Stuber (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
October 24th, 2019 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Stuber, by definition, should not have been the failure it ended up being theatrically. The film has all the elements of a classic summer blockbuster — fights, gunfire, humor and an engaging overall story that isn’t hard to follow or boring. The pace is pitch perfect for multiple viewings at the theater too! But then, it just didn’t happen. As I sit baffled trying to ponder what might have been, take a moment to read on about the film below, which graced 4K fans with a great disc earlier this month.
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Well, we are now almost solid year into Scream Factory giving us a regular dose of classic Hammer Horror films on Blu-ray for the first time (Some the second) in the United States. And I have to say, its been quite a valiant effort. Next up this month of October, more of the more well revered films in the lexicon, The Devil Rides Out (Or as the title card says when you select the standard Play Movie option, “The Devil’s Bride”). This one has the hallmarks of Terrence Fisher and Christopher Lee attached to it as well as Dennis Wheatley. Previous released on a UK Studio Canal Blu-ray (That transfer is offered as a bonus feature here), it carries over those bonus features as well as adding some unique to this release. Its not a Collector’s Edition, but honestly its just as impressive and better than some of those. You can have this one in your Collection by ordering it from the Shout! Factory website or by using the Amazon link at the bottom of this page.
Many US collectors missed the boat on Chuck Russell’s 1988 remake of The Blob. Twilight Time’s limited sales model wound up being a pretty solid success for them and that means it was largely unavailable. Umbrella released a nice (And better than Twilight Time’s) version in Australia that those who don’t fear importing have probably owned for years. Now, more excitement for this classic as Scream Factory takes a swing at it. But before anyone could wonder what another version would entail, the eye-opening laundry list of new interviews and extras were unveiled and this release immediately got our attention (Well, done Reverend Entertainment!). This exciting release is coming in JUST in time for Halloween on October 29th. Make sure you pre-order yourself a copy from Scream Factory’s website or the Amazon link below to ensure you’re able to have it in your clutches to watch on Halloween night this year.
Back in September of 2011 we did an experiment here on the site.
Sam Liu and Justin Copeland bring Wonder Woman to the animated side of the DC Universe in her very own Bloodlines. The film is deftly animated, paced quickly and the voice acting is stellar. But is that enough to make it a DC Cartoon classic? Read on below about Wonder Woman: Bloodlines which is available on 10/22!
Scream Factory has landed themselves one of the most fabled, popular and well revered horror movies of the 1980s in Richard Donner’s The Omen. Not only the original film, but the sequels, television sequel (Never before released on Blu-ray) and that remake starring Liev Schreiber from the director of A Good Day To Die Hard (Just when I had forgotten its existence). There has been a pretty nicely budget set of the theatrically release films on Blu-ray for a while now, but Scream Factory has given it an extensive upgrade in all facets, including packaging, new interviews, lossless mono tracks and a 4K scan of the original film. Series fans and horror collectors should be please with what they are offering, which can be had on October 15th.
The Haunting of Hill House was another one of those Netflix shows where I heard from word of mouth that you should be binging this. And binge that we did! However, unlike say a Stranger Things for example, The Haunting of Hill House is a slow burn. So instead of taking all the episodes in within one 24-hour period like we did with Stranger Things it took about a week to get through this one. That’s not to say it’s not as good as Stranger Things, but instead Hill House takes a lot more dedication and attention because of its intertwining timelines. Therefore, it took a little bit longer to get through. Much like the positive buzz I heard prior to watching all I can do is smirk when I think how well done the horror drama The Haunting of Hill House was. Very rarely do we also get Netflix releases on the Blu-ray format so it’s with great honor that I tackle this October 15th Paramount title for y’all. Here goes nothing. 
Crawl has all the makings of a B-grade disaster thriller – ominous weather, a main character who doesn’t listen to authority, impending death. It’s all there in a neat little package. This is a package perfectly wrapped for the audience that doesn’t need deep insight, backstory or terribly emotional acting. This may all sound like a dig and sharp criticism but in truth, these are complimentary truths, highlighted because those were some of the very good things about the film. Check out the in-depth review below for more on this monster/disaster mashup!
Ari Aster wound up making one of my 10 favorite films of the year last summer. This summer he’s back and he’s on course to repeat and claim an annual spot on my list. Midsommar is a step even further and one that surely weirded some people out. It’s not for everyone, but it definitely was for me. The film wound up with good reviews, nice buzz and wound up being a success at the box office. So, imagine the disappointment when the film was announced and wasn’t receiving a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release from Lionsgate. The company that gave Snitch and The Lincoln Lawyer and is giving box office disappointment Anna a 4K release. Midsommar features such as gorgeous photography (Best of the year maybe) that would have looked incredible on the format. Oh and that director’s cut we’ve heard about; iTunes exclusive. Talk about some bullshit. Yes, I’m bitter. But I’ll be happy to own this great film any way I can. You can order your copy to have when it arrives on October 8th.
Woody, Buzz, Jesse and the rest of Bonnie’s toys are back and ready to reacquaint with old friend Bo Peep and find help from newbie daredevil Duke Kaboom! Toy Story made its fourth outing in cinemas a big deal, cracking the billion-dollar mark worldwide. Surprisingly, just usurping Aladdin but still falling well behind The Lion King in the fight to be Disney’s 2nd place movie behind Avengers: Endgame. The film will be arriving on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on October 8, with all-new bonus features and some digital exclusives. Disney had previously issued new 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray editions of the original three films earlier in the summer, so this fourth one will sit neatly next to those in your collection. Once the pre-order link goes active you can order from it below.
Following last year’s well-received and highly lauded debut of the first Stanley Kubrick film on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray with 2001: A Space Odyssey, Warner Bros is returning to the well (Or hotel) for more. Coming this year will be probably the next likely choice in his adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining. Largely looked upon as one of the crowning achievements of not only Kubrick’s career but the entire horror genre, it is getting a brand new 4K transfer and I’m sure is going to look stunning on the format (Keep on reading to find out). Unfortunately, no new extras have been commissioned for this release. BUT, as I’ve become accustomed to, the important thing is just getting the film itself upgraded. And in all honesty, the DVD and Blu-ray formats have already put out much of what we would want already in these films for bonus features (Though, I don’t think a couple more on The Shining would hurt, wink wink). You can return to the Overlook on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on October 1st.
The incredible success Steven Spielberg had in the late 70s and 80s was in a word: unprecedented. Only his pal George Lucas could claim similar blockbuster status in the same era. Beyond Spielberg’s great achievements in directing, he also had a knack for spotting budding talent to take on more ideas that would feel “Spielbergian.” After the release of the biggest domestic film of all time, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Spielberg produced many 80s hits like Poltergeist, Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Smack dab in the middle of the Reagan era is Joe Dante’s 1984 horror-comedy hybrid Gremlins. Fans of the tiny creatures that ought never to be fed at night can scream, “Bright light!” as they should order this new 4K package set for release on October 1. As someone old enough to have seen this on the big screen, I can attest this is the best Gizmo’s adventure has ever looked. But first, the film itself….
Well, score Annabelle. The spin-off has passed its man series The Conjuring now in installments with her third. This gives us an Annabelle Trilogy now. This one was released at a time this past summer that was all about dolls/toys come to life and affecting the lives of youths in certain ways (The Child’s Play remake and Toy Story 4 were released the week before). She did her normal success at the box office (Though on a slight down click). Now Annabelle Comes Home can come to your home on October 8th on Blu-ray. A shame these shadows and fog type movies aren’t taking advantage of the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray technology and HDR/Dolby Vision because they would look quite stunning I’d imagine. Anyway, the film is available for pre-order now and you are more than welcome to use the Amazon link below to get yourself a copy delivered to you on the day of release.
Warner Archive Collection’s September releases includes the Peter O’Toole film My Favorite Year. The film is inspired by real life instances that happened to the one and only Mel Brooks while writing for Sid Caesar. The film also stars Suspiria icon Jessica Harper and was the feature film directorial debut for actor Richard Benjamin. There are many characters and such based upon real life Hollywood personalities. The film is a pretty popular one, receiving a pretty warm reception when announced finally to be put out onto the Blu-ray format on September 17th. Its available now, which you can secure yourself a copy of this little classic by using the Amazon link that follows the review and also helps this website out a little here and there.
The first time I attempted to watch the 6-minute trailer for DC Universe’s Doom Patrol I lasted about two minutes before turning it off.
Warner Archive Collection’s September slate includes a Robert Wise film, The Set-Up. The film is found to be very influential for many director’s to follow. The Set-Up comes out swinging as one of the great films about the so-called sweet science. Robert Wise directs, shaping real-time events into an acclaimed and unsparing film-noir look at the stale-air venues, bloodthirsty fans, ring savagery and delusional dreams of boxing’s palooka world. Robert Ryan embraces perhaps his fi nest screen hour as Stoker. Audrey Totter, an icon of the noir genre like Ryan, plays Stoker’s steadfast wife. In a sport that would take their last flicker of dignity, the Thompsons are reclaiming theirs. The film was released on September 17th, and you can pre-order using the link below.
One of Guillermo del Toro’s many masterpieces, Pan’s Labyrinth, is wandering on over to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on October 1st. For us collector’s, this is a fun problem to have. It feels like yesterday that we just traded it in for the upgraded Criterion Collection edition of the film. Now it feels we are going to bump up the presentation quality but sacrifice some extras. Though, I’m A-okay with holding onto both as the solution, though for some fellow fans, it might not be that simple. Nonetheless, this is an exciting new release from Warner Bros and we can only hope that more surprises like this one are around the corner as 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray continues to be a curious place where not everything is going to be expectedly hitting the format (Midsommar-damnit Lionsgate!). Speak with your wallet, merely based on the title not whether the edition is nit picky perfect or not, and that’s really all we are able to do. Anyway, pre-order this one through the link available below.
