Archive for the 'Editorials' Category
July 25th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
Either Sony Pictures just could not get enough films together for panels this year or they are still recouping from the expenditures from Spider-Man’s appearance at last year’s Comic Con, but regardless, this was a pretty stripped down affair for a studio that currently has a couple square blocks devoted to a number of their upcoming features (Fury, The Equalizer, The Interview). That said, while one of the two films presented had little to offer audiences, the other managed to have me more excited than I thought I would be. So let’s dive in to this limited panel from one of the major studios appearing at this year’s Comic Con.
Continue reading ‘Comic Con 2014: Sony Pictures Panel: Pixels and Goosebumps’
July 25th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
I was happy to sit in on the Comedy Central panel at Comic Con and following a hilarious panel for the hit sketch show Key & Peele (I reviewed the Blu-ray for the first two seasons HERE), a special look at a new animated series took place. Here’s the official word: Today at San Diego Comic-Con Comedy Central unveiled the first look at “Moonbeam City,” the brand’s newest animated series debuting in 2015. “Moonbeam City” is an absurdist take on the gritty, sex-drenched crime dramas from the 1980s and follows undercover detective Dazzle Novak (voiced by Rob Lowe), a handsome idiot who commits more crimes than most criminals. The show also stars his tyrannical chief, Pizzaz Miller (Elizabeth Banks), who won’t get off his back and hotshot rookie Rad Cunningham (Will Forte) who is dying to see him fail. With the world against him, Dazzle is thrust into a living nightmare: having to do actual police work. “Moonbeam City” is executive produced by Will Gluck’s Olive Bridge Entertainment in association with Titmouse Studios. Comedy Central’s panel at Comic-Con today featured the series’ Executive Producers Scott Gairdner and Tommy Blancha. Continue on to see a clip and some pictures from the show.
Continue reading ‘Comic Con 2014: Comedy Central First Look: Moonbeam City’
July 25th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
There are a lot of things to see at San Diego Comic Con every year and while I am certainly excited to see a number of the high profile panels taking place this year, I am not overstating it when I say that a Hall H panel focused on the 60s Batman television series definitely had my attention. After years of waiting, the entire series is finally going to be released onto Blu-ray and DVD this November and apparently Comic Con was the place to reveal the details of the upcoming set. Not at all hurting was the presence of Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar, who were game to share some stories, while audiences were also treated to clips from the newly remastered episodes.
Continue reading ‘Comic Con 2014: Batman ’66 Panel’
July 18th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Did you miss me? No? Well eff you too, pal! Haha. Like it or not, I’m back. I had only planned to take one week off and it wound up being too (not by design). For the next 5 weeks we’re going to be doing a ‘Countdown To EXPENDABLES III’ with the Wishlist. Each week we’ll focus on a movie from one of the stars of the Expendables franchise that has not made its way to Blu-ray yet and needs to. All the way up til the opening of Expendables III August 15. I’m fudging a little bit on this first one, but I’ll explain a little below on why I decided to say screw it and do it. So, lets kick some wishlist ass and get this Countdown To EXPENDABLES III started! Continue reading ‘Brandon’s Blu-ray Wishlist – July 18, 2014′
July 9th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
We are a little over halfway through 2014 and with that, I figured it would be a good idea for Why So Blu’s writing staff to spread the word on which films they believe to be the best of the year so far (along with some picks for the worst). This article contains just that, as Brian, Brandon, and myself put down their thoughts on their three favorite films released theatrically this year. There were many films to choose from, so narrowing it down may not have been an easy task, but it was a fun process and a nice way to prepare for the second half of this year, which is also full of promise. Continue on and see which films came out on top! Continue reading ‘Why So Blu’s Staff Picks For 2014’s Best Films of the Year… So Far’
July 7th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to not only see the new Richard Linklater film, Boyhood, but attend a press conference for it, featuring writer/director Linklater, along with stars Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Ellar Coltrane, and Lorelei Linklater. Boyhood was shot intermittently over the course of 12 years, as the story follows a boy, Mason (Coltrane), from 6 to 18-years old, and depicts his life with his family along the way. I will have a review of the film posted later in the week, but this post contains the highlights from the press conference, along with the audio from it. Continue on to learn more about the film, the stars, Linklater’s filming process, and more!
Continue reading ‘‘BOYHOOD’ Press Conference Highlights And More!’
June 26th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
I really don’t understand the big studio distributors sometimes. I really don’t. It feels like they really hold back on some things that really doesn’t make sense or they flat our will release something without a care in the world given to it instead of letting an independent distributor actually make a release worth purchasing that will bring about praise and better sales. Universal Studios Home Entertainment had the chance this week to put a GIANT GIANT cherry on top of this incredible vintage horror fans’ September box set release cake and they instead smashed a giant pie in our faces. I am so disappointed about their two home video announcements in the last 24 hours that I’ve taken to my Why So Blu soapbox to sit and whine about it. So, click on or scroll down and let me give you the rundown and then we’ll discuss. Continue reading ‘Universal Studios Home Entertainment Has Really Bummed Me Out Today’
June 26th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
I’m gonna go with comedy again this week to finish out the month of June. And I’m digging into that of the teen variety, picking one of my favorites of that subgenre from the 90s. Its a film I kind of have a nostalgia for and I think is a solid film that not many people probably got a chance to see in the 90s. It also made a whopping $309 at the box office (costing $15 million).
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. Continue reading ‘Brandon’s Blu-ray Wishlist – June 26, 2014′
June 20th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Today’s wishlist was actually one of my most anticipated to see titles in the summer of 2008, believe it or not. This cult classic comedy also was the start of one of today’s bigger comedy stars. I still don’t think a lot of people are familiar with it.
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. Continue reading ‘Brandon’s Blu-ray Wishlist – June 20, 2014′
June 12th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the wishlist!
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June 6th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
I hope you enjoyed my May double feature editions of the Blu-ray wishlist. We’re back now to single movies. And today is one of my favorite comedies and movies in general and big time cult classic I guess you’d say. Today, we’re boldly going where no wishlist has gone before!
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. Continue reading ‘Brandon’s Blu-ray Wishlist – June 6, 2014′
June 2nd, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
While seeing How to Train Your Dragon 2 was a neat departure for the Los Angeles Times Hero Complex Film Festival, it seemed fairly in line with the fest to watch a film like Gremlins on the big screen. The holiday-horror-comedy classic celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year and fans were treated to both a screening of the film, as well as a Q&A with its director and horror-comedy fan-favorite Joe Dante. Dante talked about the surprise hit that Gremlins became, the making of the film, a possible reboot, and other things that don’t come anywhere close to nitpicking the rules of the Mogwai.
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Continue reading ‘LA Times Hero Complex Film Festival: Gremlins’ Director Joe Dante Q&A’
June 1st, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
Hero Complex is essentially a genre media-themed offshoot of the Los Angeles Times newspaper and they have been holding a film festival in Hollywood for the past few years. While the films screened are always classics from the past, this year featured a screening of How to Train Your Dragon 2. I will post a review of this film soon, but following the screening, a Q&A was held with writer/director Dean DeBlois and stars Jay Baruchel (Hiccup) and America Ferrera (Astrid). The trio had plenty of admiration for a series they have heavily involved themselves with for the past seven years and were happy to share their thoughts.
Continue reading ‘LA Times Hero Complex Film Festival: How To Train Your Dragon 2 Q&A’
May 22nd, 2014 by Brandon Peters
If you read my Blu-ray reviews, today’s pick was hinted at a little while back and should be pretty obvious. So, lets go back to camp already!
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May 15th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Summer double feature month continues the wish…SHUT YO MOUTH! I was talking about the Wishlist. We can dig it! Who is the man, who would whine about movies not being on Blu-ray, man? BRANDON!
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May 8th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Double feature month continues with a big headscratcher! Although, hopefully this won’t be on the wishlist for too long.
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. Continue reading ‘Brandon’s Blu-ray Wishlist – May 8, 2014′
May 2nd, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
The final film I was able to see for the Newport Beach Film Festival was this fun little indie called Arlo & Julie. I really enjoyed it. With a neat story, very likable characters, and a soundtrack consisting mostly of old jazz to better evoke some specific films and filmmakers that I see as likely influences, Arlo & Julie has a lot of what I like to see in smaller films that I can only hope to see reach a larger audience at some point. It does just enough to set it apart from other films, but also has plenty in common with the quaint little indies that I tend to like a lot.
[ Continue reading ‘NBFF 2014 Review: ‘Arlo & Julie’’
May 1st, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
So what is all this Twitter business? Wednesday at the Newport Beach Film Fest afforded me the opportunity to check out a documentary that would have made more sense to see on a Friday. At least I now know what I can recommend via #ff on Friday, as Follow Friday the Film is an enjoyable documentary about Twitter. While not an instructional guide and more of an interesting look at how society is evolving, with a specific focus on popular social media, the film is not attempting to force Twitter on its audience, but instead invite folks to see the deeper value in typing a certain amount of characters into a program at any time. It helps that the film is structured together through a road trip, with plenty of interviews to really provide a broad perspective on the subject. As a person that uses Twitter plenty, I was happy to find a group that put out a film explaining this microblogging service so simply, yet in a charming manner.
Continue reading ‘NBFF 2014 Review: ‘Follow Friday The Film’’
