Archive for the 'Editorials' Category
November 21st, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Ring in the holidays with a new 30th Anniversary Special Edition of Mickey’s Christmas Carol. Disney’s timeless tale sparkles like never before on Blu-ray and Digital Copy, with fully-restored classic holiday shorts, plus all-new bonus features! Make the season merry as Mickey, Goofy, Donald and all their pals star in a heartwarming retelling of Dickens’ unforgettable holiday tale. Ebenezer Scrooge (Scrooge McDuck) is far too greedy to understand that Christmas is a time for kindness and generosity. But with the guidance of some wise ghosts (Goofy and Jiminy Cricket) and a bunch of newfound friends, Scrooge learns to embrace the spirit of the season. Share this wonderful holiday treat with the whole family. Continue reading ‘Mickey’s Christmas Carol: 30th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy) (Blu-ray Review)’
November 19th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Releasing from the Disney Vault in celebration of its 50th Anniversary, creative visionary Walt Disney’s classic shines for the first time on Blu-ray. Starring Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews in her Academy-Award winning role, and featuring all of the iconic toe-tapping songs that you love including “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” Mary Poppins is a movie experience your family will enjoy again and again. An all-new digital restoration adds even more magic – helping bring the award-winning songs and amazing picture to life like never before. Share the music; share the magic; share the joy of Mary Poppins this holiday on Blu-ray Combo Pack & HD Digital December 10. Continue reading ‘Mary Poppins: 50th Anniversary Edition Comes to Blu-ray This December!’
November 19th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
After scaring up big laughs in theaters, the in-home release of Monsters University opens its doors to the movie in stunning high definition Blu-ray, and provides hours of all-new bonus material, in-depth behind the scenes features, deleted scenes, the animated theatrical short “The Blue Umbrella” and much more. Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer. Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of Monsters University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Monsters University bravely explores themes of self-discovery and the revelations that come with growing up. Joining Crystal and Goodman as part of Monsters University’s monstrously talented voice cast are Steve Buscemi (voice of Randy Boggs), Helen Mirren (voice of Dean Hardscrabble), Alfred Molina (voice of Professor Knight), Charlie Day (voice of Art), Sean P. Hayes (voice of Terri Perry), Dave Foley (voice of Terry Perry), Nathan Fillion (voice of Johnny Worthington) and Aubrey Plaza (voice of Claire Wheeler).
Continue reading ‘Monsters University 3D Ultimate Collector’s Edition (3D + 2BD + DVD + Digital Copy) (Blu-ray Review)’
November 18th, 2013 by Gregg Senko
Before we get to the Why So Blu staff picks for favorite films of 2013 next month, I thought now would be a good time to write that negative-Nancy article on the other side of the coin. Okay, so I know we’re not even at Thanksgiving yet, but I figure there isn’t going to be a major dud in the next 40 days to make this list. This year had no shortage of disappointment at the cinema. There were films that let me down, like Iron Man 3 (also known as Normal Man 1), films that really stunk and almost made this list, like White House Down, and films that were just flat out rotten eggs, like…
Continue reading ‘Gregg’s Top 5 Worst Films of 2013′
November 14th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
D.W. Griffith changed the course of film history with his 1915 Civil War blockbuster
The Birth of a Nation, and spurred on by its colossal success, he went even bigger on his next epic. The ambitious and still awe-inspiring
Intolerance, in which the Father of Film masterfully links four centuries-apart stories of universal suffering, remains a signal achievement by any measure. Stung by charges of glorifying racism in
The Birth of a Nation, D.W. Griffith decided to make his next film a plea for tolerance, acceptance and understanding. An epic like nothing that came before it or has been seen since, the monumental
Intolerance remains as powerful today as it was almost a century ago. This major innovation in screen narrative tells four stories in parallel about social injustice and the effects of intolerance through the ages. “The Modern Story,” about a working man wrongly accused of a crime, was later issued as a separate film
(The Mother and the Law, 1919). “The Judean Story” tells of Jesus’ conflicts with the Pharisees and Rome. “The Medieval Story” is about the effects of the massacre of 16th-century French Huguenots. “The Babylonian Story,” about the conquest of Babylon by Persia, also was issued later as a separate film
(The Fall of Babylon, 1919). Skillful cross-cutting (Griffith was the technique’s most renowned practitioner), and linking shots of a figure representing Eternal Motherhood rocking a cradle, bring all four stories to a tense climax. Cohen Media Group’s Cohen Film Collection proudly brings this canonical 1916 work to DVD and, for the first time ever on Blu-ray as well.
Continue reading ‘The Cohen Film Collection: D.W. Griffith’s Intolerance (Blu-ray Review)’
November 14th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
We are now moving on from Disney villains yesterday to biblical epics today, as the trailer for Darren Aronofsky’s Noah makes its debut. As a follow up to Black Swan, Aronofsky has moved on to something very different for him, as he tackles the story of Noah and his Ark. The film features Russell Crowe as Noah and also stars Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, and Anthony Hopkins. This post features both the domestic trailer, which is only currently available via Apple and the international trailer, along with the film’s poster. From what is shown in these trailers, the scale of the film is certainly the main highlight being marketed, but without revealing anything, I can just say that a key element is being left out, which I found to be one of the more interesting concepts to go along with this film, as it is both a very new thing for Aronofsky, but something totally fitting of his style. Continue on to check out the trailers.
Continue reading ‘Darren Aronofsky’s ‘NOAH’ Trailers Debut’
November 14th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Find out what all the furor is about when Game of Thrones: The Complete Third Season comes to Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download on February 18, 2014. Part political thriller, part epic fantasy, season 3 of the hit HBO series Game of Thrones continued its ascent to television’s Iron Throne with one of TV’s most talked about episodes, “The Rains of Castamere,” which introduced TV viewers to the fabled “Red Wedding.” The BD set takes fans even deeper into the pivotal episode in a feature that offers new perspectives on the controversial scene and its implications throughout the world of Westeros. In Season 3, the battling families of the Seven Kingdoms continue to fight for power as bonds are strained, loyalties are tested and cruel fates are met. The Lannisters barely hold on to power after a savage naval onslaught from Stannis Baratheon, while stirrings in the North threaten to alter the overall balance of power. Robb Stark, King in the North, faces major calamity in his efforts to build on his victories over the Lannisters, and beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder and his huge army of wildlings continue their inexorable march south. Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys Targaryen – reunited with her three fast-maturing dragons – attempts to raise an army to sail with her from Essos, in hopes of eventually claiming the Iron Throne for herself. Continue reading ‘Game of Thrones: The Complete Third Season Comes to Blu-ray this February! Here’s all of the Details!’
November 14th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
The latest high-definition collections of the iconic series, Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Fifth Season Blu-ray and Star Trek: The Next Generation – Unification Blu-ray arrive November 19 from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution. Packed with newly produced special features, the collections also include some of the most acclaimed episodes of the series, including Leonard Nimoy’s guest appearance in the celebrated, two-part episode “Unification.”
Continue reading ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Fifth Season & Unification Blu-rays Come Out November 19th!’
November 13th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
I have been posting a lot of superhero trailers lately, so this is a nice change in pace. Next summer sees the release of Maleficent, a live-action take on the Sleeping Beauty story, with more of a focus on its iconic villain, Maleficent, now played by Angelina Jolie. In this post is the first official teaser trailer for the film, along with some new images and poster. It certainly has the same sort of vibe as seen in other recent Disney live-action spectacles such as Oz the Great and Powerful and Alice in Wonderland, but I will be curious if this film goes for a darker tone and explores that sort of territory. Continue on to see the trailer yourself.
Continue reading ‘Disney’s MALEFICENT Teaser Trailer Debuts’
November 12th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Global action-superstar Vin Diesel reprises his breakthrough role in Riddick, the much-anticipated new chapter in the epic adventures of the most wanted man in the universe. The all-new thriller finds the title character trapped on a sun-scorched planet and pursued by ruthless bounty hunters eager to collect the reward for Riddick’s capture — dead or alive. Savage alien creatures, expansive desert landscapes, monster storms, jet hogs and an arsenal of futuristic weaponry make this the most exhilarating episode to date in writer and director David Twohy’s breathtaking series of futuristic blockbusters. Continue reading ‘Riddick and Riddick: The Complete Collection Arrives on Digital HD in December and Blu-ray this January!’
November 11th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
The original starship Enterprise continues its historic voyage into the final frontier of high definition when Star Trek: Enterprise – The Complete Third Season makes its debut on Blu-ray on January 7 from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution. Featuring all 24 episodes from the third season, the six-disc Blu-ray set also includes never-before-seen special features that are exclusive to this release: “In A Time of War,” a new three-part documentary, and a new featurette entitled “Temporal Cold War: Declassified.” Starring Scott Bakula, Jolene Blalock, Connor Trinneer, Dominic Keating, Linda Park, Anthony Montgomery and John Billingsley, Star Trek: Enterprise follows the adventures of the Enterprise NX-01, the first Earth-built vessel capable of breaking the Warp 5 barrier, and her intrepid crew of brave explorers. Continue reading ‘Star Trek: Enterprise – The Complete Third Season Comes to Blu-ray this January!’
November 8th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Now for the first time ever on Blu-ray with glorious digital high definition, Disney’s Jumpin’ Jungle Classic has never looked so lush or sounded so good! Beloved characters, swinging music and new behind-the-scenes bonus features make this Diamond Edition Blu-ray a must-have for every family’s classic collection! Meet the most unforgettable characters and embark on a thrilling adventure with Mowgli as he journeys deep into the jungle and learns “The Bare Necessities” of life from happy-go-lucky Baloo the bear. Meet Bagheera, the wise old panther, and crazy King Louie, the orangutan. But watch out for the cunning tiger Shere Khan and Kaa, the ssssneakiest snake in the jungle! Explore your family’s wild side as you venture into The Jungle Book for extraordinary adventures and a heartwarming tale that celebrates the true meaning of friendship. Continue reading ‘Disney’s The Jungle Book: Diamond Edition Arrives on Blu-ray this February!’
November 8th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland and Robert Duvall lead a star-studded cast in this World War II classic based on Jack Higgins’ best-selling novel. A Nazi Strike Force plots to kidnap Winston Churchill while he is resting in a desolate Norfolk village. Colonel Radl (Robert Duvall), Colonel Steiner (Michael Caine) and Liam Devlin (Donald Sutherland) are enlisted to carry out the operation, which if successful, would irrevocably alter the outcome of the war. Disguised as Polish airmen, these paratroopers descend upon England only to be interrupted by an unforeseeable incident which threatens to derail their treacherous mission. Packed with action and suspense, this unrelenting thriller was the final picture directed by the great John Sturges (The Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven). Continue reading ‘The Eagle Has Landed: Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
November 7th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
The epic battle with Decepticons rages on as Optimus Prime leads his team of Autobots and three teenagers – Miko, Jack and Raf in a mission to defend earth and one day restore his home planet of Cyberton. But Decepticons power to reign over earth has never been greater. Megatron and his Decepticons have destroyed AUTOBOTS’ base, scattering Optimus Prime and his heroic team to the wind and leaving them out of communication with one another. Meanwhile, Shockwave has come to the side of his commander, bringing with him the newest Decepticon weapon, a brand new faction that could turn the tide of the war in Megatron’s favor. Can the Autobots reunite in time to defeat Megatron and the Decepticons once and for all? Or does this new weapon mean the end for the Autobots…and Earth? Find out in the final exciting season of the Emmy Award-winning series Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters! Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Josh Keaton, Jeffrey Combs, Kevin Michael Richardson, Will Friedle, Sumalee Montano, Ernie Hudson, Gina Torres, John Noble, George Takei, Markie Post, and Steve Blum lend their voices to this hit series produced by Hasbro Studios. Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters is executive produced by Duane Capizzi, Jeff Kline, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. Continue reading ‘Here’s the Details for the Transformers Prime: Season Three – Beast Hunters Blu-ray!’
November 6th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Legendary cultural icon Bruce Lee continues to be an unstoppable force, unbeatable warrior and an unforgettable star. He is the very face of martial arts mastery, the inspiration for millions to walk an enlightened path and mentor to the greatest stars and fighters the world over. He became a hero to those who knew him in life and, following his death, a legend to all. Since his incredible rise to fame nearly five decades ago, audiences across the globe have been amazed by the supreme talents and undeniable charisma that make Lee such a beloved icon. Loyal fans, movie collectors, pop culture and martial arts enthusiasts will be treated to a whole new home entertainment experience to celebrate the life and brilliance of the late Bruce Lee when The Bruce Lee Legacy Collection 11-Disc Blu-ray+ DVD box set presentation from Shout! Factory. Three feature-length documentaries Bruce Lee: The Legend (and the original version Bruce Lee: The Man, The Legend), the critically acclaimed I Am Bruce Lee and The Grandmaster and the Dragon: William Cheung and Bruce Lee; a special bonus disc with hours of new bonus content exclusive to this set, and four DVDs of aforementioned action-packed classics. A fitting tribute and celebration in honor of the legend, these sumptuous offerings are collected in a deluxe book-style packaging, brimming with 68 pages of archival materials, rare and never-before-released photos, new essay on Lee’s amazing career, and much more! Continue reading ‘Bruce Lee: The Legacy Collection (Blu-ray Review)’
November 5th, 2013 by Brandon Peters
Happy new release Tuesday! It’s also the first Tuesday in November. Meaning, all the dates for Blu-ray releases through the end of the year are pretty much set and locked in by now. There could be a wild card for late December thrown in somewhere, but it’s highly unlikely it would be an older catalogue release. So with all this set, I wanted to compile my own personal list of films I’d like to see finally hit Blu-ray in 2014. These are films that aren’t available in ANY territory. So, if you happen to be like list potentials Blue Steel and The Man Who Wasn’t There (sold in other territories as “The Barber”) who have releases in Germany and France you are not eligible for this list. These are also titles that have not been announced at all. Also, thanks to Scream Factory for announcing Sleepaway Camp last Thursday as it was originally on this list! I was going to make this list just 10 movies, but then I noticed I was editing stuck at 14 titles which oddly became appropriate. Trust me, there were plenty omissions from this list as well. What are some of your hopes for Blu-ray in 2014? After my list, let me know what some of yours are below! Continue reading ‘Brandon’s Wishlist: 14 Blu-ray Hopefuls For 2014′
November 5th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is heading our way. Because having this crew back together makes me laugh, I am happy to simply put up a few new posters from the film, focusing on each character, along with a couple images, and a link to some other cool stuff. Along with the pics, the latest trailer is also in this post, along with a link to a Mustache Maker, in honor of the month of Movember. Feel free to have some laughs with this trailer, check out pics of the gang, and then load up an image of yourself and add a very specific mustache to your picture. It will make your face that much more hip!
Continue reading ‘‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’ Provides New Character Posters And Encourages Movember’
November 1st, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Pixar’s landmark classic goes full throttle off the screen and into your living room for the first time ever in spectacular Blu-ray 3D! From the acclaimed creators of Toy Story, The Incredibles and Finding Nemo comes a high-octane adventure comedy that shows life is about the journey, not the finish line. Hotshot rookie racecar Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is living life in the fast lane until he hits a detour on his way to the most important race of his life. Stranded in Radiator Springs, a forgotten town on the old Route 66, he meets Sally, Mater, Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) and a variety of quirky characters who help him discover that there’s more to life than trophies and fame. Treat your crew to turbocharged entertainment with this Cars 3D Ultimate Collector’s Edition. It’s flat-out fun with a sensational soundtrack, thrilling bonus features and revved-up picture and sound! Continue reading ‘Cars 3D – Ultimate Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’