Archive for the 'Editorials' Category
December 13th, 2013 by Gerard Iribe
I think this is my first Top Music Album list ever. I may have worked on a couple of other music related lists for WSB but they were never about what I thought cut the muster in any given year. The catalyst for this decision is that I received an analog (non-USB) turntable for my birthday earlier this year and I went on a bit of a VINYL binge. It was great! I discovered and re-discovered my love for music, records, and actually full length albums! If it’s one thing about listening to vinyl it’s that you are forced to listen to the record in its entirety. Unless you’re a master with the arm & needle (I am not), you have no choice but to step into the musical journey that the artists have created with their music – in full. This list is made up of vinyl selections, but every album here was released in 2013, and sound quality or whatnot is not a factor. I’m not going to compare CD and Vinyl quality here. Go ahead and relax, set the needle, get a glass of wine, and enjoy my Top Music Albums of 2013! Continue reading ‘Gerard’s Top Music Albums of 2013!’
December 13th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Each year, Rabbit plays Easter Bunny, but this year, he’s decided it’s “Spring Cleaning Day,” and he orders everyone to hop to it: scrubbing, dusting, and mopping. All his pals are disappointed – especially little Roo – until Rabbit learns that putting others first and showing friends how much you care turns every day into a precious gift. Sparkling with unforgettable songs and a never-before-seen bonus treat, this delightful “egg-stravaganza” shows why love, hope and friendship are always in full bloom in the Hundred Acre Wood! Continue reading ‘Winnie the Pooh: Springtime With Roo Arrives on Blu-ray March 11’
December 11th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug is a big release for this time of year, with a likely gross ending up north of a billion dollars worldwide. Given the nature of this release, it only makes sense for Warner Brothers to debut trailers for a few of their potential blockbusters for next year around the same time, which is exactly what has happened. Along with several other recent and upcoming trailers, Warner Brothers has released trailers and teasers for 3 of their 2014 summer movies – Godzilla, Jupiter Ascending, and Edge of Tomorrow. Godzilla is a new update of the classic monster movie story/social commentary, with director Gareth Edwards (Monster) at the helm. Jupiter Ascending is a new science fiction film from The Wachowski Starship (The Matrix Trilogy). Edge of Tomorrow is a sci-fi war movie with a Groundhog’s Day-like twist, from director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity). Each of these films has the potential to be a big hit next summer. Continue on to view these trailers for these upcoming features.
Continue reading ‘WB Debuts New Trailers For Godzilla, Jupiter Ascending, and Edge of Tomorrow’
December 11th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Experience the wonder of this timeless tale as you reunite with your favorite characters and meet new friends. Disney’s beloved movie classic continues in this new digital master of The Jungle Book 2 – on Blu-ray for the first time, and wilder than ever in breathtaking high definition! Now that Mowgli’s living in the “man-village,” he cherishes his new best friend and little brother, but he still has that jungle rhythm in his heart. He misses hanging out with happy-go-lucky Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther. Yearning for freedom, Mowgli runs off into the jungle – and encounters his enemy Shere Khan! This time, he’ll need both his new human family and his old jungle friends to help save the day. Continue reading ‘The Jungle Book 2 Comes to Blu-ray this March!’
December 10th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
The Act of Killing, the breakout documentary that won over audiences at such important film festivals as Toronto, Telluride, SXSW, True/False and Berlin (where it won the Audience Award) and went on to record-breaking box-office openings in New York and other major markets, comes to Blu-ray and DVD on January 7, 2014, from Drafthouse Films, in conjunction with Cinedigm. In this inventive and critically-acclaimed documentary by Joshua Oppenheimer and executive produced by documentary titans, Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man, Into the Abyss) and Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line, The Fog of War), the filmmakers examine a country where Indonesian death squad leaders are celebrated as heroes, challenging them to reenact their real-life mass-killings via musical numbers, action and comedy sequences and other genres of the American movies they love. The hallucinatory result of Oppenheimer’s daring idea is a cinematic fever dream, an unsettling journey deep into the imaginations of mass murderers and the shockingly banal regime of corruption and impunity they inhabit. Continue reading ‘The Act of Killing Comes to Blu-ray and DVD this January’
December 10th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Kino Lorber is proud to announce the Blu-ray and DVD release of Himalaya, a film by Éric Valli which won Cesar Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Original Score and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 72nd Academy Awards® in 1999. Himalaya was a huge box office hit in Europe, and also enjoyed great popular success in the U.S., where it remained on the Variety top film box office chart for over six months. Filmed over seven months in the forbidden Dolpo region of Nepal, Himalaya tells the story of a generational struggle for the leadership of a tiny mountain village between its proud old chief and a headstrong young caravanner. The balance of power shifts uneasily as they make their annual salt trek across the Himalayas. A visually striking and spiritually captivating portrait of life in one of the world’s most extraordinary places, Himalaya is both intense drama and a gorgeous tapestry of the fast disappearing traditions of Tibetan life. Continue reading ‘Himalaya Arrives on Blu-ray This December’
December 10th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Image Entertainment announces the high-definition release of Blind Date on Blu-ray for the first time, a slapstick romantic comedy with an all-star cast. Starring Bruce Willis (The Sixth Sense), Kim Basinger (No Mercy) and John Larroquette (TV’s Night Court) and directed by Blake Edwards (The Pink Panther film series), Blind Date is available on Blu-ray on January 14, 2014. When Walter Davis (Bruce Willis, The Sixth Sense) is set up with gorgeous Nadia Gates (Kim Basinger, No Mercy), the perfect Blind Date dissolves into disaster in this sexy comedy caper. Continue reading ‘Blind Date Comes to Blu-ray this January’
December 9th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
An imaginative fusion of live action, state-of-the-art puppetry, prosthetics and CGI, Farscape, produced by The Jim Henson Company in association with RHI Entertainment, featured mind-boggling alien life forms, dazzling special effects, edge-of-your-seat thrills, irreverent humor and unforgettable characters — all brought to rich life by the creative minds at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Strap in and hold on tight for the extraordinary adventures of astronaut John Crichton, (Ben Browder) who, after a freak accident, finds himself surrounded by hostile aliens and soaring through the cosmos aboard Moya, a glorious living space ship. Hunted by the relentless Peacekeepers, he allies himself with Moya’s crew — Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black), Luxan warrior Ka D’Argo (Anthony Simcoe), azure priestess Zhaan (Virginia Hey), spritely Nebari thief Chiana (Gigi Edgley), Dominar Rygel, the deposed royal ruler of the Hynerian Empire and Pilot – to search for a way out of this inconceivably alien world and return home. Continue reading ‘Farscape: The Complete Series – 15th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
December 8th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
In this action-packed teamup, the Invincible Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk come together to save the Earth from its greatest threat yet. When two HYDRA scientists try to supercharge a Stark Arc Reactor with Hulk’s Gamma Energy, they unleash a being of pure electricity called the Zzzax, and he’s hungry for destruction. Together, Iron Man and Hulk are the only force that stands in the way of the Zzzax’s planetary blackout. But first the superhero duo will have to get through snarling Wendigos, deadly robots and the scaly powerhouse, Abomination. Can two of Marvel’s mightiest heroes find a way to work together without smashing each other before time runs out? Continue reading ‘Iron Man and Hulk: Heroes United (Blu-ray Review)’
December 6th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Set in the 24th century, the exploits of the U.S.S. Enterprise continue with Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Complete Season Five. Featuring some of the most memorable episodes of the series, the season includes Paul Winfield’s guest appearance as Dathon and Ashley Judd’s debut performance in beloved episode, “Darmok.” The set also includes the jaw-dropping opening scene portraying the destruction of the Enterprise in “Cause and Effect,” and “The Inner Light,” the critically acclaimed episode that garnered the series its first Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. Continue reading ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Complete Season Five (Blu-ray Review)’
December 5th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Who knows what evil lurks in the shadow of men? The Shadow knows! Adapted from the long-running classic radio program and Walter B. Gibson’s popular pulp fiction, legendary crime-fighting superhero The Shadow comes to life in the 1994 film adaptation THE SHADOW, starring Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) from visionary filmmaker Russell Mulcahy (Resident Evil: Extinction, Highlander). Brimming with non-stop action and suspense, this wildly entertaining cinematic adventure also stars John Lone (The Last Emperor), Penelope Ann Miller (Carlito’s Way), Peter Boyle (Everybody Loves Raymond), Ian McKellen (X-Men), Jonathan Winters (The Smurfs) and Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Picture Show). Continue reading ‘Shout Factory Will Release The Shadow Collector’s Edition Blu-ray this February’
December 5th, 2013 by Gerard Iribe
Why So Blu? was given a special opportunity to “hangout” with Elysium visual effects supervisor Peter Muyzers yesterday morning, as they broadcasted live from Las Vegas at the Cave visual effects convention. Several folks from Autodesk moderated the Google Hangout. Since we’re also going to be reviewing Elysium on this very website soon, it made perfect sense to cover the event, so that we may pair the two pieces together to give fans better coverage of the science fiction epic. Aside from a few technical hiccups during the live feed, the Google Hangout was fun and informative. The following post is more of a free-form post as opposed to a word-for-word transcription. We will also link to the Google Hangout, so that you can also view it at your leisure. Continue reading ‘Elysium’s Google Hangout with Visual Effects Supervisor Peter Muyzers’
December 5th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
Rhinos, Goblins, and Electro, oh my! Certainly plenty of threats coming Spider-Man’s way in the upcoming sequel, The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Arriving May 2, 2014, we now have a trailer to behold, which certainly emphasizes the kinds of things you see in trailers to sequels in big franchises. I had previously written a post regarding the Comic Con panel for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 this past July (which can be found HERE), but now there is a bit more for readers to chew on, as they are seeing the web head back in action, along with Max Dillon aka Electro (Jamie Foxx), Aleksei Sytsevich aka Rhino (Paul Giamatti), and Harry Osborne (Dane DeHaan). The scale looks big, we have lots of new characters, and everything else seems to be moving full swing ahead. Personally, I enjoyed the first film well enough, even if it never really rose too far beyond being average, but at least the sequel has the benefit of having the origin story out of the way and can focus on new developments. I just hope it is not too saturated with villains. In this post I have embedded the new trailer and added a bunch of pictures from the film that have been released so far.
Continue reading ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Trailer Debut’
December 5th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Star Trek: The Next Generation – Unification Blu-ray is a feature-length presentation of the fan-favorite, two-part epic adventure from the series’ fifth season. Over 25 million viewers tuned into the original airing of the episode, making it one of the most-watched episodes of all seven seasons of the series. In the episode, Leonard Nimoy reprises his iconic role as Spock as both he and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) venture on a heroic mission in an attempt to unify the Vulcans and the Romulans. Continue reading ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation – Unification (Blu-ray Review)’
December 4th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Created by award-winning writers/producers Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, the critically acclaimed television series L.A. LAW held court in primetime during the course of its eight-season run on network television from 1986 through 1994. Winner of fifteen Primetime Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes and numerous honors and accolades, L.A. LAW takes viewers inside the inner sanctum of a fictional Los Angeles law firm of McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney & Kuzak. There, a team of ambitious and competitive attorneys must face the conflicts between their personal desires, their obligations as lawyers, and their principles as human beings. Continue reading ‘L.A. LAW: Season One Finally Comes to DVD this February’
December 3rd, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Disney’s heartwarming family comedy, “PLANES,” revved up with high-flying action and adventure, lands in homes and mass retailers nationwide on November 19th. This endearing underdog story about a crop dusting plane named Dusty with sky-high dreams touches down on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD and On-Demand featuring a cargo hold full of exciting bonus features. After spreading its wings in theaters, “PLANES” soars to glorious new heights on Blu-ray, featuring wondrous high definition picture and sound and never-before-seen bonus features, including musical number “Franz’s Song,” deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette that follows Director Klay Hall’s personal journey during the making of the film, a look at the ten greatest aviators in history hosted by ESPN’s Colin Cowherd, and more. Continue reading ‘PLANES 3D Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (Blu-ray Review)’
December 2nd, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Get ready to ring in the season with a full-length adventure straight from the heart of the Hundred Acre Wood! Join Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Roo and the whole gang in “Winnie The Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year” – now on Blu-ray and Digital Copy for the first time! Newly re-mastered in digital high definition, this sparkling holiday classic is an inspiring celebration of friendship. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but Rabbit will only discover the true spirit of the season after his pals make misguided New Year’s resolutions to change – with hilarious and heartfelt results! Featuring beloved characters, delightful songs and fun-filled bonus goodies, this special “Gift Of Friendship Edition” is sure to become a shared family tradition for generations to come. Continue reading ‘Winnie The Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year – The Gift of Friendship Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
December 2nd, 2013 by Gregg Senko
Super heroes and regular humans alike had their work cut out for them in 2013. The DC universe witnessed the advent of the Forever Evil storyline that saw everyone’s favorite do-gooders beat down and removed from the picture (temporarily anyway). Marvel is experiencing the return of Galactus, so you can bet earth is on his menu again. Meanwhile, The Walking Dead delivered its consistently high quality storyline of survival amidst a world of zombie fodder. But with all the awesomeness that filled the comic book landscape of this year, which ones are deserving of being the best in their class?
Continue reading ‘The Best Comic Books of 2013’
