The Emoji Movie (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
Bad ideas, bad ideas, bad ideas. Phil Lord and Chris Miller are the guys who tend to take bad ideas and make them into great things. Though, with their firing from Solo: A Star Wars Story, I’m not so sure of even that any more. They had nothing to do with The Emoji Movie, but I imagine if they did, I probably would have found interest in this movie’s release. Instead, like many people, its an eye-roller for me. Although, look, I get it. I understand there can be dollars to be made here. I understand it’ll probably be strictly for people who are younger than ten years old. I’m also a parent. I also have kids who wanted to see this movie, which magically we didn’t make it to the movie theater to see. But, here it is, on the glorious 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format for us to consume for the very first time, in the confines of our own home. Will I survive? I don’t know. Its available now, as Sony made this release available on the format on October 24th. Continue reading ‘The Emoji Movie (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
For so many damn years, there’s been nonstop chatter about Stephen King’s series of novels dubbed “The Dark Tower”. These dealt with a gunslinger characters and some sort of super ambitious premise that everyone demanded to be put into a movie. King fans kept telling you that this was going to be the film of all films or HBO series of all HBO series if they ever adapted it. Many names would get attached over the years. Projects would stop, they would start. It almost felt like this urban legend that it would ever happen. And then, finally, something budged off the ground. The excitement came in the casting of Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, but then the trailer and marketing came and nobody seemed to care, fans seemed to not have any defense. It was one of the summer’s biggest disappointments. I didn’t see the film, I’ve never read any of the books. So, here I am as the casual observer, going in super clean to give you the review of the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release, made available October 31st! 
Atomic Blonde finally sees the light of day on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray after debuting all the way back this past March at SXSW (originally covered 
Wvhen The Conjuring scored big back in 2013, one of the big takeaways from that film was the creepy doll in the opening scene named “Annabelle”. Said doll was the subject of its own spin off film that also was a huge hit despite very poor reviews. The Conjuring got its own sequel later on and naturally Annabelle has now received her own follow up. Once again, she scored a success, topping over one hundred million dollars in the US and over three hundred million bucks worldwide, easily pulling past the original’s take. Those totals are right in line with the regular Conjuring movies too. This world of horror cultivating from the case files of Warren’s research is very much alive and well. Another spin-off series is in the works and on the way with The Nun next year. But first, let’s take a look on Annabelle: Creation, which was the summer’s top horror film. 
Considering that both 
Boutique labels and vintage horror have been a sense of fun in the guessing game or “take a request” fashion in the last five years or so. Whenever social media polls happen to gauge what people would like next, you see some interesting title you’d forgotten about come out of the woodwork. You’ll also see multitudes of the same people requesting the same titles over and over and over (Fright Night Part 2 being the most popular). Slaughter High has been one of those titles that has been requested ad nauseum for many years. Fear not, though, your wait is over. Lionsgate, through its Vectron Video Collector’s Series is finally bringing it out. So not only is it coming, its being done right too. You can pre-order now to have this popular slasher when it releases on Halloween 2017! 
When Dawn of the Dead (The Snyder version) became a big success, Universal final ponied up for George Romero’s fourth film in his vision for his legendary zombie “Of The Dead” series. Coming in the summer of 2005, the film didn’t really take off like Snyders, but importantly, the thing finally got made. And I think those who saw it are fond of it, but I’m sure there are detractors. Scream Factory is revisiting the film for a brand spanking new edition twelve years later, giving you both cuts of the film as well as a slew of brand new interviews as well as all of the old bonus material. This one will be available at the same time that Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead will be available, which is Hallowen. You can pre-order the Collector’s Edition from the link below. 
Director Michael Haneke (Funny Games, Amour) and his attention to storytelling are celebrated by this release of The Piano Teacher from the Criterion Collection in a way that honors the film’s unique quality and its director’s masterful use of the medium of film to tell a story. Watching the film itself is a transformative experience; one that concludes with some viewers wondering if they may have just seem the best movie ever made and some completely baffled by why a person would decide to make this into a film. Personally, I am in the former category. Let’s take a closer look at this blu-ray release to see why it is a necessity for any lover of sometimes-uncomfortable but endlessly watchable films.
When it comes to the early and mid-2000s, the trends in horror were all about remakes, leaning on J-horror (Remakes of Japanese horror films) and older classics. One of the big reasons the trend kept going for so long (Still around today) the film we have here; Zack Snyder’s redo of George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. Crazy enough, that film was thirteen years ago. Its been out on Blu-ray in just that one version since Blu-ray came out. Now, its time to give it an update, upgrade and make-over. And who better than Scream Factory to upgrade with some new interviews and both cuts of the film. As far as double dipping, c’mon its been thirteen years and most of you probably got it for under ten bucks when you did. My only gripe is that its this one getting an upgrade and not the original. But that’s not on Scream. Their new edition will be available to you to come home to after a good night of Trick or Treating on Halloween! 
Last year brought some excitement when the DC Animated Universe turned its sites to a sort of resurrection of the 1960s television era of Batman with their Return of the Caped Crusaders movie. Said film returned Adam West, Burt Ward and Julie Newmar to their roles of Batman, Robin and Catwoman respectively. Of course, other villains (Done in the style and vocal likeness) showed up as well. Now, we get the focus on a A-list Batman villain that never popped up on the show, with a known 1960s acting commodity that never guest starred on the program either. William Shatner will enlist his vocals to bring to life a 1960s version of Tw0-Face in the sequel to Return of the Caped Crusaders which makes its debut on Blu-ray, October 17th. 
Are we seeing Holiday Horror becoming “in” or something. Like, is a quick little fad beginning to start? It seems not too long ago we were delivered a splendid little gift in the shape of Krampus, which has become an annual watch come Christmas time for me (Well, okay, for like 2 years, but IT WILL CONTINUE!). Last week saw the streaming release of Better Watch Out, another twisted Christmastime tale. Here, we have Red Christmas (Yes, Black Christmas has already been taken now-TWICE). This one boasts a little bit of comedy and genre icon Dee Wallace behind the wheel of this mayhem. You’ll be able to sink into it when the film arrives on Blu-ray October 17th. So, its gets here in time for Halloween and you’ll be able to revisit it for the holidays. Perfect! 
I don’t mean to steal anyone’s thunder so please don’t think that of me here. However, what I want to do is call attention to a quote on the cover of this 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of Warrior. I typically hate these unimaginative one-liners, but this one stands out to me because it’s more than three words and it accurately sums up my opinion of Warrior in a mere tagline. It simply reads “As Powerful and Unforgettable As Rocky” (Edward Douglas, ComingSoon.net). That’s exactly how my first viewing of Warrior back in 2011 went down. I remember it like it was yesterday. I recall living up in cold Cleveland, OH and my local Cinemark holding free screenings of this film. I had no idea what it was and like the ignorant prick I can be towards things I know nothing about I did not take advantage of it. Around this same time I bought my first Apple TV and for some reason or another Warrior was a free rental one cold weekend. I thought to myself what do I have to lose. I hit play and I remember laying there in front of my television never wanting the drama unfolding on the screen to ever end. That’s exactly how I feel about another legendary sports drama film, Rocky, each and every time I watch it. Therefore, this announcement of Warrior on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray October 24th left me absolutely speechless in a good way. Read on to learn more about this 4K catalog release from Lionsgate.
Finally, The Bridge on the River Kwai is making its debut on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray which also comes the year it is celebrating its 60th anniversary in its existence. “Finally?” you ask? Well, last year it had been noted that this one was being done and ready to go and then…nothing. Now we are toward the end of the year, which it was almost exactly a year ago that it was spotted. Also on that list was Lawrence of Arabia, which PLEASE make that one soon. The Bridge on the River Kwai nabbed Best Picture and Alec Guinness an Academy Award, taking home seven total (Out of eight nominations, not too shabby) and pretty much sweeping away the major categories. You can order yourself a copy below from the Amazon link (Which they site, as always, says “thank you” with each click), to have when it arrives on the format October 3rd. 
Just in time for the first final quarter of the calendar year holidays we are getting, once again, all of the Peanuts TV specials! But this time, Linus, Lucy, Charlie Brown, Woodstock, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy…all of them, they are coming to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray. Yeah, crazy, I know, right! But, Warner Bros feels that you need to have these in the most pristine, tip top presentation you can possibly get. So, the question is…how much of an improvement will it be on these old 2D hand drawn animate film cells. Well, read on and we’ll find this out together. This release will be available (Or may be already available, depending when you’re reading this) on October 10. You can also go ahead and pre-order yourself a copy (Which helps the site, as well) by clicking the Amazon logo below. 
