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Archive for the 'Blu-ray Reviews' Category

Wild At Heart – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)

If you’re a Region Free enthusiast like myself, you’ll know David Lynch’s Wild At Heart has had various Blu-ray releases over the years in different countries. In the United States, however, there’s been just one. It was a Twilight Time release that has been out of print for many years. Limited releases is their business model, like it or not. Their license on the film must have run out because now we have a brand new collector’s edition of the film from Shout! Factory putting it under the Shout Select banner which is very exciting. The new release with feature a new interview with the author of the book the film is based on, a special on the 40th anniversary screen and over an hour of deleted scenes to go along with previously released featurettes. Its available May 22nd, so get your pre-orders in below! Continue reading ‘Wild At Heart – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’

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It’s Alive Trilogy (Blu-ray Review)

Iconic Cult director Larry Cohen broke onto the scene with a pair of iconic blaxploitation films starring Fred “The Hammer” Williamson in the early 70s. Following, he’d begin to carve his legacy as a unique face in the world of horror with It’s Alive. The film proved to be sort of his well he’d return to between God Told Me To’s and Q: The Winged Serpents with two sequels; It Lives Again! and Island Of The Alive. Scream Factory has been fond of Cohen’s works and is now bringing his famed trilogy to Blu-ray for the first time in this new box set. It features some new interviews as well as commentaries on each film from Larry Cohen himself. Scream Factory is releasing it on May 15th and you can pre-order it on Amazon to make sure yours arrives in time for day 1. Continue reading ‘It’s Alive Trilogy (Blu-ray Review)’

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Cure (Eureka! Masters of Cinema Blu-ray Review)

Released to critical acclaim in both the East and the West, Cure was a breakthrough film for director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, a nerve shredding thriller about the hunt for a serial killer in a bleak and decaying Tokyo.  A series of murders have been committed by ordinary people who claim to have had no control over their horrifying actions. Following the only link a mysterious stranger who had brief contact with each perpetrator and their victim detective Kenichi Takabe ( Kôji Yakusho, 13 Assassins, Tokyo Sonata) places his own sanity on the line as he tries to end the wave of inexplicable terror.  Described as one of the greatest films of all time by Bong Joon-ho ( The Host, Snowpiercer), Cure is a deeply unsettling masterpiece of its genre, and has shockingly been unavailable on home video in the UK until now. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Cure in a special Dual Format edition. *Please be aware that Cure is Region B locked, so you will need a Region Free player for proper playback. Continue reading ‘Cure (Eureka! Masters of Cinema Blu-ray Review)’

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Saving Private Ryan – Commemorative 20th Anniversary Edition (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Not only has telling stories of World War II brought director Steven Spielberg Academy Award attention in the form of Best Director nominations and his two Oscar wins, the historical subject has brought forth some of his best and most passionate work. His second Oscar win for director is actually his sixth exploration of the second great war in some way, shape or form. Twenty years have come since this film that began the Spielberg-Tom Hanks relationship that also likely paved the way for the phenomenal HBO mini-series Band of Brothers. In celebration, Paramount is debuting the film on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on May 8th. This year (As well as last) is seeing plenty of Spielberg jumping to the format and they can keep on rolling. Hopefully Jaws and Munich aren’t too far away either! Continue reading ‘Saving Private Ryan – Commemorative 20th Anniversary Edition (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’

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The Post (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

They may have different years of released attached to them, but Steven Spielberg had two big releases in three months. He’s no stranger to multiple films in a calendar year, as a quick peruse of his filmography will show many double features. Three months before Ready Player One, Spielberg had an Oscar caliber film in The Post (Which wide released in 2018, so you could argue its the same year for most people). Starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, the political thriller based on the attempt of the Washington Post to publish The Pentagon Papers may have been on of the most overlooked and taken for granted candidates for Best Picture. Scoring only a Best Actress nomination for Streep, in a crowded year of great films, Spielberg’s period piece could have easily argued for a lot more consideration. Heck, on another given year, it might’ve been a shue in for more gold. The film is already available on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray, so if you haven’t already, you can pick yourself up a copy and see for yourself. Continue reading ‘The Post (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’

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Paddington 2 (Blu-ray Review)

It’s practically unfair how good Paddington 2 is when considering other movies. Seriously, there’s no reason the first Paddington should have been great, let alone have a sequel that tops it, and now other films coming this year will have to compete with hopes to have the same genuine level of quality. This is the rare family film treat that can work for everyone due to how enjoyable the comedy is, how sweet the film is, and just how well it puts in a message without drowning it out thanks to the terrific work from all the actors involved. If that praise seems excessive, so be it, but Paddington 2 is exceedingly good at being a charming, fun film that also finds a way to matter in today’s age. Since it was somewhat rejected in theaters (shame on all of you), everyone can now see what they missed in this Blu-ray set.

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Tremors: A Cold Day In Hell (Blu-ray Review)

Twenty eight years following the original cult classic horror/action/comedy/monster movie hybrid, here we arrive at the sixth Tremors film. As long as Michael Gross wants to come back, I’ll gladly keep up with the series. Its one that’s never really felt completely overdone, having its most output from 2001-2004 where we got two direct-to-DVD films and a short lived televisions show (That starred Dean Norris). Tremors: A Cold Day In Hell will be following the previous film Bloodlines a little more closely, returning Jamie Kennedy’s Travis Welker (The son of Burt Gummer) to our hero’s side. These films truly know what they are and mostly how to deliver. You’ll get to see if this sixth entry continues the trend when it releases on Blu-ray May 1st.  Continue reading ‘Tremors: A Cold Day In Hell (Blu-ray Review)’

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Source Code (4K UHD Blu-ray)

Duncan Jones launched onto the directorial scene with the heavily praised science fiction film, Moon. One that you really could call a modern cult classic. Moon was exciting a debut as one could have, landing on everyone’s radar, excited to see where Jones would end up next. Currently, Jones has contributed the Warcraft movie that has its fans but was a rather notable failure in the US and the Netflix film Mute that didn’t receive much positive response. Coming off Moon, he did Source Code, a thriller featuring the Groundhog’s Day-like storytelling device about having a short window over and over again to stop a bomb on a train. It received rave reviews and was a solid box office hit. So Jones is on the bad side of batting 50/50 (Even John Boorman had Zardoz and Exorcist II back to back). On the good side, Source Code is coming to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on May 8th! Continue reading ‘Source Code (4K UHD Blu-ray)’

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Dead Man – The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray Review)

Jim Jarmusch is one of my favorite directors, and The Criterion Collection has seen fit to treat me with a release of Dead Man, his offbeat western from 1995, starring Johnny Depp. Featuring a strong and very Jarmusch supporting cast, beautiful black and white cinematography, and an improvised electric guitar score by Neil Young, Dead Man is the epitome of 90s indie film and one of Jarmusch’s best works as a director. Given my love for 2013’s Only Lovers Left Alive and the declaration of Paterson as my favorite film of 2016, Jarmusch has not stopped entertaining me, so I was thrilled to take in a spectacular new release for his acid western.

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The House That Dripped Blood (Blu-ray Review)

When it comes to the notable classic horror studios or collaborations of the 1960s and early 1970s, we immediately lean toward Hammer Films, American International Pictures, the Roger Corman Edgar Allan Poe films, the works of Mario Bava and more. And included in that “more” is definitely Amicus Productions. Not that people aren’t immediately thinking of them too, but in terms of Blu-ray, it seems we are finally getting around to giving them some love. Last year (Which wound up coming out this past January), Severin Films put together an exciting box set of their films. Using many of the same actors as AIP and Hammer, these films fit right with them, albeit more modern than they are period. Scream Factory has brought together another of their famous anthologies (Previously they did the Tales From the Crypt/Vault of Horror double feature), The House That Dripped Blood onto Blu-ray May 8th. Continue reading ‘The House That Dripped Blood (Blu-ray Review)’

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The Commuter (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Jaume Collet-Serra may not be a marquee director or a household name, but he’s been doing some overall solid work this decade. Probably one of the tops when it comes to the mid-budget adult thriller, he’s coming hot off his Blake Lively horror film The Shallows and reteaming with Liam Neeson. The Commuter marks their fourth collaboration following Non-Stop, Run All Night and Unknown. During early rounds of press Neeson says his action hero chapter of his career would be coming to an end with this film, but he may have back tracked that a little. This film opened during Jumanji’s reign and managed to cross over one hundred million dollars worldwide by the end of its run. You’ll find it available for physical at home consumption on April 17.  Continue reading ‘The Commuter (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’

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Molly’s Game (Blu-ray Review)

Acclaimed writer Aaron Sorkin has enjoyed a successful run as a screenwriter. Molly’s Game, his directorial debut, based on a memoir by Molly Bloom, was an attempt to accomplish more, even if he did have to settle for another writing nomination at the Academy Awards. Regardless, one can see why his interest was piqued with a story like this. It places a strong female character at the front of a newsworthy story involving the participation of celebrities, successful businessmen, and mobsters in an underground poker club. Thanks to a cross-cutting narrative approach, the film relies heavily on Sorkin’s ability to let the actors and especially the dialogue build a fantastic flow of the film and the results are quite exciting.

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The Greatest Showman (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

The Greatest Showman 4KI don’t know what it is about me.  I’m a red-blooded American male who craves carnage, gore and action in every movie going experience I partake in, but I also have a huge soft spot in my heart when it comes to moving, engaging and rousing musicals.  The latter is exactly how I felt after just one viewing of The Greatest Showman’s first theatrical trailer last year.  It was hook, line and sinker for me.  Try as I might I could not get my fiancee to share in the same blissful excitement as me because of the subject matter.  She’s very much against the circus and the long chronicles of animal abuse that usually goes hand-in-hand with them.  Try as I might I could not persuade her, but I understand her position and it’s admirable (although I assure that’s never shown onscreen here).  I just want to be entertained.  I desire to be dazzled by endless entertaining song and dance musical numbers.  That’s the appeal of The Greatest Showman for me going into it for the very first time in my review below.  Well, that and it’s leggy box office success this past December and January.  Let me change into my Big Top costume and we’ll get this 4K circus started down below. Continue reading ‘The Greatest Showman (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’

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Grease – 40th Anniversary Edition (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Grease is the word, and that word is about to go over the hill as the feature film celebrates its 40th birthday this year. And with how many darn rereleases this film has had since the inception of home video, you just know Paramount will not pass over the opportunity to throw us another. And here we are. But, they are doing it right, with a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray of the classic musical, with a brand new transfer and restoration overseen by director Randal Kleiser taking it back to what he felt it was originally supposed to look like. Toss in a couple new bonus features and this isn’t just some mere cover art change of a disc you may already own (Let alone a Blu-ray only steelbook edition that contains the Blu-ray debut of Grease 2). You’ll be able to relive these those summer niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiights when Grease – 40th Anniversary Edition releases on April 24th.  Continue reading ‘Grease – 40th Anniversary Edition (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’

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Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Suicide Squad Hell to Pay 4K Well hey now!  Are you all prepare to root for the bad guys once again?  That’s right!  The Suicide Squad gang is back!  Not so fast though.  This isn’t the DCEU version of the Suicide Squad.  Oh no!  It’s the DCAU (DC Animated Universe) Suicide Squad.  For the uninitiated the DCAU have both a pretty impressive resume and following.  You can find reviews of past titles such as Batman and Harley here and Batman: Gotham by Gaslight here, but I digress.  The team is back in action here when Amanda Waller once again sends her band of misfit DC Super-Villains on secret mission in Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay.  I’m hearing great things about this title so I’m stoked to jump in head first below.  So without further ado let me get this message in from our sponsor here.  The feature-length animated film, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, arrives from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack April 10th.  Now with that being said let’s check out what this one’s all about under its slipcover and cellophane. Continue reading ‘Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’

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Insidious: The Last Key (Blu-ray Review)

Just when movie going audiences thought it was finally safe to go back into The Further.  Surprise!  It is NOT!  I bet you never saw a fourth Insidious film coming, did you?  Given the low budget and success of the first three this was actually a no-brainer.  I wish there were more surefire guarantees like this in life.  I’d be a rich man, but I digress.  Insidious: The Last Key is yes the fourth installment in the Insidious franchise, but if you’re going by chronology of the in-story timelines this is actually second in order.  Confused yet?  Don’t be!  You just need to refresh up a bit down below before venturing into The Further blindly.  Come on!  I’ll show you around here. Continue reading ‘Insidious: The Last Key (Blu-ray Review)’

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Ballers: The Complete Third Season (Blu-ray Review)

Ballers Season 3 Blu-ray ReviewOnce again I guess you can say Spencer Strasmore and his boys are back to “ball out” in Season 3 of the hit HBO comedy Ballers releasing on Blu-ray and DVD April 3rd.  I couldn’t be more excited about this season in particular!  It hits home and gets personal for me here.  Not only am I a fan of NFL football, which this show revolves around, but HBO’s Ballers also brought me closer to The Rock as an actor.  I love him now even more than I did in the Fast & Furious films.  Dwayne Johnson takes the reins with his larger-than-life charisma in this series that looks at the whirlwind lifestyles and real-life problems of former and current football players in sun-soaked Miami (a paradise on Earth).  In case you missed it you can read all about my previous Season 1 coverage over here and 2 here.  But wait!  There’s so much more!  Remember I said this season hits home for me?   Well I wasn’t talking about my relationship with the Rock.  Read on below to find out more.  What?  You didn’t think I ws going to shoot my load proverbially in the first paragraph did you?  Of course not!   Continue reading ‘Ballers: The Complete Third Season (Blu-ray Review)’

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Cyborg – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)

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In 1988, Jean-Claude Van Damme lept into the role of action hero to lead a film for the very first time in Bloodsport. His next role would take him to postapocalyptic wasteland fantasy in Albert Pyun’s Cyborg. A grungy, low budget action fantasy, the film has had a cult legacy and a post production that had its share of drama over the final cut of the film. With that in mind, Scream Factory is putting out a collector’s edition of the film featuring new bonus features (Sorry no Van Damme or Director’s Cut) and a new transfer of the film. This little film is one that has had its fans and Van Damme himself comes with his own little subset of a following. Be sure to check out one of his earliest and more interesting works when Cyborg – Collector’s Edition hits Blu-ray April 24th. Continue reading ‘Cyborg – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’

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