Why So Blu?

New Bonus Feature from Golden Globe Nominated ‘The White Queen’

Hot off the press here in 2014 from my favorite PR person in the world comes an exclusive bonus clip from a show you will be hearing a lot about this Awards season as The Golden Globes are this weekend, and the Starz Original mini-series The White Queen has been nominated in three categories, including Best Mini-Series or Made for TV Movie.  So please check out below a new Bonus Feature (“Conjuring the Queen”) and other relative assets from Anchor Bay’s upcoming and hotly anticipated Blu-ray & DVD release to get a taste of what the show is all about.  The White Queen will be released on a three-disc Blu-ray with Digital HD Ultraviolet and DVD set on February 4th.  Make sure you pre-order yours today! Continue reading ‘New Bonus Feature from Golden Globe Nominated ‘The White Queen’’

‘How I Live Now’ on Blu-ray and DVD February 11th!

Directed by Academy Award-winner Kevin MacDonald (Marley, State of Play, The Last King of Scotland) and starring Oscar®-nominee Saoirse Ronan (The Host, Hanna, The Way Back, The Lovely Bones, Atonement), the thought-provoking and engrossing drama How I Live Now arrives on Blu-ray and DVD February 11 from Magnolia Home Entertainment.  Based on the award-winning young adult novel by Megan Rosoff, How I Live Now was co-written by BAFTA Award winners Jeremy Brock (The Eagle, The Last King of Scotland) and Tony Grisoni (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas).  The film tells the story of an American teenager who must fend for herself when a new world war breaks out while she is on holiday in the UK.  Set in the bucolic English countryside,  How I Live Now  explores themes of survival, self-sufficiency and love.   Continue reading ‘‘How I Live Now’ on Blu-ray and DVD February 11th!’

‘Last Vegas’ Gambles on Blu-ray This January!

I have to admit.  I really wanted nothing to do with Last Vegas theatrically, but after reluctantly taking the trip with it, I actually liked it.  It did not top anybody’s Top 10 lists last year, at least I don’t think it did, but that did not stop me from having a good time with the elders in this film.  Come on!  Look at that amazing cast lineup consisting of Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro and Kevin Kline.  How can you not want to check this one out?  Heck!  I don again!  I’ll give it another go around on the Blu-ray format this January.  Will you?  Check out the full press release below and pre-order your copy now! Continue reading ‘‘Last Vegas’ Gambles on Blu-ray This January!’

Catch Ridley Scott’s Edge-of-Your-Seat Thriller, “The Counselor,” on February 11!

To be fair, I did not come up with the title of this post nor would I have wanted to write that, that was on the press release e-mail.  That said, while I was initially disappointed in theaters by Ridley Scott’s The Counselor, I am one to pay attention to his extended/director cuts of his films, as they often tend to work even better than the theatrical cuts.  I am still not sure if the film could actually play better, if it were longer, but I am certainly curious if a different cut will make me disregard how bad Cameron Diaz was in this film or how little I cared for these characters.  Regardless, there is a solid-looking Blu-ray headed to stores on February 11th.  Continue on to learn more about this upcoming release.

Continue reading ‘Catch Ridley Scott’s Edge-of-Your-Seat Thriller, “The Counselor,” on February 11!’

Thor: The Dark World Arrives on Blu-ray this February!

Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself.  In the aftermath of Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos… but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness.  Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.  Continue reading ‘Thor: The Dark World Arrives on Blu-ray this February!’

YOUNG DETECTIVE DEE on Blu-ray & DVD February 11th

I think the most exciting part of this press release is the fact that I now finally have a reason to push Detective Dee and The Mystery of the Phantom Flame to the top of my Netflix queue.  Regardless, this film just looks like a lot of fun.  It is a large scale martial arts/fantasy epic, with a lot of neat looking visuals.  I do not know a whole lot else about these films, aside from the descriptions I have read and the trailers I have watched, but I can only hope it is as fun as it looks.  On February 11th, everyone will be able to find out what is going on with Detective Dee, as Young Detective Dee will be available on Blu-ray everywhere.  Read on to learn a bit more about this upcoming release.

Continue reading ‘YOUNG DETECTIVE DEE on Blu-ray & DVD February 11th’

Gerard’s Top-10 Super Duper Films of 2013!

We’ve come to it at last…my Top-10 film list for the year 2013. I’ll be upfront about it and say that I did not see most of the major and non-major films of 2013. I am only listing the films that I saw that made an actual impact in my life, for better or for worse. No BS. It’s also kind of funny that since my list is due today, the 28th of December, I had to scramble and watch several movies at the cinema this past week  STAT! It was a lot of fun but there are also just so many movies I can watch before a deadline hits. Luckily for me, some of those films that I watched at the last minute were so great that they indeed made my Top-10 list just in the nick of time. So, without further ado, let’s get the party started!

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1 Lord, 1 Witch, 1 Shogun, And ‘47 Ronin’ (Movie Review)

47 Ronin is an enjoyable hybrid period action/fantasy movie that was much better than I was expecting.  Granted I am generally pretty satisfied with Keanu Reeves action movies, but a lot of the surprise came from how different this very expensive movie played out.  Along with putting the money on screen, this is a film that is very much inspired by samurai films and strives to play like one, in terms of its pacing and devotion to portraying the notion of honor.  With that, the film also blends into other genres as well, most notably a swashbuckling adventure, with some fantasy elements thrown in for good measure.  All of this made for a fun film that felt unlike a lot of expensive action films like it, especially given that its main star is really a supporting character.  It is just too bad it will likely make next to nothing in theaters. Continue reading ‘1 Lord, 1 Witch, 1 Shogun, And ‘47 Ronin’ (Movie Review)’

Scarlet Spider Comes to a Close (sort of)

Marvel books usually tend to leave me feeling like I’ve been let down after I finish reading them. There are very few titles from the mammoth comic book publisher that give me any sense of satisfaction. Why is this? Because Marvel tends to flood the market with underwhelming stories resulting in an empty delivery. Leave it to a Spidey spin-off to be the exception.

Continue reading ‘Scarlet Spider Comes to a Close (sort of)’

‘Ice Soldiers’ on Blu-ray and DVD February 25th!

The White Queen – “Making Of The White Queen” Bonus Feature

Fresh out of our inbox comes thrilling news courtesy of Anchor Bay’s upcoming Blu-ray and  DVD release of the Starz Original mini-series The White Queen, which will be released on a three-disc Blu-ray with Digital HD Ultraviolet and DVD set on February 4th.  I don’t know about you, but I’m usually a sucker for these Starz shows!  Based on Philippa Gregory’s series of best-selling novels, The White Queen is a vivid re-telling of the classic War of the Roses family feud (York vs. Lancaster) from the viewpoint of the women involved.  The set contains all 10 gorgeous episodes of the drama, plus a bountiful supply of bonus features.  Check out the series’ synopsis, trailer and also a Blu-ray bonus feature below. Continue reading ‘The White Queen – “Making Of The White Queen” Bonus Feature’

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Trailer Debuts

Last week was busy with trailers for many big releases next year (posts can be found HERE and HERE) and this week adds one more hotly anticipated summer film: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.  As I recall, the majority of us at Why So Blu were big fans the 2011 sci-fi prequel/reboot, which combined an interesting take on the Apes franchise with some fantastic visual effects work from Weta Digital.  Details and images have been fairly light on this film, which no doubt comes from both preserving the surprise and because it takes so long to complete these effects, which look amazing.  Now we finally have a trailer for the sequel, which arrives July 2014.  From the look of things, nothing is about to get better for the human race, but at least Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke, and Keri Russell are on hand to attempt to deal with Caesar (Andy Serkis) and the rise of his species.  Continue on to check out the trailer as well as view some posters and big ape faces from the film. Continue reading ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Trailer Debuts’

Hill Street Blues: The Complete Series Finally Arrives on DVD This April

Created by award-winning writers/ producers Steven Bochco and Michael Kozoll, the critically acclaimed television series HILL STREET BLUES became one of the most seminal drama series by virtue of its powerful writing, gritty realism, emotionally charged storylines and incredible ensemble cast, including Daniel J. Travanti, Veronica Hamel, Bruce Weitz and Betty Thomas, among other notables.  Throughout its seven year run on network television (1981-1987), HILL STREET BLUES took viewers inside the heart of a racially torn, crime-ridden precinct of an urban metropolis.   Each episode charts a day in the life on “The Hill,” balancing the characters’ personal lives with their professional ones.  “Let’s be careful out there,” advises Sgt. Esterhaus every morning at roll call, before sending out his officers and detectives to patrol their city’s streets, where the peace is kept thanks to a tenuous trust between the police and the people they protect.  Yet as dangerous as their precinct is, the men and women of Hill Street often find that their biggest battles involve protecting themselves from the Public Defender’s office, self-serving bureaucrats … and each other. Continue reading ‘Hill Street Blues: The Complete Series Finally Arrives on DVD This April’

Bad Grandpa Hijacks Blu-ray on January 28th

I gotta say.  I did not know what to expect when I took my parents to see Bad Grandpa in the theaters.  I was expecting it to be a little bit of Jacka$$ with a narrative.  I was just hoping my parents would not be disturbed or repulsed by it.  I have to say…I think they laughed harder than me!  So at long last the day is finally upon us!  Paramount Media Home Distribution has officially announced that it will release on Blu-ray Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa…an unrated cut too!  The release will be available for purchase online and in stores across the nation on January 28th.  I’m sold!  Check out the full press release below and pre-order it now! Continue reading ‘Bad Grandpa Hijacks Blu-ray on January 28th’

Gerard’s Top 10 Badass Blu-rays of 2013!

It’s that time again where we come up with our Top-10 Blu-rays of the year. 2013 has come and almost gone and left a path of high definition destruction in its wake. Coincidentally, my Top-10 list features the work of some epic directors, who had a stellar year on the Blu-ray format as most of their back catalog, along with current works, were released in high definition in 2013. My criteria for picking the selections on this list is more in tune with how fully loaded are the Blu-rays chosen, along with demo-worthy characteristics, etc. Film worthiness is also taken into consideration but that it not the main factor. If I want film-worthiness then I will save it for my regular Top-10 list of films, which will post in a couple of weeks. This list is based off of the merits of the Blu-ray for the most part. Without further ado I give you my Top 10 Badass Blu-rays of 2013!  Continue reading ‘Gerard’s Top 10 Badass Blu-rays of 2013!’

Gerard’s Worst Films of 2013!

To compliment my best of the year lists I’ve once again compiled a short “worst of” set of selections. The following are films that I saw in 2013 that sucked and/or did not live up to the hype. I’m not going to include a “dishonorable mentions” list like last year, because it would be a waste of time. The films contained here star A-list actors and most had gigantic budgets to work with. It makes it that much more painful to recap why they sucked. I understand the concept of “guilty pleasures,” and I have many, but these don’t even qualify as guilty pleasures, in my opinion. Shall we begin?  Continue reading ‘Gerard’s Worst Films of 2013!’

‘Ender’s Game’ Scores A Win On Blu-ray This February

Action icon and Academy Award nominee Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones franchise, Star Wars franchise, Best Actor, Witness, 1985), Asa Butterfield (Hugo), Academy Award nominee Hailee Steinfeld (Best Supporting Actress, True Grit,  2010), two-time Academy Award nominee Viola Davis (Best Supporting Actress, Doubt, 2008; Best Actress, The Help, 2011), Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin (Best Supporting Actress, Little Miss Sunshine, 2006) and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley (Best Actor, Gandhi, 1982) star in the epic adventure Ender’s Game, arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD UltraViolet), DVD (plus Digital UltraViolet), Video on Demand and Pay-Per-View  February 11th from Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE company. The film will also be available on Digital HD January 28, two weeks prior to the Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD release. Based on the award-winning best-selling novel by  Orson Scott Card, and written and directed for the screen by Gavin Hood (Rendition, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Tsotsi), Ender’s Game is a visually stunning and thrilling film that has been 28 years in the making.  Read on to learn more about this upcoming release.

Continue reading ‘‘Ender’s Game’ Scores A Win On Blu-ray This February’

‘Big Ass Spider’ on Blu-ray and DVD January 7th!

Epic Pictures will be releasing BIG ASS SPIDER! on digital download, DVD and Blu-ray on January 7th!  The film stars Greg Grunberg (TV’s Heroes, TV’s Alias, Mission Impossible: III), LOMBARDO BOYAR (Group Sex, Happy Feet I and II) and RAY WISE (X-Men: First Class, TV’s Twin Peaks) and directed by Mike Mendez. An exterminator (Greg Grunberg) and his Hispanic sidekick (Lombardo Boyar) are caught in an epic battle when a military assault fails to contain a giant alien spider rampaging through the city of Los Angeles.   Continue reading ‘‘Big Ass Spider’ on Blu-ray and DVD January 7th!’