The Ocean’s Trilogy (4K UHD Blu-ray Collection Review)
May 9th, 2024 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Heist films can be hit or miss from time to time. In 2001, when Ocean’s Eleven was released, it was something of a new renaissance for that particular genre. The con was on, and what a fantastic one it was. Followed by two solid sequels, The Oceans Trilogy has also had a long legacy on physical media. Out now in 4K, all 3 films come packaged together or individually in Steelbook form. Relive the iconic series below and be sure to check out the video and audio sections for more details! You can click the cover artwork at the end to order whatever variations you may want!
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I can’t believe it’s been 30 years now. Wow! I feel old. Yep! It’s been 30 years since the theatrical release of The Crow. The movie is a very memorable one to me. So much so that it magically brought me out of writing retirement for the temporary time being. The Crow is also a very tragic release with the devastating loss of Brandon Lee who was killed on set. There will be time to mourn Brandon Lee shortly, but first I want to focus on why The Crow is so enthralling to me. It takes me back to a period of my life when I was trying to find myself. One could say I’m still trying, but I digress. LOL. So if you’re interested (and of course you are because you’re still reading), join me down below as I rewind the proverbial clock back to May of 1994. 
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is one of 4 Marvel Disney+ series available on 4K UHD and Blu-ray. The continuing (mis)adventures of Sam Wilson and “Bucky” Barnes after the blip that devastated the world in Avengers: Endgame, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier explores the state of the world among terrorists and how a new Captain America can find a way to honor Steve Rogers legacy while carrying his shield. How does the series translate from film to TV you ask? Well, read on below for my thoughts, plus more info on the stellar UHD Blu-ray presentation! Be sure to click the cover art at the end for the paid link to buy your own copy!
Marvel has made a big splash on Disney+ over the years. Hard to believe I’m saying years there. Moon Knight premiered in spring 2022 and the critical reception was a lot better than the audience response that I read. So how does it stack up to me? Is the quality of the 4K UHD Blu-ray better than the actual show itself? Does the star power of Oscar Issac and Ethan Hawke carry the series or bog it down? Read on below and see how everything looks and sounds along with my critical view and click the cover art to access a paid Amazon link to order a copy of the Steelbook set!
As Disney took over the Star Wars legacy, I watched with an open mind to see how things would progress. We got The Force Awakens, which managed to be an excellent continuation of the original trilogy. We also got the promise of live-action TV shows which first came with The Mandalorian and followed by The Book of Boba Fett which were both heralded as excellent extensions of the Star Wars universe. We next got Obi-Wan Kenobi, a tale of Obi-Wan after Revenge of the Sith. Is this the closure we needed for his story? What about the years between Sith and Rogue One were we missing? All these questions are answered within the review here! Be sure to click the steelbook arwork at the end to access a paid link to get yourself a copy of Obi-Wan Kenobi on 4K UHD Blu-ray!!
When Mean Girls was initially released, I have to wonder if anyone thought the film would be as successful as it has been over the last two decades. Whether it’s the quotable lines or the cast of well-known actors or the simple yet commanding direction the film takes to hold your attention, you have to wonder if the filmmakers realized what they were making when they were filming it. Catch up with my nostalgia and of course the vital technical review within and be sure to click the paid link at the end (pssst, it’s the cover artwork!) to buy yourself a copy of Mean Girls.
Disney+ has spent a great amount of time and funds making content for the kid in all of us. As a mild Star Wars geek, I was excited to see so many live-action shows coming to the service. In a wild turn of events, I never got to watching any of them, save for the first season of The Mandalorian. Thankfully, the folks at Disney heard our collector’s plea and we are getting some of these shows to own at home! These are aimed right at the collector with Steelbook packaging with beautiful artwork, art cards and disc exclusive special features. Andor is the 4th Star Wars show to see a disc release and you can read more on my thoughts below. Be sure to click the cover artwork below to order your own copy! Rebellion for life!!
20 years ago, Mean Girls made its way into film pop culture. The lines were quoted, the cast and creators praised and then the film spent its years being shown on TV, being purchased on physical media, and reaching so many people over time that the original film is now a catalyst for modern coming-of-age films. The musical premiered on Broadway in 2018, where it was a big success. So, naturally, the film version came to be at the start of 2024. The film managed to make a few bucks and surprise quite a few people who didn’t seem to realize the film was a musical retelling of the original. I was one of the few bemoaning that there was no need for remakes, a movie musical or anything else like that. Admittedly, this won’t be the first or last time that I eat crow on my pre-destined opinions. Read further on the film below and be sure to click the cover art at the end to access a paid Amazon link to order your own copy of Mean Girls.
Drive-Away Dolls will always have the distinction of being the first film directed by A Coen Brother and not by THE Coen Brothers. That alone is a big thing in itself, knowing what fans of film know about the famed duo. They make all kinds of films, usually with a nice dose of humor, and this is the first time Ethan has been without Joel to create a new story for us to enjoy. Will that spell disaster for Ethan in his first solo outing, or does Drive-Away Dolls add yet another critical darling to the list? Find out more in-depth below, and be sure to click the cover art (a paid link) to order a copy of Drive-Away Dolls on Blu-ray.
Biblical stories were once all the rage in cinema. Grand scale, huge scope and sweeping storytelling kept people coming to the theaters in droves once upon a time. Then, suddenly, there was a very serious drought in the genre. All the stories had been done, and the ones people came up with, especially in recent times have been few and far between and often very disappointing. The announcement of The Book of Clarencefollowed by an equally intriguing trailer led me to think it was the right time for a new spin on a once beloved genre. Read more about the vivid and fresh The Book of Clarence below and feel free to click the cover art at the end to get your copy on Blu-ray today!
The Addams Family has always been a great source of creepy fun for TV and Film fans. The creepy, kooky, altogether ooky family has been able to transcend both media formats providing fun, somewhat scary, yet still family friendly thrills and laughs. Wednesday certainly took the streaming crowd by storm when it debuted on Netflix in 2022. With Jenny Ortega in a star making embodiment of the titular character, how could you go wrong?! Icing on the cake, we now have a physical release of the show. Downside, it’s only a Blu-ray, but collectors can’t always be choosers. See more about Wednesday below and click the cover art at the end for a paid Amazon link to buy your own copy.
The Color Purple is being touted as a “bold new take on a beloved classic.” I find that interesting since the musical found in this new film version is the one that was on Broadway beginning in 2005. Having never seen this Broadway version, only hearing the music of the show, I must wonder what the differences are. The film unfortunately didn’t finish theatrically the way it started and garnered only one Oscar nod despite so many reasons for it to earn more than that. Read more about The Color Purple below and be sure click the cover art at the end for a paid Amazon link to get your own copy of the film.
The romantic comedy has seemingly become a thing of the past. It’s a strange sentence to even write, but the once popular genre has maybe one film per year to represent it, where once there were what seemed like dozens of Romcoms coming out yearly. No Hard Feelings was last year’s offering, not doing as well theatrically as I would’ve hoped. Christmas 2023 saw the release of Anyone But You, and so far, this seems to be the only Romcom that’s theatrically released this year. Here’s hoping there are more, and they take notes from this one. Read my obviously positive review of Anyone But You below and be sure to order your own copy clicking the paid Amazon link at the end (pssst… it’s the cover art!).
Ridley Scott’s Alien set the standard for horror based Sci-fi. His film left audiences terrified with some wonderfully calculated scenes and subtle scares. With the end of that film, it almost feels like it would be impossible to top it. Then came Aliens. With James Cameron in the director’s chair, what was the outcome? Of course, we know the story, a sequel that stands with and sometimes surpasses the original. Read more about Aliens below. I promise not to bore you with over-retold facts! Be sure to click the artwork at the end of the review to access the paid link to get your own copy!
True Lies is another James Cameron film that collectors have been clamoring to have on a newer format for many years. This is a non-stop, funny, thrilling film and is the kind of movie that home theater enthusiasts love because it’s an audio and visual dream. This was a demo videotape for places like Circuit City and The Good Guys way back in the 90’s. How does this classic hold up in 4K? Read on below and find out my thoughts. Don’t forget to click the artwork at the end for a paid link to order your own copy!
