Super-Sized Top Ten: Aaron’s Top-Quality Blu-ray Picks For 2018
Who’s ready for a killer Blu-ray list? Like previous years (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), I’ve gone in-depth on what I enjoyed with this year in Blu-ray release. I still may not have a 4K setup like Why So Blu’s Brian and Brandon, or a region-free player like Gerard, but there was plenty to enjoy for a guy working with the regular old HD format. As usual, this list has a few rules that come with it. Regard for the film in question is obviously important. I have to have watched the movie for the sake of assessing the quality of the video and audio transfers. And I had to dive into the special features available. The last thing, I always try to keep films that may appear on my “Top 10 Films of the Year” list separate from the top ten Blu-rays. I do this to keep the post interesting, and I also have some extra sections to go over other highlights from the year. So, here we go:
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For me the highlight of 2018 on the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format were the great catalog releases we received. We expect our 2018 theatrical releases to look pristine and sound great on 4K UHD Blu-ray (with some Disney ones being the exception to that rule). However, it’s the catalog releases that always manage to surprise and delight the film “collecting” (that’s for you 
Golden Globe® and Emmy ® winner Claire Foy (Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama, “The Crown,” 2017; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, “The Crown,” 2018) brings to life the iconic role of Lisbeth Salander in the next exciting chapter of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo franchise, THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB, debuting on digital and Movies Anywhere January 22, 2019 and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD February 5, 2019 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Director Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead; Don’t Breathe) brings insurmountable suspense and tension to the film adaptation of the fourth book of the acclaimed Millennium series to create a thrilling cinematic experience. THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB also stars Sverrir Gudnason (Borg vs. McEnroe), Lakeith Stanfield (Get Out; Sorry to Bother You, TV’s “Atlanta”), Sylvia Hoeks (Blade Runner 2049) and Stephen Merchant (Logan; Hot Fuzz). 
Next year will mark the 40th Anniversary of the Steve Martin/Carl Reiner comedy, The Jerk. 1979 was a launchpad year for Martin as a leading man in this film, but he also partook in The Muppet Movie and Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band as well. Not only has The Jerk been Martin’s cinematic starting point, but its also come to be one of his most beloved works. A sort of cult-like item now with the passage of time, it was a massive hit back upon release featuring great reviews and making close to 3/4 of a $100 million dollars. For a comedy in 1979, that’s pretty huge. Shout! Factory seems the perfect company to celebrate the film with a new Blu-ray, having previously released all of his television specials, with this brand new edition coming December 18th. Pre-order yourself a copy of this classic using the Amazon link below. 
If there is one director that has been tied to brand, in terms of Blu-ray labels, its John Carpenter and Scream Factory. One of his most acclaimed and biggest box office hits, Starman, is now receiving the Collector’s Edition treatment (Which kicked off the label back in 2012 with two Carpenter produced Halloween sequels, mind you). Starman also lead actor Jeff Bridges to his first Academy Award nomination. Its a big film that’s notoriety just kind of went away over time. Back in the day, this title would be used to sell other Carpenter films whereas they never would have sold him on ones that would instantly get attention today like The Thing or They Live. Starman will have a new transfer and documentary and be available for purchase on December 18th, giving you plenty of time to stuff the John Carpenter obsessed loved one’s stocking in time for the Christmas holiday if you use the Amazon link below. 
This year every time a new month came in, my money went out. I found an impressive array of discs released in 2018 and there was definitely some jockeying for position that took place with this list since mid-summer. For instance, DC Comics’ Justice League had been a mainstay on here until recently when one release after another pushed it off the list. Still, that film does have my favorite steelbook to date, but we’re not counting points for artwork here. We’re looking at quality of the production and the library of content. Extras aren’t the be all end all, but they can make or break a title entering this list so let’s see who made the cut.
I’ve been a Jennifer Garner fan ever since her days on television’s ALIAS so many years ago. Call me a glutton for punishment, but I’m here to give her the benefit of the doubt. Peppermint didn’t get much love in its theatrical release from critics or the moviegoing Rotten Tomatoes crowd. However, our own reviewer, Gregg Senko, praised the film as potential Top 10 material. So I have taken it as my duty to either prove the world or Gregg wrong by tackling the Blu-ray review of Peppermint here. If you know me well, then you’ll know the one thing this film has going for it with me is its R-rating. So there’s always a possibility I walk away from this review unscathed and a fan of Peppermint. Stranger things have happened, right? 
Warner Archive hits double duty in terms of specific classic cinematic wants for Blu-ray aficionados and old school films lovers. More old swash buckling adventures of Errol Flynn and more films from legendary Hollywood workman director Michael Curtiz. Luckily that can be you can hit two birds with one stone quite easy with these two film icons. For their tenth team-up, director Michael Curtiz and action star Errol Flynn served up a rapier sharp take on the pirate movie by flavoring it with a much-needed soupçon of war-time patriotism during the dark days of Britain under the blitz, creating the standard for sea-faring cinema for decades to come. Despite borrowing the title from Rafael Sabatini, The Sea Hawk’s scribes Howard Koch and Seton I. Miller came up with an original story inspired by the life and exploits of Sir Francis Drake. Using the Amazon link below, you can order yourself a copy to have on release day, December 18th. 
Shout! Factory will release the iconic drama Sarah T. – Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic on Blu-ray on January 29th, 2019. This is the film’s first time on any home entertainment format, and Shout’s release sports a brand-new 2K scan of the original film elements. Sarah T. comes complete with bonus features, including new interviews with the film’s star Linda Blair, and with director Richard Donner and producer David Levinson. Fans can preorder this film now at shoutfactory.com.
Scream Factory has announced they’ll be diving deep into the Hammer Horror archives in 2019. We are getting a taste for it here at year’s end with the Collector’s Edition release of Christopher Lee’s second turn as the famed Count in Dracula: Prince of Darkness. You’ll remember Millennium previously released the film, but Scream Factory looks to be making a serious upgrade on that edition. Scream Factory is no stranger to the Hammer catalog, but this is their first foray into the production company’s work since The Vampire Lovers back in 2013. I’m very excited to see them kicking off with my personal favorite of the Christopher Lee Dracula films, complete with a brand new 4K scan. You can pre-order from the Amazon link below to receive it by the December 18th release date, just in time for the gift-giving holidays! 
It was like any other day of my life. I drove the usual route home after a hard day at the office and was flipping through my favorite Sirius XM channels trying to find a familiar tune to God speed the way home with. I do all of this on autopilot, just pressing pre-programmed favorite buttons onscreen, not paying attention to the particular channel names or whatnot. Then it hit me like a wall would eventually if you ran blindfolded indoors. I heard these raspy, authoritative, take-no-prisoners female vocals, which I have never heard before. Immediately this singer had my full undivided attention. I looked at my radio unit and saw I landed on XM’s Octane and the song playing was called “Haunted” by a rock star named Diamante. Right then and there I wanted to know all I could about Diamante. Thank the maker for instant gratification. Before I knew it Diamante’s album, 
Based on a short story by Phillip K. Dick, the science-fiction thrillerScreamers will make its Blu-ray debut January 29th, 2019 from Scream Factory. Starring Peter Weller(Robocop) and Jennifer Rubin (A Nightmare on Elm Street 3, Bad Dreams, The Crush) and featuring a screenplay by Dan O’Bannon,Screamers also includes a number of new bonus features, including new interviews with director Christian Duguay, producer Tom Berry, co-writer Miguel Tejada-Flores and actress Jennifer Rubin. Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com.
Shout Select will release the classic con-men comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in a collector’s edition Blu-ray set for the first time on January 22nd, 2019. This release is mastered from a brand-new 2K scan of the film and comes complete with bonus features including a new interview with writer Dale Launer, behind-the-scenes featurette, and audio commentary with director Frank Oz. Fans can preorder this Collector’s Edition set now at shoutfactory.com.
Woohoo! Been waiting for this news! Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced today the early 2019 release dates of the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, the Blu-ray Combo Pack, the DVD Special Edition and Digital versions of the critically acclaimed box office hit “A Star Is Born.” The 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD editions will be available to consumers on February 19, or fans can own it early on Digital on January 15. The 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, the Blu-ray Combo Pack, the DVD Special Edition and Digital versions of “A Star Is Born” feature almost 10 minutes of never-before-seen musical performances by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, including “Baby What You Want Me To Do,” “Midnight Special” and “Is That Alright.” 
