Bumblebee (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
While I had never been all in on the modern day Transformers films like childhood me would have hoped, oddly enough, the spin-off prequel film Bumblebee not only garnered my attention through production. And in on odd spin of events it won over my heart completely and even made my 10 favorite films list for last year. I don’t know that there’s a series that won me over completely like this on the 6th entry (Fast & Furious movies got me at 5). In actuality its the 7th theatrical Transformers feature if you count the original animated film (Which I do love). Paramount is bringing this film set in the VHS hey-day to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on April 2nd. Pre-order using the Amazon link below, or by signing up to hold a copy at your local Phar-Mor.
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Nearly ten years after the first movie wowed audiences around the world, Hiccup and Toothless return to captivate fans with an adventure of a lifetime in DreamWorks Animation’s HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD. The final quest from Dean DeBlois’ (Lilo & Stich, How to Train Your Dragon trilogy) arrives on Digital and via the digital movie app MOVIES ANYWHERE on May 7, 2019 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD, and On Demand May 21, 2019 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Hailed as “the perfect conclusion to one of the best animated trilogies of all time” (Scott Menzel, We Live Entertainment) and certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes®, the film opened at #1 in over 40 markets. The 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital versions feature over an hour of exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus content including an alternate opening, two DreamWorks animated shorts, deleted scenes and more. 
Hammer Films was always known for its horror output, but its “Golden” franchises were its lengthy Frankenstein and Dracula series. Those films made legends and iconic turns for both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. While the Dracula films span 9 films, only 3 of them found both Cushing and Lee in them and going head to head, their confrontation being The Satanic Rites Of Dracula. Some might officially call that the end, but technically it continues on for one more film. Cushing reprises his role of Van Helsing in the Hammer and Shaw Bros team up The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires. A bonkers idea that should never have worked, but its actually succeeds in regards as both a martial arts and gothic horror tale. Its one of the most bizarre additions in the horror genre to this day. Scream Factory is debuting it on Blu-ray which completes the Hammer Dracula run on Blu-ray for Region-Free Blu-ray collectors. If you’re not, I hope Scars of Dracula is around the corner (The UK Region-B locked Studio Canal release is terrific). The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires arrives on April 9th, pre-ordering is available below. 
Think about this. What if Us exists in our world to solely prove that the formidable sophomore slump does not apply to filmmaker Jordan Peele? It’s entirely quite possible! If Get Out proved that he didn’t need the training wheels on the bike anymore, then Us demonstrates he’s ready for Motorcross. Whoa there! Slow your motors! I normally don’t spill the beans in my reviews until paragraph three or four, but I can’t help it here. I was such a huge fan of Get Out that I was wildly whet with anticipation for Us and rightfully so. When that first trailer dropped are you telling me that Luniz’s song (“I Got 5 On It”) didn’t infect you like the person next to you on the plane blowing snot with flu-like symptoms? I thought so. Now that we’ve established a baseline with what to expect from the following paragraphs of praise (?) let’s talk about Us in much more detail (no spoilers). 
The sci fi horror film The Brain comes to Blu-ray™ on April 30, 2019, from Scream Factory. The release is packed with extensive new bonus features, including new audio commentaries with director Ed Hunt (Halloween Hell), composer Paul Zaza and actor Tom Bresnahan (The Kingdom), and interviews with actress Cynthia Preston (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan), actor George Buza (X-Men), assistant art director Michael Borthwick, and more.
Director Michael Bay’s powerful and engrossing drama 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi arrives on 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital for the first time ever June 11, 2019 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Debuting just in time for Father’s Day, the 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack includes the film in 4K Ultra HD as well as a second Blu-ray Disc™ with over an hour of bonus content. Go behind-the-scenes with the ex-military operators recounting the extraordinary detail involved in recreating the events from the attack. Plus, join the cast and crew as they highlight the filmmaking process and how director Michael Bay brought the film to life. The must-own set also includes access to a digital copy of the film. 
We keep demanding “More Hammer Please!” and Scream Factory has pleasantly obliged. Its been a mixture of upgraded editions and debuts, and I think they are doing a admirable job so far. I’m sure they’ll pull some big gun out here sooner or later too. The March contribution is the Joan Fontaine-led The Witches (Which seems to have been more known as “The Devil’s Own”). The only real new thing for this release is the commentary that brings on board author and filmmaker Ted Newson to discuss the film. The documentary included on here has been a part of another Hammer release in the past, but the documentary is great and the release its a part of is out of print. So, all the more reason to bring it back. I’ve been one excited by these releases and the label dipping into all sorts of pre-1970s horror gems good and bad this year. The Witches is available now and you can grab yourself a copy from the Shout! Factory website or Amazon link below. 
It’s time to go where no brick has gone before when “The LEGO® Movie 2: The Second Part”arrives on 4K UHD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD Special Edition and Digital. The much-anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, global box office phenomenon that started it all, “The LEGO® Movie 2: The Second Part” reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all new action-packed adventure to save their beloved city. Reprising their starring roles from the first film are Chris Pratt (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Jurassic World”) as Emmet; Elizabeth Banks (“The Hunger Games” movies, “Love & Mercy”) as Lucy, aka Wyldstyle; Will Arnett (“The LEGO® Batman Movies,” TV’s “Arrested Development”) as LEGO Batman; Alison Brie (TV’s “GLOW,” TV’s “Community”) as Unikitty; Nick Offerman (“Fargo,” TV’s “Parks and Recreation”) as MetalBeard; and Charlie Day (the “Horrible Bosses” movies, TV’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadephia”) as Benny. They are joined by Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip,” “Keanu”) and Stephanie Beatriz (“Short Term 12,” TV’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) as new characters Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi and General Mayhem, respectively, and Maya Rudolph (“Bridesmaids,” TV’s “Big Mouth”), as Mom. 
Giant spider strikes! Scream Factory proudly presents the ‘50s horror classic Tarantula on Blu-ray for the first time on April 30th, 2019. This release comes packed with bonus features such as a new 2K scan of the original film elements and new audio commentary. Fans can preorder the film now at 
Scream Factory has a pair of cult classic horror films from the era of the later 70s/early 1980s coming through the line on April 16th. One of which is The Manitou, which is based off of the novel of the same name from author Graham Masterton. The film boasts a pretty notable cast, including the likes of Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg and Burgess Meredith. Its also notable for being the final film from Producer and Director William Girdler, who was killed in a helicopter accident prior to the release of the film. Scream Factory is bringing the film out with a new 4K scan of the original film elements and features some new features including a commentary track and a pair of interviews. You’ll be able to pre-order this one (And as always, help out the site just a little), by using the Amazon link following the review. It will be released alongside Superstition, both of which are debuts (In the US at least), on April 16th. 
It was only a matter of time I suppose, but here we are and low and behold we unbelievably, finally have an Aquaman movie. The masterful James Wan pulled off the what was almost deemed the impossible. He defied the odds and marvelously brought to the big screen an absurd superhero project, which has been in development hell since 2004. That’s right we finally get the Aquaman! Now I have never been that big on the character like most hardcore DC Comics fans, but Wan has my full attention now. The character of Aquaman for me amounted to very little in both 
In December of 2015, DC and IDW crossed paths in the form Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles making a most unlikely alliance to fight their respective ways back home. Almost two years to the date later, the heroes of five grouped together once more in another six-issue comic book mini-series. Strap on your shells, folks, because another meeting of these iconic crime fighters is about to go down, this time on Ultra 4K Blu-ray!
Scream Factory has a pair of cult classic horror films from the era of the later 70s/early 1980s coming through the line on April 16th. Superstition is one of those titles. Released in 1985, but shot in 1982, Superstition is one of those notorious Video Nasty titles and a little seen bit of terror from that era. This Blu-ray debut for the film will feature some new interviews with the film’s director Jame Roberson and star James Houghton (Of Knott’s Landing fame), commissioned by Justin Beahm’s Reverend Entertainment. The film itself will feature a nice new 2K scan from the original film elements according to the blurbs for the release. Personally I’m looking forward to this one as I’ve actually never seen it and like the video store kid I am, “That poster/box looks awesome”. You’ll be able to pre-order this one (And as always, help out the site just a little), by using the Amazon link following the review. It will be released alongside The Manitou, both of which are debuts (In the US at least), on April 16th. 
March 2019 has proven a bit of spoils to grindhouse martial arts fans, as the long awaited Street Fighter films have all finally hit Blu-ray. Earlier in the month, Arrow Video released the spin-off Sister Street Fighter set and now the big boss of them all, The Street Fighter trilogy that launched Sonny Chiba into stardom is coming from Shout! Factory. As these were a New Line distribution, it comes as a part of their little run with Warner Bros titles, and I couldn’t be happier. The three films have been given 2K restorations from the best given materials to work with and there’s a brand new interview with Sonny Chiba included on the release as well. This is also a case where the inclusion of trailers as bonus is cause for a flying kick in celebration as they are some of the best of the era. Speaking of, Jack Sholder cut said trailers and is here to interview and talk about his involvement with New Line at the time and their attachment to these movies. It can all be had when it comes out on March 26th. So don’t have your balls ripped off, get your pre-order in now using the Amazon link below! 
