and do a wishlist piece on them every year. The film debuts on the format with a new transfer and a ported upgrade over its 2007 DVD special edition with its bonus features intact and offering up two separate editions of the film (Theatrical and Extended Edition). If you’ve been wanting to own Selena on Blu-ray, as always, feel free to use the paid Amazon link following the review. It both helps our site and helps you to get the product for which you’ve been seeking. Continue reading ‘Selena (Blu-ray Review)’

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The Reluctant Debutante (Blu-ray Review)

Warner Archive Collection capped off May of 2020 (Which already feels so long ago) with the release of the 1958 film, The Reluctant Debutante. The cast features Rex Harrison and Kay Kendall at the top of the chain, but also notably stars Angela Lansbury, John Saxon and Sandra Dee. It was directed by Vincente Minnelli, father of Liza Minnelli and husband to Judy Garland. In other words, its stacked with somebodies. Some might not realize that the film was actually remade in the first part of this century with 2003’s What A Girl Wants that starred Amanda Bynes and Colin Firth. Crazy, I know. Warner Archive Collection release The Reluctant Debutante into its Blu-ray library on May 26, making it available and ready for you to order as soon as you complete reading my wonderful words, soon to be policed by the wonderful haters of our site. Thank you all in advance for the corrections, so I can save the time on doing them. Continue reading ‘The Reluctant Debutante (Blu-ray Review)’

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